| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US10177923B2 |
Electronic appliance and network of the same
A network of electronic appliances includes a plurality of network units of electronic appliances. The network units include a first network unit and a plurality of second network units. The first network unit is connected to at least one of the second network units. Each of the network units includes a stem server and a plurality of peripheral devices connected to the stem server. The stem server includes at least one passcode and at least one list of a plurality of registration codes. Each list is associated to a respective passcode. Each registration code of one list associating to one passcode corresponds to a respective peripheral device. Each registration code is generated in response to a respective passcode using physical randomness of a respective peripheral device in correspondence to the passcode. An address of each identification cell is defined by several word lines and bit lines. |
| US10177922B1 |
Repeatable masking of sensitive data
The various technologies presented herein relate to enabling a value generated based upon a physical unclonable function (PUF) response to be available as needed, while also preventing exposure of the PUF to a malicious entity. A masked PUF response can be generated based upon applying a function to a combination of the PUF response and a data file (e.g., a bitstream), and the masked PUF response is forwarded to a requesting entity, rather than the PUF response. Hence, the PUF is masked from any entity requiring access to the PUF. The PUF can be located in a FPGA, wherein the data file is a bitstream pertinent to one or more configurable logic blocks included in the FPGA. A first masked PUF response generated with a first data file can have a different value to a second masked PUF response generated with a second data file. |
| US10177917B2 |
TLS protocol extension
A technique is provided for extending a handshake communication between a communication device and an application server. The application server receives at least two messages from the communication device, each message comprising a handshake index and triggering a handshake session so that the application server negotiates with the communication device a set of cryptographic parameters. For each received message, the application server stores a negotiated set of cryptographic parameters in correspondence with a connection state index depending on the handshake index. The application server activates one of the stored sets of cryptographic parameters to establish a secured connection with the communication device. |
| US10177914B1 |
Device for integrating multiple secure networks
The device and system for secure network communications disclosed herein can simultaneously operate one or more secure computing components in a single housing and integrating multiple secure networks. The device can operate networking and other software applications. The disclosed device can have physically and electromagnetically separated computing components in separate enclosures within the device, with physical attributes of the device designed to minimize spurious electronic emissions between enclosures. The device can have one or more shielded covers allowing removal and replacement of computing components within each enclosure. The device can allow simultaneous operations of multiple electromagnetically separated enclosures for multiple secure computers in a single space to integrate multiple secure networks. |
| US10177912B2 |
Content individualization
Content individualization, including: encrypting a first part of a source data set using a first key creating a first encrypted data set; encrypting a second part of the source data set using a second key creating a second encrypted data set; encrypting the second part of the source data set using a third key creating a third encrypted data set; and combining the first encrypted data set, the second encrypted data set, and the third encrypted data set to form a final encrypted data set. Key words include watermarking and content individualization. |
| US10177910B2 |
Preserving protected secrets across a secure boot update
Obtaining a sealed secret. The method includes decrypting one or more BLOBs at a computing system from among a plurality of different BLOBs. Each of the BLOBs in the plurality of BLOBs contains the secret. Each of the BLOBs in the plurality of BLOBs is sealed to a different condition from among a plurality of conditions. A given condition is a reflection of a system state where the system state is indicative of whether or not the system can be trusted to receive the secret. The method further includes evaluating one or more of the conditions to determine if at least one of the one or more conditions is met. The method further includes, if at least one of the one or more conditions is met, then providing the secret to an external entity. |
| US10177909B1 |
Managing private key access in multiple nodes
Managing private key access in multiple nodes is described. A piece of data (e.g., a private key) is encrypted using identity-based broadcast encryption and identity-based revocation encryption so that only certain servers in a distributed network of servers can decrypt the piece of data. The piece of data is encrypted with a key encryption key (KEK). The KEK is split into two pieces. The first piece is encrypted using identity-based broadcast encryption with an identified location as input such that only servers of the identified location can decrypt the first piece, and the second piece is encrypted using identity-based revocation encryption so that certain identified servers of the identified location cannot decrypt cannot decrypt the second piece. The keys are transmitted to the servers. |
| US10177908B2 |
Secure storage decryption system
A system for secure retrieval of stored data includes an encrypted key database and a processor. The encrypted key database is configured to store an encrypted tenant service key and an encrypted tenant master key. The processor is configured to request decryption of the encrypted tenant master key into an unencrypted tenant master key. The decryption of the encrypted master key is approved by a key release system. The processor is further configured to decrypt the encrypted tenant service key using the unencrypted tenant master key into an unencrypted tenant service key and authorize a response to a request using the unencrypted tenant service key. |
| US10177905B2 |
Fast computation of a single coefficient in an inverse polynomial
In one exemplary embodiment of the invention, a method for computing a resultant and a free term of a scaled inverse of a first polynomial v(x) modulo a second polynomial fn(x), including: receiving the first polynomial v(x) modulo the second polynomial fn(x), where the second polynomial is of a form fn(x)=xn±1, where n=2k and k is an integer greater than 0; computing lowest two coefficients of a third polynomial g(z) that is a function of the first polynomial and the second polynomial, where g ( z ) = def ∏ i = 0 n - 1 ( v ( ρ i ) - z ) , where ρ0, ρ1, . . . , ρn-1 are roots of the second polynomial fn(x) over a field; outputting the lowest coefficient of g(z) as the resultant; and outputting the second lowest coefficient of g(z) divided by n as the free term of the scaled inverse of the first polynomial v(x) modulo the second polynomial fn(x). |
| US10177900B2 |
Method and device for transmitting data by inductive coupling with controlled self-oscillation
In a general aspect, a method for transmitting data by inductive coupling can include applying, at a rate of a data-carrying signal, a plurality of bursts of a periodic signal to a tuned inductive antenna circuit. The method can also include producing, in the tuned inductive antenna circuit, an antenna signal. The antenna signal can generate a magnetic field. The method can further include delimiting an amplitude of each burst of the plurality of bursts of the periodic signal in accordance with an envelope signal having a rising edge and a falling edge. The delimiting the amplitude of each burst of the plurality of bursts of the periodic signal can include generating the plurality of bursts of the periodic signal using a set of points. The set of points can define, by discrete values, a burst of the plurality of bursts of the periodic signal. |
| US10177899B2 |
Adapting a jitter buffer
A receiver receives a first data stream and a second data stream from a transmitting device over a packet-based communication network, the first data stream being of a first media type (e.g. audio) and the second data stream being of a second media type (e.g. video). The first jitter buffer will buffer each of a plurality of portions of the first data stream as they are received via the receiver, and apply a de-jittering delay before outputting each portion of the first data stream (e.g. audio stream) to be played out through the receiving device. The jitter buffer controller receives information on the second data stream (e.g. video stream), and adapts the de-jittering delay of the first jitter buffer (e.g. audio jitter buffer) in dependence on the information on the second data stream (e.g. information on the video stream). |
| US10177898B2 |
Methods for signal detection in a system with sparse synchronization signal rate
The present disclosure relates to methods and devices for signal detection. More particularly the disclosure pertains to methods and arrangements for signal detection systems with sparse synchronization signal rate. According to some aspects, the disclosure relates to a method, performed in a radio network node, of detecting at least one signal transmitted from a wireless device, wherein the radio network node transmits a synchronization signal to the wireless device with a synchronization signal rate. The method comprises determining a period of time that has passed since the most recent transmission of the synchronization signal to the wireless device and configuring, in the radio network node, at least one radio setting related to detecting the at least one signal, based on the determined period of time. The method further comprises monitoring a radio spectrum for the at least one signal using the at least one radio setting. |
| US10177896B2 |
Methods for training of full-duplex wireless systems
A method and apparatus for (a) operating a first full-duplex transceiver to exchange radio-frequency signals with a second full-duplex transceiver, (b) determining at the first full-duplex transceiver that a residual self-interference signal exceeds a threshold, (c) in response to the determination that the residual self-interference signal exceeds the threshold, performing a self-training operation. |
| US10177895B2 |
Systems and methods for minimizing insertion loss in a multi-mode communications system
Methods and system for using a multifunctional filter to minimize insertion loss in a multi-mode communications system are described. Specifically described is a multifunctional filter that is configurable to operate in a band-pass mode when a first type of signal is propagated through the multifunctional filter, and to operate in a low-pass mode when a second type of signal is propagated through the multifunctional filter. The multifunctional filter presents a lower insertion loss to the second type of signal when operating in the low-pass mode than in the band-pass mode. |
| US10177893B2 |
Serial communication system
The serial communication system includes a first communication device and a second communication device connected with the first communication device. The first communication device and the second communication device respectively operates in response to a first clock signal and a second clock. The first communication device generates a first training signal, transmits the first training signal to the second communication device, encodes a first data signal to generate a first encoded signal, and transmits the first encoded signal to the second communication device. The second communication device measures a second interval length, receives the first encoded signal from the first communication device, and decodes the first data signal from the first encoded signal by detecting the level of the first encoded signal at a preset first point of time preset and a preset second point of time. |
| US10177890B2 |
Spectrum allocation system and method for multi-band wireless RF data communications
A dual band spectrum allocation system and method for wireless data communications uses discrete bands for upstream and downstream data communications. A preferred embodiment uses unlicensed UNII bands for license-free data transmissions from a subscriber to a hub, and uses relatively interference free licensed bands for data transmissions from a hub to subscribers, thereby allowing use of greater bandwidth, simplifying system licensing and reducing filtering requirements for subscribers. |
| US10177885B1 |
Small and seamless carrier detector
In a carrier detector, the simple latch is replaced with a pulse timer and reference control module which outputs logic high (H) when more than two consecutive toggled signals come within 1.5 baud periods and keeps logic high (H) until it misses a toggled signal for two baud periods. This carrier detector has a tolerance for a false detection which happens when the frequency shifts from lower to higher and the input amplitude level does not reach a detectable level. With this transition, the amplitude level at filter output becomes higher due to the transient response of the filter and eventually this would trigger the comparator for only one baud period. The deglitch circuit, however, ignores this clock edge in the carrier detector as provided herein. |
| US10177880B2 |
Device and method in wireless communication system
Disclosed is a device and a method in a wireless communication system, and the device comprises: a transmitting unit configured to transmit a first allocation signal synthesized by use of the superimposed coding to plenty of user equipment at least comprising a first and a second user equipment, and the first allocation signal at least comprising a first power signal part for the first user equipment and a second power signal part for the second user equipment; a receiving unit configured to receive at least a feedback retransmission request from the first and the second user equipment; and a processing unit configured to process the first and the second power signal parts with a preset processing coefficient to obtain a second allocation signal in response to the retransmission request, and the transmitting unit is further configured to transmit the second allocation signal to the first and the second user equipment which merge the first and the second allocation signals in order to separately obtain the data for the first and the second user equipment. |
| US10177878B2 |
Information processing for detection of control code
There is provided an information processing device including an acquirer that acquires second data obtained by converting first data constituted by bit data having a first number of bits into symbols having a second number of bits greater than the first number of bits, with respect to each of the bit data, a comparator that compares a first symbol string constituted by a plurality of symbols contained in the second data prior to reverse conversion of the acquired second data into the first data, to a second symbol string representing a code targeted for detection, and a detector that detects the first symbol string as the code targeted for detection from the second data, on the basis of the result of the comparison by the comparator. |
| US10177873B1 |
Concurrent support for multiple frequency bands for satellite navigation signals
A radio frequency (RF) receiver, for example a satellite positioning system receiver, can be configured to use a single phase locked loop for generating an oscillator signal to perform downconversion of signals in two different frequency bands using two or more local oscillators. A first RF signal portion includes a first signal band and undergoes double downconversion using a first mixer and a second mixer, while a second RF signal portion includes a second signal band and undergoes single downconversion using a single mixer. A controller is configured to determine a first oscillator divider value and a second oscillator divider value to avoid a jammer frequency and frequency dividers are used to generate the two or more local oscillators. |
| US10177872B1 |
Orthogonally polarized VCSELs
An example system may include a first vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) that includes a first integrated polarization locking structure to produce a polarized optical data signal. The system may also comprise a second VCSEL that includes a second integrated polarization locking structure, the second integrated polarization locking structure orthogonal to the first integrated polarization locking structure, to produce an orthogonally polarized optical data signal. Lenses may be disposed on the substrate opposite the first VCSEL, to collimate the polarized optical data signal, and opposite the second VCSEL to collimate the orthogonally polarized optical data signal. A polarization division multiplexer may combine the first collimated polarized optical data signal and the second collimated orthogonally polarized optical data signal. |
| US10177870B2 |
Code assignment
Apparatuses, methods, and systems of assigning codes are disclosed. One method includes selecting a plurality of available codes, grouping links of a wireless network into a plurality of groups based on connectivity of the links between sectors of the wireless network, characterizing interference between at least one link of a first group of the plurality of groups and at least one link of a second group of the plurality of groups, and assigning at least one code of the plurality of available codes to the first group and at least one other code of the plurality of available codes to the second group based on the characterizing of the interference. |
| US10177867B2 |
Maintaining clock synchronization in a digital network without continuous transmission
Embodiments of the present invention provide a mobile device comprising a slave clock, a receiver unit for receiving one or more frames from a remote device including a master system clock, a transmitter unit for transmitting one or more frames to the remote device, and a clock error correction unit. The clock error correction unit is configured to maintain clock synchronization between the slave clock and the master system clock, and maintain frame alignment for frames transmitted from the transmitter unit. |
| US10177861B2 |
Transmission device with impairment compensation and methods for use therewith
Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a waveguide system that includes a transmission device having a coupler positioned with respect to a transmission medium to facilitate transmission or reception of electromagnetic waves that transport communications data. The electromagnetic waves propagate along an outer surface of the transmission medium. A training controller detects an impairment on the transmission medium adverse to the transmission or reception of the electromagnetic waves and adjusts the electromagnetic waves to reduce the effects of the impairment on the transmission medium. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US10177860B2 |
