| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US10021516B2 |
Power preservation through motion-activated location reporting
A tracking device can securely communicate with a secondary device by generating a hash value based on the identity of the tracking device. If the secondary device cannot resolve the hash value, the hash value can be provided to a tracking server, such as a cloud server, for resolving the hash value. Upon resolving the hash value, the tracking server can store a location of the tracking device in association with the identity of the tracking device. To preserve power, the secondary device can activate location-detection functionality (such as a GPS receive) only in response to the detection of movement of the tracking device, can obtain location information, and can de-activate the location-detection functionality upon providing the location information to the tracking server. The tracking server can associate one or both of a previous location and the current location information based on movement of the tracking device. |
| US10021513B2 |
Visual recognition of target devices
An example method includes presenting, on a first display screen associated with a first computing device, a first graphically encoded display element. The method also includes acquiring, using an image acquisition component associated with a second computing device, one or more images of the first display screen, determining that the one or more images correspond to the first display element, and responsive to determining that the one or more images correspond to the first display element, transferring a data item from the second computing device to the first computing device. |
| US10021507B2 |
Arrangement and method for reproducing audio data of an acoustic scene
An arrangement, for reproducing audio data of an acoustic scene, adapted for generating audio signals for at least a first and a second headphone channel of a headphone assembly, the audio signals corresponding to at least one audio object and/or sound source in the acoustic scene comprising at least one given close range and at least one given distant range arranged around a listener, the arrangement comprising a first headphone channel; a second headphone channel; a basic channel provider comprising at least a basic system adapted for reproducing audio signals corresponding to at least one audio object and/or sound source arranged in at least one distant range; a proximity channel provider comprising at least a proximity system adapted for reproducing audio signals corresponding to at least one audio object and/or sound source arranged in at least one close range. |
| US10021505B2 |
Control apparatus, measurement system, control method, and storage medium
A control apparatus comprises a first obtaining unit configured to obtain a result of sound collection performed by a sound collection apparatus that collects a measurement signal as a sound, the measurement signal being output from an output apparatus; a detection unit configured to detect a position of the output apparatus or the sound collection apparatus relative to a measurement-subject person; and a second obtaining unit configured to obtain a head-related transfer function of the measurement-subject person based on the result of sound collection obtained by the first obtaining unit and the position detected by the detection unit. |
| US10021504B2 |
Method and device for rendering acoustic signal, and computer-readable recording medium
When a channel signal, such as a 22.2 channel signal, is rendered into a 5.1 channel signal, a three-dimensional (3D) audio may be reproduced by using a two-dimensional (2D) output channel, however, when an elevation angle of an input channel is different from a standard elevation angle, if elevation rendering parameters according to the standard elevation angle are used, distortion may occur in a sound image. In order to solve the aforementioned problem according to the related art and to prevent front-back confusion due to a surround output channel, an embodiment of the present invention provides a method of rendering an audio signal, the method including receiving a multichannel signal including a plurality of input channels to be converted to a plurality of output channels; adding a preset delay to a frontal height input channel so as to allow each of the plurality of output channels to provide a sound image having an elevation at a reference elevation angle; changing, based on the added delay, an elevation rendering parameter with respect to the frontal height input channel; and preventing front-back confusion by generating, based on the changed elevation rendering parameter, an elevation-rendered surround output channel delayed with respect to the frontal height input channel. |
| US10021503B2 |
Determining direction of networked microphone device relative to audio playback device
Example techniques involve determining a direction of an NMD. An example implementation includes causing two audio drivers to output audio content, where the audio drivers are positioned at a known distance apart in a given azimuthal plane and recording the audio content output by the two audio drivers. The implementation also includes causing a computing device to identify a direction of the NMD relative to a center point of the two audio drivers in the given azimuthal plane. Identifying the direction of the NMD may involve determining a range of possible azimuthal angles between the NMD and the center point, the range of possible angles dependent upon the known distance between the two audio drivers and a phase offset between the two audio drivers indicated by the recorded audio content output. The implementation further includes causing a playback device to adjust calibration based on the identified direction of the NMD. |
| US10021497B2 |
Method for selecting a microphone and apparatus and computer storage medium
A method, apparatus and a computer storage medium for selecting a microphone are disclosed. The method includes: employing ultrasonic measurement to determine a microphone, which is closest to a primary sound source, of a matrix of a plurality of microphones arranged in a device for recording sound; and taking the microphone which is closest to the primary sound source as the current primary microphone and taking other microphones of the matrix of the plurality of microphones as secondary microphones, wherein the primary microphone is used to collect the primary sound source, and the secondary microphones are used to collect ambient noise. |
| US10021495B2 |
Antenna for hearing device, ear tip and hearing device provided with such an antenna
An antenna module for a hearing device includes a hollow core provided with an axial passageway and a winding around the core which is connectable with a hearing device. The antenna module is arranged to be at least partially contained within the ear canal of a user. This enables the antenna to be separated from sources of interference, since it can be positioned inside the ear canal away from hearing device electronics, thus reducing requirements for shielding and/or compensation. The invention further relates to an ear tip and a hearing device including such an antenna module. |
| US10021493B2 |
Suspension assembly for hearing aid receiver
A suspension assembly for a hearing aid receiver is described in which the receiver is contained within a receiver can. A cover assembly may be provided for covering the open top end of the receiver can and for containing the receiver's spout when the receiver is mounted within the receiver can. To dampen or reduce the transmission of receiver vibrations within the receiver can, a spout seal and corner bumpers may also be provided. |
| US10021487B2 |
Headsets with external speakers with predetermined shapes and designs
Disclosed herein is a headset, comprising a headband-like component, one or two external ear pieces, and one or more external speakers. The headband-like component comprises a first end and a second end. Each ear piece of the one or two external ear pieces covers one ear of a user and is connected to one of the first end and second end of the headband-like component. Each external speaker of the one or more external speakers has a predetermined design and each external speaker is mounted on the headband-like component. |
| US10021486B1 |
Portable auxiliary unit for mobile audio player
A portable auxiliary unit for coupling with a mobile audio player is disclosed. The auxiliary unit provides both auxiliary power input and auxiliary audio output for the player, as well as a protective casing in the form of a receiving cup open on a top side. The receiving cup provides access to inputs and outputs on the audio player accessible by cabling from the auxiliary unit installed when an access panel is opened. The auxiliary unit has an integral rechargeable battery pack and a speaker assembly connectable to the audio player via the cables. |
| US10021485B2 |
Prevention of signal clipping due to decrease in amplifier supply voltage
A method may include receiving information indicative of an amplitude of an audio output signal, receiving information indicative of a predicted voltage of a power supply of a signal path having an audio input for receiving an audio input signal and an audio output for generating the audio output signal based on the audio input signal, predicting from the information indicative of the amplitude of the audio output signal and the information indicative of the predicted voltage of the power supply whether the audio output signal will exceed an available supply voltage generated by the power supply, and responsive to determining the audio output signal will exceed the available supply voltage generated by the power supply, attenuating the audio input signal or a derivative thereof to reduce the amplitude of the audio output signal such that the audio output signal does not exceed the available supply voltage of the power supply. |
| US10021483B2 |
Sound capture apparatus, control method therefor, and computer-readable storage medium
A noise signal is estimated based on a captured audio signal captured from a sound capture unit. It is determined whether the estimated noise signal thus estimated is in a noiseless state. If it is determined that the estimated noise signal is in the noiseless state, the captured audio signal is analyzed as a target sound signal, and a characteristic obtained by the analysis is learned and modeled, thereby generating a target sound model. |
| US10021482B2 |
Audio speaker protection system and method
An audio device includes an audio amplifier configured to receive an input signal and generate a differential output signal. A first signal combiner circuit is configured to generate a time-convolution signal of an analog current signal and an analog voltage signal. The analog current signal corresponds to a current at the differential output signal, and the analog voltage signal corresponds to a voltage across the differential output signal. A second signal combiner circuit is configured to subtract the generated time-convolution signal from the input signal. |
| US10021475B2 |
Headset
A headset supported on a head of a wearer while passing around the head includes a bone conduction speaker, a contact type microphone, a frame that supports the bone conduction speaker and has elasticity, and a movable part configured to change a distance between the bone conduction microphone and the frame. This configuration can provide a headset that is easily worn by the wearer. |
| US10021473B2 |
Digital speaker, speaker system, and earphones
A digital speaker (1) is provided that is equipped with a piezoelectric element (4) including n electrodes (51, 52, 53) spaced apart from one another. Sound pressure is adjusted according to the surface area of the electrodes (51, 52, 53), and all the electrodes (51, 52, 53) can be driven by the same voltage. A speaker system is provided that uses the digital speaker (1) as a tweeter (11), or as all the speakers including a woofer (13). By this speaker system, earphones (8) are provided that are miniaturized and have high sound quality. |
| US10021470B2 |
Electrostatic discharge protection of microphones
A microphone has a sensing element; a casing surrounds the microphone with an opening that admits sound to the sensing element in a first direction. A spark director includes a first portion spaced away from the casing in a direction opposite the first direction, and a second portion extending from the first portion towards the casing and terminating in a tip separated from the casing by an air gap. An electric charge in the first portion of the spark director will be discharged by the second portion of the spark director through the air gap into the casing at a location other than at the opening. |
| US10021467B1 |
Load monitoring system for waste hauler based on a speed of powertrain
A system is disclosed for monitoring waste collected by a service vehicle. The system may include a lift actuator configured to cause lifting of the waste, a power takeoff driven by a powertrain of the service vehicle to power the lift actuator, and a sensor configured to generate a speed signal indicative of a speed of the powertrain. The system may also include an output device, and a controller in communication with the sensor and the output device. The controller may be configured to receive the speed signal from the sensor, determine an amount of waste lifted by the lift actuator based on the speed signal, and relay the amount of waste to the output device. |
| US10021465B2 |
Synchronizing media devices
Synchronizing media devices can include generating a synchronization schedule based on a frequency of generation of one or more timecode packets. Each timecode packet of the one or more time packets includes a timecode. A timecode can be expressed in hours, minutes, seconds, and frames. One or more media devices are synchronized using the synchronization schedule. |
| US10021464B2 |
Video content switching and synchronization system and method for switching between multiple video formats
A video content type seamless switching system and method for synchronizing and displaying multiple types of video content in a single platform, such as a single video player, application, or other content player. Illustrative video content type switching may be between 2D and 360 degree formats coordinated by a switching controller. The switching controller may be configured to operate with television displays and associated control components, such as cable boxes, through implementation of the video content switching methods. |
| US10021462B2 |
Content distribution and encoder testing techniques
According to one configuration, to test an encoder resource, a user controls operation of both a mobile communication device and a corresponding video management device. For example, the user inputs a command to a test control application executing on the mobile communication device to test encoding of content by the encoder resource. In response to receiving the input command to test a target encoder resource, the test control application on the mobile communication device transmits video information from the mobile communication device to in the video management device. The video management device processes the video information received from the mobile communication device. Using the video information, the video management device derives and outputs a corresponding coded video stream to the encoder resource under test. As its name suggests, the encoder resource encodes the received video stream and transmits it over an assigned channel in a shared communication link. |
| US10021458B1 |
Electronic commerce functionality in video overlays
Disclosed are various embodiments for providing interactive electronic commerce functionality via graphical overlays on live streaming video. An indication is received that an item is featured or discussed in a live video stream. The live video stream is sent to a client. Data encoding a selectable graphical overlay is sent to the client in response to the indication. The selectable graphical overlay is configured to be rendered by the client relative to the live video stream. A selection of the selectable graphical overlay is configured to perform an interactive function relative to the item. |
| US10021455B2 |
System for identifying content and determining viewership thereof and associated methods
A method of identifying content and tracking viewership thereof comprising measuring a color content of a display device, defining a measured color content and determining an occupancy of a space associated with the display device, defining a determined occupancy. Where the determined occupancy indicated the occupancy by at least one person, the measured color content with is associated with the viewable content. Additionally, a viewership information database is updated responsive to the determined occupancy and the viewable content. In some embodiments, determining the color content may be performed by a luminaire in optical communication with the display device. |
| US10021454B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing personalized content
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, receiving reaction information from one or more sensors located at a second location that is representative of a reaction by a second user at the second location to the presentation of the personalized content, analyzing the reaction information to determine a response based at least in part on trait information associated with different first users, selecting a second portion of the recorded segments based on a comparison of the determined response with a context identified for each of received recorded segments, and adjusting personalized content to include the selected second portion of the recorded segments. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US10021453B2 |
Video content providing apparatus, control method thereof and system
A video content providing apparatus is provided, the video content apparatus including: an output portion comprising output circuitry configured to transmit a content signal for displaying an image to a relay connected to an image processing apparatus to provide the content signal to the image processing apparatus; and at least one processor configured to receive video formation information about a first video format supported by the image processing apparatus from among a plurality of video formats from the relay, and if it is determined that the relay does not support the first video format, to output the content signal corresponding to a second video format different from the first video format and supportable by the relay from among the plurality of video formats. |
| US10021452B2 |
System and method for delivering interactive trigger events
Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method in which a media processor identifies a first key and a second key associated with media content received over a network, and prepares a display object according to the first key that includes a selectable object. The media processor transmits a request to a remote server including the second key; the server returns first additional content and control code associated with the second key. The media processor merges the first additional content with the display object to produce an overlay for presentation with the media content in accordance with the control code. The overlay is associated with a provider of the first additional content; the first key is independent of the provider, and the second key corresponds to the provider. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US10021446B2 |
Multimedia stream processing system
A multimedia signal processing system allows a user to store selected programs while simultaneously watching or reviewing another. The system includes an input section and an output section. Across all configurations, the output section remains substantially the same, while the input section varies according to the signal type and the source. The system receives a digital stream and simultaneously processes the digital stream for display and stores the digital stream on at least one storage device. The system further simultaneously processes a previously recorded digital stream for display while processing the digital stream for display. |
| US10021442B1 |
Systems and methods for causing a stunt switcher to run a bug-removal DVE
Disclosed herein are systems and methods for causing a stunt switcher to run a bug-removal digital-video effect (DVE). In one aspect, a method involves selecting a first log-entry from a traffic log, wherein the first log-entry corresponds to a bug-removal DVE stored in the stunt switcher; selecting a second log-entry from the traffic log, wherein the second log-entry corresponds to a show-segment video-component (VC) and a start time; causing the VC to start being channeled through the stunt switcher proximate the start time; making a determination that a threshold time-period remains in a show portion of the VC; and responsive to making the determination that the threshold time-period remains in the show portion of the VC, causing the stunt switcher to run the stored bug-removal DVE, thereby removing any bug overlayed on the VC as a remainder of the VC is being channeled through the stunt switcher. |
| US10021439B2 |
Temporary subscription access via an alternate television receiver
Various arrangements that permit temporary subscription porting are presented. A temporary subscription port request may be submitted by a subscriber. The temporary subscription port request may include an identifier of a visitor television receiver and authentication information for the subscriber. In response to the temporary subscription port request, a first command to a home television receiver may be transmitted that disables viewing a first set of television channels linked with the subscriber's subscription account. In response to the temporary subscription port request, a second command to the visitor television receiver may be transmitted that enables viewing the first set of television channels linked with the subscriber's subscription account. |
| US10021436B2 |
Storage of tags in video for carriage in real-time
There is provided a system and method for storing tags in video for carriage in real-time. The system comprising a content creator and a television network, the content creating configured to retrieve a video from a memory for delivery to the television network, generate an ID3 tag for the video, the ID3 tag including information about the video, insert the ID3 tag into a vertical ancillary data (VANC) space of the video, and transmit the video including the ID3 tag to the television network. The television network configured to receive the video including the ID3 tag from the content creator and transmit the video including the ID3 tag to a display device. |
| US10021435B2 |
Method and system for datacasting and content management
A method and system of content management for datacasting. Such a system may have, as its core, a dashboard system for managing data feeds. A dashboard system may receive data feeds from one or more associated devices, such as the hardware devices of first responders or other public safety officers, and may aggregate and prioritize them. The dashboard system may then manage, prioritize and encrypt the video, files and other data in preparation for broadcast over the television or satellite transmitter, via, for example, a television broadcasting station, and may then broadcast the video, files, or other data to a plurality of users. Alerts and notifications may be created, files attached and links to video streams distributed over this same broadcast network. The broadcasting system may be able to send multiple streams of content simultaneously, may be able to target specific users to be broadcast to, and may be able to incorporate data from public data sources, such as public security cameras. |
| US10021433B1 |
Video-production system with social-media features
In one aspect, an example method includes (i) receiving, by a computing system, a data stream representing a media content item followed by a social media (SM) content item, (ii) performing, by the computing system, an analysis of a data rate of the data stream, (iii) determining, by the computing system based on the analysis, a demarcation point in the data stream between the media content item and the SM content item, and (iv) integrating, by the computing system using the demarcation point, the SM content item without the media content item into a video program. |
| US10021432B2 |
Time series data encoding apparatus, method, and program, and time series data re-encoding apparatus, method, and program
A time series data encoding apparatus includes a time series data encoding means 11 for compressing and encoding time series data thereby to generate encoded bit streams, a virtual buffer 12 for calculating a transition of the amount of data accumulated in a buffer in a virtual decoder defined according to an encoding system, a buffer usage analyzing means 13 for analyzing the transition of the amount of accumulated data thereby to reset parameters indicating a size of the buffer and the amount of accumulated data in the buffer at a predetermined time, and a multiplexing means 14 for multiplexing the encoded bit streams generated by the time series data encoding means 11 and the parameters reset by the buffer usage analyzing means 13. |
| US10021428B2 |
Simplifications for boundary strength derivation in deblocking
The present invention relates to an advantageous scheme for boundary strength derivation and decision processing related to deblocking filtering. More particularly, the present invention improves schemes for deciding deblocking and selecting appropriate deblocking filters known in the art so as to reduce the number of calculation cycles and required memory space. |
| US10021421B2 |
Method and apparatus for entropy encoding/decoding a transform coefficient
A method and apparatus for entropy coding and decoding a transformation block are provided. The method of entropy coding a transformation block includes: determining, according to a certain scan order, a location of a last significant transformation coefficient having a non-zero value from among transformation coefficients included in a transformation block having a certain size; and coding information about the determined location of the last significant transformation coefficient by using a horizontal axis direction location of the last significant transformation coefficient and a vertical axis direction location in the transformation block of the last significant transformation coefficient. |
| US10021418B2 |
Method and apparatus of candidate generation for single sample mode in video coding
A method and apparatus of video coding for a block of depth data or texture data coded in SSM (Single Sample Mode) are disclosed. Embodiments according to the present invention construct a sample candidate list comprising one or more single color candidates corresponding to one or more representative samples of one or more previous SSM-coded blocks, or one or more palette color candidates corresponding to one or more previously used colors in one or more previous palettes associated with one or more palette-coded blocks, or both. A selected sample candidate is then determined from the sample candidate list and the selected sample candidate is used to encode or decode the current block by representing the whole current block by this selected sample candidate. Spatial and/or temporal candidates from previously SSM-coded blocks can also be included in the sample candidate list. |
| US10021416B2 |
Method, apparatus, and bitstream for generating reconstructed blocks using filter for intra prediction mode
According to the present invention, an image encoding/decoding method comprises the steps of: performing an intra prediction on a current block so as to generate a prediction block; performing filtering on a filtering target pixel in the prediction block on the basis of the intra prediction mode of the current block so as to generate a final prediction block; and generating a reconstructed block on the basis of a reconstructed differential block corresponding to the current block and on the final prediction block. According to the present invention, image encoding/decoding efficiency can be improved. |
| US10021414B2 |
Bitstream constraints and motion vector restriction for inter-view or inter-layer reference pictures
Techniques are described for motion vector restriction where information in a bitstream ensures that a derived motion vector from a motion vector predictor is compliant with a motion vector restriction. Techniques are also described for indicating the motion vector restriction for parallel decoding. |
| US10021413B2 |
Apparatus and method for video data processing
Methods and apparatus for facilitating processing a reference frame to produce an output frame. Motion vector data for a block of reference frame pels estimates the displacement of the reference frame pels from corresponding pels in a prior input frame. Comparison metrics are produced for a pel of the reference frame with respect to that pel and a plurality of neighboring reference frame pels. A first comparison metric is based on a comparison with corresponding pels of a prior output frame that corresponds to the prior input frame as previously processed. A second comparison metric is based on a comparison with corresponding pels of a motion compensated prior output frame derived from applying motion vector data to the pels of the prior output frame. A pel of the output frame that corresponds to the reference frame pel is determined using the first and second comparison metrics. |
| US10021410B2 |
Image coding method, image decoding method, memory managing method, image coding apparatus, image decoding apparatus, memory managing apparatus, and image coding and decoding apparatus
With an image coding method which allows reduction of processing loads, when pictures included in a video signal are classified into layers so as to belong to their respective layers, a picture that belongs to the second layer that is located in a range restricted according to the first layer to which a current picture to be coded that is one of the pictures belongs, is referred to as a reference picture for the current picture, and the current picture is coded based on the reference picture. |
| US10021408B2 |
Video codec and motion estimation method
The invention provides a video codec. In one embodiment, the video codec is coupled to an outer memory storing a reference frame, and comprises an interface circuit, an in-chip memory, a motion estimation circuit, and a controller. The interface circuit obtains in-chip data from the reference frame stored in the outer memory. The in-chip memory stores the in-chip data. The motion estimation circuit retrieves search window data from the in-chip data with a search window, and performs a motion estimation process on a current macroblock according to the search-window data. The controller shifts the location of the search window when the current macroblock is shifted, marks a macroblock shifted out from the search window as an empty macroblock, and controls the interface circuit to obtain an updated macroblock for replacing the empty macroblock in the in-chip memory from the reference frame stored in the outer memory. |
| US10021407B2 |
Field programmable object array having image processing circuitry
A field programmable object array integrated circuit has video data compression capability. The integrated circuit comprises an array of programmable objects and a video compression co-processor communicatively coupled to the array of objects. The video compression co-processor comprises a set of search engines and a subpixel engine. The subpixel engine can interpolate subpixels from integer pixels and shift the integer pixels by a predetermined number of subpixels. The search engines can perform a plurality of sum of absolute differences (SAD) computations between search window pixels and macroblock pixels to locate the best SAD value using either integer pixels and/or the interpolated subpixels. |
| US10021404B2 |
Coding of significance maps and transform coefficient blocks
A higher coding efficiency for coding a significance map indicating positions of significant transform coefficients within a transform coefficient block is achieved by the scan order by which the sequentially extracted syntax elements indicating, for associated positions within the transform coefficient block, as to whether at the respective position a significant or insignificant transform coefficient is situated, are sequentially associated to the positions of the transform coefficient block, among the positions of the transform coefficient block depends on the positions of the significant transform coefficients indicated by previously associated syntax elements. Alternatively, the first-type elements may be context-adaptively entropy decoded using contexts which are individually selected for each of the syntax elements dependent on a number of significant transform coefficients in a neighborhood of the respective syntax element, indicated as being significant by any of the preceding syntax elements. |
| US10021398B2 |
Adaptive tile data size coding for video and image compression
A method for encoding a video signal includes estimating a space requirement for encoding a tile of a video frame, writing a first value in a first value space of the bitstream, wherein the first value describes a size of a second value space, and defining the second value space in the bitstream, wherein the size of the second value space is based on an estimated space requirement. The method also includes writing encoded content in a content space of the bitstream, determining a size of the content space subsequent to writing encoded content in the content space, and writing a second value in the second value space of the bitstream, wherein the second value describes the size of the content space. |
| US10021397B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a hash generator, a reference hash list, a frame mode determination unit, and an intra prediction unit. The hash generator generates a hash value of a target frame to be encoded. The reference hash list is to record the hash value generated by the hash generator. The frame mode determination unit compares the hash value generated by the hash generator and the hash value in the reference hash list. The intra prediction unit performs intra prediction for the target frame to be encoded. When the hash value of the target frame to be encoded coincides with any of the hash values in the reference hash list, the intra prediction unit skips an encoding process, and outputs encoded information corresponding to any of the hash values in the reference hash list. |
| US10021394B2 |
Hypothetical reference decoder parameters in video coding
A computing device selects, from among a set of hypothetical reference decoder (HRD) parameters in a video parameter set and a set of HRD parameters in a sequence parameter set, a set of HRD parameters applicable to a particular operation point of a bitstream. The computing device performs, based at least in part on the set of HRD parameters applicable to the particular operation point, an HRD operation on a bitstream subset associated with the particular operation point. |
| US10021386B2 |
Image processing device which predicts an image by referring a reference image of an allocated index
The present technique relates to an image processing device and a method that can improve encoding efficiency in multi-viewpoint encoding. A reference image index allocation unit alternately allocates a reference image index referred by a motion estimator/compensator to predict an image to be processed to a referable image in a view direction and to a referable image in a time direction. In allocation, the reference image index allocation unit refers to time information and view information of the reference image accumulated in a decoded picture buffer, information such as a sequence parameter set and a slice header from a syntax processing unit, and the like. |
| US10021382B2 |
Calibrating a one-dimensional coded light 3D acquisition system
A camera intrinsic calibration may be performed using an object geometry. An intrinsic camera matrix may then be recovered. A homography is fit between object and camera coordinate systems. View transformations are finally recovered. |
| US10021371B2 |
Method and apparatus for gross-level user and input detection using similar or dissimilar camera pair
An information handling system includes a RGB digital camera and a secondary digital camera that can be any type of two-dimensional or three-dimensional digital camera known in the art and a processor. The processor executes code instructions of a gross-level input detection system to detect objects in images taken contemporaneously by the RGB digital camera and the secondary digital camera using object detection techniques, and to calculate the positions of regions of interest within those objects. Further, the processor executes code instructions to detect the orientation of regions of interest within identified objects, and to associate those orientations, changes in orientations, or movement of regions of interest with user commands. |
| US10021370B2 |
Inspection device controlled processing line system
An optical inspector with feedback capability includes an optical device that captures an image when a sample is within the field of view of the optical device, a storage device that stores the captured image, a processor that determines a quality characteristic value of the sample based on the captured image, and an interface circuit that outputs inspection data or a command based on the quality characteristic value. A method of controlling a sample processing line is also disclosed, the method including capturing an image of a sample traversing the processing line, determining a quality characteristic of the sample based at least in part on the captured image, and causing the operation of a device included in the processing line to be adjusted based at least in part on the quality characteristic value. In one example, the optical inspector is an in-flight 3D inspector located in the processing line. |
| US10021367B2 |
Method and apparatus of inter-view candidate derivation for three-dimensional video coding
A method and apparatus of three-dimensional/multi-view coding using a candidate list including a second inter-view candidate in the candidate list for Merge mode, Skip mode or AMVP based (Advanced Motion Vector Prediction based) Inter mode are disclosed. The second inter-view candidate can be derived based on already coded or decoded texture data for the candidate list to include. For example, the second inter-view candidate can be determined from the motion information associated with a corresponding block in a reference view, where the corresponding block is located according to the location of the right-bottom neighboring block and a selected disparity vector. The right-bottom neighboring block is located across from a right-bottom corner of the current texture block. The second inter-view candidate can be inserted into the candidate list only when the number of previous available candidates is smaller than a pre-specified number. |
| US10021366B2 |
Image process apparatus
An image process apparatus includes an image capture device, a filter, a receiver, an input interface, a mixture unit, and an output interface. The image capture device captures an original image and generates a depth map corresponding to the original image, wherein the original image includes at least a first object within a first depth range of the depth map and the other objects not within the first depth range of the depth map. The receiver stores a value of the first depth range and the input interface receives an input image. The filter removes the other objects from the original image and generates a temporary image which includes the first object based on the value of the first depth range. The mixture unit combines the temporary image with the input image, and generates a blending image which is then outputted by the output interface to an external display. |
| US10021365B2 |
Method and system for operating a set-top-box
A method for operating a set-top-box that supports 3D video content is disclosed. The method involves transmitting video content from an HDMI port of the set-top-box to a display device at a first resolution. The method also involves, in response to a change in the HDMI_Video_Format field or in the 3D_Structure field of an HDMI Vendor Specific InfoFrame, automatically switching to transmitting video content from the HDMI port of the set-top-box at a second resolution. The method also involves, after the switch to the second resolution, automatically switching back to transmitting video content from the HDMI port of the set-top-box at the first resolution in order to trigger a re-sync operation at the display device. |
| US10021363B2 |
Method and apparatus for processing source image to generate target image
An apparatus for processing a source image to generate a target image is provided. The target image includes a plurality of target pictures. The apparatus includes a first image processing circuit and a second image processing circuit. The first image processing circuit separates the source image into a first image including a first part of the source image and a second image including a second part of the source image. The second image processing circuit processes the first image to obtain a plurality of target first pictures according to a first setting, process the second image to obtain a plurality of target second pictures according to a second setting, and combine each of the target first pictures with a corresponding one of the target second pictures to obtain the plurality of target pictures. A method for processing a source image to generate a target image is also provided. |
| US10021362B2 |
Image processing apparatus, non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer program, and image processing method using hysteresis to calculate gain
An image processing apparatus includes an AWB gain calculation section that calculates a WB gain Gs and a hysteresis gain Gh for every frame, a WB correction section that performs WB correction using Gh, a control section that causes the WB correction section to perform the WB correction using a fixed gain Gf during lock of white balance, and a gain adjustment section that weights and adds a WB gain Gs(n) and a correction hysteresis gain Gh′(n−1) to calculate a correction hysteresis gain Gh′(n) after unlock of the white balance, and the control section causes the WB correction section to perform WB correction for a frame n using Gh′(n). |
| US10021360B2 |
Image displaying system
An image displaying system is provided, including an image device, first and second carrying devices. The image device receives an external image message. The first carrying device has an accommodating space. An imaging assembly is disposed at one end of the first carrying device while a virtual-image imaging assembly is disposed at the opposite end. The second carrying device has a storage space. The image device may attach to the accommodating space. When triggered, the image device transforms the external image message into a reversed image message and then projects the reversed image message to the imaging assembly. The virtual-image imaging assembly projects the reversed image message of the imaging assembly to produce a first image. The image device may attach to the storage space such that it projects the external image message to a target to produce a second image. |
| US10021355B2 |
Method and device for processing request
A method for processing a request includes receiving a query request sent by a first terminal. The query request is configured to request to query camera data collected by a camera, the camera data including at least one of image data or video data. The method further includes judging whether an account corresponding to the first terminal has a permission to obtain the camera data according to the query request and pushing a prompt message to a second terminal bound to the camera if the account corresponding to the first terminal does not have the permission. The prompt message is configured to prompt that the camera data is accessed abnormally. |
| US10021353B2 |
Optimizing detection of known light sources
A method of optimizing detection of known light sources is provided herein. The method may include: positioning a plurality of cameras having different spectral bands to have at least partially identical fields of view in respect to a view that contains the light sources; capturing images of the light sources by the cameras at different spectral bands; estimating, for each pixel and all cameras, relative fraction values of collected sun light and of collected light sources; deriving, for each pixel, optimal fraction values of sun light and of the light sources, by minimizing, for each pixel, a mean square error estimation of an overall radiation with respect to the estimated relative fraction values. |
| US10021351B2 |
Stereoscopic video imaging
Systems and methods for viewing stereoscopic video images are disclosed. The systems can include a first video camera configured to generate a first video feed of a subject, and a second video camera configured to generate a second video feed of the subject. The first video feed and the second video feed combined generate a near real-time stereoscopic video image. A tracking module can be associated with the first video camera and the second video camera, and can be configured to cause the first video camera and the second video camera to be directed to a desired convergent point relative to a selected tracking point to maintain stereopsis. The system may further include an array of video cameras, a gesture control module, an image adjustment module, a calibration module, or a 3-D modeling module, for example. |
| US10021349B2 |
Conference migration method, apparatus, and system
A conference migration method, apparatus, and system, where the method includes performing, by a first terminal, a first conference with a second terminal, sending, by the first terminal, a request to a server in order to acquire a uniform resource identifier (URI) of a second conference, sending, by the first terminal, a related parameter of the first conference to a multipoint control unit (MCU) of the second conference, and performing, by the first terminal, the second conference with the second terminal using the MCU of the second conference, where a related parameter of the second conference is same as the related parameter of the first conference. |
| US10021348B1 |
Conferencing system, display method for shared display device, and switching device
A conferencing system configured to make it easy to switch video data to be displayed on a shared display device. Multiple client devices are connected to a switching device directly or via a network. The output of the switching device is connected to a shared display device. Each client device outputs, to the switching device, video data used for a presentation. The switching device registers, in a queue, the order of displaying received video data on the shared display device. The registered order can be the order of receiving video data at the switching device. The content of the queue and the allocated time of each presenter can be displayed on the shared display device. The switching device switches video data to be displayed on the shared display device at a predetermined timing according to the order of the queue. |
| US10021347B2 |
Architecture for high availability conferencing
Providing high availability multi-way conferencing. Separate signaling and media components may be provided within an MCU or among a cluster of MCUs. A signaling server may control signaling aspects of a conference while a media server may provide media support for the conference. In the event of media server failure, the signaling server may assign a new media server to provide media support for the conference. A backup signaling server may also monitor the signaling server and may provide signaling support for the conference in the event of signaling server failure. |
| US10021346B2 |
Interactive video conferencing
Technology for a local user equipment (UE) operable to perform video conferencing with a remote UE is disclosed. The local UE can receive a set of predefined region of interests (ROIs) from the remote UE. The local UE can select a predefined ROI from the set of predefined ROIs received from the remote UE. The local UE can communicate the predefined ROI to the remote UE that directs the remote UE to capture video within the predefined ROI and encode the video within the predefined ROI. The local UE can receive encoded video within the predefined ROI from the remote UE. The encoded video can include regions within the predefined ROI and excluding regions outside the predefined ROI. The local UE can provide the encoded video within the predefined ROI for rendering and display at the local UE. |
| US10021345B2 |
Communication management system, communication terminal, communication system, communication control method, and recording medium
A communication management system transmits questionnaire information including a set of questions relating to one or more services available to a communication terminal to the communication terminal through a network, receives answer information including a set of answers to the set of questions from the communication terminal through the network, determines a service to be provided to the communication terminal based on the answer information, and transmits to a relay device an operating parameter for controlling the relay device in transmitting or receiving content data to or from the communication terminal according to the determined service. |
| US10021341B2 |
Orientation adjustment for casting videos
System, method, and computer product embodiments for proving an orientation adjustment for casting visual content on a display device are described. A computing device selects an orientation adjustment to be used in transcoding a video having a frame and assigned an orientation. The computing device requests a transcoder within the computing device to transcode the frame based on the orientation adjustment to generate a transcoded frame. The transcoded frame is converted into a format comparable to a reference frame representing the frame that is corrected transcoded to the assigned orientation. Then, the computing device compares the converted frame with the reference frame to determine that the frame is transcoded correctly to the assigned orientation. If the frame is transcoded correctly, the computing device uses the selected orientation adjustment when transcoding visual content for casting or streaming on a display device in an orientation matching that of the visual content. |
| US10021340B2 |
Method and an apparatus for generating data representative of a light field
There are several types of plenoptic devices and camera arrays available on the market, and all these light field acquisition devices have their proprietary file format. However, there is no standard supporting the acquisition and transmission of multi-dimensional information. It is interesting to obtain information related to a correspondence between pixels of a sensor of said optical acquisition system and an object space of said optical acquisition system. Indeed, knowing which portion of the object space of an optical acquisition system a pixel belonging to the sensor of said optical acquisition system is sensing enables the improvement of signal processing operations. The notion of pixel beam, which represents a volume occupied by a set of rays of light in an object space of an optical system of a camera along with a compact format for storing such information is thus introduce. |
| US10021339B2 |
Electronic device for generating video data
An electronic device for generating video data is disclosed. The electronic device may include a communication unit configured to wirelessly receive a video stream captured by a camera, wherein the camera is located in an unmanned aerial vehicle. The electronic device may also include at least one sound sensor configured to receive an input sound stream. In addition, the electronic device may include an audio control unit configured to generate an audio stream associated with the video stream based on the input sound stream. Further, the electronic device may include a synthesizer unit configured to generate the video data based on the video stream and the audio stream. |
| US10021337B2 |
Systems and methods for saving and restoring scenes in a multimedia system
Systems and methods for saving and restoring scenes in a multimedia system with minimal configuration are provided. The techniques of the present invention can allow the states of the components in the multimedia system to be captured in a scene. Once the scene has been saved, the scene can be restored at a later time. A remote control system for recommending scenes by comparing states of components in the current scene with states of components in saved scenes is also provided. The remote control system can also recommend scenes based on usage patterns. Moreover, the remote control system can allow users to designate one or more saved scenes as favorite scenes. |
| US10021335B2 |
Imaging element, imaging method and electronic apparatus
There is provided an imaging device including a pixel array section including pixel units two-dimensionally arranged in a matrix pattern, each pixel unit including a photoelectric converter, and a plurality of column signal lines disposed according to a first column of the pixel units. The imaging device further includes an analog to digital converter that is shared by the plurality of column signal lines. |
| US10021329B2 |
Imaging device, monitoring device, and electronic device
An imaging device includes a pixel; a digital circuit; and an analog processing circuit including a constant current circuit, a current comparison circuit, and a control circuit. The pixel is capable of outputting differential data. The constant current circuit is capable of supplying a first current corresponding to the differential data, in accordance with a first control signal. The current comparison circuit is capable of supplying a second current that flows through the constant current circuit in accordance with a change in the differential data. The current comparison circuit has a function of setting a determination signal active depending on whether to supply the second current to the constant current circuit. The control circuit has a function of controlling the constant current circuit and the current comparison circuit to stop their functions as the determination signal becomes active. The digital circuit operates as the determination signal becomes active. |
| US10021326B2 |
Solid-state image sensor including pixels for detecting focus using a difference in intensity between lights
A solid-state image sensor includes a first pixel for detecting focus, a second pixel disposed adjacent to the first pixel, a third pixel disposed adjacent to the first pixel, and a first light reflecting member disposed between the first pixel and the third pixel. The first pixel includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion units. When a second light reflecting member is disposed between the first pixel and the second pixel, the width in a predetermined direction of the first light reflecting member is larger than the width in a predetermined direction of the second light reflecting member. |
| US10021325B2 |
Image sensor and image capturing apparatus
An image sensor provided with an imaging unit including a plurality of photoelectric converters, the image sensor comprises: an input unit to which compressed image data is input from the outside of the image sensor; a decompressor for decompressing the compressed image data input from the input unit; and an image processor that applies image processing to image pickup data obtained from the imaging unit and to the image data decompressed by the decompressor. |
| US10021318B2 |
Method and apparatus in a motion video capturing system
A method for delivering motion video, which is captured by a first motion video camera, to a client device from said first motion video camera. The method comprises receiving, at the first motion video camera from the client, a request of a motion video and an indication of a requested format, matching, in a transcoding format list of the first motion video camera, the selected format to an address of a second motion video camera, sending, to said address of the second motion video camera, a motion video which have been identified in a request, the motion video having a format different from the selected format, receiving at the first motion video camera from the second motion video camera said requested motion video in the selected format, and sending said requested motion video in the selected format to the client. |
| US10021316B2 |
Photoelectric conversion device having a plurality of photoelectric conversion units and a plurality of charge holding units, and imaging system
A photoelectric conversion device includes a unit pixel cell including a first photoelectric conversion unit and a second photoelectric conversion unit, a first charge holding unit, a second charge holding unit, and a third charge holding unit, a first transfer unit provided between the first photoelectric conversion unit and the first charge holding unit, a second transfer unit provided between the first photoelectric conversion unit and the third charge holding unit, a third transfer unit provided between the second photoelectric conversion unit and the second charge holding unit, and a fourth transfer unit provided between the second photoelectric conversion unit and the third charge holding unit, wherein the number of all photoelectric conversion units connected to the first to third charge holding units is smaller than three as the total number of the first to third charge holding units. |
| US10021312B2 |
Endoscope system and method for operating endoscope system
An endoscope system includes: an image configuring portion configured to configure a first image and a second image based on image pickup signals corresponding to different areas in a same subject; a luminance detecting portion configured to detect luminances of the first and second images; and a luminance control portion adjusting, for areas obtained by dividing each of the first and second images as units, the luminance of at least one of the images so that a luminance difference between two areas where the first image and the second image adjoin each other becomes equal to or smaller than a threshold. |
| US10021311B2 |
Camera control apparatus
A camera control apparatus is provided. The camera control apparatus includes: a processor configured to detect a partial image including an object from a first image of a camera, generate a control value for controlling a camera capturing area to position a specific point of the object corresponding to specific coordinates of the partial image on center coordinates of a second image of the camera which is captured by the camera subsequent to the first image based on center coordinates of the partial image and center coordinates of the first image; and a camera drive controller configured to change the camera capturing area based on the control value output from the processor. |
| US10021309B2 |
Image recording apparatus and image reproducing apparatus
An image reproducing includes a memory that stores instructions, and one or more processors that execute the instructions to cause the image reproducing apparatus to function as a generation unit configured to generate an image corresponding to a virtual diaphragm value by reconstructing image data, a setting unit configured to set the virtual diaphragm value, and a display control unit configured to display, on a display, the image corresponding to the virtual diaphragm value generated by the generation unit. The display control unit displays the image corresponding to the virtual diaphragm value and a graphical user interface for indicating the virtual diaphragm value of the image set by the setting unit. In addition, the display control unit displays a plurality of images generated by the generation unit together, and the plurality of images respectively correspond to a plurality of virtual diaphragm values. |
| US10021308B2 |
Digital imaging apparatus and control method
There is provided a digital imaging apparatus including a motion sensor configured to output motion data corresponding to a movement of a camera module from at least one sensing axis, a single signal conversion processor configured to transmit or receive the motion data at a switching timing interval, and to compensate for a phase delay due to the switching timing interval of the motion data, and a single signal conversion controller configured to control the switching timing interval of the single signal conversion processor and phase delay compensation regarding the motion data of the at least one sensing axis according to the switching timing interval. |
| US10021305B2 |
Image capture apparatus with panning assistance function and control method thereof
An angular velocity of an image capture apparatus and a motion vector between images are detected. An object velocity is computed based on a comparison between a change amount of the angular velocities and a change amount of the motion vectors. Then, by changing an optical axis based on the object velocity during exposure, a panning assistance function capable of dealing with various panning operations can be provided. |
| US10021303B2 |
Electronic apparatus, recording medium and electronic apparatus system
An electronic apparatus, a non-transitory computer readable recording medium, and an electronic apparatus system are disclosed. In one embodiment, an electronic apparatus comprises a display screen, a back camera, a submergence sensor, and at least one processor. The back camera is located in a back surface opposite to a front surface on which the display screen is located. The submergence sensor is configured to measure a physical quantity that varies when the electronic apparatus is submerged in water. The at least one processor is configured to detect, based on the physical quantity measured by the submergence sensor, a submergence state in which the back camera is located underwater. When detecting the submergence state, the at least one processor causes the back camera to start capturing a video. |
| US10021301B2 |
Omnidirectional camera with multiple processors and/or multiple sensors connected to each processor
An apparatus comprising a plurality of image modules and a plurality of processors. The image modules may each comprise (i) a sensor configured to generate images and (ii) a lens mounted to the sensor. The processors may each be configured to (A) receive the images from a subset of the plurality of image modules and (B) generate a plurality of video streams. Each one of the video streams may be generated by one of the processors in response to the images received from one of the image modules. The subset of the plurality of image modules may comprise at least two distinct image modules of the plurality of image modules. The lenses may be arranged to allow the images to provide coverage for a spherical field of view of a scene surrounding the apparatus. |
| US10021296B2 |
Automatic rotatable camera for panorama taking in mobile terminals
A method and apparatus to create a panoramic image via a rotating camera of a portable electronic device are provided. The method includes rotating the camera of the portable electronic device with respect to the portable electronic device. The method further includes recording a plurality of images at a plurality of corresponding angles between the camera and a direction of the portable electronic device. The method further includes stitching the plurality of images together based on the plurality of angles and creating a panoramic image from the plurality of images. |
| US10021292B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image capturing apparatus and image processing program
The image processing apparatus includes an image producer to produce a captured image by using outputs from multiple photoelectric converters in an image sensor, a phase difference information acquirer to acquire phase difference information by using outputs from multiple specific photoelectric converters, and an object detector to detect an object, a size detector to detect an image size of the detected object. The object detector is capable of detecting a first object and a second object that is a part of the first object. The selector selects, when the image size of the first object is smaller than a predetermined size, the specific photoelectric converters depending on an area including the first object and selects, when the image size of the first object is larger than the predetermined size, the specific photoelectric converters depending on an area including the second object. |
| US10021289B2 |
Image pickup apparatus and image pickup system with point image intensity distribution calculation
An image pickup apparatus, comprising a point image intensity distribution generating unit configured to generate a point image intensity distribution based on lens light field data and a sensor light-receiving intensity characteristic, the lens light field data including information relating to directions of a plurality of light fluxes emitted from one point of an object position and passing through different regions of an exit pupil of an imaging optical system; and information relating to positions of points on the plurality of light fluxes, the sensor light-receiving intensity characteristic representing light-receiving intensities, which are determined on a light receiving surface of an image pickup element, of light fluxes passing through respective regions of an entrance pupil of a microlens arranged over the image pickup element. |
| US10021284B2 |
Epipolar plane single-pulse indirect TOF imaging for automotives
A method and a system are disclosed for detecting a depth of an object illuminated by at least one first light pulse. Detection of light reflected from the object illuminated by the at least one first light pulse by a first row of pixels of 2D pixel array is enabled for a first predetermined period of time in which the first row of pixels forms an epipolar line of a scanning line of a first light pulse. Enabling of the detection by the first row of pixels for the first predetermined period of time occurs a second predetermined period of time after a beginning of a pulse cycle T of the at least one first light pulse. Detection signals are generated corresponding to the detected light reflected from the object, and the generated detection signals are used to determine a depth of the object. |
| US10021279B2 |
Image capturing device with slantwise surface
An image capturing device includes a first housing and a second housing. The first housing includes a first axis and a first slantwise surface. The second housing includes a second axis and a second slantwise surface. When the first housing is at a first state, the first axis and the second axis are substantially parallel to each other. When the first housing is not at the first state, the first axis and the second axis are nonparallel. |
| US10021276B1 |
Method and device for processing video, electronic device and storage medium
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method and a device for processing a video, an electronic device and a storage medium. The method includes the followings. A target recognition is performed to A first video segments and B first speech segments to obtain M second video segments and N second speech segments. A speech processing is performed to the N second speech segments to obtain N target speech text files. First representation information is extracted from the M second video segments to obtain Q pieces of first representation information. A second sound matched with the target character is determined according to the Q pieces of first representation information. The second sound is merged with the N target speech text files to obtain N target speech segments. |
| US10021274B2 |
Color processing apparatus, color processing system, and non-transitory computer readable medium
A color processing apparatus includes a processor configured to implement first, second, and third acquiring units. The first acquiring unit acquires first color data indicating association among first-space color in a first space, second-space color obtained by reading measurement images having different first-space colors, and third-space color obtained by converting the second-space color through a predetermined transformation model. The second acquiring unit acquires second color data indicating association between the first-space color and the third-space color obtained by performing color measurement on some of the specific-color measurement images containing a specific color in the first space and included in the measurement images. The third acquiring unit acquires third color data indicating association between the first-space color and the third-space color obtained by converting the first-space color through a transformation equation obtained from the first and second color data. The conversion is performed on the other specific-color measurement images. |
| US10021273B2 |
Image reading device provided with reader having lens array and light receiving elements and correcting output based on evaluation of reference member readings
In an image reading device, a controller is configured to perform: calculating a ratio between first and second reference data as evaluation data; designating a target light receiving element from a plurality of light receiving elements one by one sequentially; calculating average evaluation data of the target light receiving element by averaging the evaluation data of a second number of light receiving elements located at positions apart every predetermined distance equal to a length of a first number of consecutively arranged light receiving elements; setting an evaluation range of the target light receiving element by adding/subtracting a predetermined value to/from the average evaluation data; determining whether the evaluation data falls within the evaluation range; in response to determining that the evaluation data is out of the evaluation range, revising the second reference data of the target light receiving element; and generating correction data using the second reference data after revision. |
| US10021271B2 |
Correction method for image forming apparatus
A correction method for an image forming apparatus including a light source including a plurality of light emitting points, a photosensitive member configured to rotate in a first direction, and a deflection unit configured to deflect light beams emitted from the light source in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction to form scanning lines, the correction method including: a storing step of storing information on positional deviation of the scanning lines in the first direction; a conversion step of converting positions of pixels of an input image by performing coordinate transformation based on the information so that an interval of the scanning lines becomes a predetermined interval; and a filtering step of determining pixel values of pixels of an output image by subjecting pixel values of the pixels of the input image after the coordinate transformation to a convolution operation. |
| US10021270B2 |
Dither mask generation method and device
The dither mask generation method includes: a process of setting a nozzle relative ejection rate which is a control target of the nozzle ejection rate and stipulates a relative using ratio of the individual nozzles; a process of setting a nozzle pattern indicating correspondence relation between individual pixels of the dither mask and the nozzles in charge of recording at respective pixel positions; a process of setting an upper limit to the nozzle ejection rates of the individual nozzles for each raster in a main scanning direction, regarding at least some thresholds; and a process of setting the thresholds to the pixels of the dither mask based on the nozzle relative ejection rate, the nozzle pattern and a limitation by the upper limit. |
| US10021269B2 |
Image correction device, image correction system, image correction method
A read sensor generates front side image information indicating an image on a front side of an object to be read, and front side measurement information indicating a line of an image in a main scanning direction on the front side of a correction chart. A read sensor generates back side image information indicating an image on a back side of the object to be read, and back side measurement information indicating a line of an image in the main scanning direction on the back side of the correction chart. The image correction device calculates an amount of misalignment of read positions based on the front side measurement information and the back side measurement information, and corrects misalignment of images on the front side and the back side of the object to be read, indicated by the front side image information and the back side image information. |
| US10021268B1 |
Image reading apparatus and method for generating image data with reference member used for shading correction having a reference surface and background surface at different positions
An image reading apparatus according to an embodiment includes an image reading unit that generates reference data by reading a reference surface and generates image data by reading a sheet. A reference plate includes the reference surface for generating the reference data for shading correction of the image reading unit and a background surface for background of a sheet to be read to generate the image data. A control unit controls the positions of the image reading unit and the reference plate to be at a first position relative to each other when the reference data is to be generated and at a second position relative to each other when the image data is to be generated. The second position is different from the first position. A shading correction unit performs the shading correction in the image reading unit based on the generated reference data. |
| US10021265B2 |
Image sensor
An image sensor includes: a lens configured to focus light irradiated toward an object to be read and reflected by the object to be read; a sensor configured to receive light focused by the lens; a sensor board configured to mount thereon the sensor; a board retaining plate, having a casing attachment surface extending in the X direction and a sensor board attachment reference surface that is in contact with the +Y side of the sensor board and is formed in a side surface of the casing attachment surface, and configured to retain the sensor board; and a first casing configured to fix or retain the board retaining plate by fastening of a surface of the casing attachment surface. |
| US10021264B2 |
Information processing apparatus and method for executing and controlling sequential processing
A flow application receives an event generated by an MFP. If a type of data relating to the event is an expansion program including a definition file, and if an event type is installation, the flow application registers an object associated with the definition file included in the expansion program according to installation of the expansion program. |
| US10021263B2 |
Image processor acquiring image log, and computer-readable non-transitory recording medium storing program for image processor
An image processor includes an image process section, an image log application, and a platform. The image process section processes an image. The image log application acquires an image log serving as a log of the image processed by the image process section. The platform operates applications including the image log application. The platform provides the image log application with an image log API for acquiring the image log, and also the image log application provides the application with a service executed by using the image log API. |
| US10021260B2 |
Image reading apparatus and image forming apparatus
An image reading apparatus includes a guide member whose part in sliding-contact with a light-emitting portion is formed of synthetic resin. A control portion is configured to execute a control of changing a turn position among a plurality of positions including a first position and a second position downstream in an image reading direction of the first position in case that the light-emitting portion irradiates the first size sheet with light to read an image thereof. |
| US10021253B2 |
Imaging apparatus, imaging system, control method for imaging apparatus, and recording medium storing control program used for controlling imaging apparatus
An imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit, a storage, a communication unit, an image processor and a communication controller. The imaging unit generates first image data. The communication unit performs data communications between a first external apparatus and a second external apparatus. The image processor generates second image data based on the first image data. The communication controller controls communications via the communication unit. The communications includes transmission of the second image data to the first external apparatus in response to a first request. The communications includes transmission of image data related to the first image data to the second external apparatus in accordance with a second request. |
| US10021250B1 |
Location information control for session initiation protocol messages
In a wireless communication system, a wireless communication device transfers a SIP INVITE message having a first header with a first value indicating a location-handling requirement. The SIP INVITE message also has a second header with a location value. A communication signaling processing system processes the SIP INVITE message to determine a second value responsive to the first value indicating the location-handling requirement. The processing system replaces the location value in the second header of the SIP INVITE message with the second value. The processing system transfers the SIP INVITE message with the second value in the second header. |
| US10021249B2 |
Day-level SLA-based routing
A system for day-level SLA-based routing, comprising a statistics server configured to collect, store, and provide service level agreement data; and a routing server configured to receive at least a customer interaction via a network, and configured to compare an interaction against service level agreement data provided by the statistics server, and configured to produce an interaction priority based at least in part on the comparison, and configured to route the interaction based at least in part on the interaction priority. |
| US10021246B2 |
Identifying information pertinent to an emergent event through social media postings
Embodiments disclosed herein provide systems, methods, and computer readable media for identifying information pertinent to an emergent event through social media postings. In a particular embodiment, a method provides, in an emergency contact center, receiving a communication initiated by an individual in response to an emergent event and identifying the individual. The method further provides identifying social media data of the individual created prior to receiving the communication and extracting first data pertinent to the emergent event from the social media data. |
| US10021245B1 |
Aural communication status indications provided to an agent in a contact center
A communications handler determines an appropriate contact center agent to receive an incoming communication session. Communication session indicators provide status information to the agent, both aurally and visually, for the various communication sessions. The communication sessions include voice and non-voice channel types, wherein the non-voice channel types comprise chat sessions, text sessions, and email sessions. The agent may receive an aural notification indication related to the status of a non-voice communication sessions, as well as a voice communication session. The aural notifications are provided using a whisper bridge, which ensures only the agent hears the aural notification and any remote party connected to a current voice communication session will not hear the aural notification. Provision of an aural notification to the agent allows the agent to focus on other portions of the screen display, and provides flexibility in informing the agent of communication session status changes. |
| US10021241B2 |
System, apparatus, and method for proximity detection
A mobile communication device equipped for proximity detection may include a transmitter that emits a periodic ultrasound signal, a receiver that detects the periodic ultrasound signal, an intra-frame filter that filters the detected periodic ultrasound signal based on a frame length of the detected periodic ultrasound signal, and a detector that determines a power level of the filtered periodic ultrasound signal to detect if the receiver is located in an undesirable location. |
| US10021240B1 |
System and method of mobile phone customization based on universal manifest with feature override
A user equipment (UE). The UE comprises a radio transceiver, a processor, a non-transitory memory, and a customization client application stored in the non-transitory memory. When executed by the processor, the customization client determines a group identity (GID) of the UE, reads a customization manifest received by the UE via the radio transceiver, wherein the manifest identifies a plurality of feature customization policies and a plurality of user feature customization override policies, each feature customization policy defines feature customizations that are to be active for the UE, each override policy defines which feature customizations are to be applied mandatorily notwithstanding preexisting user customizations, selects one of the plurality of feature customization policies and one of the override policies from the customization manifest based on the GID of the UE, and customizes the UE according to the selected feature customization policy and the selected override policy. |
| US10021238B2 |
Safety cutoff for a power tool or other device
A cutoff system for a power tool or other device includes a receiver and a transmitter, the receiver being configured to electrically couple to a power source and to a power tool or other device, the transmitter is configured to transmit a communication signal to the receiver, and the receiver is further configured to transmit electrical power from the power source to the power tool or other device only when the receiver receives the communication signal from the transmitter. |
| US10021232B2 |
Mobile terminal and method for controlling the same
The disclosure relates to a mobile terminal communicable with a glass-type terminal and a method for controlling the same. The mobile terminal comprises a wireless communication unit configured to communicate with a glass-type terminal, a display unit configured to display visual information, and a controller configured to transmit output-limited information having a limitation in output on the display unit to the glass-type terminal so that the output-limited information may be output on the glass-type terminal when the mobile terminal is in communication with the glass-type terminal. |
| US10021230B2 |
Contact synchronization between related devices of a subscriber account
Synchronization between related devices is described. A group of related devices includes devices that are associated with the same subscriber account, share the same cellular telephone line, and so forth. In an example, a related device that is a browser-enabled device may register with a service that enables the browser-enabled device to share a same account and/or same line with other related device(s). Based partly on the browser-enabled device registering with the service, the browser-enabled device may retrieve data associated with contacts (i.e., contact data) that is associated with at least one other related device that is a cellular communication device. Additionally, a user associated with the browser-enabled device and/or a user associated with the at least one other related device may make modifications to the contact data and techniques described herein may enable synchronization of such modifications between the related devices. |
| US10021228B2 |
Cradle with privacy protection function for portable electronic device
A front on an extension line of a built-in front camera lens part of said portable electronic device during use of the cradle is shielded by an opaque or translucent lens shielding member provided on the front face side of the cradle 3 for portable electronic devices of the present invention, thereby disabling photography of front surrounding conditions of the cradle, even if an operation of front camera unwanted by an owner is performed, and a microphone hole of the electronic device 11 is shielded by providing a microphone hole shielding member 13 in a space between the charging stand 4 and a housing of the electronic device 11 mounted thereon, and therefore it becomes possible to reduce a risk of an outflow of ambient voice information of the cradle, even if an operation of microphone unwanted by an owner is performed. |
| US10021217B2 |
Protocol independent way to selectively restrict write-access for redirected USB mass storage devices
Universal serial bus (USB) mass storage devices may be redirected to a server to create USB virtual mass storage devices. For characteristics of the redirected device to be propagated to other users (accessing the redirected device via the virtual device) it is necessary to alter the Mode Sense data. In one embodiment, certain users may be given only read-only access to the redirected device. In another embodiment only some of the redirected devices are write-protected. By saving characteristics of a redirected device in the server registry or active directory, the USB virtual bus driver may impose, for example, write-protection on one or more devices connected by one or more users. |
| US10021215B2 |
Method and server for allocating game resources
The present invention discloses a method and a server for allocating game resources, which belongs to the field of network technology. The method includes: receiving a game participation request including game subzone information sent by a user; when the user enters a game subzone identified by the game subzone information, assigning the user to a waiting queue corresponding to the user in the game subzone in accordance with a predetermined condition; and when the user is successfully assigned to the waiting queue, selecting participants to play in the same group with the user from waiting queues other than the waiting queue of the user, and allocating game resources for the user and the selected participants. The present technical solution can effectively reduce occurrence of the game participants' cheating. |
| US10021214B2 |
Synthetic transactions between communication endpoints
Techniques for synthetic transactions between communication endpoints are described. According to various embodiments, a synthetic transaction represents a simulation of a communication session between different communication endpoints. In at least some embodiments, performance attributes of a synthetic transaction may be recorded during various stages of the synthetic transaction. Based on the performance attributes, various actions may be taken to mitigate errors and optimize communication session performance. |
| US10021211B2 |
Estimation of missed information
A method performed under control of a cloud system including a first proxy terminal may include connecting the first proxy terminal with a first end device, receiving, from the first end device, a first information regarding the first end device, and estimating a second information regarding the first end device based at least in part on the first information regarding the first end device. The estimating is performed when the first end device is disconnected from the first proxy terminal. |
| US10021209B2 |
Systems and methods for caching of managed content in a distributed environment using a multi-tiered architecture
Embodiments as disclosed provide a distributed caching solution that improve the performance and functionality of a content management platform for sites that are physically or logically remote from the primary site of the content management platform. In particular, according to embodiments, a remote cache server may be associated with a remote site to store local copies of documents that are managed by the primary content management platform. Periodically, a portion of the remote site's cache may be synchronized with the content management platform's primary site using an extensible architecture to ensure that content at the remote cache server is current. |
| US10021206B2 |
Method and apparatus for reducing network resource transmission size using delta compression
A near end network optimizer receives, from a client device, a request for a network resource. Responsive to determining that a version of the network resource is stored in the near end network optimizer, a request for the network resource is transmitted to a far end network optimizer along with a version identifier that identifies that version. The near end network optimizer receives, from the far end network optimizer, a response that includes a differences file that specifies the difference(s) between the version of the network resource stored in the near end network optimizer with a most current version of the network resource. The response does not include the entire network resource. The near end network optimizer applies the specified difference(s) to the version that it has stored to generate an updated version of the network resource, and transmits the updated version of the network resource to the client device. |
| US10021205B2 |
Rules-based multipoint routing of real-time information using client-server architecture
A media routing server is described. The media routing server may be configured to receive media information from a source computing system. The media routing server may be configured to scale the media information based on characteristics of one or more destination computing systems. Each scaled media information is unique to the characteristics of each destination computing system. The media information may comprise a plurality of objects. Priority information and sequencing information may be assigned to the objects by the media routing server. The media routing server may be configured to transmit the scaled media information to each destination computing system based on at least the priority information and the sequencing information. |
| US10021203B2 |
Managing notifications pushed to user devices
In one embodiment, a computing device determines a communication to be sent to a client computing device. The communication could be a push notification or a keep-alive message from a social-networking system, the client computing device being associated with a user of the social-networking system. The computing device determines that a plurality of network connections already exists between the social-networking system and the client computing device, wherein at least one of the network connections is reserved for, and dedicated exclusively to, sending or receiving notifications or keep-alive messages. The computing device sends the communication to the client computing device using the reserved and dedicated network connection. |
| US10021194B2 |
Enforced registry of cookies through a theme template
Embodiments for enforced registry of cookies through a theme template in a computing network by at least a portion of a processor. A theme template associated with an application may be downloaded. Cookie registration information may be obtained from a registry such that the registry enables an enforcement proxy downloaded with the theme template to enforce compliance with the cookie registration information for each cookie requesting access to the application. |
| US10021193B2 |
Session table framework
In accordance with embodiments disclosed herein, there are provided methods, systems, and apparatuses for implementing a session table framework including, for example, receiving a request at a host organization from a client device, in which such a request specifies an application available via the host organization; generating a user session unique to the client device in a memory of the host organization; creating a user session data table within the user session; processing the request via the application specified by the request on behalf of the client device; updating the user session data table based on the processing of the request; and transmitting a response to the client device responsive to the request. |
| US10021192B2 |
Communication control device and communication control method
A communication control device includes: a parameter storage unit that stores each entry containing a communication parameter learned through a communication between communication nodes, a communication source IP address related to the communication, and a communication destination IP address related to the communication; and a parameter acquiring unit that acquires a communication source IP address and a communication destination IP address related to a communication to be newly started, extracts, from among plural entries stored in the parameter storage unit, at least one entry in which the number of bits matched between communication source IP addresses or communication destination IP addresses is more than or equal to a predetermined lower limit value which is lower than the total number of bits in an IP address, and acquires, on the basis of the extracted entry, an initial value of a communication parameter to be used in the communication to be newly started. |
| US10021189B2 |
Multi-channel sensor measurement method and system
Sensor modules are triggered to start and stop the measurement approximately synchronously by sending a broadcast message. Information on the timeline of local clocks is also collected by local counters, and any relative differences in the local clocks, local sample clocks or local time stamps are rectified afterwards by means of the collected timeline information. |
| US10021184B2 |
Randomized peer-to-peer synchronization of shared content items
A content management system synchronizes content items across client computing systems connected by a network. Client devices connected to peer devices on a LAN utilize peer-to-peer synchronization to synchronize content items. Client devices on the LAN broadcast namespaces synchronized on the client devices with other devices on the LAN. Client devices on the LAN connect to a subset of client devices that share a namespace with the connecting client device based on the broadcasts. Upon receiving a notification from the content management system that a new content item has been synchronized with the namespace a client device sends requests for a block comprising a content item to a subset of the connected devices. Additional block requests are sent in the order of randomized blocklist. |
| US10021182B2 |
Method and apparatus for data synchronization
A method for data synchronization performed by a server is described. The method comprises receiving, from a client terminal, a synchronization request and information about a synchronization anchor of the client terminal; determining, based on the synchronization anchor of the client terminal and a synchronization anchor of the server, difference data to be synchronized with the client terminal; determining whether a size of the difference data exceeds a threshold; and responsive to determining that a size of the difference data exceeds the threshold, transmitting the difference data to the client terminal in a plurality of difference data segments, wherein a size of each of the plurality of the difference data segments does not exceed the threshold, and wherein each of the plurality of the difference data segments is to be synchronized separately with the client terminal. |
| US10021181B2 |
System and method for discovering a LAN synchronization candidate for a synchronized content management system
Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for identifying a LAN sync candidate are disclosed. A synchronized content management system may receive a request from a first client device to synchronize a content item. The synchronized content management system may identify a second client device that has a current copy of the content item. The second client device may belong in the same local area network as the first client device. The second client device can be identified based on a characteristic of the LAN as well as the public and local addresses of the first and second client devices. The synchronized content management system can send a LAN sync instruction to the first client device. The instruction may identify the second client device as a LAN sync candidate. The first client device may then initiate LAN sync by requesting synchronization of the content item from the second client device. |
| US10021180B2 |
Universal environment extender
A universal environment extender is disclosed. The universal environment extender comprises a smart device; and a main control utility running on the smart device. Then the main control utility allows the extender as a receiver to operate in a mode that allows the extender to explore and reverse-explore the source content/applications and to extend the display environment from another smart device as a transmitter. |
| US10021177B1 |
Peer-to-peer communications
A peer-to-peer (p2p) communication system is provided. One or both of audio and video can be transferred among a number of user terminals in the p2p system. The user terminals include at least one master terminal. The master terminal controls video or audio, or both, transfers among user terminals. The master terminal is identified, based on a determined topology, using obtained information provided in a data parameters table. Each user terminal includes a control for processing video and/or audio that is sent/received by the user terminal. Such processing can include encoding/decoding of video and/or audio. The master terminal control can process the same video and generate different video data to be provided to different user terminals. Such different video data is a function of the communication paths between the master terminal and the different user terminals. The master terminal control can also process the same audio and generate different audio data to be provided to different user terminals. Such different audio data can be a function of virtual relative positions associated with the user terminals. Audio volumes can also be separately controlled by each user terminal, including turning off audio volumes associated with one or more other user terminals. Similar controls can be provided for identity-related video images. Video and/or audio can be transferred in an aggregate manner, such as when the master terminal sends audio originating from a number of user terminals to another user terminal. In one embodiment, the master terminal control includes a Flash Player already configured to communicate with numerous webcams. This p2p system can be utilized with online game playing in which a game server is included, as well as having other communication applications. |