Co-existence management between mitigation techniques
Method and apparatus for co-existence management between mitigation techniques where a user device (“UE”) is connected to a base station (“BS”) of a network. The UE may receive a first value of a BS parameter from the BS and may determine a second value of a signal quality parameter corresponding to a signal received by the UE from the BS. The UE may then select an operating mode for the UE based on the first value and the second value, where the operating mode comprises implementing at least one interference mitigation technique. |
| US10177857B2 |
Optical module and method for controlling optical module
This disclosure discloses an optical module and a method for controlling optical module. The optical module includes a controller and a port, wherein the controller is configured to receive a state signal from an optical chip, the state signal is a continuous signal, and output a non-continuous signal to a port pin of the port according to the state signal; the port pin is configured to output the non-continuous signal, and receive a non-continuous response signal in an interval period of the non-continuous signal; and the controller further also configured to receive the response signal from the port pin, and control a power supply to supply power according to the response signal. |
| US10177850B2 |
Dual polarization vector signal generation and detection
A scheme for generating, transmitting and receiving dual-polarization asymmetric single sideband photonic vector signal at millimeter wave spectral region is described. At a transmitter, information bits to be transmitted are modulated using a vector modulation technique to generate a baseband signal. The baseband signal is converted into its single sideband (SSB) version using a complex frequency source having a first frequency. Two IQ signals are generated using an integrated dual polarization IQ modulator. The I/Q modulator is driven by a laser source at frequency fc. The resulting signal is transmitter over an optical transmission medium and/or a multi-input, multi-output over the air antenna configuration, upconverted by a single-ended photodiode to a desired radio-frequency (RF) carrier frequency. |
| US10177847B2 |
Information communication device
An information communication method is provided that includes continuously capturing an image of a subject that transmits a signal by changing luminance, with an image sensor, and displaying a captured image that includes a box. The method also includes determining whether the subject is in the box, and receiving the signal transmitted by the subject when it is determined that the subject is in the box. In in the receiving, image data is obtained by capturing the subject with an exposure time, the signal is obtained by demodulating a bright line pattern, and the bright line pattern is caused to appear in the image data by setting the exposure time to be less than or equal to 1/480 second. |
| US10177844B2 |
Measurement method and apparatus for a residual direct-current component and system
A measurement method and apparatus for a residual direct-current component and a system where the measurement method for a residual direct-current component includes: selecting a section of data of a first predetermined length from a received signal; performing fast Fourier transform on the selected data to obtain a frequency-domain signal of the data; calculating a power spectrum of the frequency-domain signal of the transformed data; and finding out a maximum peak value of the power spectrum in a frequency offset range, and taking power of the maximum peak value as power of the residual direct-current component. With the embodiments of this disclosure, a residual direct-current component of an optical transmitter may be measured at a receiver end of a coherent optical communication system, thereby avoiding a diagnosis error of a communication network, and improving performance of the communication system. |
| US10177838B2 |
Shared integrated DC-DC supply regulator
The systems and processes described herein can reduce the footprint of the internal devices of a wireless device by combining the DC-DC supply regulator with a FEM. Further, the device footprint can be further reduced by sharing the integrated DC-DC supply regulator among multiple FEMs reducing or eliminating the use of a separate DC-DC supply regulator for each FEM of a wireless device. Moreover, in certain embodiments, by integrating the DC-DC supply regulator into a 2G FEM, power efficiency can be improved for some wireless devices. For example, the DC-DC supply regulator may be used to supply power to a PA used for high-band 2G transmission functions. Using the DC-DC supply regulator can improve power efficiency compared to systems that supply the power for the high-band 2G PA directly from the power supply (e.g., the battery). |
| US10177834B2 |
Prose relay UE activation
The present disclosure relates to a method for activating a relay functionality of a ProSe capable and relay-capable user equipment within a mobile communication network. The radio base station, to which the relay UE is connected, determines whether further relays are necessary in the radio cell controlled by the radio base station. In case further relays are necessary in the radio cell, the radio base station selects a persistence check value and transmits a broadcast message in the radio cell. The broadcast message at least indicates that further relays are necessary and comprises the selected persistence check value. Upon receiving the broadcast message, the relay UE activates its relay functionality in case it determines that relay requirements for activating its relay functionality in the radio cell are fulfilled and in case a persistence check performed by the relay UE based on the received persistence check value is successful. |
| US10177833B2 |
Capture and regeneration of subtle energy resonance signals
Systems and methods for capture, recording, and regeneration of subtle energy resonance signals are described herein. A system for capturing and recording the signals may include an antenna array disposed within an electromagnetic shield, a signal processor, and a memory coupled to at least one processor. The antenna array may include at least one antenna comprising a conductive disk and an amplifier circuit board, the antenna array detecting and receiving subtle energy resonance signals from a source. The signal processor converts the analog signals into digital signals, which are then stored into the memory. The electromagnetic shield houses the antenna array and minimizes electromagnetic interference with the received signal. Such a controlled environment ensures the purity of the recorded subtle energy resonance signals for regeneration. Regeneration is accomplished with a second antenna coupled to a digital regeneration device for short-range broadcasting, affecting manifestations of subtle energy resonance in a subject. |
| US10177831B2 |
Antenna training and tracking protocol
A particular communications protocol is used for antenna training to accomplish directional communications in a wireless communications network. In some embodiments, pertinent information for various requests, responses, and status reports, is included in information elements. |
| US10177830B2 |
Array antenna system
An array antenna system 3 includes: a transmission unit 14 to which a plurality of pulse signals are given, the pulse signals being obtained by pulse-modulation of digital transmission signals, and including analog transmission signals corresponding to the digital transmission signals, the transmission unit 14 being configured to transmit, as radio signals, the plurality of analog transmission signals included in the plurality of pulse signals; and a plurality of adjustment units 15 configured to perform, for the plurality of pulse signals to be given to the transmission unit 14, an adjustment process for adjusting the relationship of relative phases of the plurality of analog transmission signals included in the plurality of pulse signals. |
| US10177829B2 |
Wireless signal transmitting antenna, wireless signal receiving antenna, wireless signal transmitting system, wireless signal transmitting method, and wireless signal receiving method
When wireless communication is performed, a signal can be formed into a spiral beam (H), the spiral pitch of the signal can be changed, and a plurality of spiral beams (H) with different spiral pitches can be transmitted and received. A wireless signal transmitting antenna (10) includes a signal emitting means (A) having N number of antenna elements (A1, . . . , AN) (where N is an integer satisfying N≥2) equally spaced on a circumference of circle, and a signal distribution means (B) for generating, from an input first signal (S), N number of second signals (G1, . . . , GN) having a phase difference from one another and outputting the N number of second signals (G1, . . . , GN) to the N number of antenna elements (A1, . . . , AN), respectively, so that a spiral beam (H) with the equiphase surface inclined spirally is output from the signal emitting means (A). |
| US10177827B2 |
Base station, mobile station and method thereof
The embodiment of the disclosure discloses a base station, a mobile station and a method thereof. The base station includes a processor and a transceiver. The processor determines a first subgroup to which a first mobile station belongs, wherein the first mobile station is one of a plurality of mobile stations, the plurality of mobile stations are grouped into G groups based on spatial correlation, the mobile stations in each of the G groups are further grouped into S subgroups based on polarization, the mobile stations in a same subgroup have a same polarization and the mobile stations in different subgroups have different polarizations. The transceiver communicates with the first mobile station according to the polarization of the first subgroup. The embodiments of the disclosure utilize polarization jointly with the spatial correlation in dual structured procoding so that feedback overhead can be reduced. |
| US10177826B2 |
Transmission of channel state information based on selected non-frequency domain components of channel responses
Techniques are described for wireless communication. One method includes identifying a plurality of channel responses corresponding to a plurality of channels. Each channel of the plurality of channels corresponds to a pairing of a transmit antenna with a receive antenna. Each channel response of the plurality of channel responses corresponds to a plurality of tone subsets. The method also includes selecting, for each channel of the plurality of channels, a subset of non-frequency domain components of the channel response for the channel, and transmitting, for at least one channel of the plurality of channels, at least one subset of channel state information (CSI). The at least one subset of CSI is based at least in part on at least one of the selected subsets of non-frequency domain components. |
| US10177822B2 |
Node synchronization using time reversal
In examples, Radio Frequency nodes of an array are synchronized using Time-Reversal. A Master node (“Master”) of the array receives and captures a sounding signal emitted by a Slave node (“Slave”) of the array, downconverts it to baseband, Time-Reverses the downconverted signal, upconverts the Time-Reversed signal to the carrier frequency using the Master's clock so that the upconverted signal has phase property of the Master's clock, and transmits the resulting signal to the Slave. The Slave receives the signal from the Master, and adjusts the phase of the Slave's clock so that the phases of the two nodes are aligned. Once phases, frequencies, and time references of the array's nodes are aligned, the array may be used for coherent operation. In examples, the array is used to transmit Time-Reversed signals so that the signals from the array's nodes are spatially and temporally focused on a target. |
| US10177821B2 |
Wireless communication system, communication apparatus, and communication method
A wireless communication system includes a first antenna, a second antenna with an orientation relative to the first antenna that is changeable around a predetermined axis, and a communication control unit that controls wireless communication based on electric field coupling between the first antenna and the second antenna. The first antenna includes a first electrode including a bored portion, where the predetermined axis passes through an inside of the bored portion. The first antenna also includes a second electrode located inside the bored portion The second antenna includes a third electrode that transmits an electric signal between the first electrode and the third electrode and a fourth electrode that transmits an electric signal between the second electrode and the fourth electrode. |
| US10177818B2 |
Method and device for wirelessly transmitting power
Provided is a device for transmitting wireless power. The wireless power transmitting device includes a communication unit, a power receiving unit, and a processor. The processor is configured to obtain, through the communication unit, communication establishment information and location information associated with a wireless charging area from a tag device, establish, through the communication unit, communication with a wireless power transmitting device based on the communication establishment information, and control to transmit the location information to the wireless power transmitting device. The power receiving unit wirelessly receives the power from the wireless power transmitting device after the communication unit transmits the location information. |
| US10177815B2 |
Powering multimedia over coax alliance (MoCA) devices and cable modems
Systems and methods are provided for powering Multimedia over Coax Alliance (MoCA) devices. An electronic device that is configured for use in a multimedia over coax alliance (MoCA) network may include a communication circuit operable to communicate multimedia over coax alliance (MoCA) based signals over coax cabling in the MoCA network, and one or more power circuits operable to support supplying and/or drawing power over the coax cabling in the MoCA network, to enable powering the electronic device and/or one or more other electronic devices in the MoCA network. The power circuits may include one or more of: a power regulator circuit that draws power from the coax cabling and/or regulates use of the power, a power source circuit that supplies power into the coax cabling, and a power management circuit that manages power related operations in the electronic device and/or in the MoCA network. |
| US10177813B1 |
Synchronized slotted power line communication
A method and a device are disclosed including a PLC node having a synchronizer, a modem with a transceiver, and a computing device coupled with a power line for power line data communications. In various embodiments, a coordinator or Data Concentrator Unit (DCU) coordinates the communication of PLC nodes. The PLC nodes are configured to detect a zero crossing of the power line wave form and transmit or receive data within time slots defined with respect to the detected zero crossing. In other embodiments, the time slots may be synchronized using a frame sync signal, an external signal, or polling. In various embodiments, the time slots may be random access or assigned. In some embodiments, the modem and/or node may be placed in a sleep mode when not communicating to reduce power consumption and be awaken when an allocated time slot is approaching. |
| US10177812B2 |
Methods and systems for reduction of nearest-neighbor crosstalk
Methods and systems are described for reduction of crosstalk in multi-wire communications systems using ensemble codes. Constraints applied to code construction and/or permissible encoding sequences eliminate transmit patterns shown to generate capacitively coupled and/or inductively coupled crosstalk. |
| US10177809B1 |
Receiver for use in an ultra-wideband communication system
In an ultra-wideband (“UWB”) receiver, a received UWB signal is periodically digitized as a series of ternary samples. During a carrier acquisition mode of operation, the samples are continuously correlated with a predetermined preamble sequence to develop a correlation value. When the value exceeds a predetermined threshold, indicating that the preamble sequence is being received, estimates of the channel impulse response (“CIR”) are developed. When a start-of-frame delimiter (“SFD”) is detected, the best CIR estimate is provided to a channel matched filter (“CMF”). During a data recovery mode of operation, the CMF filters channel-injected noise from the sample stream. Both carrier phase errors and data timing errors are continuously detected and corrected during both the carrier acquisition and data recovery modes of operation. In one embodiment, the carrier recovery and timing recovery are performed using just the carrier loop filter. |
| US10177804B2 |
Portable electronic device assembly
Apparatus and associated methods relate to an electronic device protection module configured with a casing adapted to cushion and removably retain the electronic device, a bi-fold component mechanically coupled with the casing, and a releasable electronic device accessory pouch attaching receptacle disposed in the bi-fold component. In an illustrative example, the electronic device may be a smartphone. The casing may be, for example, elastically deformable, cushioning the smartphone against impact. In some examples, the casing may be configured with openings or buttons to enable device operation. In some designs, the bi-fold component may be configured with pockets adapted to secure currency or cards. In some embodiments, the attaching receptacle may releasably attach an accessory pouch to the bi-fold component. Various examples may advantageously provide portable device protection and enhanced access to the user's device accessories, for example, protecting the user's device and storing the user's accessories in the accessory pouch. |
| US10177803B2 |
Mobile terminal
There is disclosed a mobile terminal comprising a rear case made of metal and forming an exterior of a rear surface of the mobile terminal, the rear case comprising a first slit; a reinforcing member made of a non-conductive material, coupled to a first region of the rear having the first slit, wherein the reinforcing member protrude inward of the rear case and form an uneven portion; a first conductive pattern coupled to an inner surface of the rear case and forming a cut-off region in the first region, the first conductive pattern formed in a ring shape; and a second conductive pattern provided in a corresponding shape to uneven portion of the reinforcing member and electrically connecting the cut-off region of the first conductive pattern. |
| US10177802B2 |
Terminal housing, panel of terminal housing, and terminal