| US10021176B2 |
Method and server for managing traffic-overload on a server
Method(s) and System(s) for managing traffic-overload on Domain Name System (DNS) server during a network overload are described. The described system(s) may implement method(s) that include monitoring of traffic associated with the DNS server and identifying an occurrence of an event. Thereafter, activating (deactivating) a rescue mode and implementing one or more policies for handling the traffic during the rescue mode. In implementing the one or more policies, the method includes segregating the traffic into three sets of requests based on availability of responses in a cache, and a Time to Live (TTL) associated with the responses. Further, the method includes processing a first set of requests for which corresponding responses stored in the cache have expired based on TTL of corresponding responses. Furthermore, the method includes transmission of the corresponding responses with expired data to the client devices. |
| US10021174B2 |
Distributing service sessions
Provided are methods and systems for distributing service sessions from a client device in a service data network. A packet of the service session is received by a forwarding node. The forwarding node determines whether the packet matches a service address associated with the service session. Responsive to the determining, a servicing node associated with the service address is selected based on a forwarding policy. The packet is sent to the selected servicing node. The servicing node determines whether the packet is a service request packet. A server is selected based on a service policy, wherein the server is configured to serve the service session. The packet is sent to the server. Before being received by a forwarding node, the packet is received by a gateway node. The gateway node determines whether the packet matches the service address and selects the forwarding node based on a notification. |
| US10021163B2 |
Reconfiguring a streaming application to reduce latency mismatches
A latency reconfiguration mechanism in a streams manager detects latency mismatches in a streaming application that affect the performance of the streaming application, and reconfigures the streaming application to minimize the latency mismatches. The reconfiguration can include fusing adjacent processing elements into a single processing element, co-locating adjacent processing elements on the same machine, moving processing elements and/or network links, adding parallel processing elements, and rearranging processing elements and/or network links to create more consistent latency paths. By minimizing latency mismatches and providing more consistent latency paths, the performance of a streaming application is increased by not having to perform significant reordering of data tuples. |
| US10021155B2 |
Method and system for content distribution
A centralized distribution server includes a converter for embedding content data into a digital delivery stream and a transmitter for transmitting the stream to at least one of the subscriber terminals via a forward network channel. The terminal includes a receiving component for receiving the stream from the centralized server and an interface component for enabling access to the stream and/or the content data embedded therein by a subscriber. The terminal includes a first component for generating a first acknowledgement upon receipt of the stream by the receiving means, and a second component for generating a second acknowledgement upon access of the stream and/or the content data embedded therein by the user. The acknowledgements are transmitted to the centralized distribution server via a return network channel. The centralized distribution server includes a feedback management module for receiving the two acknowledgements transmitted from the terminal to the centralized distribution server. |
| US10021147B2 |
Communication control device and method of controlling communication control device for determining whether non-standard communication is possible based on non-standard communication information representing whether each of three types of non-standard communication is possible
A communication control device and method that determine whether non-standard communication with a plurality of communications devices via a network is possible. The communication control device and method receive a communication request from a communication device, select as a communication partner another communication device that is specified by the communication device requesting communication, and prepares to implement one of a plurality of types of non-standard communication if such communication is possible with the communication device. If the non-standard communication is possible, the communication control device and method establish a communication session between the specified communication partner and the communication device. However, when the non-standard communication is not possible, the device and method cease communication with the communication device. |
| US10021143B2 |
Method and apparatus for multi-tenancy secrets management in multiple data security jurisdiction zones
A service provider computing environment includes a service provider computing device, which receives tenant secrets policies from tenants. The tenants are tenants of multi-tenant assets of a service provider. One or more data security zones in which the multi-tenant assets are located are identified. A service provider secrets policy includes data security jurisdiction zone secrets policy data for the one or more data security jurisdiction zones. The data security jurisdiction zone secrets policy data is analyzed to determine allowed secrets data with respect to each of the identified data security jurisdiction zones. The service provider computing environment determines of the tenant secrets policies satisfy the requirements of the service provider secrets policy. If the tenant secrets policies satisfy the requirements of the service provider secrets policy, the service provider computing environment allows the tenant secrets policies to be applied to tenant data or information in the multi-tenant assets. |
| US10021142B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing privacy management in machine-to-machine communications
A method, non-transitory computer readable medium and apparatus for processing a request from a server of a machine-to-machine service provider are provided. For example, the method receives the request from the server of the machine-to-machine service provider to communicate with a machine-to-machine device, determines whether to authorize the request based upon a policy in a privacy database, and enables communications between the server of the machine-to-machine service provider and the machine-to-machine device if the request is authorized based upon the policy. |
| US10021139B2 |
Method, system and computer program product for enforcing access controls to features and subfeatures on uncontrolled web application
Embodiments disclosed herein provide feature-level access control functionality useful for enforcing access controls to features and subfeatures on uncontrolled, third party Web Applications such as those associated with social networking sites. Specifically, pages of uncontrolled Web applications are programmatically inspected as they are accessed by users of an enterprise computing environment. Specific features on the pages are located and access to these features is enabled or disabled on a per user basis. A modified page is generated if feature(s) on a Web page is/are to be disabled. To block certain feature(s), content may be rewritten on-the-fly. Because embodiments disclosed herein can programmatically inspect a Web page and understand what is on the page at a much finer granularity, it is possible for enterprises to gain benefits that may come from embracing social networking sites without risking the downsides of allowing enterprise users access to uncontrolled Web applications. |
| US10021136B2 |
Cyber attack disruption through multiple detonations of received payloads
Apparatus and method for disrupting cyber attacks. In accordance with some embodiments, the apparatus includes a network accessible device having a processor and memory, and a security system associated with the network accessible device. The security system has a security controller, a front end and a decoy environment operationally isolated from the memory of the network accessible device. The security controller is adapted to, responsive to receipt of a payload from an outside source potentially having a malicious component from an attacking party, apply a security operation to the payload comprising at least a selected one of an anti-viral scan, a blacklisting scan or a whitelisting scan. The security controller is further adapted to load the received payload into a memory of the decoy environment and detonate the loaded payload a plurality of times in succession. |
| US10021133B1 |
System and method for anti-phishing system
A system and method for detecting a phishing site is disclosed. A message from a client to the site is intercepted by a security gateway. The security gateway determines if the site is a known-site or an unknown-site. If it is a known site, a reputation of the site is checked. If the site is a known-site with a bad reputation, connection between the client and the site is reset. If the site is a known-site with a good reputation, known-site testing is performed for possible phishing attack. If the site is an unknown-site, unknown-site testing for possible phishing attack is performed. |
| US10021132B2 |
Limiting the efficacy of a denial of service attack by increasing client resource demands
A device may detect an attack. The device may receive, from a client device, a request for a resource. The device may determine, based on detecting the attack, a computationally expensive problem to be provided to the client device, where the computationally expensive problem requires a computation by the client device to solve the computationally expensive problem. The device may instruct the client device to provide a solution to the computationally expensive problem. The device may receive, from the client device, the solution to the computationally expensive problem. The device may selectively provide the client device with access to the resource based on the solution. |
| US10021129B2 |
Systems and methods for malware detection and scanning
Systems and methods are provided for malware scanning and detection in a computing system. In one exemplary embodiment, the method includes launching, in a computing device of the computing system, a virtual machine, and launching, in the virtual machine of the computing device, an internet browser. The method also includes requesting, by the internet browser, data from a web page, and performing, using one or more analysis tools, analysis on the web page. In the method, performing analysis on the web page includes performing monitoring and recording of system application programming interface (API) calls, and creating software objects associated with the web page. The method also includes performing antivirus scanning of the software objects, de-obfuscating JavaScript associated with the software objects, and correlating data associated with the performed analysis to determine if the web page is a malicious web page. |
| US10021126B2 |
Systems and methods for creating and running heterogeneous phishing attack campaigns
A method for creating a plurality of campaigns for simulated phishing attacks includes creating, by a campaign manager, a plurality of campaigns for simulated phishing attacks having a plurality of parameters including at least a time schedule, each of the plurality of campaigns having at least one parameter different than other campaigns of the plurality of campaigns, and identifying, by a simulation server from the database, a first campaign and a second campaign from the plurality of campaigns from which to create a first simulated phishing email to send on a first time schedule to email accounts of users of the first campaign, and a second simulated phishing email to send on a second time schedule, different than the first time schedule, to email accounts of users of the second campaign. |
| US10021120B1 |
Delayed replication for protection of replicated databases
Apparatuses and methods are disclosed for protection of data servers configured for data replication of a database. As an example, one apparatus includes at least one processing circuit configured to receive records indicating respective modifications performed on a first version of the database stored in a first data server of the plurality of data servers. The at least one processing circuit is configured to delay replication of the modification in one or more additional servers in the plurality of data servers for a respective length of time specified for the servers in a security profile. While delaying replication of the modification, the processing circuit determines a probability that the modification is malicious based on a first set of factors indicated in a security profile. If the probability is greater than a threshold specified in the security profile, the processing circuit prevents the modification from being performed. |
| US10021118B2 |
Predicting account takeover tsunami using dump quakes
Methods, systems, and computer program products for predicting an account takeover tsunami using dump quakes are disclosed. A computer-implemented method may include analyzing activity for a plurality of user accounts based on detecting an abnormal increase in system activity, determining the abnormal increase in the system activity is associated with account validation attacks performed by an unauthorized party, identifying attributes of a plurality of user accounts associated with the account validation attacks, searching online locations using the identified attributes of the user accounts to find a data breach source, monitoring the online locations periodically based on the identified attributes of the user accounts to detect future publication of a dump of private user data, sending a notification to another organization in advance of the publication of the dump of private user data to allow the other organization to adjust security of one or more other systems in advance. |
| US10021110B2 |
Dynamic adjustment of authentication mechanism
According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a method and technique for dynamic adjustment of authentication mechanism is disclosed. The method includes: collecting location data of one or more agents relative to an agent attempting to authenticate to a data processing system; determining if the location data meets a threshold value; and responsive to the location data meeting the threshold value, relaxing an authentication scheme for the attempting agent to authenticate to the data processing system. |
| US10021109B2 |
System and method for automatically providing proximity based guest access to a network of resource devices
A method for providing guest access to a guest user for a network resource device based on proximity includes provisioning a plurality of network resource devices with a set of guest-on boarding information, receiving a request for guest access from a guest user for the network resource devices, determining if the guest user is within a certain distance of at least one of the network resource devices, and if the guest user is within the certain distance of at least one of the network resource devices identify each such network resource device as a proximate device. The method also includes providing a first set of guest on-boarding information to the guest user, via one of the proximate devices. The first set of guest on-boarding information includes a first unique identifier, and guest access credentials are provided to the guest user upon receipt of the first unique identifier. |
| US10021108B2 |
Anomaly detection for access control events
Methods for managing access to protected resources within a computing environment and detecting anomalies related to access control events are described. An access control system may acquire a request for access to a protected resource, identify a username associated with the request, acquire contextual information associated with the request for access (e.g., a time of day associated with a location of a device making the request), acquire a baseline set of rules for the username, detect a deviation from the baseline set of rules based on the contextual information, acquire additional authentication information in response to detecting the deviation, authorize access to the protected resource based on the additional authentication information, generate a record of the request for access including the contextual information, and update the baseline set of rules if an intrusion to the access control system has not been detected within a threshold period of time. |
| US10021099B2 |
Methods and systems for persistent cross-application mobile device identification
Systems and methods are provided for persistent cross-application mobile device identification. A mobile device may have a plurality of sandboxes in memory containing applications. The mobile device may have a shared storage which may accessible by applications from different sandboxes. A storage location identifier may be used to access information in shared storage. A universal device identifier may be stored in the shared storage to identify the mobile device and may be accessible by multiple applications and updates to applications. The universal device identifier may be used to track the mobile device for advertising, fraud detection, reputation tracking, or other purposes. |
| US10021097B1 |
Systems and methods for upgrading authentication systems
Methods and systems for authenticating a user are described. In some embodiments, an authentication request including biometric information collected from a user is received. The user may be authenticated using a first authentication system by comparing characteristics generated from the biometric information with characteristics of previously collected biometric information. The biometric information collected from the user during the authentication request may be used to automatically enroll the user into a second authentication system. |
| US10021094B2 |
System and method for providing wearable authentication and management
A system for wearable authentication and management is disclosed. In particular, the system may include identifying and authenticating a user through biometric data or movement signatures specific to the wearer of a wearable device. Once the user and wearable device are authenticated, the system may activate and provision connectivity services for the wearable device, associate the device with a device ecosystem of the user, and push predefined settings to the wearable device. Additionally, the system may deliver communications that are transmitted to other devices in the device ecosystem to the wearable device while the wearable device is worn by the user. If the user no longer wears the wearable device or the wearable device is not utilized for a period of time, the system may deactivate the connectivity services for the wearable device and remove any settings pushed to the wearable device. |
| US10021093B2 |
System and method for communicating credentials
A system and method for conducting transactions involving the communication of credentials connected to an entity or an individual, known as the presenter to a permitted destination, known as the network endpoint (110) following a request from an accepter while maintaining the privity in said credentials. The system includes presenting appliances (108) and accepting appliances (109) that communicate with a controlling server (101). The controlling server receives communication from the accepting and presenting appliances that contains a secret keycode exclusive to the individual or presenter, presenter identifiers and a shared keycode and if the communications are matched, credentials specific to presenter identifier is permitted to be released to a known network endpoint. |
| US10021088B2 |
Fast smart card logon
Methods and systems for faster and more efficient smart card logon and for giving a client device full domain access in a remote computing environment are described herein. Fast smart card logon may be used to reduce latency and improve security. For example, the system may reduce the number of operations (e.g., interactions) between a server device used for authentication and the client device. These operations may include fetching a user certificate from the smart card or signing data. Fast smart card logon may also improve security by optionally avoiding PIN (or other credential) transmission over networks, and to enable single sign on from an authentication event (e.g., Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) or Transport Layer Security (TLS) authentication) using a smart card to the domain logon without resorting to PIN caching. |
| US10021087B2 |
Method and system for providing a secure communication channel to portable privatized data
A system and method for communicating secure, privatized data stored on a first user device with a second user device requesting access thereto includes initiating a timed access gate for receiving verification of authenticating credentials from the second user device, after the first user credentials associated with the first user device are verified. If the second user device is verified within the predetermined period of time, an authentication handshake between the first user device and the second user device is completed. On completion of the handshake, a communication channel is opened for transmitting the first user's privatized data between the first user device and the second user device. |
| US10021086B2 |
Delegation of authority for users of sign-on service
Techniques are described for providing customizable sign-on functionality, such as via an access manager system that provides single sign-on functionality and other functionality to other services for use with those services' users. The access manager system may maintain various sign-on and other account information for various users, and provide single sign-on functionality for those users using that maintained information on behalf of multiple unrelated services with which those users interact. The access manager may allow a variety of types of customizations to single sign-on functionality and/or other functionality available from the access manager, such as on a per-service basis via configuration by an operator of the service, such as co-branding customizations, customizations of information to be gathered from users, customizations of authority that may be delegated to other services to act on behalf of users, etc., and with the customizations that are available being determined specifically for that service. |
| US10021077B1 |
System and method for distributing and using signed send tokens
The disclosed system allows a user to have access to a protected network through the distribution of signed send tokens. In particular, a device associated with the protected network, such as a network interface card, may generate and issue send tokens to various third-parties who seek access to the network. A send token may be a block of data that contains transmission information regarding the operations that are allowed to be performed by the network user. For example, the send token may identify the portions of the network to which the user's data packets are allowed to be sent, as well as the permitted content of the user's data packets. |
| US10021076B2 |
Method and system for the supply of data, transactions and electronic voting
A method and 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. |
| US10021075B1 |
Multiple data center data security
Securely replicating backup data in a network having a production site and a plurality of remote sites by generating in the production site a data encryption key, and in each remote site a respective key encryption key that are sent to the production site; encrypting a plurality of encrypted keys using the plurality of key encryption keys with one encrypted key per remote site, and transmitting to each remote site the encrypted keys for the other remote sites and not a remote site's own encrypted key; encrypting the data to create encrypted data blocks using the data encryption key; designating a selected remote site to become the new production site if the production site fails; and receiving in the new production site from a remaining remote site a key encryption key generated by the remaining remote site to enable the new production site to decrypt the data encryption key and use the decrypted data encryption key to decrypt the encrypted data blocks. |
| US10021073B2 |
Systems and methods for delivering messages over a network
Systems and methods are described for delivering messages from one or more service hosts to clients via a network. A first request identifying the client is received at the message server, and a connection is established and maintained between the message server and the client in response to the first request. When a subsequent request that identifies the client is received from the service host, a message is transmitted from the message server to the client over the previously-established connection. The methods and techniques may be used, for example, to provide messages from various services to placeshifting devices or other clients communicating via the network. |
| US10021064B2 |
Apparatus and method for translating industrial process control and automation system events into mobile notifications
A method includes receiving information identifying multiple events in an industrial process control and automation system and routing the events to one or more subscribers, where the one or more subscribers include a notification system. The method also includes translating the events into notifications using the notification system and transmitting each notification for delivery to one or more mobile end-user devices. The method could further include identifying multiple rules, where each rule defines at least one condition and at least one action. Each condition is associated with at least one event, and each action is associated with information related to the at least one event. In addition, the method could include determining whether the at least one condition of each rule is satisfied based on the information identifying the multiple events, where the notifications are generated based on each rule whose at least one condition is satisfied. |
| US10021062B2 |
Secure electronic mail system
An e-mail system is disclosed that overcomes many deficiencies of, but is backward compatible with, existing e-mail systems. Embodiments of the system may include various features, including but not limited to: (1) secure transfer of e-mail messages, without the need for users to replace existing e-mail clients or to change e-mail addresses; (2) tracking of all actions performed in connection with an e-mail transmission; (3) the ability for a recipient to view information about an e-mail message, optionally including information about how other addressees have responded to it, before deciding whether to retrieve the e-mail message; (4) the aggregation of entire e-mail conversations into a single threaded view; (5) the ability to include both private and public messages in a single e-mail communication; (6) sender control over downstream actions performed in connection with an e-mail message; (7) flexible control over cryptographic methods used to encrypt emails messages for storage. |
| US10021061B1 |
Message presentation management in a social networking environment
Disclosed aspects relate to message presentation management in a social networking environment. A message from a source may be detected in the social networking environment. An identified category for the message from the source may be identified based on a set of candidate categories. A presentation format for the message from the source may be determined by comparing a set of user profile criteria with the identified category for the message from the source. The message from the source may be presented in the social networking environment using the presentation format. |
| US10021057B2 |
Relationship collaboration system
A computer implemented method of processing data containing information about relationships between contacts and a community of contact owners is provided, which includes the steps of: collecting data having contact information, contact owner information and one or more values related to the strength of a relationship between the contact and the contact owner; evaluating the strength of the relationship based on the one or more values; and storing the collected data and evaluated strength in a computer database. |
| US10021052B1 |
Methods, systems, and computer program products for processing a data object identification request in a communication
Methods, systems, and apparatuses are provided that are configured to: display, at a first node, at least one first interface with a first user interface element and a second user interface element; display, at the first node, at least one second interface; generate a first message; display, at the second node, at least one third interface; generate a second message that does not include a file attachment with the second message; display, at the first node, at least one fourth interface with a reference to at least one file; and allow access, at the first node, to the at least one file. |
| US10021051B2 |
Methods and apparatus for determining non-textual reply content for inclusion in a reply to an electronic communication
Methods and apparatus related to determining non-textual reply content for a reply to an electronic communication and providing the non-textual reply content for inclusion in the reply. Some of those implementations are directed to determining, based on an electronic communication sent to a user, one or more electronic documents that are responsive to the electronic communication, and providing one or more of those electronic documents for inclusion in a reply by the user to the electronic communication. For example, the electronic documents may be automatically attached to the reply and/or link(s) to the electronic documents automatically provided in the reply. |
| US10021050B2 |
Secure conversation and document binder
Disclosed are various embodiments for maintaining a collection of documents and user-defined messages made in conversations such that the collection may be accessed in a secure and manageable manner. A user-defined message may be stored by a collection control application in at least one data store according to a message storage policy and a portion of the user-defined message may be associated with at least one file in a collection of files. A manifest may be generated that enables access to the portion of the user-defined message and the at least one file. The manifest may comprise a location reference for each of the plurality of files in the collection of files and the user-defined message and an indication that the portion of the user-defined message is associated with the at least one file in the collection of files. |
| US10021049B2 |
Cloud system and method of displaying, by cloud system, content
Provided is a cloud providing a cloud service for displaying content, the cloud including: a first server configured to receive a sharing request for content, from an electronic device; a second server configured to determine whether the content is displayable on a display device connected to the cloud, based on a type of a file format of the content; a third server configured to render the content and generate an image file from the rendered content, when it is determined that the content is not displayable; and a fourth server configured to control display of one of the content and the image file on the display device. |
| US10021043B2 |
System and method for reliable store-and-forward data handling by encoded information reading terminals
A data collection system for, and methods of, providing reliable store-and-forward data handling by encoded information reading terminals can utilize ad-hoc peer-to-peer (i.e., terminal-to-terminal) connections in order to store data that is normally stored on a single terminal only, in a redundant manner on two or more terminals. Each portable encoded information reading terminal can be configured so that when it captures data, a software application causes the terminal to search out nearby peer terminals that can store and/or forward the data to other peer terminals or to a data collection server, resulting in the data having been stored by one or more peer terminals that are immediately or not immediately accessible by the data-originating terminal. |
| US10021040B2 |
Resource path monitoring
Systems and techniques are provided for a resource distribution system. Selected resource paths in a resource transfer network may be monitored. A quantity of an intermediate resource type to transfer into resource pools in the resource transfer network may be determined. Each of the resource pools may be associated with a leg that can be part of a route with two legs for one or more of the selected resource paths. Instructions decrementing a register in a repository resource pool by the determined quantities of the intermediate resource type to be transferred into the resource pools in the resource transfer network and incrementing a register in each of the resource pools in the resource transfer network by the determined quantity of the intermediate resource type to be transferred into that resource pool when the determined quantity is greater than zero may be generated and caused to be executed. |
| US10021039B2 |
Mobile communication system and user terminal
In a mobile communication system comprising a first user terminal and a second user terminal, D2D communication is radio communication directly performed between the first user terminal and the second user terminal in a frequency and a time assigned from a base station. In a time in which data is to be received from the first user terminal, when the second user terminal does not receive the data from the first user terminal, the second user terminal transmits failure notification indicating reception failure in the D2D communication to the base station. |
| US10021038B2 |
Sharing resource reservation
A method in a first network node handles data sessions in a communications network. The method includes receiving information indicating a second data session entering the communications network. The method further includes creating a second rule associated with the second data session. The second rule causes the first data session to be associated with the second data session. The method further includes determining that the second rule share a guaranteed bit rate (GBR) with a first rule associated with the first data session based on the second data session entering the communications network. The method further includes transmitting first information that the second rule and an indicator indicating the first rule and the second rule should share the GBR. |
| US10021028B2 |
Controlling incoming traffic
A method and system are provided for controlling a volume of incoming traffic into a network having a plurality of ingress routers. The method includes monitoring respective loads of the plurality of ingress routers. The method further includes selecting a particular one of the plurality of ingress routers to receive future incoming traffic based on at least the respective loads of the plurality of ingress routers. The method also includes creating a mapping between an internal source IP address and a client IP address. The internal source IP address relates to the particular one of the plurality of routers. The client IP address is for a client device accessing the Internet through the network. The method additionally includes rewriting a destination IP address of the incoming traffic based on the mapping. At least the monitoring, selecting, and creating steps are performed by a controller. |
| US10021026B2 |
Incremental update of a shape graph
A router has a shape graph that is a compressed form of a trie that represents routing information for routing data packets in a network, and an update data structure that includes plural entries corresponding to nodes of the shape graph, the plural entries containing count values indicating respective numbers of nodes of the tie represented by the corresponding nodes of the shape graph. The router incrementally updates the shape graph as a portion of the routing information changes, where the incremental updating uses information in the update data structure. |
| US10021025B2 |
Distributed determination of routes in a vast communication network
A method and a system for distributed computation of a routing table for a vast communication network are disclosed. The network nodes are arranged into multiple groups with each group associated with a respective network controller. A network controller of a group acquires characterizing information of links emanating from local nodes of the group, communicates the information to each other network controller, reciprocally receives characterizing information from other network controllers, and determines a generic route set from each local node to each other node of the network. The network controllers collectively determine an inverse routing table identifying all routes traversing each individual link in the entire network and exchange node or link state-transition information for updating individual route sets affected by any state transition. Thus, the processing effort of routes generation and tracking network-elements states is distributed among multiple coordinated network controllers. |
| US10021024B1 |
Packet reflection identification in CPE devices
Methods, systems, and apparatus can be used to filter packet reflections. In various implementations, packets received on a subscriber side of a device having a source address identifying a service provider device can be dropped. In other implementations, portions of packets forwarded to a subscriber side of a device can be cached and compared to portions of packets received on a subscriber side of the device. |
| US10021020B2 |
Control apparatus, network node and method for interchanging data via a data network
A control apparatus includes a first apparatus for ascertaining at least one primary data path between a first and a second data terminal device, which are connected to a data network, a second apparatus for selecting one of the ascertained primary data paths and a third apparatus for ascertaining at least one alternative data path between the first and the second data terminal device, which alternative data path has no common transmission links with the selected primary data path. A corresponding network node and a corresponding method for operating the apparatus are also described. |
| US10021018B2 |
Systems and methods for associating multiple transport layer hops between clients and servers
The present disclosure is directed towards systems and methods for associating multiple transport layer hops between a client and a server. A first intermediary device may receive a request for a transport layer connection between the client and the server. The first intermediary device may generate a unique identifier to identify a connection chain between the client and the server across a plurality of transport layer connections via the plurality of devices. The first intermediary device may set a hop count to a number of hops that the first device is between the client and the server. The first intermediary device may forward information about the unique identifier and the hop count to a next device of the plurality of devices. |
| US10021016B2 |
VLAN to secure communication between virtual machines and in a multi-tenant public data center
A method for creating a set of virtual machines on a public datacenter. The method, from a first network controller of a private network, commands a second network controller of the public datacenter to create the virtual machines. The method, from the first network controller of the private network, communicates with the second network controller of the public datacenter to determine a type of the second network controller. When the first network controller includes instructions for using application programming interfaces (APIs) of the type of the second network controller, the method uses the APIs to set up a VLAN for the set of virtual machines in order to allow the virtual machines of the set of virtual machines to communicate securely with each other without sending the communications through the private network. In some embodiments, the VLAN is a private VLAN (PVLAN). |
| US10021010B2 |
Adaptive polling of information from a device
A capability is provided for adaptive polling of a device based on a set of polling control regions configured to control polling of the device. The set of polling control regions is defined based on at least one of a set of control parameters and non-parametric control information. A transition within the set of polling control regions is determined based on a current polling control region and a target polling control region that is determined based on input information received while in the current polling control region. The input information may include at least one of values of one or more parameters in the set of parameters and non-parametric input information. The transition may include remaining in the current polling control region or transitioning to a new polling control region. The transition may be performed based on a rapid up controlled down (RUCD) transition scheme. |
| US10021005B2 |
Background task execution over a network
Network activity of a client device that is coupled to a data network is monitored, to detect network activity idle time. Based upon detecting the idle time, an application running in the client device is automatically signaled that its background task be executed over the data network. Other embodiments are also described and claimed. |
| US10021003B2 |
Distributed aggregation for contact center agent-groups on sliding interval
A method for aggregating and reporting data from a plurality of data sources in a contact center is provided. The method includes: maintaining by a computer device aggregated data for a sliding interval including N+1 contiguous panes ordered from 0 to N, where N is greater or equal to 1; updating by the computer device the aggregated data for the sliding interval based on updates for the sliding interval received from one or more of the data sources; monitoring for expiration of one of the panes; and in response to determining that the one of the panes has expired, reporting the aggregated data for the sliding interval to a client. |
| US10021001B2 |
Providing visualizations of event sequence data
The present disclosure is directed toward systems and methods for analyzing event sequence data. Additionally, the present disclosure is directed toward systems and methods for providing visualizations of event sequence data analyses. For example, systems and methods described herein can analyze event sequence data related to websites and provide matrix-based visualizations of the event sequence data. The matrix-based visualization can be interactive and can allow a user to trace changes in traffic volume across webpages and hyperlinks of a website. |
| US10020997B2 |
Device communication
The present invention relates to communications systems, and more particularly to enabling one communications device to access data, such as a set of multimedia objects, accessible by another communications device. Identity code information is communicated between the communications devices and the server, wherein a representation of the identity code is communicated from one of the communications devices to the other of the communications devices and then to the server. The identity code is associated with data accessible by one of the communications device and the data is associated with access rights. The server is thereby able to associate specific communications devices, access rights and contents. |
| US10020996B1 |
Real-time policy management of data management life cycle
A methodology for creating a policy on graphic user interface (“GUI”) to control system resources on a network is provided. The methodology includes: providing a palette section in the GUI for display of libraries of different policy nodes, the policy nodes including at least one source element, at least one target element, and at least one action element that represent actions to be performed to transfer data between policy nodes; providing a policy design section in the GUI for assembly a policy out of different policy nodes from the palette section; instructing, after completion of a design of a policy in the GUI, an implementation of the policy by the system resources; and displaying in near real time a status of the implementation of the policy; wherein the competed policy in the GUI that is subject to the instructing contains sufficient information for the system resources to implement the policy without additional programming. |
| US10020995B2 |
Vehicle middleware
The present disclosure describes a vehicle implementing one or more processing modules. These modules are configured to connect and interface with the various buses in the vehicle, where the various buses are connected with the various components of the vehicle to facilitate information transfer among the vehicle components. Each processing module is further modularized with the ability to add and replace other functional modules now or in the future. These functional modules can themselves act as distinct vehicle components. Each processing modules may hand-off processing to other modules depending on its health, processing load, or by third-party control. Thus, the plurality of processing modules helps to implement a middleware point of control to the vehicle with redundancy in processing and safety and security awareness in their applications. |
| US10020990B2 |
Network stability reconnaisance tool
Apparatus and methods for monitoring a remote network segment. The apparatus may perform, and the methods (apparatus and methods, collectively, “the methods”) may include installing, on a remote segment of a packet switched network, a network component. The methods may include transmitting to the remote segment, from a transmitter on a local segment of the network a probe packet. The methods may include receiving from a receiver on the local segment a responsive packet that is responsive to the probe packet. The methods may include reconfiguring, in response to the responsive packet and diagnostic rules, a network-monitoring machine to recognize the network component. The reconfiguring may be a reconfiguring that is not responsive to a discovery signal that is (a) triggered by a process internal to the network component; and (b) transmitted by the network component. |
| US10020989B2 |
Provisioning services in legacy mode in a data center network
An administrator can define or modify one or more service graphs. Next, the administrator can register service appliances along with their device package files with a controller. Then, the controller can establish the capabilities of the service devices, and classify the service devices as legacy or service tag switching (STS) capable devices. Then, the controller can create one or more instances of the service graph, by populating the service nodes into the service graph. Then, the application owner can attach their endpoint groups (EPGs) to the service graphs created by the administrator. Then, a service in the network can be automatically provisioned using the service graph to configure one or more nodes in an associated service chain of the service according to information in the service graph. |
| US10020986B1 |
Fault tolerance for authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) functionality
An example network access device (NAD) includes a network interface to send and receive packets with an authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) server, and a subscriber management service unit (SMSU). The SMSU is configured to, responsive to determining that the AAA server is not reachable by the NAD, send a message from the NAD to the AAA server using the network interface, wherein the message directs the AAA server to send a discovery request message to the NAD, receive the discovery request message from the AAA server using the network interface, wherein the discovery request message includes a request for information about a plurality of subscriber sessions, and generate a discovery response message that includes information about at least a portion of the plurality of subscriber sessions, and send the discovery response message to the network access device using the network interface. |