The terminal housing includes a first panel and a second panel, where a material of the first panel or a material of the second panel is glass. The first panel includes a first main face that is flat and straight and a first side face. The first main face has at least one first vertex angle, the first main face has two margins on two sides of the first vertex angle and connected to the first vertex angle, and cross sections in a through-thickness direction of the first panel and respectively vertical to the two margins connected to the first vertex angle are respectively a first through-thickness cross section and a second through-thickness cross section. |
| US10177799B2 |
Mount for hand-held electronic scanners
A computer mount is provided for securing a hand-held computer to a hand-held electronic scanner, such as a bar code or QR code scanner, or an RFID chip scanner. The computer mount includes an upper mount portion with a computer chamber for receiving and providing user access to the hand-held computer, and further includes a lower attachment portion for securing to the hand-held scanner. At least two upstanding sidewalls form the mount portion, optionally with a base wall extending therebetween, the sidewalls configured to engage in secure the hand-held computer. The attachment portion has at least two downwardly-extending sidewalls defining a scanner chamber at the lower attachment portion, the scanner chamber configured to receive a head of the hand-held scanner, while permitting normal functioning of the scanner. |
| US10177795B1 |
Cache index mapping
Systems and methods in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure provide approaches for mapping entries to a cache using a function, such as cyclic redundancy check (CRC). The function can calculate a colored cache index based on a main memory address. The function may cause consecutive address cache indexes to be spread throughout the cache according to the indexes calculated by the function. In some embodiments, each data context may be associated with a different function, enabling different types of packets to be processed while sharing the same cache, reducing evictions of other data contexts and improving performance. Various embodiments can identify a type of packet as the packet is received, and lookup a mapping function based on the type of packet. The function can then be used to lookup the corresponding data context for the packet from the cache, for processing the packet. |
| US10177786B2 |
Adaptive desaturation in min-sum decoding of LDPD codes
A system implements adaptive desaturation for the min-sum decoding of LDPC codes. Specifically, when an-above threshold proportion of messages from check nodes to variable nodes (CN-to-VN messages) are saturated to a maximum fixed-precision value, all CN-to-VN messages are halved. This facilitates the saturation of correct messages and boosts error correction over small trapping sets. The adaptive desaturation approach reduces the error floor by orders of magnitudes with negligible add-on circuits. |
| US10177785B2 |
Error detecting code with partial update
An approach for generating updated error detecting code for a partial update of data is disclosed. The techniques include receiving data representing a change to a portion of a data object, the data object having a first error detecting code, and the portion of the data object having an offset from the beginning of the data object; generating a combination term by combining the data and the portion of the data object; and computing a second error detecting code based on the combination term. The techniques may further include computing a third error detecting code by combining the first error detecting code and the second error detecting code, the third error detecting code being configured to detect an error in the data object as changed by the data, and storing the data and the third error detecting code. |
| US10177783B1 |
Lossless compression of a content item using a neural network trained on content item cohorts
Lossless compression of a content item using a neural network trained on content item cohorts. A computing system includes a neural network that is used to train a plurality of symbol prediction models. Each symbol prediction model is trained based on a corresponding cohort of content items. A particular symbol prediction model of the models trained is selected based on an intrinsic characteristic of a particular content item to be losslessly compressed such as, for example, the type or file extension of the content item. The content item is then losslessly compressed based on a set of symbol predictions fed to an arithmetic coder that are generated using the particular symbol prediction model selected. |
| US10177781B2 |
Circuit including a switched capacitor bridge and method
A method includes selectively coupling first and second input nodes of a capacitive bridge to first and second voltages, respectively, and selectively coupling first and second output nodes of the capacitive bridge to first and second output terminals, respectively, during a first phase of a clock cycle. The method further includes selectively coupling the first and second input nodes to the second and first voltages, respectively, and selectively coupling the first and second output nodes to the second and first output terminals, respectively, during a second phase of the clock cycle. |
| US10177778B2 |
Phase adjustment for interleaved analog to digital converters
An apparatus comprising M time-interleaved analog to digital converters (ADC) that sample an input signal at M sampling phases, wherein M is equal to or greater than 4. A phase control circuit adjusts at least M−1 sampling phases of the M sampling phases. The phase control circuit comprises M−1 phase error detector circuits. Each phase error detector circuit detects a corresponding phase error for a corresponding sampling phase of the M−1 sampling phases based on a sample captured at a sampling phase of the M sampling phases immediately preceding the corresponding sampling phase and a sample captured at a sampling phase of the M sampling phases immediately subsequent to the corresponding sampling phase. |
| US10177775B2 |
Current source noise cancellation
At least some embodiments are directed to a system that comprises a differential switch network comprising first and second output nodes, first and second transistors coupled to the network, and first and second resistors coupled to the first and second transistors. The DAC also comprises a voltage source coupled to the first resistor and a ground connection coupled to the second resistor. The DAC further includes a capacitor coupled to the first and second transistors and to the second resistor. |
| US10177774B2 |
Digital time converter systems and methods
A digital to time converter (DTC). The DTC includes a lookup table, a divider, a thermometric array and a switched capacitor array. The lookup table is configured to generate one or more corrections based on thermometric bits of an input signal. The divider is configured to generate a plurality of divider signals from an oscillator signal based on the one or more corrections. The thermometric array is configured to generate a medium approximation signal from the plurality of divider signals based on the one or more corrections. The switched capacitor array is configured to generate a digital delay signal from the medium approximation signal based on the one or more corrections and switched capacitor bits of the input signal. |
| US10177772B2 |
Fractional-N phase locked loop delta sigma modulator noise reduction using charge pump interpolation
A phase locked loop has a frequency divider included in a feedback path. The frequency divider generates a first output and a delayed output. The phase locked loop also includes a charge pump to generate an output current based on the first output and the delayed output of the frequency divider. |
| US10177771B1 |
Multi-signal realignment for changing sampling clock
An apparatus may include a circuit configured to receive first and second samples of an underlying data from respective first and second sample periods and which correspond to respective first and second sensors, a phase control value may have first and second values during respective first and second sample periods. The phase control value may be a control value for a sample clock signal. The circuit may also determine a difference in the phase control value between the first value and the second value. The circuit may then digitally interpolate the first and second samples to produce a phase shifted first and second samples where the digital interpolation of at least one of the first and second samples mat be at least in part based on the difference in the phase control value to compensate for a phase misalignment between the first sample and the second sample. |
| US10177770B2 |
Circuit device, oscillator, electronic apparatus, and vehicle
A circuit device includes a digital interface, a processor, an oscillation signal generation circuit, a clock signal generation circuit that generates a clock signal having frequency obtained through multiplication of a frequency of the oscillation signal, and terminal groups of the digital interface and the clock signal generation circuit. The terminal group of the digital interface is disposed in a first region along a first side of the circuit device, and the terminal group of the clock signal generation circuit is disposed in any one of second, third and fourth regions of the circuit device. |
| US10177765B2 |
Integrated clock gate circuit with embedded NOR
An apparatus is provided which comprises: a clock node; a test node; an enable node; and an AND-OR-INVERT (AOI) static latch coupled to the clock node, test node, and enable node, wherein the AOI static latch has embedded NOR functionality. Another apparatus comprises: a critical timing path having a pass-gate based integrated clock gate; and a non-critical timing path electrically coupled to the critical timing path, wherein the non-critical timing path includes an AND-OR-Inverter (AOI) based integrated clock gate with embedded NOR functionality. |
| US10177764B2 |
Input/output circuit
A circuit includes an output node, a set of first transistors, a set of second transistors, and a first and second power node. The first power node is configured to carry a first voltage level, and second power node is configured to carry a second voltage level. Set of first transistors is coupled between the first power node and output node. Set of second transistors is coupled between the second power node and output node. The first control signal generating circuit is coupled to a gate of a first transistor of the set of first transistors and a gate of a first transistor of the set of second transistors. The first control signal generating circuit is configured to generate a set of biasing signals for the gate of the first transistor of the set of first transistors and the gate of the first transistor of the set of second transistors. |
| US10177760B1 |
Circuit with impedance elements connected to sources and drains of pMOSFET headers
A method to generate a circuit instance to include a plurality of pMOSFET instances, where each pMOSFET instance has a source terminal instance connected to one or more supply rail instances. The circuit instance includes impedance element instances, where each impedance element instance is connected to a source terminal instance and a drain terminal instance of a corresponding pMOSFET instance. Depending upon a set of requirements, one or more of the impedance element instances are in a high impedance state or a low impedance state. |
| US10177757B2 |
Single event latchup mitigation with sample and hold
A system for mitigating a solid state power controller (SSPC) open or closed state change caused by single event latchup (SEL) includes an ON circuit, an OFF circuit operatively connected in parallel to the ON circuit, a holding capacitor operatively connected in parallel with the ON circuit and the OFF circuit, and a power switching device operatively connected to the holding capacitor and the ON circuit. The system is configured to maintain, during and after the SEL, a drive state voltage to the power switching device that is stored in the holding capacitor prior to the SEL. |
| US10177753B2 |
Techniques for generating pulse-width modulation data
An integrated circuit includes a control circuit, a first-in first-out circuit, and a serializer circuit. The control circuit generates parallel pulse-width modulation data in first parallel pulse-width modulation signals. The first-in first-out circuit stores the parallel pulse-width modulation data indicated by the first parallel pulse-width modulation signals. The first-in first-out circuit outputs the stored parallel pulse-width modulation data in second parallel pulse-width modulation signals. The serializer circuit converts the parallel pulse-width modulation data indicated by the second parallel pulse-width modulation signals to serial pulse-width modulation data in a serial pulse-width modulation signal. |
| US10177747B2 |
High resolution capture
A high resolution capture circuit and integrated circuit chip are disclosed and include first and second capture delay lines and an oscillator delay line. The oscillator delay line includes N timing delay elements sequentially coupled in a ring to generate a first clock signal. The first and second capture delay lines each include M capture delay elements sequentially coupled to pass a received signal in a first direction along a first signal path and to pass a clock signal in a second direction opposite to the first direction along a second signal path. The first capture delay line uses the first clock signal and the second capture delay line uses an inverse of the first clock signal. Each capture delay element forms a flip-flop and provides a one-bit output. All delay elements have essentially identical timing and M is equal to either N or to N/2. |
| US10177744B2 |
Wireless communication unit, integrated circuit and method for antenna tuning
A wireless communication unit includes an antenna arrangement; an aperture tuner operably coupled to a first port of the antenna arrangement; a measurement circuit operably coupled to an antenna input feed point of the antenna arrangement and arranged to measure a parameter. A controller, operably coupled to the aperture tuner, is arranged to perform closed loop aperture tuning using the measured parameter. |
| US10177738B2 |
Elastic wave device
An elastic wave device includes a longitudinally-coupled resonator surface acoustic wave filter including first to third IDTs and a parallel trap including a surface acoustic wave resonator. The longitudinally-coupled resonator surface acoustic wave filter is asymmetric with respect to a central axis of the second IDT, the central axis extending in a direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the elastic-wave propagation direction on the piezoelectric substrate. When the duty ratio of an IDT of the surface acoustic wave resonator is denoted by D0 and the duty ratios of the first to third IDTs are respectively denoted by D1 to D3, the duty ratio D0 is between the highest of the duty ratios D1 to D3 and the lowest of the duty ratios D1 to D3. |
| US10177736B2 |
Bulk acoustic wave resonator comprising multiple acoustic reflectors
A bulk acoustic wave (BAW) resonator includes: a plurality of acoustic reflectors disposed in a substrate; a lower electrode disposed over the plurality of acoustic reflectors; a piezoelectric layer disposed over the lower electrode; and a plurality of upper electrodes, disposed over the piezoelectric layer. One of the plurality of upper electrodes is formed over a respective one of the plurality of acoustic reflectors. Each of the plurality of upper electrodes, the piezoelectric layer, the lower electrode, and each of the acoustic reflectors form an individual active area. |
| US10177734B2 |
Surface acoustic wave (SAW) resonator
A surface acoustic wave (SAW) resonator includes a piezoelectric layer disposed over a substrate, and a plurality of electrodes disposed over the first surface of the piezoelectric layer. A layer is disposed between the substrate and the piezoelectric layer. A surface of the layer has a smoothness sufficient to foster atomic bonding between layer and the piezoelectric layer. A plurality of features provided on a surface of the substrate reflects acoustic waves and reduce the incidence of spurious modes in the piezoelectric layer. |
| US10177733B2 |
MEMS resonator
A MEMS resonator includes a main substrate forming a receiving part at a center of the main substrate; a mass body having one end part and a center part elastically supported by both sides of the main substrate; a driving unit configured at one side of the receiving part on the main substrate and producing a driving force by a voltage applied to both sides of the one end part of the mass body to move a position of the mass body with respect to the main substrate; and a tuning part including a pair of tuning units provided symmetrically with respect to the second elastic member, and having a beam member changing a length of the second elastic member by an actuating operation of each tuning unit to control a frequency. |
| US10177728B2 |
Electronic apparatus and control method thereof
An electronic apparatus and a method for controlling the electronic apparatus are provided. The electronic apparatus includes an audio processor that outputs an audio including a first audio component and a second audio component and a controller that controls the audio processor to change a ratio of the first audio component to the second audio component according to the changed audio level, in response to receiving an instruction to change a level of the output audio. |
| US10177722B2 |
Carrier aggregation low-noise amplifier with tunable integrated power splitter
A device includes a low-noise amplifier (LNA) and a matching circuit. The matching circuit is coupled to an output of the LNA and switchably coupled to at least one of a first and a second output of the device. The device may further include a power splitter switchably coupled between an output of the matching circuit and the first and/or the second output of the device. |
| US10177713B1 |
Ultra low power high-performance amplifier
Methods, circuits, and apparatuses that provide Buffer Amplifier, containing Amplifiers and Buffer Drivers, one or more of the following: ultra low power Buffer Amplifier, capable of having high gain, low noise, high speed, near rail-to-rail input-output voltage span, high sink-source current drive capability for an external load, and able to operate at low power supply voltages. Methods, circuits, and apparatuses that provide regulated cascode (RGC) current mirrors (CM) capable of operating at low power supply and having wide input-output voltage spans. |
| US10177708B2 |
Wire tensioning system
A wire-tensioning system can be used to maintain tension in power wires extending from components of solar panels. A tensioning component attached to the frame of the solar panel and attached to the power wires can be used to maintain tension in the power wires, both when the power wires are unconnected to power wires of adjacent solar panels, and after the power wires are connected to the power wires of adjacent solar panels. Some attachment structures may be configured to be easily removable and re-attachable to the frame of the solar panel, while other attachment structures may be configured to penetrate or dig into the frame of the solar panel to form a more permanent attachment therebetween. |
| US10177705B2 |
Composite solar cell, solar cell module, and concentrating solar cell
A composite solar cell comprises a spectroscopic element, a first photoelectric conversion element, and a second photoelectric conversion element. The first photoelectric conversion element is positioned in a first direction of the spectroscopic element and the second photoelectric conversion element is positioned in a second direction of the spectroscopic element. The first photoelectric conversion element is a perovskite-type photoelectric conversion element containing, in a light absorbing layer, a perovskite crystal structure material represented by a general formula R1NH3M1X3. A band gap of a light absorbing layer of the second photoelectric conversion element is narrower than the band gap of the light absorbing layer of the first photoelectric conversion element. The spectroscopic element preferentially outputs the short wavelength light of the incident light in the first direction and preferentially outputs the long wavelength light of the incident light in the second direction. |
| US10177702B2 |
Conduction noise filtering circuit, inverting device, and compressor
A conduction noise filtering circuit configured to inhibit conduction noise is provided. The conduction noise filtering circuit includes a first coil part configured to be supplied with alternating current (AC) power, a second coil part configured to be connected to the first coil part in series, a detector configured to detect common mode noise from at least one selected from the first coil part and the second coil part, and a capacitor configured to supply a current offsetting common mode noise between power lines connecting the first coil part and the second coil part in series. |
| US10177701B2 |
Cordless power tool system
A power tool system including a multi-voltage battery pack for use with a first power tool, wherein the first power tool comprises a first battery pack interface and is configured to operate at a first operating voltage and a second power tool configured for use with the multi-voltage battery pack such that the system includes both the multi-voltage battery pack and the second power tool, wherein the second power tool comprises a second battery pack interface and is configured to operate at a second operating voltage, wherein the second operating voltage is higher than the first operating voltage. |
| US10177699B2 |
Motor control unit and electric power steering apparatus equipped with the same
A motor control unit that extracts a higher harmonic component, which is contained in back-EMFs of the dq-axis control system, by means of Taylor expansion (Maclaurin expansion), and suppresses a torque variation by precisely correcting a gain and a phase of the higher harmonic component for a q-axis current command value and the electric power steering apparatus equipped with the same. The motor control unit drives a brushless motor having three or more phases by using a vector control on a dq-axis rotary coordinate system. |
| US10177694B2 |
Current sensor abnormality diagnosis device
In a current sensor abnormality diagnosis device, an abnormality judgment section determines that the phase current sensors are operating normally when a sum of three phase currents is not more than a threshold value, and a bus current sensor is operating normally based on a comparison result between three phase currents and a bus current. The abnormality judgment section detects which the phase current sensor has failed based on the three phase currents and the bus current when the sum of the three phase currents is more than the threshold value. Because of using the comparison results of the three phase currents with the bus current in addition to the sum of the three phase currents, it is possible for the abnormality judgment section to detect the occurrence of abnormality of each of these current sensors even if the detected current has an undefined value. |
| US10177691B2 |
Electronic braking of brushless DC motor in a power tool
A power tool is provided including a brushless direct-current (BLDC) electric motor having a stator and a rotor. The power tool includes power switches including high-side switches and low-side switches disposed on a direct-current (DC) bus line between a power supply and the electric motor, and a controller configured to electronically brake the motor by simultaneously closing the high-side switches or the low-side switches to electrically short the stator windings. In an embodiment, the controller is configured to monitor a voltage of the DC bus line, and if the voltage of the DC bus line is lower than a voltage threshold, execute electronic braking by toggling between closing the high-side switches and closing the low-side switches over braking cycles, and if the voltage of the DC bus line is greater than the voltage threshold, execute braking by closing only the high-side switches or the low-side switches over the braking cycles. |
| US10177690B2 |
Device and method to generate and capture of gravito-magnetic energy
A device and method of producing electrical energy by gravitomagnetic induction utilizing Nano-features fabricated on an object surface of an object is presented. The Nano-features may include Nano-bumps and Nano-pits. One device version includes a computer hard disk, a piezoelectric glide head and/or a GMR read head, a typical hard drive's electronics, wherein defects are fabricated on the disk using a Focused Ion Beam (FIB) by depositing requisite number of nanobumps of specified height, and etching equal number of nanopits of specified depth a few mils or mm apart on a pre-decided radius. By spinning the nano-features disk one produces an associated magnetic force utilizing a GMR read head for producing power by the presence or the absence of matter on an object that is in motion relative to the GMR read head. |
| US10177687B2 |
Oscillatory wave motor
An oscillatory wave motor includes a piezoelectric element, an elastic member that includes a projecting portion, a friction member that moves relative to the elastic member and includes a contact surface in contact with the projecting portion, and pressing unit that brings the projecting portion into contact under pressure with the contact surface in a pressing direction that is a direction of a perpendicular line of the contact surface. The projecting portion includes a spherical portion formed in a center of the projecting portion, a contact portion formed on or near a center of the spherical portion, a flat portion formed around the spherical portion, and a corner portion formed around the flat portion. The spherical portion, the flat portion and the corner portion are configured to have a uniform thickness and to have flexibility in the pressing direction with the contact portion as a center. |
| US10177686B2 |
Piezoelectric motor
A piezoelectric motor includes at least two piezoelectric actuators. Each actuator includes two piezoelectric elements on opposite sides of a coupling element, the sides being main sides of the piezoelectric actuators and having a larger area than other surfaces or sides of the piezoelectric actuators. The main surfaces of each of the piezoelectric actuators connect with at least four side surfaces of the piezoelectric actuator. The motor includes an elastic element coupled to and spacing the first and second piezoelectric actuators from each other and there is also a frictional element that couples the first and second piezoelectric actuators for frictional contact for driving an object. The first and the second piezoelectric actuators are adapted to deform in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to a plane defined by the side surface to which the elastic element is attached using a longitudinal piezoelectric effect of the piezoelectric elements. |
| US10177683B2 |
Multi-level inverter
A multi-level inverter includes a direct current input, a first bidirectional switch, a second bidirectional switch, a third capacitor, and an inverter. The direct current input includes a first capacitor and a second capacitor connected in series between positive and negative terminals of the direct current input power supply. The inverter includes a first switching tube, a second switching tube, a third switching tube, and a fourth switching tube that are connected in series co-directionally between the positive and negative terminals of the direct current input power supply. One terminal of the first bidirectional switch is connected to a connection point between the third switching tube and the fourth switching tube. |
| US10177682B2 |
Switching unit for a converter module for a multi-level energy converter
The present disclosure relates to converter modules. The teachings thereof may be embodied in converter modules for a multi-level energy converter. For example, a method for operating a converter module of a multi-level energy converter by means of a control unit and via a control connection may include: controlling the switching states of one of two converter module connections of the converter module and a switching unit incorporating the control connection. Two series-connected converter module capacitors connected to the switching unit respectively deliver a converter module capacitor voltage. The switching unit switches the converter module capacitor voltage of one of the converter module capacitors or a summed voltage of the series-connected converter module capacitors to the converter module connections, according to the respective switching state of the switching unit. |
| US10177681B2 |
Power converter including an autotransformer and power conversion method
A power converter circuit includes a chopper circuit configured to receive an input voltage and generate a chopper voltage with an alternating voltage level based on the input voltage, an autotransformer including at least one tap, the autotransformer being coupled to the chopper circuit and configured to generate a tap voltage at the at least one tap, and a selector circuit configured to receive a plurality of voltage levels. At least one of these the voltage levels is based on the at least one tap voltage. The selector circuit is further configured to generate a selector output voltage based on the plurality of voltage levels such that the selector circuit selects two of the plurality of voltage levels and switches at a switching frequency between the two voltage levels. |
| US10177673B2 |
LLC resonant frequency auto detection
Generally speaking, a timing circuit helps determine diode conduction time of an LLC converter. In some examples, the circuit includes an LLC converter having a secondary side and a timing circuit, the timing circuit coupled to the LLC converter on the secondary side. The timing circuit includes a first branch, second branch, gate, and microprocessor. The gate is configured to receive an output of the first branch's comparator and a blanking signal from the second branch. The microprocessor is configured to receive, from the gate, a signal and determine, based at least in part on the signal, a diode conduction time for the LLC converter. |
| US10177672B2 |
Voltage regulation for multi-phase power systems
A power system can include a first tap changer for a first regulated transformer, where the first tap changer has a plurality of first positions. The power system can also include a second tap changer for a second regulated transformer, where the second tap changer has a plurality of second positions. The power system can further include at least one first instrument transformer coupled to the first regulated transformer. The power system can also include at least one second instrument transformer coupled to the second regulated transformer. The power system can further include a controller coupled to the at least one first instrument transformer and the at least one second instrument transformer, where the controller adjusts the first tap changer to a first adjusted position among the first positions based on the first measurements of the first regulated transformer and the second measurements of the second regulated transformer. |
| US10177665B2 |
Systems and methods for high precision and/or low loss regulation of output currents of power conversion systems
Systems and methods are provided for signal processing. An example error amplifier for processing a reference signal and an input signal associated with a current of a power conversion system includes a first operational amplifier, a second operational amplifier, a first transistor, a second transistor, a current mirror component, a switch, a first resistor and a second resistor. The first operational amplifier includes a first input terminal, a second input terminal and a first output terminal, the first input terminal being configured to receive a reference signal. The first transistor includes a first transistor terminal, a second transistor terminal and a third transistor terminal, the first transistor terminal being configured to receive a first amplified signal from the first output terminal, the third transistor terminal being coupled to the second input terminal. |
| US10177663B2 |
DC-DC converting circuit and multi-phase power controller thereof
A multi-phase power controller coupled to resonant power converting circuits providing an output voltage is disclosed. The multi-phase power controller includes a current sensing unit, a frequency adjusting circuit and a duty cycle adjusting circuit. The current sensing unit, coupled to a first resonant power converting circuit, provides a first sensing current. The frequency adjusting circuit includes an error amplifier and a first ramp signal generation circuit. The error amplifier provides an error signal according to the output voltage and a reference voltage. The first ramp signal generation circuit provides a first ramp signal according to the error signal. The duty cycle adjusting circuit provides a first PWM signal to the first resonant power converting circuit according to a default voltage and the first ramp signal. The change of the duty cycle of the first PWM signal is related to the first sensing current, the default voltage and the first ramp signal. |
| US10177660B1 |
Globally distributed regulators
In certain aspects, a regulator includes a variable-impedance switch coupled between a supply rail and a circuit block, wherein the variable-impedance switch has an adjustable impedance. The regulator also includes a voltage level comparator configured to compare a block voltage at the circuit block with a reference voltage, and to output a first signal indicating whether the block voltage is higher or lower than the reference voltage based on the comparison. The regulator also includes a slope detector configured to determine whether the block voltage is rising or falling, and to output a second signal indicating whether the block voltage is rising or falling based on the determination. The regulator further includes a controller configured to receive the first signal and the second signal, and to control the impedance of the variable-impedance switch based on the first signal and the second signal. |
| US10177656B2 |
Control circuit for DC-DC converter that includes differential amplifier and oscillator to fast reach desired output voltage
The control circuit for a DC-DC converter includes a differential amplifier and an oscillator, and also a multiplier and a voltage divider circuit. The multiplier has a first input terminal receiving a feedback voltage derived from an output voltage of the DC-DC converter through the voltage divider circuit, a second input terminal receiving a parameter compensation value, and an output terminal connected to a first input terminal of the differential amplifier. A second input terminal of the differential amplifier receives a reference voltage. The differential amplifier provides a differential signal to the oscillator. The oscillator is connected to a switch driver module of the DC-DC converter so as to provide an output signal whose frequency is proportional to the differential signal. The control circuit is able to effectively reduce response time, achieve fast transient transition, and significant enhance system reliability. |
| US10177654B1 |
Dual-edge pulse width modulation for multiphase switching power converters with current balancing
In one or more embodiments, a method comprises comparing an output voltage for a multi-phase DC-DC switching power converter to a reference voltage to produce an error voltage. The method further comprises, for a first inductor, generating a first dual-ramp voltage signal having a first DC voltage level, and level-shifting the first dual-ramp voltage signal to form a second dual-ramp voltage signal having a second DC voltage level different from the first DC voltage level. Further, the method comprises switching on a first power switch coupled to the first inductor according to a duty cycle determined responsive to a comparison of the second dual-ramp voltage signal to the error voltage, where the level-shifting of the first dual-ramp voltage signal adjusts the duty cycle of the first power switch to balance a current in the first inductor with a current in a second inductor for the multi-phase DC-DC switching power converter. |
| US10177652B2 |
Power supply device for sub-module controller of MMC converter
Disclosed herein is a power supply apparatus for a sub-module controller of a Modular Multilevel Converter (MMC), which supplies driving power to the sub-module controller of an MMC connected to a High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) system. The power supply apparatus includes a bridge circuit unit including N (N≥2, integer) energy storage units for storing a DC voltage in series-connected sub-modules in the MMC and multiple power semiconductor devices connected in parallel with the N energy storage units in a form of a bridge; and a DC/DC converter for converting a voltage output from output terminals formed between both ends of n (1≤n |
| US10177651B2 |
System for controlling inrush current to eliminate inrush overcurrent to electrical equipment
A system for eliminating inrush current to electrical equipment while providing a user increased control is proposed. The user of the device is able to control the speed of the ramp up of alternating current (AC) to the electrical equipment, regardless of the load. When the ramp up meets its full power, the device of the present system will disable itself while allowing power to flow directly to the electrical equipment. The present system allows for user controlled delay time as well as microcontroller controlled current sensing. Further, the device shuts off power to the electrical equipment if an overdraw of current (e.g. a short circuit in an amplifier) is detected. This feature may be an early warning, indicating a need for technical repair before irrevocable damage is done to the components of the electrical equipment. |
| US10177647B2 |
DC current controller for continuously variable series reactor