| US10020985B2 |
System and method for effective and reliable lawful interception content transmission across networks
A session continuity server controller, the controller comprising: a memory; and a processor coupled to the memory storing processor executable instructions which when executed by the processor causes the processor to perform operations comprising: determining one or more defects in lawful interception content transmission associated with a user session, wherein the one or more defects comprise one or more degraded network conditions and degraded LI content; executing one or more corrective measures based on the one or more defects in lawful interception content transmission; and determining stability of the lawful interception content transmission post one or more corrective measures for effective and reliable lawful interception content transmission. |
| US10020975B2 |
Method and apparatus for demodulating signal in wireless access system
A method by which a terminal demodulates a signal in a wireless access system according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises the steps of: receiving a modulation signal having a modulation order of 2m (m is a natural number); determining a first demodulation constellation arrangement corresponding to a kth (k is an even number among natural numbers of m or less) bit among m numbers of bits; determining a second demodulation constellation arrangement corresponding to an nth (n is an odd number among natural numbers of m or less) bit among the m numbers of bits; and demodulating the received modulation signal by using the first and second demodulation constellation arrangements, wherein the first constellation arrangement can have a pattern in which a square matrix having a size of 2(m/2+1)−(k/2) is repeated. |
| US10020974B2 |
Upstream pilot structures in point-to-multipoint orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) communication systems
A central access network unit comprising a processor configured to assign a plurality of upstream training blocks from an upstream OFDM symbol to a plurality of downstream network units, wherein the OFDM symbol comprises a plurality of pilot subcarriers equally spaced across an upstream RF spectrum in a pre-determined time interval, and wherein each upstream training block comprises a different subset of the pilot subcarriers that are non-consecutive and situated across the upstream RF spectrum, and generate one or more messages comprising assignments of the upstream training blocks, and a transmitter coupled to the processor and configured to transmit the messages to the plurality of downstream network units via a network, wherein the messages instruct at least one of the plurality of downstream network units to transmit a modulated pre-determined sequence at the pilot subcarriers corresponding to the upstream training block assigned to the downstream network unit. |
| US10020973B2 |
Interference parameter signaling for efficient interference cancellation and suppression
The present invention relates to transmission and reception of downlink control information in a communication system. In particular, a serving base station transmits to a terminal a downlink control information which includes a first field with a scheduling information and a second field with interference parameters (interference information). The receiver employs the interference parameters for interference estimation used in interference cancellation or suppression. |
| US10020961B2 |
Method and apparatus for network virtualization
Provided herein a network virtualization apparatus and method, the apparatus including a tunnel manager configured to collect tunnel end points information within a network, and to connect each tunnel end point with a tunnel based on the tunnel end point information collected; a tunnel packet end point configured to receive a tunnel packet and process the packet such that an L2 switching may be performed, and to transmit the packet to a domain VSI (virtual switching instance); the domain VSI configured to perform the L2 switching on the processed packet, and to transmit the packet to a tunnel packet generator; and the tunnel packet generator configured to add a tunnel header to the packet for which the L2 switching has been performed to generate a new tunnel packet, and to transmit the new tunnel packet. |
| US10020953B2 |
Method of transmitting/receiving control message in a mobile communication system providing multimedia broadcast/multicast service
A method and apparatus are provided for providing a multimedia broadcast/multicast service (MBMS) to a user equipment (UE) by a base station in a mobile communication system. The method includes transmitting, to a terminal, a first message including first information about a scheduling period and an offset; transmitting, to the terminal, control information notifying of a change of a second message; transmitting, to the terminal, the second message including second information about at least one multimedia broadcast/multicast service (MBMS), based on the first information about the scheduling period and the offset; and transmitting, to the terminal, data of the at least one MBMS. The second information about the at least one MBMS includes an identification of the at least one MBMS. |
| US10020952B1 |
PIM relay mode in computer networks
Techniques are described for operating a network switch device associated with a virtual layer two (L2) network instance according to a protocol independent multicast (PIM) relay mode. The PIM relay mode enables the network switch device to receive a PIM control message, i.e., a PIM join and/or prune request, for a multicast group on a downstream port of the network switch device associated with a virtual L2 network instance, determine an upstream neighbor port of the network switch device associated with the instance, and relay the PIM control message on the upstream neighbor port of the network switch device without flooding the PIM control message on all ports of the switch device associated with the instance. In the PIM relay mode, the network switch device avoids triggering join suppression in downstream PIM neighbor devices with receivers, and avoids maintaining upstream states and setting a PIM periodic message timer. |
| US10020947B2 |
Format conversion of digitally signed files
A method for file conversion that includes receiving a first file in a computer; wherein the first file is of a first format; wherein the computer has a memory having a boot sector, a quarantine sector and a non-quarantine sector; storing the first file at the quarantine sector; wherein the quarantine sector is isolated from the boot sector and the non-quarantine sector, where code in the quarantine sector is prevented from performing write actions on other memory sectors of the memory; checking whether the first file fulfills a set of criteria that comprise: (a) the first file is associated with a valid first digital signature that was generated by a first certificate authority and is of a known format; (b) the first file is about to be converted to a second file of a second format that supports digital signatures; and (c) the first file successfully passed at least one security check; converting the first file to the second file of the second format; generating, by a second certificate authority, a second digital signature of the second file when the first file fulfills the set of criteria; and storing the second file and the second digital signature at the non-quarantine sector. |
| US10020946B2 |
Multi-key encryption method
Embodiment herein provide, for example, a method, comprising: downloading an encrypted data block from a server, where the encrypted data block includes a server-stored symmetric key; and decrypted the encrypted data block with a locally-stored symmetric key, where the sever-stored symmetric key: encrypts a message before transmitting a message to it's intended recipient; and decrypts a received message. |
| US10020942B2 |
Token-based secure data management
In some implementations, tokens that are representative of sensitive data may be used in place of the sensitive data to maintain the security of the sensitive data. For example, data may be separated into sensitive data and nonsensitive data, and at least the sensitive data is securely delivered to a data storage service. The data storage service generates a token that is representative of the sensitive data and stores the sensitive data as secure data. The data storage service may deliver the token to an entity that also receives the nonsensitive data, and the entity may use the token in place of the sensitive data. In some implementations, different tokens are generated each time the same piece of sensitive data is submitted for storage as secure data. Further, in some implementations, An expiration time may be assigned to sensitive data, and expired data and associated tokens may be deleted. |
| US10020929B1 |
Methods and systems for data alignment in network devices
Methods and systems for network devices are provided. One method includes receiving a serial data stream at a network interface of a network device coupled to a network link to communicate with other networked devices, the data stream including an alignment marker with a bit pattern for recovering a bit stream used by network device logic for processing the received serial data stream; using a plurality of comparators for simultaneously comparing within a single clock cycle, portions of a parallel data stream generated after converting the serial data stream by a de-serializer of the network device; detecting the bit pattern of the alignment marker in the parallel data stream by one of the plurality of comparators; storing a starting bit position of the alignment marker in the parallel data stream; and reordering the parallel data stream based on the stored starting bit position of the alignment marker. |
| US10020925B2 |
Method and system for dynamic ACK/NACK repetition for robust downlink MAC PDU transmission in LTE
A method and apparatus for dynamic acknowledgement repetition for a downlink medium access control packet data unit transmission ‘MAC PDU’ requiring multiple acknowledgements, the method having the steps of: receiving the downlink MAC PDU requiring multiple acknowledgements; and utilizing a differentiating factor and acknowledgement scheme, sending the multiple acknowledgements. |
| US10020921B2 |
Directional reference signal transmission
The disclosure is directed to a method of transmitting a reference signal and related electronic devices using the same. In one of the exemplary embodiments, the method would include not limited to transmitting a reference signal by using a directional antenna emitting a first radiation pattern of one or more beams covering 360 N degrees per one of N time slots during a first phase of a full sweeping period, wherein N≥2 and transmitting the reference signal, in response to transmitting the reference signal by using the directional antenna which has the first radiation pattern, by using the directional antenna emitting a second radiation pattern of multiple beams having different angles simultaneously covering a total of 360 M degrees of angles per one of M time slots during a second phase of the full sweeping period, wherein N>M≥1. |
| US10020920B2 |
Method for transmitting enhanced reference signal in multi-antenna wireless communication system and apparatus therefor
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for transmitting a reference signal by a base station in a wireless communication system supporting multiple antennas. More specifically, the present invention comprises the steps of: transmitting a reference signal configuration including specific reference signal IDs configured to identify a plurality of antenna groups; transmitting at least one reference signal associated with the plurality of antenna groups; and receiving channel state information measured according to the at least one reference signal, wherein each antenna group includes a plurality of antennas which are grouped on the basis of a specific domain of the multiple antennas, and the plurality of antenna groups are configured to perform beamforming in different directions. |
| US10020918B2 |
Fast coupled retransmission for multipath communications
The present disclosure generally discloses various mechanisms for supporting multipath communications, including mechanisms for supporting retransmissions for multipath communications. The mechanisms for supporting retransmission for multipath communications may be provided within the context of multipath transport connections, such as Multipath Transmission Control Protocol (MPTCP) connections. The mechanisms for supporting retransmission for multipath communications may support retransmission of lost or delayed packets of a multipath transport connection in a manner tending to avoid a timeout of the multipath transport connection. |
| US10020916B2 |
Method and apparatus for data communication of vehicle
A vehicle communication system includes at least one vehicle controller configured to control functions of a vehicle and configured to output data related to the vehicle. A communication unit is configured to transmit the data output from the vehicle controller to an external data collecting device. A memory is configured to store the data. A network managing unit is configured to control the communication unit to output the data to the data collecting device when the data is different from previous data transmitted to the data collecting device. |
| US10020904B2 |
Apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals, apparatus for receiving broadcast signals, method for transmitting broadcast signals and method for receiving broadcast signals
A method and an apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals thereof are disclosed. The apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals comprises an encoder encoding service data, a time interleaver interleaving the encoded service data, a mapper mapping the interleaved service data into a plurality of OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex) symbols to build at least one signal frame, a frequency interleaver interleaving data in the at least one signal frame by using a different interleaving-seed which is used for every OFDM symbol pair comprised of two sequential OFDM symbols, wherein the frequency interleaver calculates an interleaving address for the different interleaving-seed based on a main-PRBS sequence and a cyclic shifting value, a modulator modulating the frequency interleaved data by an OFDM scheme and a transmitter transmitting the broadcast signals having the modulated data, wherein an interleaving-seed is generated based on a cyclic shift value and an FFT size of the modulating. |
| US10020899B2 |
Smart box for automatic feature testing of smart phones and other devices
An automated test system for testing smart devices is presented. The system includes a system controller coupled to a smart device, wherein the system controller includes a memory with test logic and a processor. The system also includes an enclosure with a plurality of components. The plurality of components include (a) a robotic arm with a stylus, wherein the stylus is operable to manipulate the smart device to simulate human interaction therewith; (b) a platform with a device holder, wherein the device holder is operable to hold a smart device inserted therein; (c) an audio capture and generator device; and (d) a microphone. The processor is configured to automatically control the smart device and the plurality of components in accordance with the test logic. |
| US10020898B2 |
Radio-device system and a method with time-parameter evaluation
A radio-device system with a monitoring unit is provided, wherein the monitoring unit is connected to a main-radio device and to an emergency-radio device. By means of a control signal of the monitoring unit, an antenna is connected either with the main-radio device or with the emergency-radio device. The monitoring unit is fitted with a time-evaluation unit, which evaluates the processing of the command with regard to a time parameter. Furthermore, a method is also provided for monitoring the implementation of a command of the main-radio device within the radio-device system. |
| US10020897B1 |
Phased array tuning for interference suppression
A system has a plurality of transmission-capable nodes. A method is provided for suppressing interference at a critical sensor situated within this system. The system is first three-dimensionally mapped. Next, phase shifts are estimated for transmissions from the nodes to produce net destructive interference at the critical sensor, based on the three-dimensional mapping of the system. An aggregate electromagnetic signal from the nodes is sensed at the critical sensor. The phase shifts are then adjusted based on the sensed aggregate electromagnetic signal. |
| US10020896B2 |
Acoustic channel-based data communications method
It discloses an acoustic channel-based data communications method which performs channel coding on an original data signal using a CRC coding method and a BCH coding method to obtain a coded sequence; modulates the coded sequence using a preset audio sequence symbol set via a symbol mapping method to obtain a digital audio signal; selects a channel frequency band according to characteristics of a transmitting equipment and interference between frequency bands; and converts the digital audio signal into an analog audio signal through a digital-to-analog converter and transmits the signal to a channel for transmission according to the selected channel frequency band. |
| US10020894B2 |
Systems and methods for transmitting routable optical energy packets
A system for transmitting routable energy packets includes an optical power source and a processing circuit. The optical power source is configured to generate an optical power packet having optical energy, generate an optical data packet comprising routing information configured to control a route of the optical power packet, and transmit the optical power packet and the optical data packet via a conduit. The processing circuit is configured to generate the routing information to be transmitted within the optical data packet, and control a transmission by the optical power source. |
| US10020892B2 |
Apparatus and method of in-phase/quadrature separated dual multicarrier transmission for coherent optical transmission
Provided is an apparatus and method for in-phase (I)/quadrature (Q) separated dual multicarrier transmission in a coherent optical transmission system. A multicarrier transmission apparatus includes a carrier generator configured to generate a plurality of multicarrier signals; and a modulator configured to independently modulate input data with respect to an I component and a Q component of an optical carrier using the generated plurality of multicarrier signals. |
| US10020889B2 |
Channel ranging adjustment in multiple-wavelength passive optical networks (PONs)
A passive optical network (PON) includes a first optical line terminal (OLT), a second OLT, and an optical network unit (ONU). The first OLT sends an equalization delay change message to the ONU, wherein the equalization delay change message includes an equalization delay, an upstream channel ID and a downstream channel ID corresponding to the equalization delay. The ONU receives the equalization delay change message. When the ONU tunes from the first OLT to the second OLT, the ONU obtains the equalization delay for upstream transmission according to the upstream channel ID and the downstream channel ID. |
| US10020887B2 |
Wireless communication system, baseband processing device, and wireless device
A wireless communication system includes a baseband processing device configured to transmit a data signal via an optical transmission line, and a wireless device configured to receive the data signal via the optical transmission line and carry out wireless transmission of an output signal obtained by amplifying the data signal, wherein the wireless device is configured to amplify the data signal to generate the output signal, generate a feedback signal according to the output signal, and transmit the feedback signal to the baseband processing device via the optical transmission line, and wherein the baseband processing device is configured to acquire the feedback signal from the wireless device, and execute first processing of multiplying the data signal by a distortion compensation coefficient corresponding to an inverse characteristic of distortion in the radio frequency circuit based on the feedback signal. |
| US10020885B2 |
Direct communicative coupling of a radio source to a remote unit for exchanging communications services with a distributed communications system (DCS)
Direct communicative coupling of a base station(s) to a remote unit for exchanging communications services with a distributed communications system (DCS) is disclosed. For example, the remote unit may include a remote antenna unit that is provided in a distributed antenna system (DAS) as one type of DCS. In this manner, the remote unit can facilitate distribution of communications services from a base station into the DCS at locations other than at a centralized location in the DCS, such as at a central unit or head-end equipment. Various DCS configurations are possible that include a remote unit supporting the direct communicatively coupling to a base station(s) for distributing communications services in a DCS. |
| US10020883B1 |
Communication device
A communication system includes a transparent refractive optical wedge, a steerable mirror, a position feedback device, and a transceiver. The transparent refractive optical wedge has first and second faces angled with respect to each other and receives first and second optical signals through both the first and second faces. The first and second optical signals travel along parallel or common paths through the first face and diverge at a deflection angle with respect to each other through the second face. The steerable mirror is in optical communication with the first face of the optical wedge, the position feedback device, and the transceiver. The position feedback device adjusts a position of the steerable mirror to maintain the alignment of the reflected signal with the position feedback device. The transceiver has an optical transmitter transmitting one of the optical signals and an optical receiver receiving the other optical signal. |
| US10020882B2 |
Adaptive multiple input multiple output (MIMO) optical orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (O-OFDM) based visible light communication
Systems and methods for adaptive multiple input multiple output (MIMO) optical orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (O-OFDM) visible light communication (VLC) involving adaptively choosing modulation type, modulation order, MIMO configuration, and MIMO type. A receiver estimates channel information, and based on the channel information, an adaptive controller makes a selection of transmission mode and provides feedback to a transmitter, which uses a set of transmission parameters indicated in the transmission mode feedback. MIMO O-OFDM VLC provides diversity gain (i.e., higher link reliability or better coverage range) and/or multiplexing gain (i.e., higher data rate). |
| US10020879B2 |
Optical transmission apparatus, optical power monitor, and method of monitoring optical power
An optical transmission apparatus may include a coherent detector, a photoelectric converter, an amplifier, a gain controller, and an optical power monitor. The coherent detector may perform a coherent detection on received light including a plurality of wavelengths to select light having any one of the wavelengths. The photoelectric converter may convert the light having the selected wavelength to an electrical signal. The amplifier may amplify the electrical signal. The gain controller may control a gain of the amplifier depending on an output amplitude of the amplifier. The optical power monitor may calculate an optical power level of the selected wavelength based on the gain and the output amplitude. |
| US10020874B2 |
Antenna device, communication device and communication system
An antenna device includes a reflecting mirror, a primary radiator connected with a wireless device including a transmitter and a receiver, a radiator support mechanism that rotatably supports the primary radiator at a focusing position of the mirror with respect to a central axis of the radiator, evaluation data acquisition unit that acquires evaluation data that is data regarding a polarization direction angle that is a tilt angle of a polarization plane of the radiator with respect to a horizontal direction, a tilt angle of its own device correlated with the polarization direction angle, or a detection level, polarization plane adjuster that adjusts the polarization plane of the radiator based on the evaluation data, trigger input unit that inputs a trigger to the polarization plane adjuster, wherein the polarization plane adjuster rotates the radiator to adjust the polarization plane of the radiator according to timing provided by the trigger. |
| US10020870B2 |
Wireless backhaul for wireless relays in a data communication network
In a data communication network, a wireless relay exchanges signaling data with User Equipment (UEs). The wireless relay compresses/decompresses Long Term Evolution (LTE) S1-MME signaling data and wirelessly exchanges the compressed the LTE S1-MME signaling data with an eNodeB. The eNodeB wirelessly exchanges the compressed LTE S1-MME signaling data with the wireless relay. The eNodeB compresses/decompresses the LTE S1-MME signaling data and exchanges the decompressed LTE S1-MME signaling data with the MME. The MME processes the decompressed LTE S1-MME signaling data to establish wireless data bearers for the UEs through the wireless relay to the eNodeB. The wireless relay wirelessly exchanges user data with the UEs, compresses/decompresses the user data, and wirelessly exchanges the compressed user data with the eNodeB. The eNodeB wirelessly exchanges the compressed UE user data with the wireless relay, compresses/decompresses the user data, and exchanges the decompressed user data. |
| US10020863B2 |
Techniques for detecting a candidate information signal of unknown signal strength using receivers set to different fixed gain states
A method for wireless communication includes monitoring a channel of a radio frequency spectrum band using at least a first receiver and a second receiver in parallel; determining, during the monitoring, at least a first received signal strength of a first receiver output of the first receiver, and a second received signal strength of a second receiver output of the second receiver; and selecting, based on the first received signal strength and the second received signal strength, one or both of the first receiver output or the second receiver output for use in decoding a candidate information signal of unknown signal strength. The first and second receivers are set to first and second fixed gain state providing the first and second receivers with first and second dynamic ranges. The second dynamic range partially overlaps the first dynamic range to provide the wireless device an extended dynamic range. |
| US10020856B2 |
Method and apparatus for measuring and feeding back channel information
A method and an apparatus for measuring and feeding back channel information are disclosed. In an embodiment the method includes receiving, by a first network device, a reference signal and measuring the reference signal to obtain a measurement result. The method further includes selecting a first codebook from a first codebook set according to the measurement result, wherein the first codebook set comprises at least two first codebooks, a sub-vector Wx of each first codebook is formed by a zero vector and a non-zero vector, wherein the vectors forming the Wx correspond to different groups of antenna ports, and sending a codebook index to a second network device, wherein the codebook index corresponds to the first codebook selected from the first codebook set. |
| US10020853B2 |
Method and system for processing downlink pilot signal
A method and system for processing a downlink pilot signal is disclosed. Herein, the method includes: a receiving end detecting downlink measurement pilot ports to obtain a received signal corresponding to each downlink measurement pilot port on each receiving antenna; performing screening on the downlink measurement pilot ports according to the received signals; calculating a receiving weight vector of each downlink measurement pilot port, and using an uplink precoding weight vector, calculated and obtained by combining the receiving weight vector with uplink and downlink operating frequencies, for data precoding; or, using N uplink precoding weight vectors, calculated and obtained by combining the receiving weight vector with uplink and downlink operating frequencies, for uplink pilot precoding, where N is the number of uplink precoding pilots transmitted, and N is an integer which is greater than or equal to 1. The above technical solution can effectively reduce pilot overhead in communication systems. |
| US10020848B2 |
Method for communication between electronic devices through interaction of users with objects
The method of the present invention refers to digital link. The method (101) identifies the user interaction (103) with a specific object (100). According to this interaction, the method (101) identifies characteristics or data on the specific object (100) which allow the method (101) to extract personal information and associate it with an output message (for example, a predefined text, audio message to be recorded, etc.) that will be sent to the target contact/user (102) (which can be another person, a group of people, a system/service, or objects in general). Since the contact target (102) is identified, a smart device associated with the method (101) triggers a preset action for the connection with the contact target (102). The method (101) allows the reception of target responses contact (102) enabling the user (103) to maintain communication with the target user (102). |
| US10020845B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing security using network traffic adjustments
Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, generating first traffic for transmitting along a network path toward a recipient device, determining a schedule for transmitting the first traffic, and facilitating transmission of the first traffic along the network path using a first waveguide system. The first waveguide system has a dielectric coupler, and operates by communicating electromagnetic waves via the dielectric coupler at a physical interface of a transmission medium that propagate without utilizing an electrical return path. The electromagnetic waves are guided by the transmission medium, wherein the electromagnetic waves at least partially surround an outer surface of the transmission medium, and wherein the electromagnetic waves have a non-optical frequency range. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US10020840B2 |
Methods and devices for mitigating interference with FHSS signals
Methods and devices for mitigating interference with a signal of a frequency hopping spread spectrum system are disclosed. A second signal is detected, and a property of the second signal is determined. At least one of a set of designated frequency channels used by the frequency hopping spread spectrum system is determined as having a property most similar to that of the second signal. The usage, by the frequency hopping spread spectrum system, of the at least one most similar designated frequency channel is then modified, for communication of data. |
| US10020837B2 |
Transmit leakage cancellation in a wide bandwidth distributed antenna system
A system and methods for cancelling transmission leakage signals in a wide bandwidth Distributed Antenna System (“DAS”) having remote units is disclosed. An internal cancellation circuit within the remote unit is employed to reduce the transmitted leakage signals by generating a cancellation signal. This cancellation signal is added to the received signal to cancel the transmission leakage signal in the receiving signal path. A pilot signal generation circuit is employed to optimize the cancellation circuit operating parameters. The frequency of the pilot signal is swept over a range to determine the pilot frequency having the highest electromagnetic coupling. The amplitude and phase of the cancellation signal is then optimized to minimize the level of transmission leakage in the receiving transmission path. |
| US10020836B2 |
Reference signal distribution in multi-module systems
Methods and systems for reducing and eliminating the effects of reference signal leakage in multi-module radio-frequency systems, particularly for radio-frequency integrated-circuit devices. Isolation is provided by frequency shifting, by binary phase-shift keying of reference signals to furnish different reference signals with unique signatures to enable separation and discrimination, and by backwards sending of reference signals from receiver to transmitter to avoid contamination of receiver signals by leakage of transmitter reference signals. In addition to improving calibration, methods of the present invention also provide noise reduction in certain multiple-module radio frequency systems. |
| US10020833B2 |
Integrated networking equipment and diversity antenna in light bulb
A light bulb or other lamp device incorporating improved antenna configurations and integrated networking equipment is described herein. In one example, a LED light bulb is arranged to include a wireless transceiver and related wireless network processing circuitry, and is coupled to multiple antennas configured to receive and transmit signals using spatial diversity, beamforming, multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO), or other multi-antenna techniques. The heat sink in the light bulb may be purposed to provide one or more of the multiple antennas, such as use of respective heat sink structures to serve as a diversity antenna. The wireless network processing circuitry may be used for control of the light bulb or for operability with wireless and non-wireless networks. For example, the network processing circuitry may operate as a wireless network access point, repeater, relay, bridge, or like function. |
| US10020831B2 |
Microwave receiver and magnetoresistive device
A microwave receiver includes a magnetoresistive element to which a microwave is input, a magnetic field application unit, and a DC bias current application unit. The magnetoresistive element includes a free magnetic layer, a fixed magnetic layer, and a nonmagnetic spacer layer interposed between the free magnetic layer and the fixed magnetic layer. The magnetic field application unit applies a magnetic field to the free magnetic layer. The DC bias current application unit applies a DC bias current to the magnetoresistive element, and includes an input terminal. The DC bias current is made variable by adjusting a DC voltage that is applied to the DC bias current application unit via the input terminal. |
| US10020830B2 |
Measuring system and measuring method for measuring amplification and noise by correlation
A measuring system comprises a noise source adapted to provide a noise signal to a device under test. Moreover, it comprises a measuring device adapt to measure a measuring signal generated by the device under test in reaction to the noise signal. The measuring device further comprises a signal splitter adapted to split the measuring signal into at least a first split measuring signal and a second split measuring signal. Moreover it comprises a correlator adapted to correlate a signal derived from the first split measuring signal and a signal derived from the second split measuring signal. Also the measuring device comprises a processor adapted to determine an amplification factor and/or a noise figure of the device under test based upon the correlated signal derived from the first split measuring signal and signal derived from the second split measuring signal. |
| US10020828B2 |
Adaptive impedance matching apparatus, system and method with improved dynamic range
An embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus, comprising' an RF matching network connected to at least one RF input port and at least one RF output port and 5 including one or more voltage or current controlled variable reactive elements; a voltage detector connected to the at least one RF output port via a variable voltage divider to determine the voltage at the at least one RF output port and provide voltage information to a controller that controls a bias driving circuit which provides voltage or current bias to the RF matching network; a variable voltage divider connected to the voltage detector and implemented using a 10 multi-pole RF switch to select one of a plurality of different resistance ratios to improve the dynamic range of the apparatus; and wherein the RF matching network is adapted to maximize RF power transferred from the at least one RF input port to the at least one RF output port by varying the voltage or current to the voltage or current controlled variable reactive elements to maximize the RF voltage at the at least one RF output port. |
| US10020826B2 |
Generating molecular encoding information for data storage
A method begins by a processing module of one or more processing modules of one or more computing devices generating a number for each encoded data slice of a set of encoded data slices based on the encoded data slice, identifying a gene based on the number to produce an identified gene, and creating a linking identifier that links the encoded data slice to the identified gene, where, for the set of encoded data slices, a set of identified genes and a set of linking identifiers are created. The method continues with the processing module generating molecular encoding information from the set of identified genes and the set of linking identifiers, where the molecular encoding information is used to create a molecular storage structure for each identified gene of the set of identified genes yielding a set of molecular storage structures. |
| US10020824B1 |
Method and system for efficient block synchronization scheme on a scrambled cyclic code bit stream
An improved approach is provided to identifying the boundary of data encoded using additive cyclic codes. In some embodiment, the process includes determining a first calculated parity of a first bit stream window, and, second, one or more updates to the calculated parity of the bit stream window to determine the parity of the next bit stream window, where after each update to the calculated parity, the calculated parity is compared with the target parity, and matching the calculated parity to the target parity indicates a proper boundary of a bit stream window. In some embodiments, the process supports shortened cyclic codes. In some embodiments, the bit stream boundary can be identified prior to descrambling the bit stream inputs for a given bit stream window. In this way, the process can avoid unnecessarily descrambling of the bit stream windows that are not properly aligned to a bit stream boundary. |
| US10020822B2 |
Error tolerant memory system
A system and method of providing error tolerant memory access operations on a memory device. A method is disclosed including: providing location information of weak memory cells, wherein the location information includes addresses grouped into tiered sets, wherein each tiered set includes addresses having a number of weak memory cells; receiving a target address for a memory read operation; reading data from a virtual repair memory if the target address belongs to a first tiered set of addresses having a number of weak memory cells exceeding a threshold; and if the target address does not belong the first tiered set of addresses, reading data from the memory device and alternatively performing (a) an error correction and error detection (ECED) operation and (b) a target address look up operation, at different settings, until an error free result is obtained. |
| US10020821B2 |
Encoder, decoder, transmission device, and reception device
A transmission device and reception device for digital data that have excellent resistance to noise are provided. An encoder (11-1) of this disclosure, included in a transmission device (1) of this disclosure, applies LDPC encoding to digital data using a unique check matrix for each code rate by using a check matrix in which, taking a check matrix initial value table established in advance for each code rate at a code length of 44880 bits as initial values, 1 entries of a partial matrix corresponding to an information length appropriate for a code rate of 93/120 are allocated in the column direction over a cycle of 374 columns. A demodulator (23) of this disclosure, included in a reception device (2) of this disclosure, decodes digital data encoded by the encoder (11-1). |
| US10020820B2 |
LDPC code matrices
An LDPC parity check matrix includes a systematic portion having a plurality of systematic elements and a parity portion having a plurality of parity elements. The value of each systematic element determines a cyclic shift to be applied to rows of an identity submatrix corresponding to that element. The value of each parity element determines a cyclic shift to be applied to rows of an identity submatrix corresponding to that element. The weights of two or more columns of the parity portion are the same. |
| US10020817B1 |
Segmented digital-to-analog converter
Disclosed examples include a segmented DAC circuit, including an R-2R resistor DAC to convert a first subword to a first analog output signal, an interpolation DAC to offset the first analog output signal based on an N-bit digital interpolation code signal to provide the analog output signal, and a Sigma Delta modulator to modulate a modulator code to provide the N-bit digital interpolation code signal that represents a value of second and third subwords. |
| US10020814B2 |
A/D converter circuit and semiconductor integrated circuit
An analog-to-digital converter circuit having a simple design and capable of preventing an increase in surface area and other problems. An analog-to-digital converter circuit for converting an analog input signal to a digital quantity includes an analog-to-digital converter unit that converts analog input signals to pre-correction digital values, and a corrector unit that digitally corrects the pre-connection digital values output from the analog-to-digital converter unit. The corrector unit includes a weighting coefficient multiplier unit that outputs a post-correction digital value obtained by multiplying the weighting coefficients provided for each bit by each bit of the pre-correction digital value output from the A/D converter unit and summing them, and a weighting coefficient search unit that searches for weighting coefficients so as to minimize an error signal generated based on the post-correction digital value and an approximate value for the post-correction digital value. |
| US10020811B2 |
FPGA RAM blocks optimized for use as register files
A random access memory circuit adapted for use in a field programmable gate array integrated circuit device is disclosed. The FPGA has a programmable array with logic modules and routing interconnects programmably coupleable to the logic modules and the RAM circuit. The RAM circuit has three ports: a first readable port, a second readable port, and a writeable port. The read ports may be programmably synchronous or asynchronous and have a programmably bypassable output pipeline register. The RAM circuit is especially well adapted for implementing register files. A novel interconnect method is also described. |
| US10020810B2 |
PSoC architecture
An example semiconductor chip includes analog circuits, digital circuits, and a digital input port. The digital input port is to receive an input signal. The analog circuit is to receive the input signal from the digital input port and produce a digital signal based on the input signal. |
| US10020808B2 |
Impedance calibration circuit and semiconductor memory apparatus having the same
An impedance calibration circuit includes a first reference resistor electrically coupled to a calibration pad, a second reference resistor which is coupled to the first reference resistor in parallel and a resistance value of the second reference resistor is varied according to an operation voltage mode, and a calibration circuit electrically coupled to the calibration pad and configured to generate a calibration code according to a resistance value formed by the first reference resistor and the second reference resistor and calibrate an impedance value in the calibration pad according to the calibration code. |
| US10020804B2 |
Output stage buffer circuit
An output stage buffer circuit including a first P-channel Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor (MOSFET), first to third N-channel MOSFETs, a constant-voltage circuit and a bias circuit. A source of the first P-channel MOSFET is connected to a power supply terminal. A source and a drain of the first N-channel MOSFET are respectively connected to a ground terminal and an output terminal. The first N-channel and P-channel MOSFETs constitute a push-pull circuit. The second N-channel MOSFET is disposed between a drain of the first P-channel MOSFET and a connection point between the drain of the first N-channel MOSFET and the output terminal. A source and a drain of the third N-channel MOSFET respectively receive from the constant-voltage circuit a constant voltage lower than a voltage received at the power supply terminal, and from the bias circuit a constant current. The second and third N-channel MOSFETs constitute a current mirror circuit. |
| US10020802B2 |
Methods and systems for operating hybrid power devices using driver circuits that perform indirect instantaneous load current sensing using stored I-V characteristics
An integrated circuit is provided with an MCU, which is configured to generate a PWM control signal that is free of switching pattern information therein. A current-estimating gate driver is provided, which is responsive to the PWM signal. This gate driver is configured to drive first and second gate terminals of first and second parallel switching devices (within a hybrid switch) with gate signals that establish a second switching pattern within the hybrid switch. These gate driving operations are performed in response to measuring a first voltage associated with a terminal of the hybrid switch when being driven by gate signals that establish a first switching pattern within the hybrid switch that is different from the second switching pattern. The duty cycles of the gate signals associated with the second switching pattern are unequal and the duty cycles of the gate signals associated with the first switching pattern are unequal. |
| US10020800B2 |
High voltage nanosecond pulser with variable pulse width and pulse repetition frequency
A nanosecond pulser is disclosed. In some embodiments, the nanosecond pulser may include one or more switch circuits including one or more solid state switches, a transformer, and an output. In some embodiments, the transformer may include a first transformer core, a first primary winding wound at least partially around a portion of the first transformer core, and a secondary winding wound at least partially around a portion of the first transformer core. In some embodiments, each of the one or more switch circuits are coupled with at least a portion of the first primary winding. In some embodiments, the output may be electrically coupled with the secondary winding and outputs electrical pulses having a peak voltage greater than about 1 kilovolt and a rise time of less than 150 nanoseconds or less than 50 nanoseconds. |
| US10020797B2 |
Phase shifter, semiconductor integrated circuit, and phased array system
A phase shifter includes a first variable amplifier circuit configured to receive and amplify a first signal having a first phase; and a second variable amplifier circuit configured to receive and amplify a second signal having a second phase different from the first phase. The phase shifter is configured to generate an output signal having a desired phase by phase combination of an output of the first variable amplifier circuit and an output of the second variable amplifier circuit, and the first variable amplifier circuit and the second variable amplifier circuit each includes a plurality of amplifier circuit units. The amplifier circuit unit includes a first transistor with a grounded gate and a second transistor with a grounded source, and gains of the first variable amplifier circuit and the second variable amplifier circuit are specified according to the number of amplifier circuit units to be activated. |
| US10020795B2 |
Method of manufacturing a common mode filter