A direct current controller includes a rectifier configured to convert alternating current input into a direct current output. A converter electrically coupled to the rectifier generates a converted direct current voltage that regulates a converted direct current from the direct current output of the rectifier and synthesizes an ac component of an alternating current grid to counteract an induced back-emf. A direct current controller central controller coupled to the converter regulates the converted direct current. |
| US10177642B2 |
Sealess, liquid cooled eddy current energy absorption system
The disclosed apparatus relates to a non-frictional, rotational, continuous energy absorbing device utilizing internal liquid cooling and having no dynamic seals. The apparatus is comprised of a rotor assembly containing magnets, cooling chambers containing magnetically driven impellers, actuators to adjust the axial positioning of said chambers, and other variations of the apparatus including an air-cooled design and additional friction braking. Braking torque is generated through shearing of eddy currents as the cooling chambers are moved axially closer to the rotor by actuators. The same action also drives magnetically driven impellers, resulting in coolant flow. Braking energy absorption increases as does coolant flow as the distance between the cooling chambers and the rotor is decreased. As the distanced between the rotor and cooling chambers increase, both energy absorption and coolant flow decrease to zero. The coolant flows from the cooling chambers to a heat exchanger to dissipate the energy. |
| US10177640B2 |
Stator device for a linear motor and linear transport system
A stator device for a linear motor comprises an electrically energizable magnetic field generator for forming a magnetic field, the magnetic field generator comprising a stator tooth and a coil wound around the stator tooth and a holding module for holding the magnetic field generator, the holding module having a first and a second holding device, wherein the magnetic field generator is arranged between the two holding devices in that a first end of the stator tooth is fixed to the first holding device and a second end of the stator tooth is fixed to the second holding device. |
| US10177638B2 |
Rotor position encoder for an electronically commutated electric machine having a reference encoder
A rotor position encoder (01) for an electronically commutated electric machine (02) having a stator and a rotor (03) and including a rotor position sensor (05) which is mounted on the stator so as to rotate therewith and has the purpose of detecting the rotational position of the rotor (03) with respect to the magnetic field of the stator, and a signal encoder (07) which is mounted on the rotor (03) so as to rotate therewith. The rotor position encoder is defined in that it has a reference encoder (08) for detecting reference values of the magnetic flux density of the rotor field, wherein the reference values (09) serve to determine an angular offset (11) between the signal encoder (07) and the position of the rotor (03). Furthermore, a method for determining an angular offset (11) between a signal encoder (07) of a rotor position encoder (01) and a rotor position of an electronically commutated electric machine (02) is provided. |
| US10177631B1 |
Electric machine stator cooling systems and methods
An electric machine having a rotor, stator and housing. The rotor includes a radially mounted array of permanent magnets and the stator includes a plurality of electromagnets radially positioned around the rotor. The stator is encapsulated such that the stator encapsulant is in thermal contact with housing structures, for example the housing end plates. In some embodiments, the entire perimeter portion of the housing is in thermal contact with the stator or the stator encapsulant. The stator encapsulant provides for device robustness and thermal transfer from the stator to the housing. The thermal conductivity of the encapsulant may be enhanced by mixing an additive to the encapsulant to increase thermal conductivity. |
| US10177629B2 |
Method for generating electrical energy and energy generation plant
A method for producing electrical energy in a combined energy generation plant which comprises an air treatment unit and a power station unit is proposed. In a first operating mode, air is liquefied to form an air liquefaction product and, in a second operating mode, an air liquefaction product is converted into a gaseous or supercritical state, in which said product is introduced into the power station unit and is used for producing electrical energy. In a third operating mode, air is condensed in the air treatment unit and used in the power station unit directly for producing electrical energy. It is envisaged that, in the first operating mode, the air is cooled to several temperature levels by two liquid coolants and the air liquefaction product is correspondingly heated. In addition, in the first operating mode, the air is condensed stepwise over several pressure levels. |
| US10177620B2 |
Methods and apparatus for segmenting a machine
In some embodiments, a system includes a machine segment that includes multiple coils. Each coil is electrically isolated from the other coils in the machine segment, and each coil is electrically coupled to at least one electrical terminal to provide electrical access to the coil. Each electrical terminal provides electrical access to the coil to which it is electrically coupled such that the coil can be removably electrically coupled to an electrical circuit. The machine segment is also configured to be removably mechanically coupled to a second machine segment to form at least a portion of a stator or a portion of a rotor. |
| US10177616B2 |
Spoke permanent magnet rotor
The present invention relates to a spoke-type permanent magnet rotor (1) used in brushless direct current electric motors (13), forming the rotating part inside the stator (14) that forms the stationary part thereof and having an air gap (15) between the inner surface of the stator (14) and itself, comprising a cylindrical core (2) produced from ferromagnetic laminations or ferromagnetic powder metal, a shaft (3) fixed to the core (2) and forming the rotational axis of the rotor (1), a hub (5) disposed at the center of the core (2) and having a shaft hole (4) that bears the shaft (3), more than one pole segment (6) disposed all around the hub (5), more than one magnet slot (7) disposed between the pole segments (6), more than one magnet (8) tangentially magnetized, placed in the magnet slots (7) and extending outwards in the radial direction, and two end rings (9) produced from non-magnetic materials such as plastic and aluminum and fixed on the front and rear planar surfaces of the core (2) by the injection molding method. |
| US10177614B2 |
Low cost permanent magnet motor for an electric power steering system
A rotor includes an inner wall and an outer wall, where the inner wall forms a space and is radially centered along a central longitudinal axis of the rotor. The rotor further includes a first magnetic pair of legs corresponding to a first pole. The first leg and a second leg of the first magnetic pair of legs are disposed within the rotor, and a first angular distance between the first leg and the second leg decreases from the outer wall to the inner wall. A second magnetic pair of legs corresponding to a second pole that differs from the first pole, a third leg and a fourth leg of the second magnetic pair of legs being disposed within the rotor to extend radially inward from the outer wall toward the inner wall, a second angular distance between the third leg and the fourth leg decreases from the outer wall to the inner wall. |
| US10177613B2 |
Rotor and motor
A rotor includes a circular rotor core, a plurality of θ magnets, and ring-shaped Z magnets. The rotor core has a plurality of magnet holding sections formed radially with a rotating shaft as the center. The θ magnets are contained in and held by the magnet holding sections such that the same magnetic poles of adjacent magnets face each other in a circumferential direction of the rotor core. The rotor core is such that N-poles and S-poles are alternately formed in a circumferential direction of an outer circumferential surface of the rotor core. The Z magnets are such that N-poles and S-poles are alternately formed circularly on an opposed face of the auxiliary magnet facing an end face of the rotor core in a direction of the rotating shaft. |
| US10177609B2 |
Far field telemetry operations between an external device and an implantable medical device during recharge of the implantable medical device via a proximity coupling
Far field telemetry operations are conducted between an external device and an implantable medical device while power is being transferred to the implantable medical device for purposes of recharging a battery of the implantable medical device. The far field operations may include exchanging recharge information that has been collected by the implantable medical device which allows the external device to exercise control over the recharge process. The far field operations may include suspending far field telemetry communications for periods of time while power continues to be transferred where suspending far field telemetry communications may include powering down far field telemetry communication circuits of the implantable medical device for periods of time which may conserve energy. The far field operations may further include transferring programming instructions to the implantable medical device. |
| US10177606B2 |
Dynamic reconfiguration for maximizing the overall link efficiency of energy receivers in a reliable implantable system
Efficient power transmission from an acoustic transmitter to an electrical load on an implanted device is provided using a control system that at least varies the transmitted acoustic frequency. Varying the transmitted frequency can change the electrical impedance of the acoustic transducer in the receiver that receives power from the transmitter. This ability to vary the transducer impedance can be used to optimize power delivery to the load. |
| US10177604B2 |
Resonant power transfer systems having efficiency optimization based on receiver impedance
The present disclosure provides systems and methods for controlling wireless power transfer systems. A wireless power transfer system includes a transmitter driven by a power source and a transmit controller, wherein the transmitter is configured to control delivery of wireless power, and a receiver inductively coupled to the transmitter, the receiver configured to receive the wireless power from the transmitter and deliver the received wireless power to a load. The receiver includes receiver electronics configured to determine a Thevenin equivalent impedance of the wireless power transfer system, determine a Thevenin equivalent source voltage of the wireless power transfer system, and control, based on the determined Thevenin equivalent impedance and the determined Thevenin equivalent source voltage, an ideal source voltage of the receiver to vary the amount of the wireless power transferred from the transmitter to the receiver. |
| US10177603B2 |
Coil unit and power supply system including the same
A power-supply-side and the power-receiving-side units include power-supply-side and power-receiving-side coils each of which supplies or receives power in a non-contact manner; and a ceramic capacitor provided with an electrode being housed inside power-supply-side and power-receiving-side cases. The ceramic capacitor is arranged such that the electrode is non-perpendicular to each center axis direction of the power-supply-side and power-receiving-side coils. |
| US10177602B2 |
Wireless power receiver with programmable power path
A synchronous rectifier using only n-channel devices in which the low-side switches are effectively cross-coupled using low-side comparators and the high-side switches perform an accurate zero-voltage-switching (ZVS) comparison. The charging path of each bootstrap domain is completed through the low-side switches, which are each always on for every half-cycle independent of loading. This scheme gives rectifier efficiency gain because a) each bootstrap domain receives maximum charging time, and b) the charging occurs through a switch rather than a diode. Both these factors ensure the bootstrap domain is fully charged, thereby reducing conduction losses through the rectifier switches. Furthermore, settings may be adjusted by software to optimize the resistive and capacitive losses of the rectifier. Using data for die temperature and operating frequency, software can create a feedback loop, dynamically adjusting rectifier settings in order to achieve the best possible efficiency. |
| US10177599B2 |
Contactless power feeding system, movable device and method for controlling power feeding of contactless power feeding system
A contactless power feeding system comprises a power feeding device and a movable device. The movable device is installed on a power feeding case of the power feeding device, and a liquid crystal TV (E) is installed on the movable device. The liquid crystal TV (E) can be arranged at a desired position on a wall (W) in a room (R) by moving the movable device along the power feeding case. The liquid crystal TV (E) can be arranged at a desired height by moving the liquid crystal TV (E) in the axial direction of a guide pipe provided on a power receiving case. The liquid crystal TV (E) can be directed in a desired direction by rotating the liquid crystal TV (E) around the guide pipe. The contactless power feeding system feeds power to the liquid crystal TV (E) via the power feeding device and the movable device. |
| US10177598B1 |
Energy storage system
An improved energy storage system which captures some of the energy expended by vehicles traveling along a road by bouncing a signal off an approaching vehicle and capturing the returning signal for storage and later reuse. |
| US10177592B2 |
Wireless power transmitter and wireless power transmission method
A wireless power transmitter is disclosed. The wireless power transmitter, which is capable of charging a plurality of wireless power receivers, includes: a plurality of coil cells; a main half-bridge inverter to which a main pulse signal is applied; a plurality of sub half-bridge inverters to which a first sub pulse signal or second sub pulse signal is applied; a current sensor that monitors the current through the coil cells; and a communications and control unit that controls the pulse signals applied to the main half-bridge inverter and sub half-bridge inverters and that communicates with the wireless power receivers, wherein the sub half-bridge inverters may be respectively connected to the coil cells. |
| US10177591B2 |
Power-transmitting device and wireless power transmission system
A power-transmitting device transmits AC power generated in an inverter circuit to a power receiving device in a wireless manner by magnetically coupling a power-transmitting coil to a power-receiving coil of the power receiving device. The power-transmitting device is provided with a power transmission controller which controls the aforementioned inverter circuit to change the AC power in accordance with information relating to the state of power transmission to a load connected to the power-receiving device. |
| US10177589B2 |
Battery exercising device
The disclosure relates to a battery exercising device configured to discharge and charge a rechargeable battery. The battery exercising device is configured to receive electrical power from a power source and periodically transfer this power into a rechargeable battery connected to the battery exercising device. A battery assessment may be performed on the rechargeable battery to determine whether to charge the battery after the battery assessment. The rechargeable battery may be desulfated during the battery assessment in an effort to restore or increase the cranking power and/or the charge timing of the rechargeable battery. A solar panel may be provided as the power source and may be used in conjunction with a bank battery to store collected solar power until needed to recharge the battery. |
| US10177588B2 |
Charging circuit and capacitive power conversion circuit and charging control method thereof
A charging circuit for providing a charging current to a battery includes a power delivery unit and a capacitive power conversion circuit. The power delivery unit converts an input power to a DC output voltage and current, and regulates the DC output current to a predetermined output current level. The capacitive power conversion circuit includes a conversion switch circuit including plural conversion switches coupled to one or more capacitors, and a conversion control circuit which operates the plural conversion switches in plural conversion periods to connect the one or more capacitors between a pair of nodes selected from plural voltage division nodes, the DC output voltage, and a ground node periodically, so that the level of the charging current is scaled-up of the predetermined output current level. |
| US10177578B2 |
Power distribution device for use with portable battery
A power distribution device for use with rechargeable batteries, such as power tool batteries or battery packs, that is capable of powering a number of accessory devices such as geographical positioning system devices, depth finders, phones and radios. |
| US10177577B2 |
Storage battery device
According to one embodiment, a storage battery device includes a battery group, a charge-and-discharge control FET unit, and a drive controller. The battery group includes a plurality of battery cells connected in series. The charge-and-discharge control FET unit is connected to a low potential side of the battery group and includes at least a pair of N-channel MOSFETs source terminals of which are back-to-back connected. The drive controller outputs a drive control signal to a gate terminal of the respective N-channel MOSFETs included in the charge-and-discharge control FET unit. The drive control signal is generated based on a potential level of the source terminals. |
| US10177571B2 |
Simultaneous multifrequency receive circuits
Disclosed are various receive circuits by which to receive a plurality of guided surface waves transmitted by a plurality of guided surface waveguide probes over a surface of a terrestrial medium according to various embodiments. |
| US10177569B2 |
System and method for power supply ripple compensation
According to an embodiment, a power compensation circuit is configured to be coupled to a power supply. The power compensation circuit includes a measurement circuit and a compensation circuit. The measurement circuit is configured to receive a power supply signal from the power supply, and determine a variation of the power supply signal. The compensation circuit is coupled to the measurement circuit and configured to generate a compensation power consumption based on the variation of the power supply signal, where the compensation power consumption is controlled inversely with the variation of the power supply signal. |
| US10177568B2 |
Sequentially operated modules