A common mode filter coupled to a protection device. In accordance with an embodiment, the common mode filter has first and second coils, each coil having a spiral shape, a central region, an exterior region, a first terminal, and a second terminal, wherein the first terminal of the first coil is formed in a first portion of the central region, the first terminal of the second coil is formed in a second portion of the central region, and wherein the central region is laterally bounded by the first and second coils and the exterior region is not surrounded by the first and second coils. The protection device has a first terminal coupled to the first terminal of the first coil and a second terminal coupled to the first terminal of the second coil. |
| US10020794B2 |
Wireless power transmitter apparatus having power transmitter apparatus and power reception apparatus supplied with electric power energy via space
A power transmitter apparatus of a wireless power transmitter apparatus transmits electric power from the power transmitter apparatus to a power reception apparatus by electromagnetically coupling a power transmitter apparatus resonance coil with a power reception apparatus resonance coil. The power transmitter apparatus includes a control signal detector portion that generates a control signal based on a voltage change of a voltage across both terminals of the power transmitter apparatus resonance coil and transmits the control signal; and a switching circuit that resonates the power transmitter apparatus resonance coil on the basis of the control signal. |
| US10020792B2 |
Phase shifter
An interdigital capacitor low loss and high resolution phase shifter is disclosed. The phase shifter includes an input port, a first electrode connected to the input port, an output port and a second electrode connected to the output port and arranged substantially parallel to the first electrode. The phase shifter also includes a substrate disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, a first variable capacitor disposed on the first electrode and a second variable capacitor disposed on the second electrode. Adjustment of one or more of the variable capacitors causes a phase shift between the input port and the output port. |
| US10020782B2 |
PVT robust closed loop CMOS bias for linear power amplifier
A biasing device for direct current (DC) biasing a linear power amplifier that comprises multiple linear power amplifier circuits that are ideally identical to each other; wherein the biasing device may include a replica circuit that is a replica of a linear power amplifier circuit of the multiple linear power amplifier circuits; and a bias control circuit; wherein the bias control circuit is configured to feed the replica circuit with one or more DC biasing signals thereby maintaining at a constant value a replica DC current that is consumed by the replica circuit, and maintaining at a fixed value a replica DC voltage of a replica output node of the replica circuit; and wherein the replica circuit is coupled the multiple linear power amplifier circuits and is configured to supply DC voltage bias signals that force each linear power amplifier circuit of the multiple linear power amplifier circuits to consume a linear power amplifier circuit DC current that equals the replica DC current, when the linear power amplifier circuit is fed with a linear power amplifier DC voltage that either equals the replica DC voltage or differs from the replica DC voltage by a fraction of the replica DC voltage. |
| US10020775B2 |
Silicone rubber foam brush
A method and device for cleaning and pretreating solar panels is provided. The device comprises a brush having cleaning elements made from silicone foam rubber material. The cleaning elements can be flaps of silicone foam rubber material. A sheet of silicone foam rubber material having two free ends can be attached to a core member such that the two free ends extend away from the core member to form flaps. The solar panels can be cleaned by brushing the solar panel surfaces with the flaps of silicone foam rubber material. The solar panels can also be pretreated by brushing the solar panel surfaces with silicone foam rubber material. |
| US10020774B2 |
Self-propelled cleaning robot
Provided is a self-propelled cleaning robot that can efficiently perform cleaning even on a flat surface having a gap or a step. A self-propelled cleaning robot (1) that self-travels on and cleans a flat surface (SF) of a structure, a groove (G) being formed in the flat surface (SF), the self-propelled cleaning robot (1) includes a robot main body (2) in which a self-propelled moving means (4) is provided and a guidance unit (40) that guides movement of the robot main body (2). At this point, the guidance unit (40) includes: a shaft member (43) that is provided so as to be detachably inserted in the groove (G) and a shaft member moving mechanism (45) that controls insertion and removal of the shaft member (43) with respect to the groove (G). The robot main body (2) is provided so as to be turnable about the shaft member (43) in a state in which the shaft member (43) of the guidance unit (40) is inserted in the groove. |
| US10020772B1 |
Portable solar array
This invention provides a portable system for the generation of photovoltaic energy. The power plant is provided as a kit in a plurality of containers, each of which can be carried by one person. This power plant can be assembled in a few hours by two people. The power plant is adjustable and can adapt to a variety of locations and environments. The power plant includes a frame structure, a movable photovoltaic collection array of more than one solar panel, a power management module, battery power storage system and various cables. The power plant can include shelving and can function as a vehicle port. The photovoltaic collection array can be pivotally raised and lowered for optimal solar power collection manually or mechanically. In further embodiments, more than one such power plant can be joined together to create a portable local power grid. |
| US10020771B2 |
Motor controller, motor control method, and non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with motor control program
A motor controller, a motor control method, and a motor control program are provided, all of which are capable of appropriately suppressing temperature elevation in a motor, while protecting an amplifier. A motor controller for driving a motor by way of pulse width modulation includes: a temperature acquisition unit that acquires a temperature of a motor; a limiting value determination unit that determines, based on the temperature, a limiting current value for driving the motor; and a frequency determination unit that determines, based on the limiting value, a PWM frequency to be generated with an amplifier. |
| US10020769B2 |
Apparatus for actuating and/or monitoring a brushless DC motor
A device for actuating and/or monitoring a brushless DC motor, preferably for safety-relevant applications, preferably while operating or controlling a vehicle or components of a vehicle and a method for reliably checking the functional capability of the device are provided. The device can be actuated by a motor control unit by using a control signal for actuating and/or monitoring a brushless direct current motor by using a converter circuit includes a switching-off apparatus, a driver circuit which acts on the converter circuit and a testable diagnosis unit for monitoring the device and/or the converter circuit and/or the brushless direct current motor. The switching-off apparatus acts on the driver circuit. The testable diagnosis unit can be tested for a malfunction by using a testing command transmitted by the motor control unit. |
| US10020768B2 |
Driving apparatus for an electric motor, a method for actuation thereof and a motor unit which comprises the driving apparatus
A driving apparatus for an electric motor (11) comprising: an inverter (12) connectable to an electric motor (11) for supplying electrical current thereto; accumulator means (13) for providing a continuous electrical current, connected to the inverter (12) to provide electrical supply thereto; a transformer device (14) comprising first connection means (15) suitable to be coupled to a power grid to absorb power, and second connection means (16), suitable for coupling to the accumulator means (13). The transformer device (14) comprises: two buck converters (100, 200) connected in parallel to form an interleaved configuration; a boost converter (300) connected in series with respect to the buck converters; a control device connected to the converters (100) and configured to operate the converters so as to obtain a preset constant voltage at the ends of said second connection means. |
| US10020767B2 |
Linear motor device and control method
A linear motor device includes a linear motor and a controller that applies pressure to a pressurizing target by moving a needle provided with the linear motor. The controller includes: a speed-change position-setting unit that calculates a deceleration start position, which is a position where a movement speed of the needle starts to be reduced from a first speed to a second speed when the pressurizing target start to be pressurized, based on a distance required to reduce the movement speed of the needle from the first speed to the second speed which is lower than the first speed and at which pressure applied to the pressurizing target when the needle comes into contact with the pressurizing target is equal to or lower than a predetermined pressure; and a position determination unit that drives the needle of the linear motor at the first speed and at the second speed. |
| US10020765B2 |
Excitation device of AC exciter
A gas turbine power generation system is configured by a gas turbine, a main power generator which is coupled to a rotor of the gas turbine through a rotation shaft, a rotation rectifier which converts a three-phase AC current into a DC current and transfers the DC current to a field magnet winding wire of the main power generator, an AC exciter which is configured by an armature winding wire, a d-axis field magnet winding wire, and a q-axis field magnet winding wire, and transfers the three-phase AC current generated at the armature winding wire to the rotation rectifier, an excitation device which drives the AC exciter at the time of start-up of the main power generator, and an excitation power supply which supplies a current to the excitation device. |
| US10020764B2 |
System for compensating rotor vibrations
The present disclosure relates to a system to compensate for mechanical forces on a rotating rotor of an electric machine, to a method for compensating mechanical forces on a rotating rotor of an electric machine, and to a use of a corresponding system. Disclosed is a system for compensating torsions at a rotating rotor. The system includes at least one measuring device for measuring specific properties of the rotor, an analyzer unit for analyzing the measurement data of the measuring device, a compensation means for compensating the torsions at the rotor, the compensation means comprise a power supply unit generating a signal adapted in amplitude and frequency to the measured properties of the rotor, and to apply the generated signal to the rotor, and the power supply unit is a frequency converter. |
| US10020757B2 |
Inverter, control apparatus thereof, method for controlling same, and inverter system
A method for controlling an inverter including, when it is detected that a voltage across a bus capacitor, for example, a bus voltage, is excessively large, controlling a photo-voltaic (PV) battery to short-circuit so that the bus voltage drops. When the bus voltage drops to a particular value, continuing charging, by the PV battery, the bus capacitor to control the bus voltage to rise so that the bus voltage is kept within an operating voltage range of the inverter and the inverter can be equipped with a PV battery having a higher open circuit voltage. Therefore, a charging rate of the bus capacitor can be increased and a startup speed of the inverter can be increased. |
| US10020752B1 |
Adaptive control of resonant power converters
A power converter including a transformer, a resonant circuit including the transformer and a resonant capacitor having a characteristic resonant frequency and period, and output circuitry connected to the transformer for delivering a rectified output voltage to a load. Primary switches drive the resonant circuit, a switch controller operates the primary switches in a series of converter operating cycles which include power transfer intervals of adjustable duration during which a resonant current at the characteristic resonant frequency flows through a winding of the transformer. The operating cycles may also include energy recycling intervals of variable duration for charging and discharging capacitances within the converter. A gate driver includes a transformer, a plurality of switches, a current monitor, and a controller that operates the switches in a series of driver operating cycles having adjustable ON periods and adjustable transition periods during which capacitances are resonantly charged and discharged. |
| US10020749B2 |
Power conversion unit
The present invention relates to a power converter including a transformer; a current doubler including a switch element and connected to a secondary side of the transformer to double a current of the transformer according to an operation of the switch element; and a voltage resonator connected to the switch elements, wherein the voltage resonator includes a switch element and a capacitor which are connected to each other in series. |
| US10020747B2 |
Resonant DC-DC power converter assembly
The present invention relates to a resonant DC-DC power converter assembly comprising a first resonant DC-DC power converter and a second resonant DC-DC power converter having identical circuit topologies. A first inductor of the first resonant DC-DC power converter and a second inductor of the second resonant DC-DC power converter are configured for magnetically coupling the first and second resonant DC-DC power converters to each other to forcing substantially 180 degrees phase shift, or forcing substantially 0 degree phase shift, between corresponding resonant voltage waveforms of the first and second resonant DC-DC power converters. The first and second inductors are corresponding components of the first and second resonant DC-DC power converters. |
| US10020743B2 |
Single stage switching power converter with improved primary only feedback
A switching power converter is provided that extrapolates from a reference voltage during dead periods of a rectified input voltage as determined from a comparison of an Isense voltage to a current threshold. |
| US10020739B2 |
Integrated current replicator and method of operating the same
An integrated current replicator includes a first current sense resistor configured to sense a first input current to a power converter during a primary portion of a duty cycle and a first transconductance amplifier configured produce a first voltage at a common circuit node proportional to the first input current during the primary portion of the duty cycle. The integrated current replicator includes a second current sense resistor configured to sense a second input current to the power converter during a complementary portion of the duty cycle and a second transconductance amplifier configured produce a second voltage at the common circuit node proportional to the second input current during the complementary portion of the duty cycle. The integrated current replicator includes an amplifier configured to produce a voltage replicating the first input current and the second input current from the first voltage and the second voltage. |
| US10020736B2 |
Per-phase current calibration method for a multi-phase voltage regulator
A method and an information handling system (IHS) perform current calibration of a multi-phase voltage regulator (VR) by using a calibrated operating phase to calibrate an unknown operating phase. A calibration controller, using a pulse width modulation (PWM) controller, enables a first unknown operating phase within a first converter sub-circuit in the multiphase VR. The calibration controller enables a calibrated circuit component electronically coupled to the first unknown operating phase. The calibration controller determines a target voltage for the first unknown operating phase based on sense component specifications. The calibration controller determines, for the first unknown operating phase, a sense voltage that identifies the first unknown operating phase as a first evaluated operating phase. The calibration controller performs calibration of operating phases of the multi-phase VR, including the first evaluated operating phase, based on a respective difference between a sense voltage and a corresponding target voltage for each operating phase. |
| US10020730B2 |
Current distribution in DC-DC converters
A DC-DC converter includes a substrate having opposing first and second sides, a power stage attached to the first side of the substrate and having active semiconductor components operable to provide an output phase of the DC-DC converter, an inductor attached to the first side of the substrate and electrically connected to the power stage through a first metal trace at the first side of the substrate, and a plurality of electrically conductive vias extending through the substrate from the first side to the second side. The vias are electrically connected to the first metal trace. At least some of the vias are disposed at least partly under the power stage. A corresponding method of assembling such a DC-DC converter also is disclosed. |
| US10020729B2 |
Current-mode DC/DC converter and method therefor
A current-mode DC-DC converter includes a power switch and a reset circuit for providing a resettable input signal to the switch. A first feedback loop, coupled to the switch, provides a control signal to the reset circuit to instigate the resettable input signal when a ramp voltage reaches a target peak current value. An inductor is coupled to the switch. A second current control feedback loop includes a current sense circuit that monitors an inductor current influenced by an output of the switch, and a slope compensation circuit for introducing a ramp voltage to a sensed voltage of the switch to control power switch on/off to limit the inductor current. The converter is characterized by a slope compensation effect cancellation circuit coupled to the current sense circuit via the second feedback loop for sensing an inductor peak current and controlling power switch on/off in response to the inductor peak current. |
| US10020728B2 |
Signal generation device and method for controlling output voltage of regulator
A signal generation device outputs a signal based on a predetermined pattern with a logic transition to a predetermined external device. The signal generation device comprises an output driver which outputs respective signals based on at least two test patterns different in the frequency of the logic transition respectively to the predetermined external device, a regulator which supplies power to the output driver, a current compensation circuit which generates a compensation current, and a control circuit which adjusts a value of the compensation current. The control circuit adjusts, for each test pattern, the value of the compensation current such that a difference value calculated based on output voltages of the regulator becomes a determination criteria value or less. |
| US10020727B2 |
Control of an inductive load by pulse width modulation
Method and device for controlling an inductive load by pulse width modulation, on the basis of a periodic set point control signal having a given set point duty cycle. The set point control signal is, in each period of the set point control signal, in a first logic state determined from the high and low logic states for at least a first duration, and is in the other logic state during the rest of the period. Control signals are generated for activating the inductive load, on the basis of the set point control signal. With the aid of a first counter, the first duration (t0) is determined on the basis of the set point control signal. Via a second counter, a second duration (t0−td2) is determined, for which a logic signal corresponding to an effective control signal observed in the load is in the first determined logic state. |
| US10020722B2 |
Spectrum modulation for switching circuits
A circuit includes a signal generator to generate an output signal to vary the switching frequency of a switching circuit to mitigate noise in the switching circuit. The signal generator includes a modulation waveform generator (MWG) to generate a ramp signal in response to a numerical input and a switching signal from the switching circuit. The ramp signal is employed to modulate the frequency of the output signal of the signal generator over a range of frequencies from a minimum frequency to a maximum frequency. A frequency adjuster circuit modulates the amplitude of the ramp signal by adjusting at least one of the minimum frequency or the maximum frequency of the range of frequencies. |
| US10020713B2 |
Integral actuator design
An integrated actuator drive unit (ADU) assembly for an electric motor actuator is disclosed. The integrated ADU assembly may comprise at least one of an integrally formed ring gear, an integrally formed thrust bearing and integrally formed load cell. The integrated ADU assembly may comprise a portion of an electromechanical actuator. The electromechanical actuator may be utilized for aircraft braking systems. |
| US10020707B2 |
Motor driven compressor
A motor-driven compressor includes a housing, a compression portion, and an electric motor, a drive circuit, a circuit housing, a control circuit, a communication lead, and a metal shielding member. The compression portion and the electric motor are received in the housing. The circuit housing is arranged outside the housing and defines an accommodation chamber that receives the drive circuit. The control circuit is configured to control the electric motor by controlling the drive circuit. The communication lead is connected to the control circuit and drawn from the inside to the outside of the accommodation chamber. The metal shielding member is arranged in the accommodation chamber and covers the communication lead. The circuit housing includes a metal shielding portion, which is electrically grounded. The shielding member is electrically connected to the shielding portion. |
| US10020703B2 |
Winding structure of a stator and electric machinery using the stator
A winding structure of a stator and an electric machinery using the stator are disclosed. The winding structure includes a first magnetic pole, a second magnetic pole, a third magnetic pole, a fourth magnetic pole, a fifth magnetic pole, a sixth magnetic pole, a seventh magnetic pole and an eighth magnetic pole which are arranged in a circumferential direction. The first to eighth magnetic poles are wound with first to eight windings, respectively. Each of the first to eight windings has a number of turns, and the numbers of turns of the first to eight windings are in ratios 1:8:3:4:9:2:7:6. The first to eighth windings have a total number of turns of “40n,” and wherein 40n≥720 As such, the electricity generation efficiency of the electric machinery can be improved. |
| US10020700B2 |
Rotary electric machine rotor
A rotor (12) includes i) a stacked body (24) in which a plurality of holed steel plates (28a, 28b) provided with holes (29, 30) punched out of insulation coated steel plates are stacked together, and that includes a plurality of magnet holes (34) each of which is provided by the plurality of holes (29, 30) being connected together in an axial direction, and ii) a plurality of magnets (31n, 31s), at least one of which is arranged in each of the magnet holes (34). The plurality of holed steel plates (28a, 28b) include a first holed steel plate (28a) that contacts a first magnet (31n) that is one magnet, of two magnets (31n, 31s) that are adjacent in a circumferential direction from among the plurality of magnets (31n, 31s), and supports the first magnet (31n), at at least one circumferential portion, but does not contact a second magnet (31s) that is another magnet, and a second holed steel plate (28b) that contacts the second magnet (31s) and supports the second magnet (31s), but does not contact the first magnet (31n, 38n, 50n, 60n). |
| US10020696B2 |
Direct current (DC) motor for fuel pump for vehicle
Provided is a DC motor for a fuel pump for a vehicle. The DC motor for a fuel pump for a vehicle includes: a housing whose inside is hollow; a stator coupled to the inside of the housing and having a first permanent magnet whose N pole is disposed inwardly in a radial direction and a second permanent magnet whose S pole is disposed inwardly in a radial direction, the first permanent magnet and the second permanent magnet being spaced apart from each other to face each other; and a rotor disposed on an inside of the stator while being spaced apart from the stator, in which a first gap g1 between the first permanent magnet and the rotor is different from a second gap g2 between the second permanent magnet and the rotor, whereby a torque ripple that is a fluctuation width of a cogging torque is reduced. |
| US10020695B2 |
Motor stator device with simple coil-winding structure
A motor stator device with simple coil-winding structure is disclosed. The motor stator device includes an insulating base comprising an outer ring base, an inner ring base and a connection base, the outer ring base and the inner ring base alternatively forming outer ring openings, inner ring openings, outer ring sinks and inner ring pillars, the connection base being provided to be wound with a metal coil; a plurality of stator segments being positioned on the insulating base; and a plurality of segment connectors being positioned on the outer ring sinks between the insulating base and the stator segments and having a base part and an extension part opposite to the base part, the extension part being integrally extended from the base part and toward the motor rotor to get close to the inner ring pillar next to the motor rotor, so as to decrease the cogging torque. |
| US10020694B2 |
Electric apparatus including rotor, stator, and shaft
A generator includes a plurality of magnets defining one of a rotor and a stator, a conductor including a core and a coil, the conductor defining the other of the rotor and the stator, and a shaft to which the stator is fixable. The core has a width inwardly narrowed from an outer edge toward an inner edge along a longitudinal direction of the core. |
| US10020688B2 |
Contactless power transmission device and power transfer system
A power supply ECU executes turn-on current control for controlling a turn-on current It to a target value Itr by adjusting a drive frequency f, turn-on current It indicating an output current Io of an inverter at a rising of an output voltage Vo of the inverter. Target value Itr is set to fall within a range where a recovery current is not produced in the inverter. In the turn-on current control, when a startup frequency indicating drive frequency f at a startup of the inverter is fa0, the control unit adjusts drive frequency f to be more than or equal to fa0. When turn-on current It is larger than target value Itr, the control unit adjusts drive frequency f in the direction toward startup frequency fa0. |
| US10020687B2 |
Coupled-coil power control for inductive power transfer systems
An inductive power transfer device including: a resonant circuit, having a power transfer coil and a power transfer capacitor; a coupling coil, magnetically-coupled to the power transfer coil; a variable impedance; and a controller configured to determine the impedance value of the variable impedance based on predetermined criteria including: substantially regulating power provided to a load; tuning the resonant circuit resonant frequency substantially to a predetermined frequency; adjusting a frequency of a magnetic field associated with the power transfer coil; and/or adjusting an impedance reflected by the power transfer coil to a corresponding coupled power transfer coil. |
| US10020680B2 |
Efficiency monitor for inductive power transmission
An inductive power transmitter for inductive power transmission to an inductive power receiver is provided, comprising a primary coil, capable of being inductively coupled to a secondary coil in the inductive power receiver, a power supply and an associate driver configured to provide a varying electrical potential from the power supply to the primary coil, a monitoring system configured to measure electrical flow parameters of the primary coil, and a controller configured to detect, based on the electrical flow parameters measured by the monitoring system, an error condition indicative of a foreign object introduced between the primary coil and the secondary coil, and to facilitate, when the error condition is detected, interrupting the electrical potential to the primary coil. |
| US10020678B1 |
Systems and methods for selecting antennas to generate and transmit power transmission waves
Systems and methods to generate and transmit power waves are disclosed herein. An example method includes: transmitting, by one or more transmitters, one or more power waves to provide power. A first antenna of a first antenna array of one or more antenna arrays of a respective transmitter of the one or more transmitters is located at a distance from a second antenna of a second antenna array of the one or more antenna arrays such that power waves transmitted by the first antenna and the second antenna are directed to form a pocket of energy to provide power to the targeted electronic device. The respective transmitter determines the distance between the first and second antennas: based upon one or more parameters received in a communication signal from the targeted electronic device, and to allow a desired mutual coupling effect between the first and second antennas. |
| US10020667B2 |
Charging circuit for charging a capacitor
A charging circuit that charges a capacitor using the power that is output from a power supply, includes: first and second PNP-type transistors; first and second resistors; and a current path maintaining unit, wherein the power supply is connected to the emitter terminal of the first PNP-type transistor, the first resistor is connected between the emitter terminal and the base terminal of the first PNP-type transistor, the capacitor is connected to the collector terminal of the second PNP-type transistor, the second resistor is connected between the collector and base terminals of the second PNP-type transistor, the base terminal and the collector terminal of the first PNP-type transistor are respectively connected to the emitter terminal and the base terminal of the second PNP-type transistor, and the current path maintaining unit is provided between the collector terminal of the first PNP-type transistor and the emitter terminal of the second PNP-type transistor. |
| US10020664B2 |
Wireless communication controlled battery charging station
An electronic device sends a wireless signal to a charging station indicating that charging of a battery of the electronics device is to commence. The electronic device generates a profile representing characteristics of the battery during charging. The electronic device sends a wireless signal to the charging station indicating the first type of charging is to be applied to the battery. The electronic device responds to a determination that charging of the battery is to continue by determining a second type of charging to be applied to the battery. The electronic device determines whether charging of the battery is to continue. In response to a determination that charging of the battery is not to continue, the electronic device sends a wireless signal to the charging station indicating that charging of the battery is to cease. |
| US10020661B2 |
Voltage detection device and equalization device
A voltage detection device for detecting a voltage across both ends of each of plural unit batteries which are connected to each other in series. The voltage detection device includes lowpass filters which are connected to the respective unit batteries, a first voltage detector which detects a voltage across both ends of each of the unit batteries that is supplied via a corresponding lowpass filter, a second voltage detector which detects a voltage across both ends of each of the unit batteries that is supplied without passage through the corresponding lowpass filter, and a failure detector which detects whether the lowpass filter is failing by comparing a voltage detection value detected by the first voltage detector with a voltage detection value detected by the second voltage detector. |
| US10020656B2 |
Emergency load management using a DC microgrid during grid outage
A DC building electrical system includes a DC power consuming device connected to a DC bus. A source of DC power is connected to the DC bus and powers the DC power consuming device. An energy storage device is connected to the DC bus and to a DC emergency load. The energy storage device powers the DC power consuming device in conjunction with the source of DC power, and powers the DC emergency load when source of power other than the energy storage device is available to the DC power consuming device. |
| US10020653B2 |
Station-building power supply device
The station-building power supply device includes a capacitor unit that stores therein surplus regenerative power, a first power conversion unit that performs DC/DC power conversion, and a second power conversion unit that converts DC power. A first voltage threshold for detecting the occurrence of surplus regenerative power is set and a first SOC threshold for detecting whether the capacitor unit can discharge is set. The first power conversion unit is controlled such that power is supplied from the feeder to the capacitor unit to charge the capacitor unit when the feeding voltage exceeds the first voltage threshold, and the second power conversion unit is controlled such that power is supplied from the capacitor unit to the station loads when the SOC of the capacitor unit exceeds the first SOC threshold. |
| US10020652B2 |
Power distribution systems
A power distribution system including first and second ac busbars connected to ac generators. A first active rectifier/inverter has ac input terminals electrically connected to the first ac busbar. A second active rectifier/inverter has ac input terminals electrically connected to the second ac busbar. A first dc interface is electrically connected to dc output terminals of the first active rectifier/inverter and a second dc interface is electrically connected to dc output terminals of the second active rectifier/inverter. The dc interfaces include reverse blocking means. A third active rectifier/inverter operates as a drive and has dc input terminals electrically connected in the parallel to dc output terminals of the first and second dc interfaces by means of an interposing dc busbar. An electric motor, that can optionally form part of a marine thruster T1, is electrically connected to ac output terminals of the third active rectifier/inverter. |
| US10020649B2 |
Protective device with self-test
A protective electrical wiring device includes a protective assembly including a sensor portion, a fault detection portion and a switch portion. A control circuit is configured to automatically perform a test cycle from time to time, each test cycle including a series of tests that determine the operational state of the protective assembly. At least one successive test in the test cycle is configured to test at least a portion of the protective assembly tested by a predecessor test in the test cycle. The control circuit is configured to establish a test result for each test in the series of tests, with each test result being stored in a test result table. The control circuit is configured to effect or not effect an end-of-life state by evaluating at least a portion of the test results in the test result table in accordance with a predetermined voting scheme. |
| US10020647B2 |
Electrical device protection circuit for smart grid
An electrical device protection circuit for a smart grid includes a detection unit for detecting whether or not the output power source of an electrical device short-circuits; a switch unit for connecting power, input to the electrical device, to the output power source of the electrical device or disconnect it therefrom; and a control unit for generating a control signal for making the switch unit disconnect the power input to the electrical device from the output power source of the electrical device. According to the electrical device protection circuit for a smart grid, a simply configured protection circuit, arranged in the electrical device, operates when the output power source of the electrical device short-circuits, whereby the electrical device may be prevented from being damaged. |
| US10020646B2 |
Busbar and method of manufacturing the same
A busbar includes: an elongated busbar body which is composed of an electrically conductive material; and an insulating coating which covers the circumference of the busbar body. The cross section of the busbar body orthogonal to the longitudinal direction is substantially rectangular. The insulating coating is composed of a light curing resin which has an elongation percentage of not less than 50% after being cured and a Young's modulus of not more than 900 MPa. And the insulating coating is formed by applying the light curing resin onto the surface of the busbar body and then curing the applied light curing resin. The light curing resin has a viscosity of 10 to 1000 Pa·s at 25° C. |
| US10020639B2 |
Laser diode assembly
A laser diode arrangement comprising: at least one semiconductor substrate; at least two laser stacks based on the AlInGaN material system, each laser stack having an active zone, wherein at least one of the at least two laser stacks comprises a two-dimensional structure of laser diodes; and at least one intermediate layer. The laser stacks and the intermediate layer are grown monolithically on the semiconductor substrate. The intermediate layer is arranged between the laser stacks. The active zone of the first laser stack can be actuated separately from the active zone of the at least one further laser stack. |
| US10020634B2 |
Monolithically integrated infrared transceiver
A Schottky diode is monolithically integrated into the core of an infrared semiconductor laser (e.g., a quantum cascade laser) to create a heterodyned infrared transceiver. The internal mode field of the infrared semiconductor laser couples to an embedded Schottky diode and can mix the infrared fields to generate a response at the difference frequency. |
| US10020631B2 |
3-dimensional inscripted WDM coupler for optical amplifiers and methods for using 3-dimensional inscripted WDM couplers in networks
A 3-dimensional (3-D) inscripted wavelength division multiplexer (WDM) coupler for optical amplifiers is provided. The 3-D WDM coupler includes a substrate. The 3-D WDM coupler further includes a 3-dimensional pump waveguide direct laser inscripted into the substrate. The 3-D WDM coupler also includes a optical pump laser coupled into the 3-dimensional pump waveguide. The 3-D WDM coupler further includes a multicore fiber coupled into cores in the direct laser inscripted substrate. |
| US10020630B2 |
Methods to use cable crimp and trim device
A crimp tool for concurrently crimping and trimming includes a first jaw member and a second jaw member pivotally coupled to the first and second jaw members moveable between a crimp position and a release position. The crimp tool also includes a first crimp die coupled to the first jaw member and having a first recessed surface and a second crimp die coupled to the second jaw member and having a second recessed surface, the first and second recessed surfaces being complementary to each other and forming a crimping opening in the crimp position to receive a connector having a conductor received therein. The crimp tool includes cutting members that are spaced apart relative to the respective jaw members to trim an exposed inner conductor of the conductor when substantially abutting one another in the crimp position, and may be adjustable depending on the desired protrusion of the inner conductor. Related methods to use the same are also provided. |
| US10020627B1 |
Watthour meter block with safety shield
A watthour meter block having a safety shield is shown. The safety shield surrounds and isolates electrical components, for example watthour meter block jaws and wires in the watthour meter block. The watthour meter block is pre-wired to allow connection between a watthour meter block and a test switch assembly. |
| US10020626B1 |
Adapter
An adaptor includes: a main body, a first and a second grooves being disposed in the main body; a connection port is disposed at a bottom end of the main body, one end of the two grooves communicating with the connection port; an electrode case is connected around the main body to enclose the main body; an electrode member disposed at a top end of the main body; and a first conductive plate and a second conductive plate respectively mounted in the first and second grooves of the main body. The connection end of the first conductive plate is electrically connected with the electrode member. The connection end of the second conductive plate is electrically connected with the electrode case. The contact ends of the two conductive plates are positioned in the connection port. |
| US10020625B2 |
Electrical connector
An electrical connector is provided, including a plastic core having a frame and at least one partition plate integrally formed with the frame for defining a plurality of recesses, a first connector received in one of the recesses, and a second connector received in another one of the recesses. As such, the instant disclosure only needs to solder the electrical connector to a circuit board of an electronic product so as for the electronic product to obtain a plurality of connector ports, thus greatly reducing the fabrication time. |
| US10020617B1 |
Lock device for electronic apparatus
A lock device for electronic apparatus includes a lock body and a lock-operating unit. The lock body is configured for correspondingly plugging into a port on an electronic apparatus and has at least one protruded section formed therein for tightly abutting on a protrusion located to one lateral side of a plurality of terminals in the port, so that the lock body is locked to the port. And, the lock body locked to the port can be pulled out of the port only with a specific corresponding lock-operating unit. |
| US10020615B2 |
Automatic power line disconnect apparatus
A power line disconnect apparatus includes a housing; an electrical connector that projects from a surface of a connector plate coupled to the housing, the electrical connector configured to receive a plug of a power cable; an ejector pin configured to project through a first aperture in the connector plate and eject the plug from the electrical connector; a microswitch configured to activate and deactivate a power circuit associated with the power cable; and a sensor pin configured to project through a second aperture in the connector plate, the sensor pin having a sensor pin extension, the sensor pin extension configured to control the microswitch. |
| US10020613B2 |
Power terminal for arcless power connector
A power terminal includes a terminal beam having a mating surface. A protective thermal coupler bridge is positioned adjacent the terminal beam having a bridge conductor, an insulating substrate and a bridge pad. The bridge pad has a mating surface. A variable resistive member is electrically coupled between the terminal beam and the bridge conductor to provide a shunt so that arcing does not occur when the power terminal is disconnected from the mating power terminal. The mating surface of the terminal beam is separable before the mating surface of the bridge pad is disconnected so that the resistance in the variable resistive member increases after disconnection of the main power terminal from the mating power terminal and prior to disconnection of the bridge pad from the mating power terminal to shunt the current through the bridge conductor and the variable resistive member during unmating. |
| US10020611B2 |
Connector having a housing with a drainage hole leading to an outside of the connector
In a connector which accommodates female terminals in a plurality of female terminal accommodating chambers arranged side by side in a connector housing, each of the plurality of female terminal accommodating chambers in the connector housing has a protruding enclosure wall provided in such a way that walls enclosing the outer periphery of each female terminal protrude towards a direction of connector engagement with a connection mating connector accommodating male terminals which connect to each of the female terminals. Further, an inter-terminal through hole which penetrates through the inside of the connector housing and connects to the outside of the connector housing is formed in a wall coupling base ends of the protruding enclosure walls of at least one group of adjacent female terminal accommodating chambers. |
| US10020609B2 |
Connector
A connector includes a first connector portion, a second connector portion having housing members that are joined and fitted to the first connector portion, spacers inserted into the housing members from one side to retain terminals inside the housing members. The housing members each includes a joining surface at which the housing members are joined and an engaging rail formed on the joining surface. The engaging rails restrict a relative movement of the joined housing members in a separating direction with the engaging rails being engaged by inserting the engaging rails to each other along their longitudinal direction. The housing members each has an exposure hole on the other side surface. The exposure holes are located on a straight line perpendicular to the joining surfaces. The spacers are different in color from the housing members, and each has a projection to be exposed from the corresponding exposure hole. |
| US10020607B2 |
Connector having improved contacts
An electrical connector for connecting a conductor of a daughter card connector wafer with a blade in the housing of a backplane connector. The daughter card conductor has a body with two elongated beams extending outward from the body. The two elongated beams each have an outer edge and an inner edge, whereby an opening is defined between the inner edges. The backplane conductor has a body with a narrowed tab portion extending outward from said second conductor body. The narrowed tab portion having outer opposite edges and is sized so that the narrowed tab portion fits between at least a portion of the outer edges of the two elongated beams, and in some cases between at least a portion of the inner edges of the two elongated beams. |
| US10020604B2 |
Connection device for electrical connection of an electrical load with a source of electrical power
A connection device employs a plurality of housing portions that are formed separately from one another and further includes a plurality of conductors. The plurality of conductors are situated on a first housing portion, and a second housing portion and a third housing portion are then affixed at opposite ends of the first housing portion to retain the conductors in place on the first housing portion. The first, second, and third housing portions, being connected together, are then received in a receptacle of a fourth housing portion to form the connection device. The conductors each have an elongated shank that is received in an elongated channel formed in the first housing portion before the second and third housing portions are attached thereto. |
| US10020595B2 |
Negative group delay circuit
A circuit for generating a negative group delay (NGD). The circuit comprises one or more electrical components, at least one of which has an input impedance that is sufficient for the electrical component(s) to generate an NGD. In an embodiment, the circuit comprises antenna that is configured to radiate an electrical signal delivered thereto and generate an NGD. The antenna has an input impedance sufficient for the antenna to generate the NGD. In another embodiment, the circuit comprises an amplifier that is configured to amplify an electrical signal delivered thereto and generate an NGD. In such an instance, the amplifier has an input impedance and either the amplifier or one or more matching circuits thereof has a quality factor sufficient to generate the NGD. |
| US10020594B2 |
Array antenna
Disclosed herein is an array antenna in which a plurality of radiating elements is arranged. The array antenna includes: a first layer comprising a first substrate forming an upper portion of the array antenna and a plurality of radiating elements disposed on the first substrate; a second layer comprising a second substrate forming a lower portion of the array antenna and a feedline disposed on the second substrate to supply output power to the plurality of radiating elements; and a third layer formed between the first layer and the second layer and comprising a ground plane and an aperture slot formed through the ground plane. |
| US10020592B2 |
Antenna for wireless communication