Method, modules and a system formed by connecting the modules for controlling payloads are disclosed. An activation signal is propagated in the system from a module to the modules connected to it. Upon receiving an activation signal, the module (after a pre-set or random delay) activates a payload associated with it, and transmits the activation signal (after another pre-set or random delay) to one or more modules connected to it. The system is initiated by a master module including a user activated switch producing the activation signal. The activation signal can be propagated in the system in one direction from the master to the last module, or carried bi-directionally allowing two way propagation, using a module which revert the direction of the activation signal propagation direction. A module may be individually powered by an internal power source such as a battery, or connected to external power source such as AC power. The system may use remote powering wherein few or all of the modules are powered from the same power source connected to the system in a single point. The power may be carried over dedicated wires or concurrently with the conductors carrying the activation signal. The payload may be a visual or an audible signaling device, and can be integrated within a module or external to it. The payload may be powered by a module or using a dedicated power source, and can involve randomness associated with its activation such as the delay, payload control or payload activation. |
| US10177566B2 |
Apparatus and methods for actively-controlled trigger and latch release thyristor
Apparatus and methods for actively-controlled trigger and latch release thyristor are provided. In certain configurations, an actively-controlled protection circuit includes an overvoltage sense circuit, a thyristor or silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) that is electrically connected between a signal node and a discharge node, and an active trigger and latch release circuit. The overvoltage sense circuit controls a voltage of a dummy supply node based on a voltage of the signal node, and the active trigger and latch release circuit detects presence of a transient overstress event at the signal node based on the voltage of the dummy supply node. The active trigger and latch release circuit provides one or more trigger signals to the SCR to control the SCR's activation voltage, and the active trigger and latch release circuit activates or deactivates the one or more trigger signals based on whether or not the transient overstress event is detected. |
| US10177564B2 |
Hot plugging protection
An overcharge protection circuit comprises a first series of first terminals a second series of second terminals, a first overvoltage protection device connected between each consecutive pair of first terminals, a current balancing device connected between each consecutive pair of second terminals, and a second overvoltage protection device connected between a first terminal and a second terminal. The second overvoltage protection device is configured to pass a current if a voltage over the second overvoltage protection device exceeds a threshold. The second overvoltage protection device may comprise a bidirectional ESD diode, while both the first overvoltage protection device and the second overvoltage protection device may comprise a unidirectional ESD diode. |
| US10177563B1 |
Adjusting over current protection values during changes in load current
The systems and methods described are for adjusting over current protection values during changes in load current. In one aspect, a method includes, monitoring a load current amplitude value at a power input connected to an electrical load; determining a rate of change of the load current amplitude value; determining whether the rate of change of the load current amplitude value exceeds a predefined rate threshold value; in response to determining that the rate of change of the load current amplitude value exceeds the predefined rate threshold value: adjusting an over current protection value from a first over current protection value to an adjusted over current protection value for a first predefined amount of time; and at the expiration of the first predefined amount of time, at least partially reversing the adjustment to the over current protection value. |
| US10177561B2 |
Selective protection circuit and method, and power supply system
A selective protection circuit includes a current-limiting module and a control module, where the current-limiting module includes a switch unit, and the switch unit includes a first end, a second end, and a control end; the first end is connected to a positive electrode of a bus voltage of an HVDC power supply, and the second end is connected to a positive electrode of a power supply of a voltage pre-regulator circuit in a load branch connected to the current-limiting module; the control end is connected to the control module; and the control module is configured to output a control signal to the control end when a value of a total current flowing through the switch unit is greater than or equal to a preset threshold, so as to switch off the switch unit. |
| US10177559B2 |
Electrically-driven working apparatus and method for protecting battery of electrically-driven working apparatus
An electrically-driven working apparatus in one aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure comprises: a battery; an abnormality detection unit; a power supply path; a first disconnection unit; a second disconnection unit; and a control unit. The control unit activates the first disconnection unit to disconnect the power supply path if either of an overload or an over discharge of the battery is detected by the abnormality detection unit, and subsequently determines whether discharge from the battery has stopped after activating the first disconnection unit, and activates the second disconnection unit to disconnect the power supply path if discharge from the battery has not stopped. |
| US10177558B1 |
Overvoltage protection method and buck switching regulator having overvoltage protection function and control circuit thereof
A buck switching regulator includes: a power stage, which includes: an upper-gate switch, a lower-gate switch and an inductor, connected with one another at a switching node; and a supply control switch, controlling the power supply form an output terminal to a load. An overvoltage protection method includes the following steps: (A) sensing a voltage of the switching node, to obtain a switching node voltage; (B) determining whether an overvoltage event occurs in the switching node voltage; and (C) if it is determined yes in the step (B), outputting a protection signal. An overvoltage event is determined directly according to the switching node voltage, not directly according to the output voltage. |
| US10177555B2 |
Reverse grounding protection circuit and ground fault circuit interrupter
The present disclosure relates to a reverse grounding protection circuit and a ground fault circuit interrupter. The reverse grounding protection circuit may include a power supply circuit, a leakage signal amplifying circuit, a leakage grounding detection circuit, a power supply indicator circuit, a manual detection circuit, a tripping mechanism control circuit, a reverse connection detection and execution circuit, and a power-on driving signal generating circuit. A ground fault circuit interrupter may comprise an interrupter body and a reverse grounding protection circuit in the interrupter body. The practice of the present disclosure may avoid the risk from reverse connection of the ground fault circuit interrupter and output of power of reverse connection, and thus improve safety of the ground fault circuit interrupter. |
| US10177553B2 |
Power switching control apparatus and switching control method therefor
A power switching control apparatus includes a current measurement unit that measures the current of a main circuit; a current estimation unit that detects a fault current on the basis of a current measurement value and estimates a future current waveform on the basis of a current waveform measured in a given duration after the detection; a target opening time determination unit that uses a current zero point obtained from the estimated current waveform, a predicted opening time, and a given minimum arc duration so as to determine a time by subtracting a sum of the opening time and the minimum arc duration from the current zero point as the target opening time; and an opening control unit that waits until the nearest one of the target opening times is reached and transmits an interruption control signal when the target opening time is reached. |
| US10177546B2 |
Conduit divider in the form of a cable with fabric sleeve
A communications cable (11) is provided with a pliant sleeve (12, 21, 31) to allow it to be more easily inserted into a conduit (50). One form of the sleeve (12) has hook (14) and loop (15) connected to each other so that the sleeve (12) can engage the cable (11). Another form of the sleeve (21) is spring-loaded to engage the cable (11). In a third form of the sleeve (31) has an adhesive (33) which attaches the sleeve (31) to the cable (11). Whatever form the sleeve cable takes, when in the conduit (50), the conduit (50) is divided for the ease of insertion of a second sleeved cable and it is not necessary to install a separate conduit divider into the conduit. |
| US10177545B2 |
Rotating conductor holder
A rotating conductor holder includes at least a first and second conductor retainer, which are mounted to and spaced apart along a rotating base member at a distance substantially corresponding to the separation distance between the two or more existing sub-conductors that are to be replaced during a restringing procedure. The base member is rotatably attached to a support, which may be mounted on at least one insulator. The at least one insulator may be mounted on an arm on the end of a boom. An actuator and linkage may be provided to rotate the base member about its support. |
| US10177543B2 |
Electrical switchgear manual safety system and mechanisms
The disclosed invention ensures safe operation of an electrical switchgear by preventing an operator from contacting or interacting with an active circuit breaker. One way this is accomplished is through a locking system that prevents a door to the interior of the switchgear from opening until the circuit breaker is in a disengaged position. A second way this is accomplished is by a manipulation restriction system that prevents the circuit breaker from being manually moved unless the door is closed. Another way this is accomplished is by a circuit breaker decoupler, accessible from the exterior of the switchgear that can directly manipulate the circuit breaker into disengagement. |
| US10177538B2 |
Ignition unit for an internal combustion engine
An ignition device for a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine includes a first electrode and a second electrode, which is movable with the aid of an actuator. The ignition device is configured to generate a first ignition spark when a contact between the first and second electrode is interrupted. To accomplish this, the second electrode is moved away from the first electrode. A third electrode is also provided, which is spaced apart from the first electrode. With the aid of the third electrode, a second ignition spark can be generated by moving the second electrode away from the other two electrodes. With the three electrodes, the ignition unit is configured to allow the two ignition sparks to pass through a volume formed between the electrodes in the direction transverse to the longitudinal extension of the ignition sparks in the course of the movement of the second electrode. |
| US10177537B2 |
Ignition system for an internal combustion engine and a control method thereof
An ignition system (10) comprises a high voltage transformer (12) comprising a primary winding (12.1) and a secondary winding (12.2). A primary resonant circuit (26) is formed by the primary winding (12.1) and a primary circuit capacitance (24). A secondary resonant circuit (16) is formed by an ignition plug (14), as a load, the secondary winding (12.2); the ignition plug (14) being represented by a secondary circuit capacitance (18) and a secondary circuit load resistance (Rp) put in parallel. Said load resistance value varies during an ignition cycle. The primary resonant circuit (26) and the secondary resonant circuit (16) have a common mode resonance frequency (fc) and a differential mode resonance frequency (fd). A controller (28) is configured to cause a drive circuit (22) to drive the primary winding at a frequency, which is either the common-mode resonance frequency (fc) or the differential mode resonance frequency (fd) and is connected to a feed-back circuit (50) to adapt the frequency of the primary winding to the variable load resistance. |
| US10177535B1 |
Quantum cascade laser system with power scaling and related methods and devices
A quantum cascade laser may include a substrate, and a semiconductor layer adjacent the substrate and defining an active region. The active region may have an elongate shape extending laterally across the substrate and having first and second lowest injector states with an energy spacing greater than 20 meV. In some embodiments, the active region may have a thickness less than or equal to 1.3 μm and a length greater than or equal to 20 μm. The quantum cascade laser may also include an optical grating adjacent the active region and configured to emit a continuous wave laser output through the substrate. The optical grating may include a curved grating pattern. |
| US10177531B2 |
Tunable waveguide devices
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including a laser including a layer having first and second regions, the first region including a void; a mirror section provided on the layer, the mirror section including a waveguide core, at least part of the waveguide core is provided over at least a portion of the void; a first grating provided on the waveguide core; a first cladding layer provided between the layer and the waveguide core and supported by the second region of the layer; a second cladding layer provided on the waveguide core; and a heat source configured to change a temperature of at least one of the waveguide core and the grating, where an optical mode propagating in the waveguide core of the mirror section does not incur substantial loss due to interaction with portions of the mirror section above and below the waveguide core. |
| US10177527B2 |
VCSELS and VCSEL arrays designed for improved performance as illumination sources and sensors
A VCSEL array having a plurality of VCSELs, each having more than two modes, and the optical emission from each of the VCSELs overlaps in a far field of the VCSELs. A VCSEL array having a plurality of VCSELs, each having an aperture size of at least about 6 μm, and the optical emission from each of the VCSELs overlaps in a far field of the VCSELs. A VCSEL array having a plurality of VCSELs, wherein the spectral width of each VCSEL is at least about 0.5 nm, and the optical emission from each of the VCSELs overlaps in a far field of the VCSELs. |
| US10177526B1 |
Efficient wavelength combining of multiple laser arrays
Light beams from multiple emitters, such as lasers, arranged in two or more arrays are combined by beam-superposition using a dispersive element, such as a diffraction grating, to provide a combined output beam with increased power. Each emitter produces light of a controlled wavelength that is incident upon the diffraction grating at a corresponding selected incidence angle to produce a diffracted wave that propagates in an output direction and forms a component of the combined output beam. First and second arrays are located on opposing sides of the combined output beam and are arranged such that light from all of the emitters overlaps to form the combined output beam. The wavelengths may be controlled by an external resonator, for example. As many as four arrays may be combined using a two-dimensional diffraction grating. |
| US10177521B2 |
Optical fiber for light amplification having a core with low bend loss and end features with high bend loss and related method
An apparatus includes an optical fiber configured to transport an optical signal. The optical fiber includes a core configured to receive and amplify the optical signal. The optical fiber also includes end features optically coupled to opposite ends of the core. The core has a lower bend loss than the end features. The optical fiber further includes a cladding surrounding the core and the end features. The optical fiber is configured to confine optical power of a fundamental mode in the core. The optical fiber is also configured to allow optical power of one or more higher-order modes to leak from the core into the end features. |
| US10177520B2 |
Excimer laser apparatus and excimer laser system
The excimer laser apparatus may include a laser chamber configured to contain gas, a pair of electrodes provided in the laser chamber, a power source unit configured to supply a pulse voltage between the pair of electrodes, a gas supply unit configured to supply gas into the laser chamber, a gas exhaust unit configured to partially exhaust gas from within the laser chamber, and a gas control unit configured to control the gas supply unit and the gas exhaust unit, where a replacement ratio of gas to be replaced from within the laser chamber increases as deterioration of the pair of electrodes progresses, the deterioration being represented by a deterioration parameter of the pair of electrodes. |
| US10177517B1 |
Ferrule crimping tool
A tool configured to form four evenly spaced indentations having an indentation radius and four evenly spaced projections about a circumference of a generally cylindrical seamless ferrule having a ferrule radius. Each projection of the four projections has a projection height equal to or less than a height threshold. The tool includes four crimping dies. Each crimping die of the four crimping dies defines a concave crimping surface having the indentation radius. The tool also includes four limiting dies. Each limiting die is located intermediate two adjacent crimping dies of the four crimping dies. Each limiting die defines a limiting surface that is configured to limit a height of each projection to the height threshold. |
| US10177516B2 |
High-density bridge adapter
Disclosed is a high density (HD) cable to accommodate HD jacks. The HD bridge adapter acts as a single cable coupler between two HD jacks. The bridge can be formed with two connectors having a predetermined space between them, or be separated by a flexible extended cable for remote positioning of the connectors. In one embodiment each connector having 200 pins comprising 20 rows of 10 pins each. In an alternative embodiment, each connector having 192 pins comprising 24 rows of 8 pins each. |
| US10177515B2 |
Lug assemblies and related electrical apparatus and methods
Lug assemblies include a housing with at least one internal printed circuit board with electronics and lugs. The lugs attach to cables providing power/current. The printed circuit board includes at least one electrical ground connector and at least one electrical contact connector. The lug assemblies include terminals that indirectly electrically couple the cables to terminals of switching devices such as circuit breakers. |
| US10177512B2 |
Simplified electrical connector