There is provided an antenna that includes (a) an element that emits radiation in a direction, and (b) a structure made of an electrically conductive material. The structure includes (i) a surface situated to a side of the element that is in other than the direction, and (ii) a first wall and a second wall that are situated generally perpendicular to the surface and situated with respect to one another so as to form a trough therebetween. |
| US10020591B2 |
Slotted waveguide array antenna and slotted array antenna module
A slotted waveguide array antenna having a smaller reflection coefficient and a larger gain than conventional one is realized. In a slotted waveguide array antenna (1A), control walls (12c1-12c6) orthogonal to an upper wall (11) and side walls of the waveguide are provided inside the waveguide, and slots (11d1-11d6) each extend over an interface between regions formed by partition with corresponding one of the control walls but do not overlap the corresponding one of the plurality of control walls when viewed from above. |
| US10020590B2 |
Grid bracket structure for mm-wave end-fire antenna array
Bracket structures that structurally support and enhance the performance of millimeter-wave tapered-slot end-fire antennas for use in vehicular radar systems. The system includes a first longitudinal rib and a second longitudinal rib, each defining a first longitudinal slot and having a transmission end and a chip connection end. The system includes a crossbeam coupled to the first longitudinal rib and the second longitudinal rib. The system includes a first end-fire antenna having a transmission end that is received by the first longitudinal slot and a chip connection end. The first end-fire antenna is designed to transmit a first signal having a first phase. The system includes a second end-fire antenna having a transmission end that is received by the second longitudinal slot and a chip connection end. The second end-fire antenna is designed to transmit a second signal having a second phase that is different than the first phase. |
| US10020585B2 |
Soldier-mounted antenna
Embodiments of a wide band multi-polarization antenna system are described, which can be attached to the back or front of a soldier's vest or backpack. The antenna system can allow for release of pre-shaped integral radiating elements that spring into a geometric configuration suitable for circular polarization radiation or linear polarization over a desired band of frequencies. The antenna system can provide, when collapsed, linear polarized line-of sight capability over a wide band of frequencies. In a collapsed low-profile state, the antenna system can remain on the soldier, but out of the way for maneuvering. |
| US10020584B2 |
Hourglass-coupler for wide pattern-bandwidth sector
Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to a dipole antenna having an hourglass shaped coupler. The antenna generally includes two conductive layers, each having a first portion and a second portion of conductive material. The first portion may be connected to a first trace in the first layer, and a width of the first portion flares out from a connection point to the first trace in a first direction. The second portion may be electrically isolated from the first trace and a width of the second portion flares out from a location closest to the first portion in a second direction. In certain embodiments, the second direction is opposite the first direction. |
| US10020582B2 |
Coil antenna and communication terminal device
To ensure a sufficient communication distance and to concurrently suppress a conductor loss, a coil antenna includes a magnetic core including a first peripheral surface including at least a first principal surface, a first coil conductor located on the first principal surface and wound around a predetermined winding axis, a first base material layer stacked on the first principal surface, including at least a first surface parallel or substantially parallel to the first principal surface, and made of a material having a lower magnetic permeability than the magnetic core, and a second coil conductor located on at least the first surface. Opposite ends of the second coil conductor are coupled to the first coil conductor on the first principal surface, and a direction in which a current flows through the first coil conductor on the first principal surface is substantially the same as a direction in which a current flows through the second coil conductor on the first surface. |
| US10020576B2 |
Systems and methods for reconfigurable faceted reflector antennas
Systems and methods are disclosed herein for a reconfigurable faceted reflector for producing a plurality of antenna patterns. The reconfigurable reflector includes a backing structure, a plurality of adjusting mechanisms mounted to the backing structure, and a plurality of reflector facets. Each of the plurality of reflector facets is coupled to a respective one of the plurality of adjusting mechanisms for adjusting the position of the reflector facet with which it is coupled. The reflector facets are arranged to produce a first antenna pattern of the plurality of antenna patterns. By adjusting the plurality of adjusting mechanisms, the position of each of the reflector facets coupled to the respective one of the plurality of adjusting mechanisms is adjusted so that the reflector facets are arranged to produce a second antenna pattern of the plurality of antenna patterns. |
| US10020575B2 |
Apparatus and method for controlling stabilization of satellite-tracking antenna
An apparatus and method for controlling stabilization of a satellite-tracking antenna, the apparatus including: an antenna driving unit driving the antenna to track a satellite based on preset satellite position information and position information collected by an inertia sensor and an encoder; a point detecting unit detecting a point where an amplitude of a satellite reception signal is maximum; an elevation measuring unit measuring an elevation value corresponding to the point; and a controller controlling an azimuth motor and an elevation motor to enable the antenna to face the point, when the measured value is out of a first range, the controller controlling the azimuth motor to have an azimuth value corresponding to the point and controlling the elevation motor to have an elevation value less than the measured value corresponding to the point, when the measured value is in the first range. |
| US10020573B2 |
Antenna sensor
An antenna sensor includes an antenna operable to receive and/or transmit radio frequency (RF) signals, and one or more sensors operably connected to the antenna and configured to monitor at least one condition and to output sensor signals. A single connection is provided for connection to an electronic device to transfer RF signals from the antenna and sensor signals from the one or more sensors to the electronic device. |
| US10020572B2 |
Electronic device including multiband antenna
An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes an outer housing that comprises a first surface facing a first direction, a second surface facing a second direction opposite to the first direction, and a side surface surrounding a space between the first surface and the second surface, a display adapted to expose at least a portion of the display through the first surface of the outer housing, a PCB arranged between the second surface and the display in an interior of the outer housing, a communication circuit arranged on or over the PCB, a first conductive structure formed of at least one of the first surface or at least a portion of the side surface is electrically connected to the communication circuit, and a second conductive structure formed of the portion of the display electrically connected to the first conductive structure. |
| US10020569B2 |
Laminated antenna structure
A laminated antenna structure includes a substrate, a first conductive circuit layer, an insulating colloidal layer, a second conductive circuit layer and a conductive structure. The first conductive circuit layer is disposed on or above the substrate, the second conductive circuit layer is disposed above the first conductive circuit layer, and the insulating colloidal layer is disposed between the first and the second conductive circuit layers. The first conductive circuit layer, the insulating colloidal layer and the second conductive circuit layer form a laminated capacitive structure. The conductive structure is electrically connected to a signal source on the substrate, and the signal source is electrically connected to at least one of the first conductive circuit layer and the second conductive circuit layer. The insulating colloidal layer contains catalyzers. |
| US10020566B2 |
Multi-band MIMO antenna for vehicle using coupling stub
Disclosed is a multi-band multiple-input/multiple-output (MIMO) antenna for a vehicle using a coupling stub, and an antenna system using the same. The multi-band MIMO antenna system includes a ground plate having a quadrangular planar shape, a first antenna mounted at one lateral edge of the ground plate while extending in a direction perpendicular to the ground plate, and a second antenna mounted at one longitudinal edge of the ground plate while extending in a direction perpendicular to the ground plate. In accordance with this configuration, the multi-band MIMO antenna system can support high isolation and wide high-frequency bandwidth. |
| US10020563B2 |
Antenna system with antenna swapping and antenna tuning
Electronic devices may be provided that contain wireless communications circuitry. The wireless communications circuitry may include radio-frequency transceiver circuitry and first and second antennas. An electronic device may include a housing. The first antenna may be located at an upper end of the housing and the second antenna may be located at a lower end of the housing. A peripheral conductive member may run around the edges of the housing and may be used in forming the first and second antennas. The radio-frequency transceiver circuitry may have a transmit-receive port and a receive port. Switching circuitry may connect the first antenna to the transmit-receive port and the second antenna to the receiver port or may connect the first antenna to the receive port and the second antenna to the transmit-receive port. |
| US10020562B2 |
Antenna structure and wireless communication device using same
An antenna structure includes a metal housing, a first feed source, and a first switching circuit. The metal housing includes a front frame, a backboard, and a side frame. The side frame defines a slot and the front frame defines a first gap and a second gap. The metal housing is divided into at least a first branch and a second branch by the slot, the first gap, and the second gap. The first feed source is electrically connected to the first branch. One end of the first switching circuit is electrically connected to the first branch. Another end of the first switching circuit is grounded. |
| US10020561B2 |
Deposited three-dimensional antenna apparatus and methods
A “thin” and cost-effective three-dimensional antenna assembly and methods of use and manufacturing thereof. In one exemplary embodiment, the solution of the present disclosure is particularly adapted for small form-factor portable radio devices, and comprises an antenna (or array of antennas) deposited on a thin preformed flexible or deformable structure using a conductive fluid. The antenna (array) includes one or more antennas each having a radiator and a plurality of contacts. Use of the thin preformed structure allows, among other things, thinner form factors for the host wireless device, and obviates use of a separate molded carrier or other more costly or involved processes (such as laser direct structuring). |
| US10020559B2 |
Antenna and apparatus comprising antenna
An antenna comprises: a first terminal; a second terminal; and a winding, having an inductance, comprising a plurality of turns and connected between the first and second terminals such that a change in magnetic flux linking the winding generates a corresponding voltage between said terminals. The winding comprises a conductive element connected to the first and second terminals and extending around said turns from the first terminal to the second terminal and having a thickness not exceeding X μm along a length of the conductive element from the first to the second terminal and a width not exceeding X μm along said length, where X is less than or equal to 10, whereby said conductive element is substantially non-visible to a naked human eye. |
| US10020557B2 |
Holder and antenna fixing device using the same
An antenna fixed device includes a holder with a chassis and an antenna assembly. The holder includes a second resisting arm and a third resisting arm. The second resisting arm extends from the chassis and includes a protruding portion. The third resisting arm extends from the chassis and is configured to resisting the antenna assembly. When the protruding portion is pressed, the third resisting arm can be disconnected from the antenna assembly conveniently and efficiently. |
| US10020554B2 |
Waveguide device with septum features
Methods, systems, and devices are described that include one or more septum features to improve performance of a waveguide device. In particular, the septum features may be utilized within a polarizer section of a polarizer device such as a septum polarizers. The septum feature(s) may be a ridge. When a plurality of septum features are employed, the location, size, shape and spacing may vary according to a particular design. |
| US10020545B2 |
Rechargeable battery with resistive layer for enhanced safety
An improved high energy density rechargeable (HEDR) battery with an anode energy layer, a cathode energy layer, a separator between the anode and cathode energy layers for preventing internal discharge thereof, and at least one current collector for transferring electrons to and from either the anode or cathode energy layer, includes a resistive layer interposed between the separator and one of the current collectors for limiting the rate of internal discharge through the failed separator in the event of separator failure. The resistive layer has a fixed resistivity at temperatures between a preferred temperature range and an upper temperature safety limit for operating the battery. The resistive layer serves to avoid temperatures in excess of the upper temperature safety limit in the event of separator failure in the battery, and a fixed resistivity of the resistive layer is greater than the internal resistivity of either energy layer. |
| US10020541B2 |
Laminating method
The invention relates to a method for forming a monocell or a bi-cell for a lithium-ion electric energy accumulating device, wherein it is provided to first laminate, in a first laminating unit, a first arrangement comprising a first electrode and two separating elements, so as to obtain a multilayered laminated element. In the first arrangement, the electrode is interposed between the two separating elements without yet being laminated to either of the two separating elements. The method then provides to form a second arrangement comprising the multilayered laminated element and a second electrode. The method finally provides to laminate the second arrangement in a second laminating unit, so as to obtain the cell. |
| US10020538B2 |
Salts for multivalent ion batteries
Methods for preparing electrolyte salts for alkaline earth metal-ion batteries (e.g., calcium and magnesium ion batteries) are described. The electrolyte salts comprise alkaline earth metal (e.g., Mg or Ca) salts of bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (FSI) and 3,4-dicyano-2-trifluoromethylimidazole (TDI). The methods comprise contacting FSI or TDI with an alkaline earth metal bis(trifluoroacetate) salt in trifluoroacetic acid. |
| US10020537B2 |
Sulfide solid electrolyte material, battery, and producing method for sulfide solid electrolyte material
A main object of the present disclosure is to provide a sulfide solid electrolyte material with favorable Li ion conductivity. To achieve the above object, the present disclosure provides a sulfide solid electrolyte material comprising a composition of Li(4+x)AlxSi(1−x)S4 (0 |
| US10020534B2 |
Free floating battery cell assembly techniques for lithium ion battery module
Present embodiments include a lithium ion battery module having a lineup of prismatic lithium ion battery cells positioned within a cell receptacle area of a housing of the lithium ion battery module. The prismatic battery cells of the lineup are spaced apart from one another in a spaced arrangement by fixed protrusions extending from internal surfaces of the housing forming the cell receptacle area, and the fixed protrusions extend inwardly to form a plurality of discontinuous slots across a width of the cell receptacle area. |
| US10020529B2 |
Flow battery stack including capillary tube
The present invention relates to a redox flow battery stack including: an ion exchange membrane 180; and flow frames 160A and 160B disposed at both sides of the ion exchange membrane 180, respectively, in which semicircular grooves are provided on the flow frames 160A and 160B, and the semicircular grooves 161A and 162A of the flow frame 160A are fitted with the semicircular grooves 161B and 162B of the corresponding flow frame 160B during assembly to form at least one of an inlet port and an outlet port. |
| US10020524B2 |
Pressure density differential device
An electrochemical cell provided with two half cells. A pressure or density differential is created between the cathode and anode electrodes, each of which is contained in one of the half cells. The pressure or density differential is created by single or multiple sources including compression, vacuum, weight (gravity) of mass, chemical, molecular, or, pressure or density differentials created by thermal gradients. |
| US10020520B2 |
Bipolar plate and fuel cell comprising a bipolar plate of this type
The invention relates to a bipolar plate (10) for a fuel cell (100), comprising—an internal coolant flow field (33), which comprises a coolant channel (43), and—a first and a second flat side (11, 12) with a first and second reactant flow field (31, 32) respectively, which has at least one first and second channel structure (41, 42) respectively, wherein—the first and the second channel structure (41, 42) each form a trunk channel (44) and branch channels (46), wherein the branch channels (46) branch off in a branching region (48) from the respective trunk channel (44), and a first intermediate region (51) is formed between the branch channels (46) of the first channel structure (31), and a second intermediate region (52) is formed between the branch channels (46) of the second channel structure (32), wherein normal projections of the first and second intermediate region (51, 52) onto a center plane (56) of the bipolar plate (10), which center plane is arranged between the two flat sides (11, 12) of the bipolar plate (10), partially overlap so that an overlapping region (53) is formed. It is provided that the coolant channel (43) extends from an outer region (54), which is located outside the first and second intermediate region (51, 52), into the overlapping region (53), crossing a transit region (55) in the process, wherein the transit region (55) is a subregion of the normal projection of the first intermediate region (51) onto the center plane, which projects from the overlapping region (53). |
| US10020514B2 |
Ionically permeable structures for energy storage devices
An electrochemical stack comprising carrier ions, an anode comprising an anode active material layer, a cathode comprising a cathode active material layer, a separator between the anode and the cathode comprising a porous dielectric material and a non-aqueous electrolyte, and an ionically permeable conductor layer located between the separator and an electrode active material layer. |
| US10020507B2 |
Positive electrode active material for lithium secondary battery and positive electrode including same
There is provided a positive electrode active material capable of achieving a high volume energy density and yet superior rate characteristics when configured as a positive electrode for lithium secondary batteries. This positive electrode active material comprises a plurality of secondary particles each comprising primary particles composed of a lithium-nickel based complex oxide having a layered rock-salt structure. The plurality of secondary particles have a volume-based average particle diameter D50 of 5 to 100 μm, and at least part of the plurality of secondary particles are coarse secondary particles having a particle diameter of 9 μm or greater. The coarse secondary particles have a voidage of 5 to 25%, and the ratio of through holes among all voids in the coarse secondary particles is 70% or greater. |
| US10020505B2 |
Active material, nonaqueous electrolyte battery, battery pack, and vehicle
According to one embodiment, there is provided an active material that includes a composite oxide having a crystal structure belonging to a space group Fmmm. The composite oxide is represented by the formula: Li2+xNa2-yMzTi6O14+δ. Herein, M includes at least one of Mg, Ca, Sr, and Ba. x is within a range of 0≤x≤6. y is within a range of 0 |
| US10020502B2 |
Positive active material for rechargeable lithium battery, method of preparing same, and rechargeable lithium battery including same
A positive active material for a rechargeable lithium battery includes a lithium intercalation compound; and lithium titanium oxide represented by Chemical Formula 1 on the surface of the lithium intercalation compound surface. Li4-xMxTiyO12-z. Chemical Formula 1 In the Chemical Formula 1, 0 |
| US10020496B2 |
Anode material for secondary battery and method of preparing the same
Provided is an anode material for a secondary battery, and more particularly, to an anode material for a secondary battery using a silicon oxide (SiOx), and a method of preparing the same. There is provided an anode material for a secondary battery, formed by preparing an SiOx and a carbon material, mixing the SiOx and the carbon material, forming a SiOx-carbon (SiOx-C) composite, and performing a heat treatment. |
| US10020490B2 |
Ex-situ production of a lithium anode protective layer
In a method for producing an anode for a lithium cell, and/or a lithium cell as well as anodes and lithium cells of this type, to extend the service life of the lithium cell and to selectively form a first protective layer including electrolytic decomposition products, on an anode including metallic lithium, a first electrolyte is applied on the anode ex situ, i.e., prior to assembling the lithium cell to be produced. To stabilize the first protective layer, a second protective layer is applied in a subsequent method step. |
| US10020488B2 |
Method for producing anodic composite material for lithium secondary battery, method for producing electrode using same, and method for charging and discharging electrode
This disclosure synthesizes an anodic composite material Li(LixNiyCozMnwO2+α) of Li2MnO3 series whose theoretical capacity is a level of about 460 mAh/g, and to produce an electrode of a high capacity using the synthesized anodic composite material. Also provided is a method for charging and discharging the electrode. Here, the method for producing an anodic composite material for a lithium secondary battery includes the steps of: mixing a nickel nitrate solution, a manganese nitrate solution, and a cobalt nitrate solution to produce a starting material solution; and mixing the starting material solution with a complexing agent so as to produce an anodic composite material Li(LixNiyCozMnwO2+α) of Li2MnO3 series by means of coprecipitation. |
| US10020485B2 |
Passive architectures for batteries having two different chemistries
A 12 volt automotive battery system includes a first battery coupled to an electrical system, in which the first battery include a first battery chemistry, and a second battery coupled in parallel with the first battery and selectively coupled to the electrical system via a first switch, in which the second battery includes a second battery chemistry that has a higher coulombic efficiency than the first battery chemistry. The first switch couples the second battery to the electrical system during regenerative braking to enable the second battery to capture a majority of the power generated during regenerative braking. The 12 volt automotive battery system further includes a variable voltage alternator that outputs a first voltage during regenerative braking to charge the second battery and a second voltage otherwise, in which the first voltage is higher than the second voltage. |
| US10020479B2 |
Self-healing electrode protection in electrochemical cells
Articles and methods for protection of electrodes in electrochemical cells, including protective material precursor layers for use in electrode protective structures, are provided. Certain embodiments relate to electrode protective structures that comprise protective material precursor layers that, upon direct contact with a liquid electrolyte, cause a reaction product to form between the material of the precursor layer and a component of the electrolyte. |
| US10020476B2 |
Articulate battery case
An articulate battery case encases a battery ensemble having multiple non-contiguous battery segments flexibly interconnected to one another by conductive leads. The articulate battery case employs a plurality of rigid compartments for encasing the battery ensemble. Each compartment is configured for encasing one non-contiguous battery segment. Each compartment is flexibly connected by one or more flexible hinge to at least one adjoining compartment and is articulate therewith. Each compartment defines one or more ports for interconnecting conductive leads between battery segments encased in adjoining compartments. Each compartment is interconnected to every other compartment, with or without one or more intervening compartment. When a battery ensemble is encased within the articulate battery case, it is rendered articulate, i.e., it acquires the articulation characteristics of the case within which it is contained. |
| US10020474B2 |
Cell block
A cell block includes holding sections that hold a battery cell arrayed body of a lower layer between a lower holding frame member and a middle holding frame member, hold a battery cell arrayed body of an upper layer between the middle holding frame member and an upper holding frame member, and hold the battery cell arrayed body of the upper layer and the battery cell arrayed body of the lower layer in a state displaced from each other in the row direction. Lower fastening sections are disposed at positions below a battery cell and projects in the row direction beyond the battery cell arrayed body of the lower layer, and join the lower holding frame member and the middle holding frame member with each other by fastening. |
| US10020468B2 |
Organic electroluminescence display device
An organic electroluminescence display device includes a first electrode, a second electrode on the first electrode, and a light-emitting unit between the first electrode and the second electrode, the light-emitting unit including a first sub-light-emitting unit on the first electrode and including a first emission layer, a first charge generation layer on the first sub-light-emitting unit, a second sub-light-emitting unit on the first charge generation layer and including a second emission layer, a second charge generation layer on the second sub-light-emitting unit, and a third sub-light-emitting unit on the second charge generation layer and including a third emission layer, wherein each of the first emission layer and the second emission layer includes a first host, the third emission layer includes a second host different from the first host, and a thickness of the second emission layer is 1.0 nm or less. |
| US10020464B2 |
Display device with micro cover layer and manufacturing method for the same
There is provided a flexible display having a plurality of innovations configured to allow bending of a portion or portions to reduce apparent border size and/or utilize the side surface of an assembled flexible display. |
| US10020460B2 |
Electroluminescence device and display device
An electroluminescence device and a display device including an electroluminescence device are provided. The electroluminescence device includes an anode including silver, wherein at least a portion of the anode substantially extends in a horizontal direction; a first layer provided over the anode; an organic layer including a luminescent layer; a cathode provided over the organic layer; and an insulating layer provided over an end portion of the anode and an end portion of the first layer, wherein at least a portion of the cathode substantially extends in the horizontal direction in a light emission region, wherein a surface of the insulating layer has a curved portion, and wherein at least a portion of the cathode within a region of the insulating layer above the curved portion extends along a first angled upward direction between the horizontal direction and the thickness direction of the anode. |
| US10020457B2 |
Circuit layout for thin film transistors in series or parallel
A thin film device has a source region, a drain region, a first gate disposed between the source region and the drain region, a second gate disposed between the source region and the drain region, wherein the second gate region is in close proximity with the first gate region, a semiconductor film disposed between the source region, the drain region, and the first and second gate regions, and a dielectric material disposed between the source region, the drain region, the first and second gate regions, and the semiconductor film. |
| US10020455B2 |
Tetradentate platinum and palladium complex emitters containing phenyl-pyrazole and its analogues
A phosphorescent emitter or delayed fluorescent and phosphorescent emitters represented by Formula 1 or Formula II, where M is platinum or palladium. |
| US10020453B2 |
Organic light emitting display device
An organic light emitting display device and an organic layer are disclosed. The organic light emitting display device includes an anode, an organic layer over the anode, and a cathode over the organic layer. In one aspect, the organic layer may include an indolocarbazole compound. In another aspect, the organic layer may include a compound by linking a carbazole derivative and a carbazole compound to an aryl group or a heteroaryl group. |
| US10020452B2 |
Compound containing a 5-membered heterocycle and organic light-emitting diode using same, and terminal for same
Disclosed are a novel-structural compound including a 5-membered heterocycle, an organic electronic device using the same, and a terminal thereof. |
| US10020450B2 |
Materials for electronic devices
The present application relates to a compound according to formula (I), and the use thereof as a functional material in an electronic device. The compound according to formula (I) is preferably used as a hole-transporting material in an organic electroluminescence device (OLED). |
| US10020446B2 |
Methods of forming magnetic memory cells and semiconductor devices
A magnetic cell includes a free region between an intermediate oxide region (e.g., a tunnel barrier) and a secondary oxide region. Both oxide regions may be configured to induce magnetic anisotropy (“MA”) with the free region, enhancing the MA strength of the free region. A getter material proximate to the secondary oxide region is formulated and configured to remove oxygen from the secondary oxide region, reducing an oxygen concentration and an electrical resistance of the secondary oxide region. Thus, the secondary oxide region contributes only minimally to the electrical resistance of the cell core. Embodiments of the present disclosure therefore enable a high effective magnetoresistance, low resistance area product, and low programming voltage along with the enhanced MA strength. Methods of fabrication, memory arrays, memory systems, and electronic systems are also disclosed. |
| US10020442B2 |
Ceramic
The present invention relates to a ceramic comprising (or consisting essentially of) a solid solution containing Bi, K, Ti and Fe (and optionally Pb) which exhibits piezoelectric behavior. |
| US10020440B2 |
Electrostrictive element and manufacturing method therefor
Provided are an electrostrictive element comprising film electrodes that have a good elasticity and conductivity, and a manufacturing method therefor. Film electrodes 3 of an electrostrictive element 1 are sheet-shaped carbon nanotube aggregates 6, and can expand in the fiber direction while maintaining a state in which carbon nanotubes 7 overlap with each other, when the dielectric film 2 expands. |
| US10020438B2 |
Magnetic topological nanowires
A magnetic topological nanowire structure comprises a superconductor and a quasi-1D magnetic nanowire. The quasi-1D magnetic nanowire is coupled to or embedded in the superconductor to produce a self-contained interaction resulting in a spatially separated pair of Majorana fermions. The pair of Majorana fermions corresponds to the topological superconductor and each of the pair of the Majorana fermions are localized near a respective endpoint of the nanowire. |
| US10020437B2 |
Superconductive current limiting element of current limiter and method for manufacturing superconductive current limiting element of current limiter
Disclosed are a superconducting current-limiting element for a current limiter and a method of manufacturing a superconducting current-limiting element for a current limiter, in which the current-limiting element is formed in series by stacking linear superconducting wires, or is formed in parallel by stacking superconducting wires so that one or more superconducting wires are disposed in the same layer, thus facilitating the formation of the current-limiting element in series or in parallel and obviating the use of a winding machine when manufacturing the current-limiting element. |
| US10020430B2 |
Phosphor with preferred orientation, fabricating method thereof, and light-emitting element package structure employing the same
The present invention provides a phosphor with a preferred orientation represented by the following formula: A2[MF6]:Mn4+, wherein A is selected from a group consisting of Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, and NH4, M is selected from a group consisting of Ge, Si, Sn, Ti, and Zr. The preferred orientation is a (001)/(011) preferred orientation. The present invention also provides a method for fabricating the above phosphor. The present invention further provides a light-emitting element package structure employing the same. |
| US10020425B2 |
Light-emitting diode and method for manufacturing same
A light-emitting diode includes, a semiconductor stack including a first semiconductor layer, a second semiconductor layer, and an active layer. The light-emitting diode also includes a transparent conductive layer including a first transparent conductive layer disposed on the second semiconductor layer and a second transparent conductive layer disposed on the first transparent conductive layer. The second transparent conductive layer has a conductivity different than the first transparent conductive layer. |
| US10020423B2 |
Light emitting semiconductor device
A light emitting semiconductor device (401) has an active region (405) formed of Bismuth (Bi) and one or more other group V elements. In a particular embodiment the III-V material comprises Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) in addition to Bismuth. The inclusion of Bismuth in the III-V material raises the spin-orbit splitting energy of the material while reducing the band gap. When the spin-orbit splitting energy exceeds the band gap, Auger recombination processes are inhibited, reducing the sensitivity of the light emitting semiconductor device (401) to changes in ambient temperature. |
| US10020422B1 |
Mesa shaped micro light emitting diode with bottom N-contact
A light emitting diode (LED) with a first electrical contact at the top of the LED and a second electrical contact at the bottom of the LED. Layers of materials are formed on a substrate. The layers of materials include a first semiconductor layer, a second semiconductor layer, and a light emitting layer between the first and second semiconductor layers for producing light responsive to passing current through the light emitting layer. The formed layers of material are shaped into at least one semiconductor structure. A first electrical contact is formed on a top of the semiconductor structure, and a second electrical contact is formed at a bottom of the semiconductor structure. The second electrical contact is at least partially transparent. |
| US10020419B2 |
Four-element light emitting diode with transparent substrate and preparation method
A four-element light emitting diode with a transparent substrate, comprising a AlGaInP light emitting diode (LED) epitaxial wafer, and the surface of a GaP layer of the AlGaInP-LED epitaxial wafer is roughened into a bonding surface, a film is plated on the bonding surface and is bonded with a transparent substrate, and finally a GaAs substrate is removed. The transparent bonding disclosed herein can replace the GaAs substrate made of light absorption materials with the transparent substrate by substrate transfer technology, increasing the light emitting efficiency of the light emitting diode chip and avoiding extremely low external quantum efficiency caused due to the limitations of the material of conventional AlGaInP light emitting diode and the substrate; in addition, with the support of the cut path pre-etching technology, back melting or splashing during the epitaxial layer cutting process is avoided, light emitting efficiency is increased and electric leakage risk is eliminated. |
| US10020415B2 |
Device incorporating an oxide film and method of fabricating the same
A device and a method of forming a device. The method comprises forming an oxide material film; forming two metal electrodes on the oxide material film, the two metal electrodes laterally spaced from each other such that an electric path between the two electrodes comprises at least a portion of the oxide material film; configuring the oxide material film such that a current-voltage characteristic of the device as measured via the two metal electrodes exhibits nonlinearity and rectification. |
| US10020406B2 |
Protective film for solar cell and solar cell comprising the same
A protective film for a solar cell including a barrier film having a multilayer structure in which a substrate layer, an organic-inorganic hybrid layer and an inorganic barrier layer are sequentially stacked and a fluorine-based polymer layer, and a solar cell including the same are provided. Here, at least one of the substrate layer, the organic-inorganic hybrid layer, the inorganic barrier layer and the fluorine-based polymer layer includes at least one of a UV stabilizer and a UV absorbent. The protective film for a solar cell can prevent degradation of efficiency of a solar cell module due to oxygen and moisture penetration, and can prevent degradation of performance of the protective film caused by UV rays, and thus can significantly improve efficiency and lifespan of the solar cell module. |
| US10020404B1 |
Vertical flash memory and forming method thereof
A vertical flash memory includes a plurality of vertical memory cells, wherein each of the vertical memory cells includes a selective gate, a main gate, a dielectric interlayer and a vertical channel layer. The selective gate is disposed on a substrate. The main gate is stacked on the selective gate. The dielectric interlayer isolates the main gate from the selective gate. The vertical channel layer is disposed on sidewalls of the selective gate and the main gate. The present invention also provides a method of forming said vertical flash memory. |
| US10020400B2 |
Airgap spacers
Semiconductor devices with airgap spacers and methods of forming the same include forming a lower spacer that defines a gate region. A sacrificial upper spacer is formed directly above the lower spacer. A gate stack is formed in the gate region. The sacrificial upper spacer is etched away to form an upper spacer opening. An airgap spacer is formed in the upper spacer opening. The airgap spacer includes a dielectric material that encapsulates an internal void. |
| US10020394B2 |
Extended drain metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor
Devices and methods for forming a device are disclosed. A substrate is provided. A first body well of a second polarity type is formed in the substrate. A second body well of the second polarity type is formed in the first body well. A bottom of the second body well and a bottom of the first body well are contiguous. Dopant concentrations of the first and second body wells include a graded profile. A transistor of a first polarity type is formed over the substrate. The transistor includes a source and a drain. The source is formed in the second body well. |
| US10020392B2 |
Diode, junction field effect transistor, and semiconductor device
Provided are a diode, a junction field effect transistor (JFET), and a semiconductor device that have a top doped region. A dopant concentration gradient of the top doped region at one side is different from the dopant concentration gradient of the top doped region at an opposite side. The top doped region is able to increase a breakdown voltage of the device and decrease an on-state resistance (Ron) of the device. |
| US10020391B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method of the same
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a semiconductor layer; a plurality of semiconductor regions; second semiconductor region; a first electrode being positioned between the plurality of first semiconductor regions, the first electrode contacting with the semiconductor layer, each of the plurality of first semiconductor regions, and the second semiconductor region via a first insulating film; a second electrode provided below the first electrode, and contacting with the semiconductor layer via a second insulating film; an insulating layer interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode; a third electrode electrically connected to the semiconductor layer; and a fourth electrode connected to the second semiconductor region. The first electrode has a first portion and a pair of second portions. And each of the pair of second portions is provided along the first insulating film. |
| US10020389B2 |
Normally off gallium nitride field effect transistors (FET)
A heterostructure field effect transistor (HFET) gallium nitride (GaN) semiconductor power device comprises a hetero-junction structure comprises a first semiconductor layer interfacing a second semiconductor layer of two different band gaps thus generating an interface layer as a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) layer. The power device further comprises a source electrode and a drain electrode disposed on two opposite sides of a gate electrode disposed on top of the hetero-junction structure for controlling a current flow between the source and drain electrodes in the 2DEG layer. The power device further includes a floating gate located between the gate electrode and hetero-junction structure, wherein the gate electrode is insulated from the floating gate with an insulation layer and wherein the floating gate is disposed above and padded with a thin insulation layer from the hetero-junction structure and wherein the floating gate is charged for continuously applying a voltage to the 2DEG layer to pinch off the current flowing in the 2DEG layer between the source and drain electrodes whereby the HFET semiconductor power device is a normally off device. |
| US10020388B2 |
Insulated gate bipolar transistor including charge injection regions
A semiconductor device is disclosed. One embodiment provides a cell area and a junction termination area at a first side of a semiconductor zone of a first conductivity type. At least one first region of a second conductivity type is formed at a second side of the semiconductor zone. The at least one first region is opposed to the cell area region. At least one second region of the second conductivity type is formed at the second side of the semiconductor zone. The at least one second region is opposed to the cell area region and has a lateral dimension smaller than the at least first region. |
| US10020378B2 |
Self-aligned spacer for cut-last transistor fabrication
Methods of forming a semiconductor device include laterally etching a dummy gate to recess the dummy gate underneath a spacer layer, such that the spacer layer overhangs the dummy gate. A sidewall of the dummy gate is nitridized. The dummy gate is etched away without removing the nitridized sidewall. |
| US10020372B1 |
Method to form thicker erase gate poly superflash NVM
A method of forming a thick EG polysilicon over the FG and resulting device are provided. Embodiments include forming a CG on a substrate; forming an STI between a logic region and the CG; forming a polysilicon EG through the CG and CG HM; forming a polysilicon structure over the logic and STI; forming and overfilling with polysilicon a WL trench through the CG and CG HM, between the EG and STI; forming a buffer oxide in the polysilicon structure over the logic region and part of the STI; recessing the buffer oxide and etching back the polysilicon overfill down the CG HM; forming a second buffer oxide over the EG and logic region; recessing the WL polysilicon; removing the first and second buffer oxides; forming a mask with an opening over a center of the WL, the STI, and a majority of the logic region; and removing exposed polysilicon. |
| US10020370B2 |
Ring-type field effect transistor for terahertz wave detection, which uses gate metal as antenna
A ring-type FET may include a silicon base, a source formed on a portion of the silicon base through doping, a channel formed to encompass the source on a plane, a drain formed outside the channel, a dielectric layer formed on the source, the channel and the drain, and a gate provided on the dielectric layer, wherein a center of the source is spaced apart from a center of the channel, and the gate is formed of a metal material, disposed above the channel and configured to cover an upper face of the channel and overlap a portion of the source and a portion of the drain. |
| US10020369B2 |
Dual channel trench LDMOS transistors with drain superjunction structure integrated therewith
A dual channel trench LDMOS transistor includes a semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type formed on a substrate; a first trench formed in the semiconductor layer where a trench gate is formed in an upper portion of the first trench; a body region of the second conductivity type formed in the semiconductor layer adjacent the first trench; a source region of the first conductivity type formed in the body region and adjacent the first trench; a planar gate overlying the body region; a drain drift region of the first conductivity type formed in the semiconductor layer and in electrical contact with a drain electrode; and alternating N-type and P-type regions formed in the drain drift region with higher doping concentration than the drain-drift regions to form a super-junction structure in the drain drift region. |
| US10020365B2 |
Graphene device and method of fabricating a graphene device
In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, a device comprising one or more porous graphene layers, the or each graphene porous layer comprising a multiplicity of pores. The device may form at least part of a flexible and/or stretchable, and or transparent electronic device. |
| US10020362B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device includes a first semiconductor region of a first conductivity type, a second semiconductor region of the first conductivity type, a third semiconductor region of the second conductivity type, and an insulating portion. The second semiconductor region is provided on the first semiconductor region. The third semiconductor region is provided on the second semiconductor region. The insulating portion is located in a vicinity of, and contacts, the second semiconductor region and the third semiconductor region, and the insulating portion includes a plurality of voids therein, the plurality of voids extending around the second semiconductor region. |
| US10020361B2 |
Circuit structure having islands between source and drain and circuit formed
A method of making a circuit structure includes growing a bulk layer over a substrate, and growing a donor-supply layer over the bulk layer. The method further includes depositing a doped layer over the donor-supply layer, and patterning the doped layer to form a plurality of islands. The method further includes forming a gate structure over the donor-supply layer, wherein the gate structure is partially over a largest island of the plurality of islands. The method further includes forming a drain over the donor-supply layer, wherein at least one island of the plurality of islands is between the gate structure and the drain. |
| US10020360B1 |
Integrated memory