A horizontal type electrical connector includes a terminal module having an insulative housing with a base and a mating tongue extending forwardly from the base wherein the mating tongue forms opposite first and second mating surfaces. The plurality of contacts are integrally formed within the housing, and including a plurality of first contacts having corresponding contacting sections exposed upon the first surface in a full manner while only a pair of second contacts having corresponding contacting sections exposed upon the second surface at a center region. The second mating surface forms a plurality of protrusions aligned with the corresponding contacting sections of the first contacts in the vertical direction so as to performing dummy contacting sections for providing a balanced force arrangement for the inserted complementary plug connector. |
| US10177511B2 |
Electrical connector
An electrical connector includes an insulating body having a base, and multiple upper row terminals and multiple lower row terminals fixed in the insulating body. Each terminal has a soldering portion respectively extending out of the base. The upper row terminals include at least one upper row signal terminal, and the lower row terminals include at least one lower row signal terminal. The soldering portion of the upper row signal terminal is in contact with the soldering portion of the lower row signal terminal. By means of contact between the soldering portions of the upper row and lower row signal terminals, a transmission signal of the upper row signal terminal and a transmission signal of the lower row signal terminal are directly combined, and the signals do not need to be combined by other means. The transmission current is larger due to more conducted parts in the electrical connector. |
| US10177509B1 |
Electrical receptacle mounting preventive of water ingress
An electrical receptacle mounting apparatus, having a base portion, made of insulating material, and including a partial enclosure, defining a cavity having a mouth and a through-hole, and being positioned and shaped to prevent water flowing through the through-hole out of the cavity. Also, a panel, extends outwardly for more than 4 cm about the mouth and a telescoping tubular extension, made of insulating material, is fitted into the cavity, so that cavity and extension together are sized to fit a one, two or three electrical receptacles. Additionally, a bolt has a longitudinal segment that is rotatably engaged to a first one of the base portion and the extension, and has a threaded portion being in threaded engagement to a second one of the base portion and the extension, so that rotation of the threaded element causes the extension to move in telescoping manner relative to the cavity. |
| US10177500B2 |
Electrical connector assembly
An electrical connector is provided comprising a female member configured to couple with male member. The female member includes a female receptacle having an opening, and a female electrode is at least partially disposed within the female receptacle. A resilient member is configured to enhance electrical connection between the female electrode and a male connector electrode. |
| US10177498B1 |
Stacking electrical connector
An electrical connector assembly which has a first connector and a second connector. The first connector and second connector have connector housings with first latching areas extending from the top surfaces of the connector housings and second latching areas extending from the bottom surfaces of the connector housing. Sealing members are positioned proximate wire-receiving faces of the connector housings. Rear seal cover members are positioned in the connector housings. The rear seal cover members are configured to cooperate with the sealing members to prevent the rear seal cover members from being latched to the connector housing when the terminals are not fully inserted into the terminal receiving cavities of the connector housings. |
| US10177497B2 |
Electrical connector
An improved electrical connector including a latch strike plate, a body having a base, a receiver extending from the base and configured to receive the latch strike plate, an inserter extending from the base, a first electrical connection assembly extending through the body, a second electrical connection assembly extending through the body, an electrical linkage cable assembly connected to the base, the first electrical connection assembly, and the second electrical connection assembly, a latching mechanism partially positioned in the base and the inserter and partially extending from the base and the inserter, and a securing assembly extending in and from the base. |
| US10177491B2 |
Connector assembly
There is described a connector assembly having a first connector part and a second connector part. At least one of the first connector part and the second connector part comprises at least one magnet for providing an attractive force between the first connector part and the second connector part to align the first connector part and the second connector part in a connected state. The first connector part comprises a guide track and the second connector part comprises a follower, the guide track being shaped to guide movement of the follower, under the influence of said attractive force, to a retaining position in which the follower engages an abutment surface on the first connector part to provide a retaining mechanism for retaining the first connector part and the second connector part in the connected state. |
| US10177488B2 |
Electrical connector having a firmly secured front sealing member
An electrical connector includes: an insulative housing having a base portion and a tongue portion; plural contacts affixed to the insulative housing and exposed to the tongue portion; a shielding shell enclosing the insulative housing and having a front end; an outer cover enclosing the shielding shell and having a front protrusion, the front protrusion having a pair of side slots; and a sealer having a main body and a pair of side securing portions; wherein an annular groove is defined between the front end of the shielding shell and the front protrusion of the outer cover, the front protrusion of the outer cover having a first inclined face bordering the groove; and the sealer main body is disposed in the groove and the side securing portions engage the side slots, the sealer main body having a second inclined face opposing the first inclined face. |
| US10177487B2 |
Electrical connector assembly
An electrical connector assembly includes a cable connector equipped with a locking device essentially composed of an operation part pivotally mounted to the case, and a locking part pivotally mounted to the operation part, and a host connector equipped with a locking ear for locking with the locking part wherein the host connector forms a forward protrusion to form an outer region and an inner region each provided with a sealing member adapted to be compressed in the front-to-back direction by locking mechanism. |
| US10177486B2 |
Connector
A connector includes a terminal, a housing, a waterproofing member and a waterproofing member cover. The waterproofing member includes a cylindrical sealing portion in which an insertion hole for the terminal is formed, and a guide portion disposed at least on a rear side in a terminal insertion direction in the insertion hole of the sealing portion and having a tapered shape so as to guide the terminal toward the insertion hole. The waterproofing member includes an elastically-deformable thin portion in a periphery of the sealing portion so that weight generated when the terminal guided to the insertion hole by the guide portion expands the insertion hole is larger than weight necessary for moving the sealing portion in a direction perpendicular to the terminal insertion direction. |
| US10177484B2 |
Holding frame for holding plug connector modules
The disclosure relates to a holding frame for holding plug connector modules, in particular for installation in plug connector casings and/or for screwing onto wall surfaces. In order to allow improved handling and more reliable populating and assembly of the holding frame comprising frame halves, it is proposed that the holding frame in the plug-in state has a stop for stopping the plug connector module on insertion into the holding frame, wherein the stop is so designed that when a plug connector module is stopped in the plug-in state, holding frame holding devices and plug module holding devices engage in each other in the holding state. |
| US10177483B1 |
Electrical connector assembly with impedance control at mating interface
An electrical connector assembly includes a module stack, a front housing, and a spring member. The module stack includes multiple contact modules disposed side by side. The module stack includes multiple signal contacts that project beyond a front side thereof. The front housing is mechanically coupled to the module stack at the front side and surrounds the signal contacts. The front housing defines cavities that receive mating contacts of a mating connector to engage the signal contacts. The front housing is movable relative to the module stack along a longitudinal axis of the electrical connector assembly between a retracted position and an extended position. The spring member is held between the module stack and the front housing. The spring member engages the module stack and the front housing to bias the front housing towards the extended position. |
| US10177482B2 |
Connector to prevent a male terminal from being damaged due to improper coupling with a counterpart connector
In a connector, a connector housing includes a terminal accommodating chamber in which a female terminal is to be accommodated, an elastic locking piece configured to lock the female terminal accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber, and a wall surface. A male terminal insertion hole and a male terminal release hole are formed in the wall surface. A male terminal of a counterpart connector is to be inserted into the male terminal insertion hole so as to be connected to the female terminal, when a fitting operation between the connector and the counterpart connector is performed in a regular fitting posture. The male terminal is to enter the male terminal release hole, when the fitting operation is performed in an irregular fitting posture. The male terminal release hole forms a space which is continuous from the wall surface to the elastic locking piece. |
| US10177481B1 |
Electrical connector and electrical connector assembly with the same
An electrical connector includes an insulative housing having a plurality of contact-receiving passageways extending through thereof along a front-and-back direction, a plurality of contacts inserted into the corresponding contact-receiving passageways along a rear-to-front direction and a limiting member assembled to the insulative housing. The contacts includes at least one row arranged along a transverse direction, and each contact defines a contacting part contacting with a complementary contact and a crimping portion connected with a wire. The insulative housing defines a positioning slot on one side thereof along a height direction, and the positioning slot extends along a transverse direction, the limiting member is inserted and retained in the positioning slot for locking the plurality of contacts simultaneously. |
| US10177474B2 |
Connector and connector assembly
A connector comprises a cage and a top cover. The cage has a lower portion received in an opening of a circuit board in an insertion direction. A thickness of the lower portion in the insertion direction is disposed in the opening in an assembled position. The top cover is attached to an outer wall of the cage and has a plurality of pins. The pins are inserted in the insertion direction into a plurality of insertion holes extending through the circuit board around the opening in the assembled position. |
| US10177469B2 |
Cable connector
A connector (20) for a coaxial cable (10). The cable comprises an outer conductor (11), an inner conductor (12) and an insulating medium (13) located between the outer and the inner conductors, wherein the connector comprises a connector front body (21) and a connector rear body (22) inserted therein; the connector front body comprises a hollow shell (30); the connector rear body comprises a flare ring (50), a slot finger and a lock nut (70) which are inserted into the shell, wherein the flare ring at one end thereof rests against a shoulder (37) in the shell, the slot finger is mounted on the flare ring, and the lock nut is mounted on the slot finger and engages the inner surface of the shell; the flare ring is provided with adjacent the first incline (54) and the first plane (55), and the slot finger is provided with adjacent the second incline (67) and the second plane (66), wherein the first incline is used for insertion between the outer conductor and the insulating medium of the coaxial cable, and the first incline and the first plane respectively cooperate with the second incline and the second plane, so as to simultaneously flare and crush the outer conductor of the coaxial cable. The cable connector can gain excellent third order intermodulation performance and high frequency transmission performance. |
| US10177468B2 |
Heat-shrinkable protective element
A heat-shrinkable protective element having at least one protective layer is obtained from a polymeric composition having a polymer material, where the polymeric composition additionally has an electrically conducting filler having a BET specific surface of at least 100 m2/g according to Standard ASTM D 6556. |
| US10177466B2 |
Piercing-through structure for connector
The present invention provides a piercing-through structure for a connector, comprising a hollow-core body, a lead, and a receptacle. Wherein a front connection portion is disposed at a front end of the hollow-core body; a plurality of wires extending forward is disposed at a front end of the lead disposed at a rear segment in the hollow-core body; and a plurality of metallic spikes is disposed at a front end of the connector of the receptacle and a connection sleeve movably fits around a front end of the body. So that connecting the hollow-core body and the receptacle together enables the connection sleeve of the receptacle to fit around the front connection portion of the hollow-core body, allowing the metallic spikes to pierce across surfaces of the wires such that, after piercing insulating sheaths of the wires, the metallic spikes come into contact with metallic cores of the wires, so as to achieve electrical connection of the connector of the receptacle and the wires of the hollow-core body. |
| US10177460B2 |
Satellite array architecture
A satellite system can include one or more satellites that orbit the Earth. The one or more satellites may have satellite buses that support antenna arrays. The antenna arrays may include space fed arrays. Each space fed array may have an antenna feed array and an inner array that is coupled to a direct radiating array. The direct radiating array may operate in the same satellite band as the space fed array, or upconversion and downconversion circuitry may be used to communicatively couple a direct radiating array that operates in a different satellite band to the space fed array. The satellites may have peripheral walls with corner fittings that can be selected to provide the satellite bus with particular leg strengths. This can reduce overall mass of the satellites in a payload fairing while accommodating different types of antenna arrays. |
| US10177455B2 |
Systems and methods for differential dipole-based waveguide power combining
A power combiner system for use in a single-mode waveguide includes an input waveguide, an output waveguide, at least one power amplifier module that includes a plurality of amplifiers, and at least one input dipole antenna extending into the input waveguide. Each input dipole antenna includes two input dipole antenna arms, and each input dipole antenna arm is coupled to an input of a corresponding one of the plurality of amplifiers. The system further includes at least one output dipole antenna extending into the output waveguide. Each output dipole antenna includes two output dipole antenna arms, and each output dipole antenna arm is coupled to an output of a corresponding one of the plurality of amplifiers. Each power amplifier module is disposed in a plane that runs parallel with the direction of propagation. |
| US10177452B2 |
Mechanical antenna
Compact low-loss antennas and methods for long range two-way communication are provided. In one example, a mechanical antenna includes a first material having first embedded electric charge carriers, a second material having second embedded electric charge carriers, and an actuator coupled to at least one of the first material and the second material, the actuator being configured to generate a monopole current and transmit a low frequency signal by causing kinematic motion of the first material relative to the second material. |
| US10177447B2 |
Radio frequency transparent patterns for conductive coating
Methods and devices useful in radio frequency (RF) signal transmission are provided. By way of example, a wireless electronic device may include a transceiver, and an enclosure in which the transceiver is disposed. The enclosure may include an RF transparent layer and an RF opaque coating disposed on the RF transparent layer, where the RF opaque coating includes a pattern formed therein to enable RF signals to pass therethrough. |
| US10177446B2 |
Antenna apparatus
There is provided an antenna apparatus including: a magnetic sheet; a first antenna provided on one face of the magnetic sheet and used for communication; and a second antenna provided on the other face opposite to the one face of the magnetic sheet and used for wireless power transmission. |
| US10177444B2 |
Scanning antenna
A scanned antenna (1000) is a scanned antenna including antenna elements (U) arranged together, the scanned antenna including: a TFT substrate (101) including a first dielectric substrate (1), TFTs, gate bus lines, source bus lines, and patch electrodes (15); a slot substrate (201) including a second dielectric substrate (51) a slot electrode (55); a liquid crystal layer (LC) provided between the TFT substrate and the slot substrate; and a reflective conductive plate (65). The slot electrode includes slots (57) arranged so as to correspond to the patch electrodes. As seen from the normal direction to the first dielectric substrate, a plurality of spacer structures (75) provided between the TFT substrate and the slot substrate are arranged so as not to overlap with first regions (Rp1) and/or second regions (Rp2), where the first regions are regions that are within a distance of 0.3 mm from edges of the slots and the second regions are regions that are within a distance of 0.3 mm from edges of the patch electrodes. |
| US10177442B2 |
Multi-part radio apparatus
An apparatus including an antenna; a first part including a first ground plane portion; a second part including a second ground plane portion; a first electrical connection between the first part and a second part; and a second electrical connection between the first ground plane portion and the second ground plane portion that includes a reactive component. |
| US10177441B2 |
Antenna module