Some embodiments include an integrated memory having an array of capacitors. The array has edges. The capacitors along the edges are edge capacitors, and the other capacitors are internal capacitors. The edge capacitors have inner edges facing toward the internal capacitors, and have outer edges in opposing relation to the inner edges. An insulative beam extends laterally between the capacitors. The insulative beam is along upper regions of the capacitors. First void regions are under the insulative beam, along lower regions of the internal capacitors, and along the inner edges of the edge capacitors. Peripheral extensions of the insulative beam extend laterally outward of the edge capacitors, and second void regions are under the peripheral extensions and along the outer edges of the edge capacitors. Some embodiments included integrated assemblies having two or more memory array decks stacked on atop another. Some embodiments include methods of forming memory arrays. |
| US10020358B2 |
Metal resistors having nitridized dielectric surface layers and nitridized metal surface layers
A semiconductor structure containing at least two metal resistor structures having different resistivities is provided and includes a first metal resistor structure located on a portion of a dielectric-containing substrate. The first metal resistor structure includes, from bottom to top, a first nitridized dielectric surface layer portion having a first nitrogen content, a first metal layer portion and a first nitridized metal surface layer. A second metal resistor structure is located on a second portion of the dielectric-containing substrate and spaced apart from the first metal resistor structure. The second metal resistor structure includes, from bottom to top, a second nitridized dielectric surface layer portion having a second nitrogen content, a second metal layer portion and a second nitridized metal surface layer. The second nitrogen content of the second nitridized dielectric surface layer portion differs from the first nitrogen content of the first nitridized dielectric surface layer portion. |
| US10020356B2 |
Organic light-emitting diode display device
Provided is an organic light-emitting display device. An organic light-emitting display device (OLED) includes: a substrate including at least three pixel regions arranged in a horizontal direction, a first electrode in each pixel region on the substrate, a bank surrounding each pixel region, and a power line in the horizontal portion at a lower side of each pixel region on the substrate, the power line being configured to supply a driving voltage to each pixel region. |
| US10020353B2 |
Organic electroluminescent display device
An organic electroluminescent display device includes a display area including a plurality of pixels, a peripheral area as an area on the outside of the display area, a circuit layer including a circuit formed in the display area and a circuit formed in the peripheral area, a planarization film formed in the display area, the planarization film covering the circuit in the display area but not covering at least a portion of the circuit in the peripheral area, and an inorganic insulating layer formed of an inorganic material, the inorganic insulating layer being formed in the peripheral area and covering the at least a portion of the circuit in the peripheral area. |
| US10020350B2 |
Display panel and information processing device
A novel display panel that can be used as a reflective display panel in an environment with strong external light and as a self-luminous display panel in a dim environment, for example and that has low power consumption and is highly convenient or reliable is provided. The display panel includes a pixel and a substrate that supports the pixel. The pixel includes a first display element (e.g., a reflective liquid crystal element) that includes a reflective film having an opening as a first conductive film and a second display element (e.g., an organic EL element) that emits light to the opening. |
| US10020349B2 |
Organic light emitting device
Provided is an organic light emitting device. The organic light emitting device includes a plurality of light emitting units laminated between a first electrode and a second electrode and each including an organic emitting layer, and a charge generation layer between the light emitting units. Further, the charge generation layer includes an N-type charge generation layer disposed to be in direct contact with an organic emitting layer of the adjacent light emitting unit and HOMO levels of the N-type charge generation layer and the organic emitting layer are regulated. Thus, a color change rate based on a viewing angle can be improved, and efficiency and a lifetime of the organic light emitting device can be improved. |
| US10020347B2 |
Solid-state image pickup device and electronic apparatus
Image sensors, electronic apparatuses, and methods of manufacturing an image sensor are provided. More particularly, an image sensor having a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements included in a laminated body is provided. At least one of the photoelectric conversion elements includes organic photoelectric conversion elements. In addition, at least a first surface of the laminated body includes a curved light incident surface, which further includes a concave surface. The plurality of photoelectric conversion elements receive light through the concave light incident surface. The laminated body can be connected to a support structure. |
| US10020344B2 |
CIS chips and methods for forming the same
A device includes a semiconductor substrate, an image sensor at a front surface of the semiconductor substrate, and a plurality of dielectric layers over the image sensor. A color filter and a micro lens are disposed over the plurality of dielectric layers and aligned to the image sensor. A through via penetrates through the semiconductor substrate. A Redistribution Line (RDL) is disposed over the plurality of dielectric layers, wherein the RDL is electrically coupled to the through via. A polymer layer covers the RDL. |
| US10020341B2 |
Image sensor and electronic device including the same
An image sensor includes a semiconductor substrate integrated with at least one first photo-sensing device configured to sense light in a blue wavelength region and at least one second photo-sensing device configured to sense light in a red wavelength region, a color filter layer on the semiconductor substrate and including a blue color filter configured to selectively absorb light in a blue wavelength region and a red color filter configured to selectively absorb light in a red wavelength region, and a third photo-sensing device on the color filter layer and including a pair of electrodes facing each other, and a photoactive layer between the pair of electrodes and configured to selectively absorb light in a green wavelength region. |
| US10020337B2 |
Photoelectric conversion device, manufacturing method of photoelectric conversion device, and imaging system
Provided is a photoelectric conversion device including: a semiconductor substrate having a photoelectric conversion unit; a first conductive layer formed over the semiconductor substrate; a first diffusion prevention layer formed over the first conductive layer; and a light guide that guides an incident light into the photoelectric conversion unit, in which the first diffusion prevention layer contains hydrogen atoms and carbon atoms, and a composition ratio of the hydrogen atoms is greater than or equal to 46 at % and less than or equal to 50 at %. |
| US10020336B2 |
Imaging device and electronic device using three dimentional (3D) integration
An imaging device having a three-dimensional integration structure is provided. A first structure including a transistor including silicon in an active layer or an active region and a second structure including an oxide semiconductor in an active layer are fabricated. After that, the first and second structures are bonded to each other so that metal layers included in the first and second structures are bonded to each other; thus, an imaging device having a three-dimensional integration structure is formed. |
| US10020334B2 |
Solid-state imaging device, method for manufacturing solid-state imaging device, and imaging apparatus
A solid-state imaging device includes, in a semiconductor substrate, a pixel portion provided with a photoelectric conversion portion, which photoelectrically converts incident light to obtain an electric signal and a peripheral circuit portion disposed on the periphery of the pixel portion, wherein a gate insulating film of aMOS transistor in the peripheral circuit portion is composed of a silicon oxynitride film, a gate insulating film of aMOS transistor in the pixel portion is composed of a silicon oxynitride film, and an oxide film is disposed just above the photoelectric conversion portion in the pixel portion. |
| US10020333B2 |
Solid-state imaging device
In this solid-state imaging device, the sameness of the potential distributions in pixels, in a region from a photodiode of a transfer transistor to a floating diffusion in a charge transfer path, is improved. The solid-state imaging device includes a first transfer transistor including a first photodiode, a first gate electrode, and a first floating diffusion, a second transfer transistor including a second photodiode, a second gate electrode, and a second floating diffusion, a third transfer transistor including a third photodiode, a third gate electrode, and a third floating diffusion, and a reset transistor including a diffusion layer, which is a source or drain region, and a reset gate. The first to third floating diffusions and the diffusion layer of the reset transistor are separated from each other, and are electrically connected to each other via an interconnect. The first to third photodiodes are arrayed one-dimensionally. |
| US10020330B2 |
Solid-state image sensing device and semiconductor display device
To provide a solid-state image sensing device or a semiconductor display device, which can easily obtain the positional data of an object without contact. Included are a plurality of first photosensors on which light with a first incident angle is incident from a first incident direction and a plurality of second photosensors on which light with a second incident angle is incident from a second incident direction. The first incident angle of light incident on one of the plurality of first photosensors is larger than that of light incident on one of the other first photosensors. The second incident angle of light incident on one of the plurality of second photosensors is larger than that of light incident on one of the other second photosensors. |
| US10020329B2 |
Image sensor with solar cell function
A unit pixel element that acts as an image sensor or a solar cell according to the present invention comprises a photo detector that drives a photocurrent flow, induced by light incident onto the gate, along the channel between the source and the drain; a first switch that is wired and switched on or switched off between the source terminal of the photo detector and the first solar cell bus; and a second switch that is wired and switched on or switched off between the gate terminal of the photo detector and the second solar cell bus, and features a function of light energy harvesting and high-efficiency photoelectric conversion that generates and supplies effective electric power. |
| US10020328B2 |
Test element unit, array substrate, display panel, display apparatus, and method of manufacturing array substrate
The present disclosure provides a test element unit, an array substrate, a display panel, a display apparatus and a corresponding manufacturing method. The test element unit includes: a plurality of layers of test patterns, each layer of test pattern including at least one test block and at least one capacitor being formed between test blocks located in different layers, and, two electrodes of each of capacitors being two test blocks located in different layers, respectively, so that it can determined whether or not corresponding components and devices formed in the display region meet requirements by detecting the test patterns formed in the test region. |
| US10020326B2 |
Circuit protection structure and display device having the same
A circuit protection structure applied to a gate driver that is in a display panel (GIP) is provided. The gate driver has a first metal layer, a first isolation layer, a semiconductor layer, a second metal layer, and a second isolation layer. The first metal layer, the first isolation layer, the semiconductor layer, the second metal layer, and the second isolation layer are stacked in sequence. The circuit protection structure includes a protection layer. The protection layer is located on the second isolation layer. |
| US10020325B2 |
Method for producing TFT array substrate, TFT array substrate, and display apparatus
The present disclosure provides a method for producing a TFT array substrate, a TFT array substrate, and a display apparatus, and relates to a technical field of display. It can solve a problem of no signal transmission caused by fracture of a source signal line, without increasing a coupling capacitance of the TFT array substrate. The method for producing a TFT array substrate includes: forming a transparent conductive layer and a source-drain metal layer in sequence onto a base substrate; and patterning the source-drain metal layer and the transparent conductive layer in one patterning process to form a source signal line and a pixel electrode line overlapping with each other. |
| US10020321B2 |
Cross-coupled transistor circuit defined on two gate electrode tracks
A first PMOS transistor is defined by a gate electrode extending along a first gate electrode track. A first NMOS transistor is defined by a gate electrode extending along a second gate electrode track. A second PMOS transistor is defined by a gate electrode extending along the second gate electrode track. A second NMOS transistor is defined by a gate electrode extending along the first gate electrode track. The gate electrodes of the first PMOS transistor and the first NMOS transistor are electrically connected to a first gate node. The gate electrodes of the second PMOS transistor and the second NMOS transistor are electrically connected to a second gate node. Each of the first PMOS transistor, the first NMOS transistor, the second PMOS transistor, and the second NMOS transistor has a respective diffusion terminal electrically connected to a common output node. |
| US10020315B1 |
Semiconductor memory device
A semiconductor memory device includes a first electrode film and a second electrode film spreading along a first direction and a second direction, first insulating plates intermittently disposed along the first direction and each of two columns separated in the second direction from each other, second insulating plates provided between the two columns, intermittently disposed along the first direction and each of n columns, third insulating plates provided between one of the two columns and a column formed of the second insulating plates, intermittently disposed along the first direction, a first insulating member provided between the first insulating plate and the third insulating plate, and a second insulating member provided between the second insulating plate and the third insulating plate. The first electrode film is divided into two parts between the two columns. The second electrode film is divided into {(n+1)×2} parts between the two columns. |
| US10020314B1 |
Forming memory cell film in stack opening
Disclosed herein are methods of forming non-volatile storage. An opening may be etched through a stack of two alternating materials to a semiconductor substrate. A silicon nitride film may be formed on a vertical sidewall of the opening. The semiconductor substrate may be cleaned to remove oxide from the semiconductor substrate. The silicon nitride film protects the materials in the stack while cleaning the semiconductor substrate. The silicon nitride film may be converted to an oxide after cleaning the semiconductor substrate. A semiconductor region may be formed in contact with the cleaned semiconductor substrate. A memory cell film may be formed over the oxide in the opening. Control gates may be formed by replacing one of the materials in the stack with a conductive material. The oxide may serve as a blocking layer between the control gates and charge storage regions in the memory cell film. |
| US10020309B2 |
Semiconductor device
At least one of a plurality of transistors which are highly integrated in an element is provided with a back gate without increasing the number of manufacturing steps. In an element including a plurality of transistors which are longitudinally stacked, at least a transistor in an upper portion includes a metal oxide having semiconductor characteristics, a same layer as a gate electrode of a transistor in a lower portion is provided to overlap with a channel formation region of the transistor in an upper portion, and part of the same layer as the gate electrode functions as a back gate of the transistor in an upper portion. The transistor in a lower portion which is covered with an insulating layer is subjected to planarization treatment, whereby the gate electrode is exposed and connected to a layer functioning as source and drain electrodes of the transistor in an upper portion. |
| US10020307B1 |
Integrated circuit structure including laterally recessed source/drain epitaxial region and method of forming same
The disclosure is directed to an integrated circuit structure and a method of forming the same. The integrated circuit structure may include: a first device region laterally adjacent to a second device region over a substrate, the first device region including a first fin and the second device region including a second fin; a first source/drain epitaxial region substantially surrounding at least a portion of the first fin; a spacer substantially surrounding the first source/drain epitaxial region, the spacer including an opening in a lateral end portion of the spacer such that the lateral end portion of the spacer overhangs a lateral end portion of the first source/drain epitaxial region; and a liner lining the lateral end portion of the first source/drain epitaxial region beneath the overhanging lateral end portion of the spacer. |
| US10020302B2 |
Half-bridge circuit, H-bridge circuit and electronic system
A half-bridge circuit comprises a high supply contact and a low supply contact. A half-bridge output contact is connectable to drive a load and has a high-side between the high supply contact and the half-bridge output contact and a low-side between the half-bridge output contact and the low supply contact. A high-side bidirectional vertical power transistor at the high-side has a source connected to the high supply contact, and a low-side bidirectional vertical power transistor at the low-side, transistor has a source connected to the low supply contact. The high-side bidirectional vertical power transistor and low-side bidirectional vertical power transistor are connected in cascode and share a common drain connected to the half-bridge output contact, and are controllable to alternatingly allow a current flow from the high supply contact to the half-bridge output contact or from the half-bridge output contact to the low supply contact. |
| US10020301B2 |
Array substrate and manufacturing method for the same
A manufacturing method for an array substrate is disclosed. The method includes: forming a gate electrode on a substrate; depositing a gate insulation layer, a semiconductor layer, a source-drain metal layer and a passivation layer on the gate electrode and the substrate, and through a mask process to perform a patterning process to the semiconductor layer, the source-drain metal layer and the passivation layer in order to form a semiconductor pattern, a source-drain pattern and a contact hole pattern; and forming an ITO pixel electrode on the passivation layer and the contact hole pattern. An array substrate is also disclosed. The present invention adopts one mask process to form the semiconductor pattern, the source-drain pattern and the contact hole pattern such that the process of the array substrate is reduced to three masks in order to reduce the manufacturing cost, reduce the operation time and increase the production efficiency. |
| US10020299B2 |
Electrostatic discharge protection using a guard region
A silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) circuit is configured to shunt electrostatic discharge (ESD) current from a node to a reference voltage. The SCR circuit includes a first bipolar PNP transistor having a first emitter connected to the node, a first base, and a first collector. A second bipolar NPN transistor has a second collector sharing a first region with the first base, a second base sharing a second region with the first collector, and an emitter electrically connected to the reference voltage. A guard region is configured and arranged to delay triggering of the SCR circuit in response to an ESD event by impeding current flow in the second region. |
| US10020296B2 |
Semiconductor device
To solve a problem in that an antenna or a circuit including a thin film transistor is damaged due to discharge of electric charge accumulated in an insulator (a problem of electrostatic discharge), a semiconductor device includes a first insulator, a circuit including a thin film transistor provided over the first insulator, an antenna which is provided over the circuit and is electrically connected to the circuit, and a second insulator provided over the antenna, a first conductive film provided between the first insulator and the circuit, and a second conductive film provided between the second insulator and the antenna. |
| US10020294B2 |
Device with light emitting diodes
A multi-LED device comprises a transparent substrate, a plurality of light emitting diodes, LEDs, arranged for emitting light of a plurality of colors and disposed on the transparent substrate, an integrated control circuit in connection with the LEDs and comprising a plurality of photo sensors optically connected to the LEDs. Each photo sensor is provided with a color filter. The integrated circuit is arranged for receiving via the plurality of photo sensors information on a light intensity of the plurality of colors of the LEDs and for regulating the light intensity of the colors of the LEDs based on the information on the light intensity. The transparent substrate with the plurality of LEDs is flip-chip mounted on the integrated control circuit. |
| US10020292B2 |
Optoelectronic semiconductor component and flashlight
Optoelectronic semiconductor component includes at least four different light sources each including at least one optoelectronic semiconductor chip, which during operation emit radiation having mutually different color loci in the CIE standard chromaticity diagram, wherein the semiconductor component is designed to emit white or colored light having a variable correlated color temperature during operation. |
| US10020291B2 |
LED light emitting device
An LED light emitting device with good color mixing property is provided. The LED light emitting device including a rectangular substrate having a short-side and a long-side and a first LED element, a second LED element and a third LED element that are mounted on a surface of the substrate and emit light with wavelengths different from one another, wherein the first LED element and the second LED element are mounted on the substrate so that a first distance from the short-side to a mounting position of the first LED element in the long-side direction of the substrate and a second distance from the short-side to a mounting position of the second LED element in the long-side direction are the same. |
| US10020287B2 |
Pass-through interconnect structure for microelectronic dies and associated systems and methods
Pass-through interconnect structures for microelectronic dies and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a microelectronic die assembly includes a support substrate, a first microelectronic die positioned at least partially over the support substrate, and a second microelectronic die positioned at least partially over the first die. The first die includes a semiconductor substrate, a conductive trace extending over a portion of the semiconductor substrate, a substrate pad between the trace and the portion of the semiconductor substrate, and a through-silicon via (TSV) extending through the trace, the substrate pad, and the portion of the semiconductor substrate. The second die is electrically coupled to the support substrate via a conductive path that includes the TSV. |
| US10020280B2 |
Method of manufacturing a carrier tape
The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a carrier tape, wherein a TAB tape including a base film having a central area and edge areas at both directions of the central area, a wiring pattern formed at the central area of the base film, a transfer area formed at the edge area of the base film and exposed by the base film, a plurality of sprocket holes arranged in a row on the transfer area and a metal pattern discretely formed from the wiring pattern, and formed at the edge areas of the base film, wherein the metal pattern is formed with a paired structure formed at both sides of the plurality of sprocket holes, such that the present invention has an advantageous effect in that no Cu layer or a metal layer exists at a portion of the sprocket holes from which friction is generated by a driving roller during assembly work between a drive IC and chips/drive IC and panel to dispense with generation of foreign objects such as Cu particles, thereby enhancing reliability of the product. |
| US10020277B2 |
Circuit substrate and method for manufacturing circuit substrate
A circuit substrate includes: a base material; and a capacitor layer. The capacitor layer includes a first metal layer that is provided on the base material, a dielectric layer that is provided on the first metal layer, and a second metal layer that is provided on the dielectric layer. The first metal layer includes a first electrode region which is provided on the base material and is exposed from the dielectric layer and to which a first terminal of a capacitor element for supplying current to a circuit part through the capacitor layer is connected. The second metal layer includes a second electrode region in which the second metal layer is exposed and to which a second terminal of the capacitor element is connected. |
| US10020273B2 |
Semiconductor devices and methods of forming the same
According to aspects provided herein, a semiconductor device may include a bump providing improved reliability and reduced size. In some aspects, a conductive pad may be formed on a substrate, and a conductive support layer, which may be a pillar, may be formed on the conductive pad. An intermetallic compound (IMC) layer may be formed on the conductive support layer, and a solder layer may be formed on the IMC layer. In some aspects, the conductive support layer may be of a smaller width than the IMC layer. In some aspects, the conductive support layer may have side surfaces which are wider at the solder side than at the conductive pad side. In some aspects, other layers may be formed, such as a seed layer between the conductive pad and the conductive support layer, or a barrier layer between the conductive support layer and the IMC layer. |
| US10020270B2 |
Semiconductor device including a LDMOS transistor, monolithic microwave integrated circuit and method
In an embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate including a front surface, an LDMOS transistor structure in the front surface, a conductive interconnection structure arranged on the front surface, and at least one cavity arranged in the front surface. |
| US10020268B2 |
Random number generator device and control method thereof
A random number generator device has at least at least a memory unit, a voltage generator, and a control circuit. Each memory unit has two memory cells, one of the two memory cells is coupled to a bias line and a first bit line, and another of the two memory cells is coupled to the bias line and a second bit line. The voltage generator provides the two memory cells a bias voltage, a first bit line voltage and a second bit line voltage via the bias line, the first bit line and the second bit line respectively. The control circuit shorts the first bit line and the second bit line to program the two memory cells simultaneously during a programming period and generates a random number bit according the statuses of the two memory cells during a reading period. |
| US10020254B1 |
Integration of super via structure in BEOL
Semiconductor devices including super via structures and BEOL processes for forming the same, according to embodiments of the invention, generally include removing selected portions of a nitride cap layer intermediate interconnect levels, wherein the selected portions correspond to the regions where the super via structure is to be formed and where underlying overlay alignment markers are located. |
| US10020250B2 |
Interposer, module, and method of producing interposer
To achieve an interposer being capable of corresponding to a variety of pitch conversions and being inexpensive as compared to the one in the related art. An interposer including a resin lamination including connection terminals for a main board on one surface, and a glass sheet that is fixed along another surface of the resin lamination, the glass sheet having an exposed portion exposed from the resin lamination, the exposed portion being at least a part of a surface not facing to the resin lamination, the glass sheet including connection terminals for a semiconductor device on a surface of the exposed portion, and wiring being formed on a surface of the exposed portion to interconnect the connection terminals with an edge of the exposed portion. |
| US10020242B2 |
Immersion cooling arrangements for electronic devices
An electronics cooling arrangement includes a housing configured to contain a coolant and an electronic device disposed within the housing. The electronic device has a passageway with at least one inlet and at least one outlet and is configured to allow fluid flowing between the inlet and the outlet to cool the electronic device. |
| US10020237B2 |
Power semiconductor module and method for producing a power semiconductor module
A power semiconductor module includes a module housing and a circuit carrier having a dielectric insulation carrier and an upper metallization layer applied onto an upper side of the dielectric insulation carrier. A semiconductor component is arranged on the circuit carrier. The power semiconductor module also has an electrically conductive terminal block connected firmly and electrically conductively to the circuit carrier and/or to the semiconductor component. The terminal block has a screw thread that is accessible from an outer side of the module housing. A method for producing such a power semiconductor module is also provided. |
| US10020233B2 |
Plasma processing apparatus and plasma processing method
In a plasma processing method and apparatus for processing a film to be processed contained in a film structure preliminarily formed on an upper surface of a wafer mounted in a processing chamber, by using plasma, a residual film thickness at an arbitrary time is calculated using a result of comparing detective differential waveform pattern data with actual differential waveform pattern data. The detective differential waveform pattern data is produced by using two basic differential waveform pattern data which respectively use, as parameters, residual thicknesses of the films to be processed in film structures having underlying films with different thicknesses and the wavelengths of the interference light. The detective waveform pattern data being preliminarily prepared prior to processing of the wafer. Determination is made as to whether or not an object of the processing has been reached by using the residual film thickness. |
| US10020231B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same
In one embodiment, the semiconductor device includes at least one active fin protruding from a substrate, a first gate electrode crossing the active fin, and a first impurity region formed on the active fin at a first side of the first gate electrode. At least a portion of the first impurity region is formed in a first epitaxial layer portion on the active fin. A second impurity region is formed on the active fin at a second side of the first gate electrode. The second impurity region has at least a portion not formed in an epitaxial layer. |
| US10020228B2 |
Integrated circuitry and methods of forming transistors
Some embodiments include integrated circuits having first and second transistors. The first transistor is wider than the second transistor. The first and second transistors have first and second active regions, respectively. Dielectric features are associated with the first active region and break up the first active region. The second active region is not broken up to the same extent as the first active region. Some embodiments include methods of forming transistors. Active areas of first and second transistors are formed. The active area of the first transistor is wider than the active area of the second transistor. Dielectric features are formed in the active area of the first transistor. The active area of the first transistor is broken up to a different extent than the active area of the second transistor. The active areas of the first and second transistors are simultaneously doped. |
| US10020227B2 |
Stress memorization technique for strain coupling enhancement in bulk finFET device
A method for forming strained fins includes etching trenches in a bulk substrate to form fins, filling the trenches with a dielectric fill and recessing the dielectric fill into the trenches to form shallow trench isolation regions. The fins are etched above the shallow trench isolation regions to form a staircase fin structure with narrow top portions of the fins. Gate structures are formed over the top portions of the fins. Raised source ad drain regions are epitaxially grown on opposite sides of the gate structure. A pre-morphization implant is performed to generate defects in the substrate to couple strain into the top portions of the fins. |
| US10020225B2 |
Method of manufacturing semiconductor device
An object of the present invention is to improve the reliability of a semiconductor device.A semiconductor device has a first lead group comprised of a plurality of first leads, a second lead group comprised of a plurality of second leads, and a first suspension lead arranged between the first lead group and the second lead group. Further, the semiconductor device has a first tape attached to each of the first leads, the first suspension lead, and some of the second leads, and a second tape attached to each of the second leads. Further, the first tape has a lead holding part attached to each of the first leads, and a tape supporting part attached to the first suspension lead and some of the second leads and is attached to a position farther from wire connecting portion than the lead holding part. |
| US10020220B2 |
Wafer positioning pedestal for semiconductor processing
An assembly used in a process chamber for depositing a film on a wafer and including a pedestal extending from a central axis. An actuator is configured for controlling movement of the pedestal. A central shaft extends between the actuator and pedestal, the central shaft configured to move the pedestal along the central axis. A lift pad is configured to rest upon the pedestal and having a pad top surface configured to support a wafer placed thereon. A pad shaft extends between the actuator and the lift pad and controls movement of the lift pad. The pad shaft is positioned within the central shaft and is configured to separate the lift pad from the pedestal top surface by a process rotation displacement when the pedestal is in an upwards position. The pad shaft is configured to rotate relative to the pedestal top surface between first and second angular orientations. |
| US10020215B2 |
Frame cassette
According to various embodiments, a frame cassette may include: a housing; a mounting structure inserted in the housing, the mounting structure including a plurality of tape-frame slots, wherein each tape-frame slot is configured to receive a tape-frame, wherein the housing includes an opening to introduce a tape-frame into a tape-frame slot of the plurality of tape-frame slots or to remove a tape-frame from a tape-frame slot of the plurality of tape-frame slots, and a door mounted at the housing, wherein the door is configured to close the opening of the housing to seal the interior of the housing from the exterior of the housing. |
| US10020213B1 |
Semiconductor wafer carriers
Semiconductor wafer carriers, methods for manufacturing the semiconductor wafer carriers, and methods for using the semiconductor wafer carriers. The semiconductor wafer carriers can include features for avoiding double-slotting, for preventing glove marks on semiconductor wafers, and for providing additional sitting and storage options for the wafer carrier. In some examples, a semiconductor wafer carrier includes multiple notched left-side rods that are parallel in a vertical direction and multiple notched right-side rods that are parallel in the vertical direction. The semiconductor wafer carrier includes one or more bottom rods. The left-side rods, the right-side rods, and the one or more bottom rods are joined to define semiconductor wafer slots. |
| US10020211B2 |
Wafer-level molding chase design
An apparatus includes a mold chase, which includes a top portion and an edge ring having a ring-shape. The edge ring is underlying and connected to an edge of the top portion. The edge ring has an injection port and a venting port. A molding guide kit is configured to be inserted into the injection port. The molding guide kit includes a front sidewall having a curved front edge. |
| US10020206B2 |
Encapsulated dies with enhanced thermal performance
The present disclosure relates to enhancing the thermal performance of encapsulated flip chip dies. According to an exemplary process, a plurality of flip chip dies are attached on a top surface of a carrier, and a first mold compound is applied over the top surface of the carrier to encapsulate the plurality of flip chip dies. The first mold compound is thinned down to expose a substrate of each flip chip die and the substrate of each flip chip die is then substantially etched away to provide an etched flip chip die that has an exposed surface at the bottom of a cavity. Next, a second mold compound with high thermal conductivity is applied to substantially fill each cavity and the top surface of the second mold compound is planarized. Finally, the encapsulated etched flip chip dies can be marked, singulated, and tested as a module. |
| US10020197B2 |
Method for reducing porogen accumulation from a UV-cure chamber
Porogen accumulation in a UV-cure chamber is reduced by removing outgassed porogen through a heated outlet while purge gas is flowed across a window through which a wafer is exposed to UV light. A purge ring having specific major and minor exhaust to inlet area ratios may be partially made of flame polished quartz to improve flow dynamics. The reduction in porogen accumulation allows more wafers to be processed between chamber cleans, thus improving throughput and cost. |
| US10020191B2 |
Method for characterizing carbon nanotubes by using scanning electron microscope
A method for characterizing carbon nanotubes comprising: providing a conductive substrate and applying an insulating layer on the conductive substrate; forming a carbon nanotube structure on a surface of the insulating layer, the carbon nanotube structure includes at least one carbon nanotube; placing the carbon nanotube structure under a scanning electron microscope, adjusting the scanning electron microscope with an accelerating voltage ranging from 5˜20 KV, a dwelling time ranging 6˜20 microseconds and a magnification ranging from 10000˜100000 times; taking photos of the carbon nanotube structure with the scanning electron microscope; and, obtaining a photo of the carbon nanotube structure, the photo shows the at least one carbon nanotube and a background. |
| US10020188B2 |
Method for depositing ALD films using halide-based precursors
A method of depositing ALD films on semiconductor substrates processed in a micro-volume of a plasma enhanced atomic layer deposition (PEALD) reaction chamber wherein a single semiconductor substrate is supported on a ceramic surface of a pedestal and process gas is introduced through gas outlets in a ceramic surface of a showerhead into a reaction zone above the semiconductor substrate, includes (a) cleaning the ceramic surfaces of the pedestal and showerhead with a fluorine plasma such that aluminum-rich byproducts are formed on the ceramic surfaces, (b) depositing a conformal halide-free atomic layer deposition (ALD) oxide undercoating on the ceramic surfaces so as to cover the aluminum-rich byproducts, (c) depositing a pre-coating on the halide-free ALD oxide undercoating, and (d) processing a batch of semiconductor substrates by transferring each semiconductor substrate into the reaction chamber and depositing a film on the semiconductor substrate supported on the ceramic surface of the pedestal. |
| US10020181B2 |
Time-of-flight mass spectrometer
An ion transport optical system is disposed between a collision cell and an orthogonal acceleration unit. When releasing ions that are held in the collision cell, an accelerating electric field in which a large potential difference exists is created between an exit-side end of an ion guide and a first stage of the ion transport optical system, and a decelerating electric field in which a relatively small potential difference exists is created between a final stage of the ion transport optical system and an entrance end of the orthogonal acceleration unit. In the accelerating electric field, the velocity of ions is increased overall by imparting a large amount of energy to the ions, and spreading of ions in the ion travel direction that is caused by differences between the mass-to-charge ratios of the ions is reduced. |
| US10020180B2 |
Modular ion generator device
The present invention provides methods and systems for a modular ion generator device that includes a bottom portion, two opposed side portions, a front end, a back end, and a top portion. A cavity is formed within the two opposed side portions, front end, back end, and top portion. At least one electrode is positioned within the cavity, and an engagement device is engaged to the front end and/or an engagement device engaged to the back end for allowing one or more modular ion generator devices to be selectively secured to one another. |
| US10020179B2 |
Focusing ion guiding apparatus and mass spectrographic analysis apparatus
A focusing ion guiding apparatus includes: at least one ion guiding inlet and ion guiding outlet connected to each other via a transport axial line; at least one group of focusing electrode structures comprising at least one smooth and non-concave focusing electrode or focusing electrode array to which a focusing voltage is applied, the focusing electrode structure causing the ions transported in the apparatus to be radially focused for many times under the action of a focusing electric field formed by the focusing electrode structure; and a neutral gas flow transported in the axial direction, a diffusion path of the gas flow in an at least partially radial direction relative to the axial direction being blocked by the focusing electrode or its bearing substrate to increase a transport velocity of the gas flow in the axial direction and reduce retention or turbulence of the transported ions. |
| US10020174B2 |
Methods and devices for parallel analysis of ion mobility spectrum and mass spectrum
A method for parallel analysis in mass spectrometry and ion mobility spectrometry includes enabling a sample to be subjected to a chromatography separation; ionizing the chromatography separated sample and then feeding the sample into a succeeding stage device for analysis, comprising: analyzing at least part of the ionized sample through an ion mobility spectrometer to obtain an ion mobility spectrum, and analyzing at least other parts of the sample through a mass spectrometer to obtain a mass spectrum, wherein the period for obtaining each ion mobility spectrum and each mass spectrum being not longer than 5 s; and performing data post-processing, comprising: correlating the peaks in said ion mobility spectrum and the peaks in said mass spectrum with a deconvolution algorithm according to the consistency in retention time or elution profile for the same analyte in said chromatography. |
| US10020173B2 |
Chromatograph mass analysis data processing apparatus
A chromatograph mass analysis data processing method for obtaining pertinent information on a compound series including a plurality of compounds whose structures and characters are similar. Based on the data obtained by a chromatograph mass analysis, a two-dimensional isointensity line graph is created and displayed with a retention time and a mass-to-charge ratio on the two axes and with a signal intensity represented with a contour. When the operator specifies a desired range, the data contained in the range specified are collected, the signal intensities along the mass-to-charge ratio axis direction are summed up for every retention time to create a summed mass chromatogram based on the summed value. Simultaneously, the signal intensities along the retention time axis direction are summed up for every mass-to-charge ratio to create a summed mass spectrum based on the summed value. These are then displayed on the same screen of the isointensity line graph. |
| US10020172B2 |
Plasma processing apparatus, plasma processing method and storage medium for storing program for executing the method
There is provided a plasma processing apparatus including a susceptor, having a substrate mounting portion for mounting thereon a substrate; a focus ring including an outer ring and an inner ring; a dielectric ring; a dielectric constant varying device for varying a dielectric constant of the dielectric ring; a grounding body positioned at an outside of the dielectric ring with a gap from a bottom surface of the focus ring; and a controller for controlling a top surface electric potential of the focus ring by controlling a current flowing from the susceptor to the substrate. |
| US10020167B2 |
Plasma processing apparatus
A plasma processing apparatus includes: a processing chamber; a substrate holding unit; a processing gas supply unit; a RF antenna having an inner antenna coil and an outer antenna coil; a high frequency power supply unit; at least one floating coil that is in an electrically floating state and provided outside the processing chamber to be coupled to at least one of the inner antenna coil and the outer antenna coil by an electromagnetic induction; and a capacitor. The inner antenna coil includes a single inner coil segment or more than one inner coil segments connected in series, the outer antenna coil includes a plurality of outer coil segments segmented in a circumferential direction and electrically connected with each other in parallel, and the at least one floating coil is positioned between the inner antenna coil and the outer antenna coil in a radial direction. |
| US10020166B1 |
Alignment and registration targets for charged particle beam substrate patterning and inspection
The present application discloses methods, systems and devices for using charged particle beam tools to pattern and inspect a substrate. The inventors have discovered that it is highly advantageous to use patterns generated using the Hadamard transform as alignment and registration marks (Hadamard targets) for multiple-column charged particle beam substrate processing and inspection tools. Hadamard targets can be written to a substrate using charged particle beams performing, for example, resist-based lithography or resist-less direct processing. High-order Hadamard targets can also be patterned and imaged to obtain superior column performance metrics for applications such as super-rapid beam calibration DOE, column matching, and column performance tracking. Hadamard target blocks can be written highly locally to electrically functional pattern portions, or integrated into said pattern portions, thereby enabling re-registration local and contemporaneous to writing and improving beam targeting accuracy following re-registration. Superior alignment and registration, and column parameter optimization, allow significant yield gains. |
| US10020163B2 |
Charged particle beam apparatus, specimen observation system and operation program
For a novice user to easily recognize a difference between imaging results caused by a difference between observation conditions, a computer has an operation screen display observation target setting buttons for changing an observation condition for a specimen including a combination of parameter setting values of a charged particle beam apparatus. The processing unit has the operation screen display a radar chart including a characteristic, indicated by three or more incompatible items, of an observation condition for each of the observation target setting buttons. The radar chart indicates at least items of high resolution, emphasis on surface structure and emphasis on material difference. |
| US10020159B2 |
Multi charged particle beam writing method and multi charged particle beam writing apparatus
A multi charged particle beam writing method includes performing ON/OFF switching of a beam by an individual blanking system for the beam concerned, for each beam in multi-beams of charged particle beam, with respect to each time irradiation of irradiation of a plurality of times, by using a plurality of individual blanking systems that respectively perform beam ON/OFF control of a corresponding beam in the multi-beams, and performing blanking control, in addition to the performing ON/OFF switching of the beam for the each beam by the individual blanking system, with respect to the each time irradiation of the irradiation of the plurality of times, so that the beam is in an ON state during an irradiation time corresponding to irradiation concerned, by using a common blanking system that collectively performs beam ON/OFF control for a whole of the multi-beams. |
| US10020153B2 |
Method for determining a cause of a voltage outage load-side from a circuit breaker, auxiliary unit for a circuit breaker, electric system comprising a circuit breaker and one such auxiliary unit
In this method, the voltage outage load-side is an opening of the circuit breaker, and the circuit breaker is able to interrupt the flow of electric current in an electric connection including an electric conductor. The auxiliary unit comprises a current sensor for measuring the intensity of the current flowing in the electric conductor and a first detection means for detecting the voltage outage load-side from the circuit breaker. The method comprises the following steps: measuring the intensity of the current flowing in the electric conductor, detecting the voltage outage load-side from the electric circuit breaker, determining a cause of the detected voltage outage load-side from the circuit breaker, said cause being selected from the group consisting in: an electric overload, a short-circuit and a voltage drop. |
| US10020147B2 |
Double pole-double throw proximity switch
Proximity switches include a hermetically sealed unit that can be used in harsh environments and under significant pressures, such as underwater and in nuclear power facilities, without having any parts that would require replacement or periodic maintenance. The proximity switches are preferably switches actuated by physical movement of a contact in response to changing magnetic forces. The switches are preferably disposed in a body tube optionally including a hermetic seal assembly to seal an open end of the body tube and/or a ferrule that prevents electrical wires attached to the switch inside the body tube from being pulled away from the switch. Further, the switches preferably maintain a contact pressure between electrical contacts sufficient to withstand acceleration seismic testing of 10 g with no contact discontinuity. |
| US10020143B2 |
Electrical apparatus for breaking an electric current in air comprising an improved extinguishing gas filtering device
An electrical apparatus for breaking an electric current includes an electrical arc extinguishing chamber, for extinguishing an electrical arc formed on the separation of electric contacts, provided with an extinguishing gas exhaust orifice and an extinguishing gas filtration system, placed at the output of the exhaust orifice and including a filter and a gas diffusor. The gas diffuser includes, superposed between them, a central layer and two outer layers arranged on either side of the central layer. The central layer is provided with first through holes. Each outer layer is provided with second through holes. The first holes are misaligned relative to the second holes so that each of the second holes emerges on a solid portion of the central layer without any first hole. |
| US10020137B2 |
Input apparatus
An input apparatus includes a pressing part, a spacer, a rotating cam, and a sensor. The pressing part is capable of reciprocating along a first direction. The spacer is disposed in the first direction with respect to pressing part and is capable of reciprocating along the first direction with reciprocation of the pressing part. The rotating cam is disposed at a side of the spacer opposite to the pressing part and rotates in a plane perpendicular to the first direction with reciprocation of the spacer. The sensor detects rotation of the rotating cam. |
| US10020136B2 |
Switch wire connection device
A switch wire connection device has a simplified structure and is easy to operate with enhanced stability of operation. The switch wire connection device includes a conductive component mounted in an insulation case, a switch pushbutton assembled with the conductive component and an electrical contact. The electrical contact has a restriction unit and a contact plate connected with the restriction unit. By means of operating the pushbutton, the conductive component is driven to selectively electrically contact or separate from the contact plate. The restriction unit defines a space, in which a metal leaf spring is assembled. The wiring circuit or conductive wire of a machine or equipment can be easily directly plugged into the space of the restriction unit and held by the metal leaf spring. The metal leaf spring is prevented from deflecting in the operation process. |
| US10020133B2 |
Power switching apparatus
A power switching apparatus includes a detection circuit, a control circuit and an auxiliary power circuit. The detection circuit comprises a voltage adjusting unit, a delay unit, a first switch unit and an isolation unit. The auxiliary power circuit comprises an auxiliary power input side and an output side. When a main power supplies power normally or the main power stops supplying power but the delay unit continues working in a setting time, the first switch unit is turned on. The isolation unit sends a first signal to the control circuit. The auxiliary power input side does not conduct to the output side. When the main power stops supplying power and the delay unit stops working, the first switch unit is turned off. The isolation unit does not send the first signal to the control circuit. The auxiliary power input side conducts to the output side. |
| US10020130B2 |
Switch
Provided is a switch with excellent operability. A switch is provided with a plunger, a lower torsion spring in which a biasing direction changes according to the movement of the plunger. The lower torsion spring biases the plunger in a returning direction when the plunger is in a reference position, and biases the plunger in a direction different from the returning direction when the plunger is in an operation position. |
| US10020127B1 |
Capacitor having multiple anodes housed in a compartmented casing
A capacitor is described. A casing for the capacitor has a surrounding sidewall extending to opposed first and second open ends. An inwardly extending ledge of the sidewall is intermediate the first and second open ends. A partition plate is supported on the ledge. A first lid is secured to the first annular edge to close the first capacitor compartment bounded by the partition plate, the surrounding sidewall and the first lid, and a second lid is secured to the second annular edge to close the second capacitor compartment bounded by the opposite side of the partition plate, the surrounding sidewall and the second lid. At least one anode resides in each of the first and second capacitor compartments spaced from cathode active material supported on the casing walls facing the anodes. There is also a separator intermediate the anode and cathode. Insulative seals supported by the casing electrically isolate anode leads connected to the respective anodes from the casing serving as a terminal for the cathode. Finally, a working electrolyte is provided in the first and second capacitor compartments in contact with the anodes and cathode active material. |
| US10020126B2 |
Three-dimensional network aluminum porous body, electrode using the aluminum porous body, and nonaqueous electrolyte battery, capacitor and lithium-ion capacitor with nonaqueous electrolytic solution, each using the electrode
A three-dimensional network aluminum porous body which enables to produce an electrode continuously, an electrode using the aluminum porous body, and a method for producing the electrode is disclosed. A long sheet-shaped three-dimensional network aluminum porous body is provided to be used as a base material in a method for producing an electrode including at least winding off, a thickness adjustment step, a lead welding step, an active material filling step, a drying step, a compressing step, a cutting step and winding-up, wherein the three-dimensional network aluminum porous body has a tensile strength of 0.2 MPa or more and 5 MPa or less. |
| US10020124B2 |
Separator for electric double layer capacitors, and electric double layer capacitor
A separator for electric double layer capacitor comprising a fiber sheet containing 10% by mass (relative to 100% by mass of fiber sheet) of polyvinyl alcohol fibers (fibers A) having a hot water-dissolving temperature of lower than 100° C. and higher than 85° C., the separator having a density within a range of 0.25 to 0.7 g/cm3, and a thickness within a range of not less than 5 μm and less than 40 μm. |
| US10020123B2 |
Carbon fiber membrane
Provided is a carbon fiber membrane which is inexpensive and can sufficiently increase the electric capacity per mass. The carbon fiber membrane includes only carbon nanotubes and carbon material other than carbon nanotubes, and the carbon nanotubes each having a fiber length of 30 to 500 μm are contained in an amount of 3% by mass or more to less than 100% by mass with respect to the total amount. |
| US10020119B2 |
Capacitor structure
A capacitor structure is provided, which includes a positive electrode, a dielectric layer on the positive electrode, and an organic-inorganic composite layer on the dielectric layer. The capacitor structure also includes a negative electrode, and a conductive conjugated polymer electrolyte disposed between the organic-inorganic composite layer and the negative electrode. |
| US10020114B2 |
Method of making a high frequency inductor chip
A high frequency inductor chip includes a core and a coil. The core is in the form of a single piece of a non-magnetic material. The coil is deposited on and surrounds the core and has structural characteristics indicative of the coil being formed on the core by deposition techniques. A method for making the high frequency inductor chip is also disclosed. |
| US10020108B2 |
Method for producing magnetic particles, magnetic particles, and magnetic body
This method for producing magnetic particles comprises a nitriding treatment step for applying a nitriding treatment to material particles each having a core-shell structure in which an aluminum oxide layer is formed on the surface of an iron microparticle, and nitriding the iron microparticles while maintaining the core-shell structure. |
| US10020106B2 |
Reactor
A reactor includes a reactor body and a heat sink. The reactor body includes coil wire wound around a core. The heat sink is fixed to the reactor body through a heat transfer sheet. The heat sink includes a restricting wall for the heat transfer sheet such that expansion of the heat transfer sheet in a first direction is restricted more than expansion of the heat transfer sheet in a second direction. The first direction is an extending direction of the coil wire on a surface of the reactor body, which abuts on the heat transfer sheet. The second direction is an axis direction of the coil wire. |
| US10020105B2 |
Circuit protection device having noise filters
The present disclosure includes: a laminate in which a plurality of sheets are laminated; two or more noise filters provided spaced apart by a predetermined distance from each other in the laminate and respectively provided with a plurality of coil patterns; an external electrode provided outside the laminate and connected to the two or more noise filters; and a connection electrode provided outside the laminate being spaced apart from the external electrode to connect the two or more coil patterns. |
| US10020102B2 |
R-T-B based permanent magnet and rotating machine
The present invention provides an R-T-B based permanent magnet suitable as a magnet with a variable magnetic force for a motor with variable magnetic flux, which has a high residual magnetic flux density, a low coercivity, and a magnetic force that can be reversibly varied by a small external magnetic field. A permanent magnet with a high residual magnetic flux density and a low coercivity that is suitable as a variable magnet for a motor with variable magnetic flux can be obtained, by selecting the rare earth elements consisting of one or more of Y, La and Ce for a predetermined amount of the rare earth element(s) R in the R-T-B based permanent magnet, and further adding a predetermined amount of the additive element(s) which is at least one of Al, Cu, Zr, Hf and Ti. |
| US10020099B2 |
Rare earth based magnet
The present invention provides a rare earth based magnet that inhibits the high temperature demagnetization rate even when less or no heavy rare earth elements such as Dy, Tb and the like than before are used. The rare earth based magnet according to the present invention is a sintered magnet which includes R2T14B crystal grains as main phase and grain boundary phases between the R2T14B crystal grains. when evaluating the cross-sectional area distribution of the main phase crystal grains by histogram in any cross-section of the rare earth based magnet, the crystal grains with large particle size and the crystal grains with small particle size are controlled so that the cross-sectional area distribution becomes the one which respectively has at least one peak at two sides of the average value of the cross-sectional area. |
| US10020098B2 |
Production method for permanent magnet, and production device for permanent magnet
In a production method for permanent magnet, a magnetic powder is loaded into a cavity formed in a groove shape whose longitudinal direction horizontally extends. A loading step of loading the magnetic powder includes a first loading step of loading, of the magnetic powder, a first magnetic powder containing no heavy rare earth element or containing a heavy rare earth element, and a second loading step of loading, of the magnetic powder, a second magnetic powder having a higher content rate of heavy rare earth element than that of the first magnetic powder, at a predetermined position in the cavity. |
| US10020095B1 |
Coaxial cable
A coaxial cable includes a conductor, an insulation layer provided around the conductor, a shield layer provided around the insulation layer, and a sheath provided around the shield layer. The insulation layer includes a first insulation layer, a second insulation layer and a third insulation layer that are arranged in this order from a conductor side. The first insulation layer includes a non-solid extruded layer. The second layer includes a foamed layer not adhering to the first insulation layer. The third insulation layer includes a non-foamed layer adhering to the second insulation layer. |
| US10020091B2 |
Conductive composite, manufacturing method thereof, and electronic device including same
A conductive composite including: a polymer matrix including a microcellulose fiber; and at least two conductive nanomaterials dispersed in the polymer matrix, wherein the conductive nanomaterial includes a metal nanowire, wherein the at least two of the conductive nanomaterials provide an assembled layer surrounding a surface of the microcellulose fiber. |
| US10020090B2 |
Conductive particles, method of manufacturing the same, conductive resin composition containing the same, and conductive coated object
The present invention relates to conductive particles. The conductive particles contain core particles containing aluminum and a metal film covering the core particles, the metal film is higher in conductivity than the core particles, and a surface coverage of the core particles with the metal film is not lower than 80%. |
| US10020086B2 |
Method and apparatus for the production of lead 212 for medical use
The invention relates to a method for preparing lead (212) for medical use. This method comprises the production of lead (212) by the decay of radium (224) in a generator comprising a solid medium to which the radium (224) is bound, followed by the extraction of the lead (212) from the generator in the form of an aqueous solution A1, characterized in that the lead (212) contained in the aqueous solution A1 is purified from the radiological and chemical impurities, also contained in said aqueous solution, by a liquid chromatography on a column. The invention also relates to an apparatus specially designed for automated implementation in a closed system of said method. It further relates to lead (212) produced by means of this method and this apparatus. Applications: manufacture of radiopharmaceuticals based on lead (212), useful in nuclear medicine for the treatment of cancers, particularly by a-radioimmunotherapy, or for medical imaging, in both humans and animals. |
| US10020083B1 |
Supported radiation protective garment
A supported radiation protective garment is presented that can be worn by a medical provider under a standard surgical gown during procedures that involve the use of radiation. When used by the provider, the protective garment is lifted by vertical support members which can be extended downward and retracted upward. Rolling or sliding means at the lower end of the vertical support members allow the provider to move unhindered while wearing the radiation protective garment. The provider has access to a control mechanism that allows the shifting between retracted and extended positions of the vertical support members without breaking sterility. An alternative embodiment presents an upper apron portion of the protective garment, which can be manually connected by an assistant to a lower rolling base portion. The invention allows the provider to wear a heavy protective garment, offering significantly better radiation protection than standard ‘lead aprons’, while not being burdened by the weight of the garment. Further, the invention allows to maintain sterility at all times, and gives two or more providers, each wearing this protective garment, the option to work and move in close spatial proximity to each other. |
| US10020080B2 |
Nuclear reactor nozzle repair method
A nozzle repair method and a nuclear reactor vessel include: removing a trepanning portion (208) as a connection portion with respect to an in-core instrumentation cylinder (204) in a groove-welding portion (206); removing the in-core instrumentation cylinder (204) from a semi-spherical portion (66) as a lower end plate; forming a surface buttered-welding portion (210) by buttered-welding the surface of the groove-welding portion (206); forming a welding groove (212) by grooving the surface buttered-welding portion (210); inserting a new in-core instrumentation cylinder (204A) provided with a circumferential groove portion (204f) outside an instrumentation equipment guide passage (204d) into an attachment hole (203); and fixing the new in-core instrumentation cylinder (204A) by groove-welding the welding groove (212). Accordingly, since the nozzle welding area is suppressed to a predetermined range, the workability of the repair is improved. |
| US10020079B2 |
Core of light water reactor and fuel assembly
A core of a light water reactor has a plurality of fuel assemblies. The fuel assemblies include a plurality of fuel rods in which a lower end is supported by a lower tie-plate and an upper end is supported by an upper tie-plate. The fuel rods form plenums above a nuclear fuel material zone and have a neutron absorbing material filling zone under the nuclear fuel material zone. Neutron absorbing members attached to the upper tie-plate are disposed between mutual plenums of the neighboring fuel rods above the nuclear fuel material zone. The neutron absorbing members have a length of 500 mm and are positioned at a distance of 300 mm from the nuclear fuel material zone. Even if the overall core is assumed to become a state of 100% void, no positive reactivity is inserted to the core. |
| US10020075B2 |
Systems and methods for monitoring and/or managing patient orientation using a dynamically adjusted relief period
A monitoring system and method tracks a patient's position over time and ensures that proper turning or other manipulation is done within the time prescribed. Preferably, the techniques herein continuously monitor patient position and alert medical or other personnel of the need for turning or other patient manipulation. The system may be implemented within a medical or other care facility, or within a patient's home. |
| US10020074B1 |
Nonvolatile storage circuit and semiconductor memory device including the same
A nonvolatile storage circuit may include a nonvolatile storage unit configured to include fuse set groups respectively including a plurality of fuse sets and a flag fuse; a rupture control unit configured to program an input address to the fuse sets in a first program mode, and to program a same input address to a specific fuse set among the plurality of fuse sets in a specific fuse set group among the fuse set groups and to program the flag fuse of the specific fuse set group in a second program mode; and a boot-up control unit configured to control the address programmed in the fuse sets to be outputted as fuse data, and to control the address programmed in the specific fuse set to be outputted as fuse data of remaining fuse sets among the plurality of fuse sets in the specific fuse set group. |
| US10020073B2 |
Memory device and operating method thereof
A memory device may include: a plurality of memory cells; at least one address storage unit; a fail detection unit suitable for comparing first and second read data that are read from at least one memory cell selected among the plurality of memory cells to detect a fail, and storing an address of the selected memory cell in the address storage unit when the fail is detected; and a refresh control unit suitable for refreshing the memory cell corresponding to the address stored in the address storage unit at a higher frequency than the other memory cells. |
| US10020067B2 |
Integrated circuits and methods for dynamic allocation of one-time programmable memory
An integrated circuit includes a one-time programmable (OTP) memory having a plurality of pages and address translation circuitry. A first line of each page is configured to store error policy bits. When a first bit of the first line has a first value, the page is configured to store data with error correction code (ECC) bits, and when the first bit has a second value, at least a portion of the page is configured to store data with redundancy. The address translation circuitry is configured to, in response to receiving an access address, use the first line of an accessed page of the plurality of pages accessed by the access address to determine a physical address in the accessed page which corresponds to the access address. |
| US10020065B2 |
Corruption-preventative programming in solid-state data storage
A device includes a non-volatile solid-state memory array comprising a plurality of blocks, each of the plurality of blocks configured to store data in a single-bit per cell mode or a multiple-bit per cell mode, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive write data from a host device, program the write data to a first block of the plurality of blocks of the memory array using the single-bit per cell mode, and perform a data consolidation operation on the first block at least in part by programming at least a portion of the write data together with data stored in a separate second block of the memory array to a third block of the memory array using the multiple-bit per cell mode. |
| US10020058B2 |
Memory as a programmable logic device
Methods for operating a memory, and memory configured to perform similar methods, include programming a first series string of memory cells of a first group of memory cells such that pairs of complementary memory cells have complementary states to provide a first minterm, the first minterm comprising a plurality of first variables wherein each variable is enabled responsive to a state of its respective memory cell, and programming a second series string of memory cells of a second group of memory cells such that pairs of complementary memory cells have complementary states to provide a second minterm, the second minterm comprising the first minterm that is enabled responsive to the state of its respective memory cell, the second minterm further comprising a plurality of second variables that are each enabled responsive to the state of their respective memory cell. |
| US10020052B2 |
Resistive memory device and memory system including the same
A resistive memory device includes a first region including a first region including a plurality of first resistive memory cells, and a second region including a plurality of second resistive memory cells, wherein the resistive memory device is suitable for applying a first recovery pulse cyclically at a regular interval to the first resistive memory cells for recovering a drift of the first memory cells, and for applying a second recovery pulse to a read target memory cell among the second memory resistive cells. |
| US10020051B1 |
Stack capacitor for neural network
A memory device including a plurality of memory cells arranged in a crossbar configuration for a neural network is provided. Each of the memory cells includes a readout transistor, a charging transistor, a discharging transistor, and a stack capacitor array connected to one of source/drain regions of each of the charging transistor and the discharging transistor and a functional gate of the readout transistor for storing analog information. |
| US10020047B2 |
Static random access memory (SRAM) write assist circuit with improved boost
Approaches for a write assist circuit are provided. The write assist circuit includes a boost capacitor with a first node coupled to a bitline through control logic and a second node connected to a field effect transistor (FET) diode stack, a plurality of boot enabled transistors which each contain a gate connected to a boost control signal, and a controlled current source coupled between a ground signal and the second node of the boost capacitor. In the write assist circuit, the boost capacitor has a discharge path which is controlled to provide a boost voltage which is invariant to a level of a power supply signal. |
| US10020042B2 |
CMOS analog memories utilizing ferroelectric capacitors
A memory cell and memories constructed from that memory cell are disclosed. A memory according to the present invention includes a ferroelectric capacitor, a charge source and a read circuit. The charge source receives a data value to be stored in the ferroelectric capacitor. The charge source converts the data value to a remanent charge to be stored in the ferroelectric capacitor and causes that remanent charge to be stored in the ferroelectric capacitor. The read circuit determines a charge stored in the ferroelectric capacitor. The data value has more than three distinct possible states, and the determined charge has more than three determined values. The memory also includes a reset circuit that causes the ferroelectric capacitor to enter a predetermined known reference state of polarization. |
| US10020041B1 |
Self-referenced sense amplifier with precharge
Precharging circuits and techniques are presented for use with magnetic memory devices in order to speed up access to the memory cells for reading and writing. Including precharging in the sense amplifiers used to access the memory cells enables self-referenced read operations to be completed more quickly than is possible without precharging. Similarly, precharging can also be used in conjunction with write-back operations in order to allow the data state stored by magnetic tunnel junctions included in the memory cells to be changed more rapidly. |
| US10020040B2 |
Semiconductor memory device
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device comprises: first to fourth memory cells, each of which is configured to have a first resistance state or a second resistance state; and a first circuit configured to output first data based on a first signal representing a resistance state of the first memory cell and a second signal representing a resistance state of the second memory cell, output second data based on the second signal and a third signal representing a resistance state of the third memory cell, and output third data based on the third signal and a fourth signal representing a resistance state of the fourth memory cell. |
| US10020039B2 |
Three terminal magnetoresistive devices, magnetoresistive random access memory and magnetic recording method
A magnetoresistive device includes a magnetic free layer having first and second surfaces, the magnetic free layer being comprised of a ferromagnetic material having a perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, a spin current generation layer contacting the first surface of the magnetic free layer, a tunnel barrier layer having one surface contacting the second surface of the magnetic free layer, a reference layer contacting another surface of the tunnel barrier layer, and a leakage field generation layer including first and second leakage field generation layers each of which is comprised of a ferromagnetic material and generates a leakage field, an in-plane component of the leakage field at an part of the magnetic free layer is formed generating a domain wall having an in-plane magnetization component in the magnetic free layer. |
| US10020037B2 |
Capacity register file
An apparatus for storing X-bit digitized data, the register file comprising: a plurality of registers each register configured for storing X bits, wherein each register is partitioned into Y sub-registers such that each sub-register stores at least X/Y bits, and wherein at least one extra X/Y-bit sub-register is incorporated in each register to provide redundancy in the number of sub-registers for a total of at least Y+1 sub-registers per register, so that if a first sub-register in a first register includes faulty bits, data destined for storage in the first sub-register is stored in a second sub-register, in the first register, that does not include faulty bits. |
| US10020035B2 |
Reception circuit
According to one embodiment, a skew correcting device includes a skew calculation circuit and a sampling timing correction circuit. The skew calculation circuit calculates a skew between data and a strobe signal based on sampling values obtained by sampling, at a cycle one half of or shorter than one half of a cycle of the strobe signal, the data and the strobe signal respectively based on a same clock. The sampling timing correction circuit corrects the sampling timing of the data based on the skew calculated by the skew calculation circuit. |
| US10020033B2 |
Indirect register access method and system
Systems and methods are provided for managing access to registers. In one embodiment, a system may include a processor and a plurality of registers. The processor and the plurality of registers may be integrated into a single device, or may be in separate devices. The plurality of registers may include a first set of registers that are directly accessible by the processor, and a second set of registers that are not directly accessible by the processor. The second set of registers may, however, be accessed indirectly by the processor via the first set of registers. In one embodiment, the first set of registers may include a register for selecting a register bank from the second set of registers, and a register for selecting a particular address within the register bank, to allow indirect access by the processor to the registers of the second set. |
| US10020030B2 |
Semiconductor apparatus capable of improving efficiency for a circuit configuration and a signal line interconnection
A semiconductor apparatus may be provided. The semiconductor apparatus may include a plurality of memory blocks. The semiconductor apparatus may include a peripheral circuit region arranged between the plurality of memory blocks. A plurality of signal input/output (I/O) pads may be arranged in the plurality of memory blocks. |
| US10020026B2 |
Synchronizing audio and video components of an automatically generated audio/video presentation
Some embodiments provide an application that can automatically generate a movie from a collection of media clips stored on a device or accessible by the device. The movie creation process of some embodiments uses novel video and audio compositors that dynamically composite video and audio components of the movie. The video compositors process explores different combination of media clips and media-clip arrangements to produce an interesting video presentation. The audio compositor receives the duration of the video presentation, and dynamically generates a song for the video presentation based on this duration. Another novel interaction is that in some embodiments the audio compositor provides the starting location of its last segment to the video compositor so that the video compositor can align the start of the last video segment with this ending segment. In some embodiments, the video and audio compositors also synchronize fade-out effects that they apply to their respective presentations with each other. Also, in some embodiments, the video compositor can ask the audio compositor for one or more audio onsets that are near a particular time in the presentation. In some of these embodiments, the audio compositor returns (1) a list of onsets that are near a time that is specified by the video compositor, and (2) a priority for each of these onsets. The video compositor then uses this list of onsets to align an edit point in the composite video's definition to the location of one of the onsets based the specified priority value(s) and the desirability of the video edit at the onset location. |
| US10020025B2 |
Methods and systems for customizing immersive media content
A computing system has memory, a microphone, and an image sensor. A process displays an immersive media customization user interface, and plays a 360 video. In response to a first user action, the process captures a freeze frame of the 360 video at a specific moment. In response to a second user action, the process starts recording a customized video of the captured freeze frame in real time according to a dynamically adjustable visibility window of the captured freeze frame. While recording the customized video, a user adjusts the visibility window. After recording, a user annotates the customized video, including one or more of: adding a visual overlay in a portion of the customized video, where the visual overlay is a recorded video of the user; adding an audio overlay (e.g., user comments); and adding text or an image. The process transmits the customized video to another computing system. |
| US10020021B2 |
Asynchronous asymmetry compensation for data read from a storage medium
In one embodiment, a system includes one or more processors and logic integrated with and/or executable by the one or more processors. The logic is configured to cause at least one of the processors to detect positive peak amplitudes and negative peak amplitudes of an unequalized readback signal that exhibits imperfect or bi-modal waveform peaks using a peak tracking threshold module positioned at an input to an equalizer. Also, the logic is configured to cause the at least one of the processors to track the positive peak amplitudes and the negative peak amplitudes of the unequalized readback signal in a record. Moreover, the logic is configured to cause the at least one of the processors to provide, as an input to an asymmetry compensator, the record of the peak amplitudes and the negative peak amplitudes determined from the unequalized readback signal. |
| US10020020B2 |
Switching period control of microwave assisted magnetic recording for pole erasure suppression
A magnetic recording system for preventing data loss resulting magnetic oscillator current. The magnetic recording system includes a magnetic write head with a magnetic write pole, a magnetic oscillator near the magnetic write pole, and a write coil for magnetizing the write pole. Circuitry is connected with the magnetic write coil to supply a current to the write coil and connected with the magnetic oscillator to supply a current to the magnetic oscillator. The circuitry is configured to ensure that the current to the magnetic oscillator does not inadvertently magnetize the write pole after the magnetic write pole has demagnetized. |
| US10020017B2 |
Hard disk drive and head positioning method
According to one embodiment, a hard disk drive includes a disk including a plurality of data areas, and a plurality of servo areas between the plurality of data areas, an arm holding a write head and a read arm, and a positioning module which positions the read head or the write head by rotating the arm, wherein the positioning module positioning the write head by positioning the read head, and adjusting a position of the read head or the write head, based on an output of the read head located in a data area between two servo areas adjacent in a peripheral direction, of the plurality of servo areas. |
| US10020016B2 |
Perpendicular magnetic recording medium
A magnetic recording medium including a magnetic recording layer of a granular structure and having a large thickness as well as excellent magnetic properties is provided. The perpendicular magnetic recording medium includes a non-magnetic substrate and a magnetic recording layer, wherein the magnetic recording layer includes first magnetic recording layers on the side of the non-magnetic substrate and second magnetic recording layers, the first magnetic layers have a granular structure including first magnetic crystal grains containing an ordered alloy and a first non-magnetic segregant surrounding the first magnetic crystal grains and containing carbon; and the second magnetic layers have a granular structure including second magnetic crystal grains containing an ordered alloy and a second non-magnetic segregant surrounding the second magnetic crystal grains and containing Zn and O. |
| US10020014B2 |
Segmented magnetic recording write head for detection-based servo pattern writing
An apparatus-implemented method according to one embodiment includes passing a magnetic recording tape over a plurality of modules having write transducers, and causing the write transducers to write predefined patterns of magnetic bars on the magnetic recording tape. Associated pairs of the write transducers are aligned along an intended direction of tape travel thereacross. Planes of deposition of write gaps of the write transducers in each associated pair are oriented at an angle of greater than 4 degrees relative to each other. A timing of writing of each write transducer is controlled such that resulting patterns of magnetic bars written by each associated pair are offset from one another in the intended direction of tape travel. |
| US10020012B1 |
Data storage drive with low-latency ports coupling multiple servo control processors
First and second servo control processors are coupled to respective first and second actuators that independently position first and second heads over one or more disks of a data storage drive. The first and second servo control processors are further coupled to first and second low-latency ports. First and second unidirectional buses couple the first and second low-latency ports. The first and second unidirectional busses are operable to isochronously exchange servo positioning data between the first and second servo control processors. The first and second servo control processors each use the servo positioning data to compensate for movement caused by another of the first and second servo control processors. |
| US10020011B2 |
Devices including an amorphous gas barrier layer
Devices that include a near field transducer (NFT); an amorphous gas barrier layer positioned on at least a portion of the NFT; and a wear resistance layer positioned on at least a portion of the gas barrier layer. |
| US10020010B1 |
Near-field heat transfer enabled nanothermomechanical memory and logic devices
A thermomechanical memory/logic device is disclosed. In embodiments, the thermomechanical device includes a first thermally controlled terminal (e.g., hot terminal); a second thermally controlled terminal (e.g., cool terminal/base); a stem or other structure that can be thermally expanded connected to the cool terminal; and a thermal conductive head coupled to the stem. The head can exchange heat with the hot terminal. The stem and head are between the first thermally controlled terminal and the second thermally controlled terminal, wherein the stem expands or contracts in response to heat absorbed or given off by the thermal conductive head, causing the head to move towards the first thermally controlled terminal or towards the second thermally controlled terminal until a stable state is reached. For example, bistable thermal states can be used to implement logic states (e.g., ZERO or ONE states). |
| US10020009B1 |
Multisensory speech detection
A computer-implemented method of multisensory speech detection is disclosed. The method comprises determining an orientation of a mobile device and determining an operating mode of the mobile device based on the orientation of the mobile device. The method further includes identifying speech detection parameters that specify when speech detection begins or ends based on the determined operating mode and detecting speech from a user of the mobile device based on the speech detection parameters. |
| US10020004B2 |
Listening to the frontend
In some embodiments, apparatuses, and methods are provided herein pertaining to sound analysis in a shopping facility. In some embodiments, a system comprises one or more sound sensors distributed throughout at least a portion of a shopping facility and configured to receive at least sounds resulting from activity in the shopping facility and a control circuit, the control circuit configured to receive, from at least one of the one or more sound sensors, audio data, receive an indication of an employee, correlate the audio data and in the indication of the employee, and determine, based at least in part on the audio data and the indication of the employee, a performance metric for the employee. |
| US10020001B2 |
Efficient DRC profile transmission
A method for decoding an encoded audio signal is described. The encoded audio signal comprises a sequence of frames, and is indicative of a plurality of different dynamic range control (DRC) profiles for a corresponding plurality of different rendering modes. The method comprises determining a first rendering mode from the plurality of different rendering modes; determining one or more DRC profiles from a subset of DRC profiles comprised within a current frame of the sequence of frames; determining whether at least one of the one or more DRC profiles is applicable to the first rendering mode; selecting a default DRC profile as a current DRC profile, if none of the one or more DRC profiles is applicable to the first rendering mode; wherein definition data of the default DRC profile is known at a decoder; and decoding the current frame using the current DRC profile. |
| US10020000B2 |
Method and apparatus for improved ambisonic decoding
An embodiment of this disclosure provides an audio receiver. The audio receiver includes a memory configured to store an audio signal and processing circuitry coupled to the memory. The processing circuitry is configured to receive the audio signal. The audio signal comprises a plurality of ambisonic components. The processing circuitry is also configured to separate the audio signal into a plurality of independent ambisonic subcomponents such that each of the independent ambisonic subcomponents is from a different source. The processing circuitry is also configured to decode each of the independent ambisonic subcomponents. The processing circuitry is also configured to combine each of the decoded independent ambisonic subcomponents into speaker signals. |
| US10019997B2 |
Method and apparatus for quantisation index modulation for watermarking an input signal
With quantization index modulation QIM it is possible to achieve a very high data rate, and the capacity of the watermark transmission is mostly independent of the characteristics of the original audio signal, but the audio quality suffers from degradation with each watermark embedding-and-removal step. In order to avoid degradation of the audio quality, the inventive audio signal watermarking uses specific quantizer curves in time domain and in particular in frequency domain for embedding the watermark message into the audio signal, whereby the processing is almost perfectly reversible. Furthermore, it has embedded a power constraint in order to guarantee that the modifications of the audio signal due to the watermark embedding are inaudible. |
| US10019991B2 |
Apparatus and method for speech recognition
Disclosed is an apparatus for speech recognition and automatic translation operated in a PC or a mobile device. The apparatus for speech recognition according to the present invention includes a display unit that displays a screen for selecting a domain as a unit for a speech recognition region previously sorted for speech recognition to a user; a user input unit that receives a selection of a domain from the user; and a communication unit that transmits the user selection information for the domain. According to the present invention, the apparatus for speech recognition using an intuitive and simple user interface is provided to a user to enable the user to easily select/correct a designation domain of a speech recognition system and improve accuracy and performance of speech recognition and automatic translation by the designated system for speech recognition. |
| US10019980B1 |
Distortion and pitch processing using a modal reverberator architecture
A reverberator based on a room response modal analysis is adapted to produce distortion, pitch and time manipulation effects, as well as gated and iterated reverberation. An example “modal reverberator” is a parallel collection of resonant filters, with resonance frequencies and dampings tuned to the modal frequencies and decay times of the space or object being simulated. In one example, the resonant filters are implemented as cascades of heterodyning, smoothing, and modulation steps, forming a type of analysis/synthesis architecture. By applying memoryless nonlinearities to the modulating sinusoids, distortion effects are produced, including distortion without intermodulation products. By using different frequencies for the heterodyning and associated modulation operations, pitch manipulation effects are generated, including pitch shifting and spectral “inversion.” By resampling the smoothing filter output, the signal time axis is stretched without introducing pitch changes. |
| US10019975B2 |
Variable chambered percussion instruments
The present invention is a percussion instrument comprising a body enclosed on all sides by one or more walls. Internal to the body is a matrix comprising two or more compartments. One or more solid masses are located within at least one of the two or more compartments, and are used to produce sound. |
| US10019973B2 |
Airflow indicator for wind musical instruments
An airflow indicator providing a visually observable measure of relative airflow through a wind musical instrument which facilitates evaluation proximate the end of the instrument. This allows airflow to traverse the majority of the length of the instrument and particularly to traverse the valve section, so that actions of a player in operating the valves which impair the airflow may be seen. Some examples may be configured to minimize differences in pitch between the wind musical instrument with the airflow indicator in place, relative to the wind musical instrument without the airflow indicator. |
| US10019972B2 |
Tremolo assembly
The invention is directed to a tremolo assembly for a guitar that returns the tremolo to the neutral position after use irrespective of the tension between the strings and the balancing spring and reduces the problems associated with string stretch and maintaining tune and string breakage. The tremolo assembly includes a bridge tension arrangement, a controller arm and controller arm stop, and a controller arm tension arrangement. |
| US10019970B2 |
Steady color presentation manager
A system and method for separately processing content provided by different applications that is rendered on an attached display. The content is processed based upon the desired display settings that are appropriate for the particular application delivering content to a particular region of the display. In this way, simultaneously displayed applications may be processed as intended by each application, independent of differences in the display settings assumed by the displayed applications. |
| US10019967B2 |
Image processing apparatus, source device, image processing system, image processing method, and program for combining images
There is provided an image processing apparatus including an image reception unit configured to receive an image with markers including a sub image and marker pixels each indicating, using a pixel value, a combining ratio of a main image and the sub image that is combined with the main image, a combining ratio acquisition unit configured to acquire the combining ratio indicated by a pixel value of the marker pixel in the image with markers, and a combining unit configured to combine the main image and the sub image based on the acquired combining ratio. |