An antenna module suited for a portable electronic device is provided. The antenna module includes a heat dissipation unit, a first antenna and a second antenna. The heat dissipation unit contacts a heat source of the portable electronic device. The first antenna and the second antenna are disposed at different side portions of the heat dissipation unit. The heat dissipation unit has a slot with at least one bending portion. An orthogonal projection of at least one of the first antenna and the second antenna on a projection plane of the heat dissipation unit is partly overlapped with an orthogonal projection of the slot on the projection plane. |
| US10177440B2 |
Mobile terminal
According to the present invention, a mobile terminal includes a main body including a front side with which a display unit is combined, a first antenna mounted on the main body, extended in a first direction and including a first slot of which one end is closed and another end is opened, a second antenna mounted on the main body, extended in a second direction corresponding to a direction opposite to the direction to which the first slot is extended and including a second slot of which one end is closed and another end is opened, a power supply unit mounted in the inside of the main body, a first feeder configured to supply power to the first antenna from the power supply unit and a second feeder configured to supply power to the second antenna from the power supply unit. |
| US10177436B2 |
Image forming apparatus having wireless communication device
An image forming apparatus includes a housing, a communication board, and a display device. The housing has an upper end portion, a front end portion, and a rear end portion. The front end portion and the rear end portion define a frontward/rearward direction. The communication board is provided on the upper end portion and includes an antenna for near field wireless communication. The display device is provided on the upper end portion. The display device and the antenna are arrayed on a straight line extending in the frontward/rearward direction such that the antenna is positioned frontward of the display device. |
| US10177432B2 |
Flexible antenna assembly for well logging tools
A disclosed example embodiment includes an antenna assembly for use in a well logging system. The antenna assembly includes a flexible, non-conductive cylindrical core having an outer surface and an electrically conductive path positioned on the outer surface of the core. The electrically conductive path forms an electromagnetic coil operable to transmit or receive electromagnetic energy. The electrically conductive path is formed on the core without winding a wire around the core using, for example, a removal process selected from the group consisting of milling, machining, etching and laser removal, an additive process selected from the group consisting of printing with conductive and dielectric inks and silk screening with conductive and dielectric epoxies or an integrated material deposition process such as a multi-material 3D printing process. The antenna assembly may be flexible mounted on a tubular member during assembly of a well logging tool. |
| US10177430B2 |
Apparatus and a method for electromagnetic signal transition
An apparatus and a method for electromagnetic signal transition, comprising the steps of receiving an electromagnetic signal having a first physical characteristic arranged to be compatible for the electromagnetic signal to be transmitted on a transmission structure, and transmitting the electromagnetic signal to a substrate integrated waveguide, wherein during the transmission of the electromagnetic signal to the substrate integrated waveguide, the first physical characteristic is converted to a second physical characteristic arranged to be compatible for the electromagnetic signal to be transmitted on the substrate integrated waveguide. |
| US10177427B2 |
Electrochemical cell for use in high temperature metal-air battery
An electrochemical cell includes a bifunctional air cathode, an anode, and a ceramic electrolyte separator disposed substantially between the bifunctional air cathode and the anode. The anode includes a solid metal and a liquid electrolyte phase. The liquid electrolyte phase includes at least one of an alkali oxide, boron oxide, a group V transition metal oxide, and a group VI transition metal oxide. |
| US10177426B2 |
Air battery
An air battery includes a negative electrode, an air electrode, and an electrolyte that is interposed between the negative electrode and the air electrode. The air electrode includes: an oxygen evolution reaction layer for charging that is provided on an electrolyte side of the air electrode and contains an oxygen evolution reaction catalyst containing no carbon; an oxygen reduction reaction layer for discharging that is provided on an opposite side of the air electrode from the electrolyte and contains an oxygen reduction reaction catalyst containing carbon; and a current collector that is provided between the oxygen evolution reaction layer and the oxygen reduction reaction layer or in the oxygen evolution reaction layer. |
| US10177422B2 |
Battery module
Provided is a battery module including: a case partitioned by a plurality of separation walls disposed in parallel with each other to be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance and having a plurality of space parts formed therein; at least one battery cell included in each of the space parts of the case; at least one cooling member having an opened one side coupled to the case, having a passage formed therein when being coupled to the case, and having an inlet in communication with a start point of the passage and an outlet in communication with an end point of the passage; an injecting pipe in communication with the inlet of the cooling member; a discharging pipe in communication with the outlet of the cooling member; and a plurality of cooling fins attached to the other side of the cooling member in parallel with each other. |
| US10177418B2 |
Secondary battery structure and system, and methods of manufacturing and operating the same
A secondary battery structure includes a first electrode structure including a plurality of first electrode elements spaced apart from each other and disposed in a form of an array, a second electrode structure spaced apart from the first electrode structure and including a second electrode element, and an electrolyte which allows ions to move between the first electrode structure and second electrode structure, where the first electrode structure and the second electrode structure define a cathode and an anode, and the number of the first electrode elements and the number of the second electrode element are different from each other. |
| US10177411B2 |
Nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery and method of manufacturing the same
A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes: a wound electrode body that is formed by laminating an elongated sheet-shaped positive electrode current collector foil, an elongated sheet-shaped negative electrode current collector foil, and an elongated sheet-shaped separator to obtain a laminate and winding the obtained laminate; a nonaqueous electrolytic solution; and a case that accommodates the wound electrode body and the nonaqueous electrolytic solution. A solid electrolyte interface film derived from an oxalato borate complex is formed on at least a surface of the negative electrode active material layer. The positive electrode current collector foil satisfies the following conditions of (a) 700%≤α≤760% and (b) 530%≤β≤590%, where α represents a 60-degree specular gloss in a direction parallel to a longitudinal direction of the positive electrode current collector foil, and β represents a 60-degree specular gloss in a width direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the positive electrode current collector foil. |
| US10177408B2 |
Non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery and method for producing same
The non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery 10 according to the present invention is provided with an electrode body 50 including a positive electrode 64 that contains a positive electrode active material and a negative electrode 84 that contains a negative electrode active material, a non-aqueous electrolyte, and a battery case 15 that houses the electrode body and the non-aqueous electrolyte. The non-aqueous electrolyte contains a complex, which contains copper (I) chloride as a constituent component and which is capable of adsorbing at least carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, and a coating film that contains at least one of phosphorus and boron is formed on the surface of the negative electrode active material. |
| US10177403B2 |
Negative-electrode active material for non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery, negative electrode for non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery, and non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery
A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery that contains a silicon material as a negative-electrode active material has improved cycle life. A negative-electrode active material particle (10) according to an embodiment includes a lithium silicate phase (11) represented by Li2zSiO(2+z) {0 |
| US10177400B2 |
Dimensional constraints for three-dimensional batteries
A secondary battery is provided for cycling between a charged and a discharged state, the secondary battery including a battery enclosure, an electrode assembly, carrier ions, a non-aqueous liquid electrolyte within the battery enclosure, and a set of electrode constraints. The set of electrode constraints includes a primary constraint system having first and second primary growth constraints and at least one primary connecting member, the first and second primary growth constraints separated from each other in the longitudinal direction, wherein the primary constraint array restrains growth of the electrode assembly in the longitudinal direction such that any increase in the Feret diameter of the electrode assembly in the longitudinal direction over 20 consecutive cycles of the secondary battery is less than 20%. The set of electrode constraints further includes a secondary constraint system having first and second secondary growth constraints connected by at least one secondary connecting member, wherein the secondary constraint system at least partially restrains growth of the electrode assembly in a second direction upon cycling of the secondary battery. |
| US10177398B2 |
Li-ion battery capacity and voltage prediction using quantum simulations
Provided are methods and computer programs for predicting lithium battery properties. One method includes operations for selecting candidate structures for the battery, and for obtaining a plurality of delithiated structures of the candidate structures with different lithium concentrations. The quantum mechanical (QM) energies of the delithiated structures are calculated, and a functional form is developed to obtain the voltage of the lithium battery. The functional form is a function of the lithium concentration and is based on the QM energies of the delithiated structures. Further, the capacity of the lithium battery is calculated based on a selected lithium concentration, where the functional form returns a cut-off voltage of the lithium battery when the lithium concentration is equal to the selected lithium concentration. |
| US10177396B2 |
Electricity generation
A method for generating electricity comprising the steps:(A) passing a concentrated ionic solution through a first pathway in a reverse electrodialysis unit comprising a membrane stack having electrodes and alternating cation and anion exchange membranes; and(B) passing a dilute ionic solution through a second pathway in said reverse electrodialysis unit, whereby solute from the concentrated solution in the first pathway passes through the membranes to the dilute solution in the second pathway, thereby generating electricity; wherein the concentration of solute in the dilute ionic solution as it enters the reverse electrodialysis unit is at least 0.03 mol/l. |
| US10177395B2 |
Electrode catalyst, composition for forming gas diffusion electrode, gas diffusion electrode, membrane-electrode assembly, fuel cell stack, method for producing electrode catalyst, and composite particle
To provide electrode catalyst (core-shell catalyst) having an excellent catalyst activity which contributes to lower the cost of the PEFC. The electrode catalyst has catalyst particles supported an a support. The catalyst particle has a core part containing simple Pd and a shell part containing simple Pt. A percentage RC (atom %) of the carbon of the support and a percentage RPd (atom %) of the simple Pd in an analytical region near a surface measured by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) satisfy the conditions of the following equation (1): 2.15≤[100×RPd/(RPd+RC)]. |
| US10177394B2 |
Fuel cell system and fuel cell control method
In a fuel cell system, a preceding-stage fuel cell and a following-stage fuel cell are connected via a fuel flow path. The fuel cell system includes a reformer that supplies reformed gas to the preceding-stage fuel cell; an acquisition unit that acquires the amount of heat generation and the amount of heat absorption of the preceding-stage fuel cell; and a control unit that controls at least one of the amount of current of the preceding-stage fuel cell, the flow rate of air to be supplied to the reformer, and the temperature of the preceding-stage fuel cell if the amount of heat absorption acquired by the acquisition unit is larger than the amount of heat generation acquired by the acquisition unit. |
| US10177393B2 |
Method for controlling a fuel cell and associated fuel cell system
A method for controlling a fuel cell (12) includes the following steps: measuring the fluid pressure in a first compartment from the anode and cathode compartments of the fuel cell (12); calculating a first target pressure for the fluid pressure in the second compartment of the fuel cell (12), the first target pressure depending on the fluid pressure measured in the first compartment; stabilizing the fluid pressure in the second compartment to the first target pressure; measuring the fluid pressure in the second compartment; calculating a second target pressure for the fluid pressure in the first compartment, the second target pressure depending on the fluid pressure measured in the second compartment; and stabilizing the fluid pressure in the first compartment at the second target pressure. |
| US10177391B2 |
Fuel cell system for calculating fuel cell temperature based on water content and internal impedance thereof, and method for controlling the same
A fuel cell system including a fuel cell that receives a supply of an anode gas and a cathode gas and generates power is provided. The fuel cell system includes a water content calculation unit configured to calculate a water content of the fuel cell, an internal impedance calculation unit configured to calculate an internal impedance of the fuel cell, and a starting temperature calculation unit configured to calculate a fuel cell temperature at a start of the system, based on the water content of the fuel cell as of a last time the system was stopped, and the internal impedance of the fuel cell at the start of the system. |
| US10177388B2 |
Cathode substrate, high-capacity all-solid-state battery and method of manufacturing same
Provided are a cathode substrate, a high capacity all-solid-state battery, and a method for manufacturing the same. The cathode substrate includes a base in a mesh form and a cathode formed on the base, wherein the cathode is configured to overlap the base. The present invention may resolve a conventional problem of deterioration in battery efficiency, which has been caused by a long distance between an electrode and a cathode, and may produce a high capacity all-solid-state battery while suppressing or preventing an increase in the thickness of the cathode. |
| US10177387B2 |
Bipolar battery current collector that contracts to interrupt a flow of electric current in a direction thereof and bipolar battery
Provided is a bipolar battery current collector that includes a conductive resin layer formed in such a manner as to, when at least part of the conductive resin layer reaches a predetermined temperature, interrupts a flow of electric current through the at least part of the conductive resin layer in a vertical direction thereof. Also provided is a bipolar battery using the current collector. It is possible by the use of the current collector to suppress local heat generation in the bipolar battery and improve the durability of the bipolar battery. |
| US10177386B2 |
Positive electrode active material for secondary battery, and secondary battery including the same
The present invention provides a positive electrode active material for a lithium secondary battery which is capable of preventing the degeneration of a positive electrode active material and the generation of a gas during operating a battery due to humidity, by including a surface treatment layer of an amorphous glass including an alkali metal oxide and an alkaline earth metal oxide on the surface of a core including a lithium composite metal oxide and by decreasing humidity reactivity, and a secondary battery including the same. |
| US10177385B2 |
Positive electrode active material for nickel-hydrogen secondary battery, nickel-hydrogen secondary battery including the positive electrode active material, and method of evaluating positive electrode active material
A nickel-hydrogen secondary battery includes an electrode group including a separator, a positive electrode and a negative electrode, the positive electrode includes a positive electrode active material, the positive electrode active material includes a composite particle including a compound of Co and a compound of Ni, and the ratio R represented by A/B satisfies a relationship of R≥0.3, when the amount of jumping in the X-ray absorption fine structure spectrum of the Co in 7600 to 7800 eV and the amount of jumping in the X-ray absorption fine structure spectrum of the Ni in 8300 to 8500 eV obtained by measurement according to a conversion electron yield method are defined as A and B, respectively. |
| US10177383B2 |
Nano-coating material, method for manufacturing same, coating agent, functional material, and method for manufacturing same
A nano-coating material, capable of being bonded to the surface of a metal or an alloy substrate, the nano-coating material includes a compound having, in a polymer main chain, (A) a first side chain or a terminal, each having a binding group containing a benzene ring having at least one pair of adjacent hydroxyl groups; and (B) a functional second side chain. |
| US10177376B2 |
Cathode active material and lithium secondary battery including the same
Disclosed are a cathode active material including a lithium transition metal oxide based on at least one transition metal selected from the group consisting of Ni, Mn and Co, wherein at least one hetero element selected from the group consisting of Ti, Co, Al, Cu, Fe, Mg, B, Cr, Bi, Zn and Zr is located at a surface portion of or inside the lithium transition metal oxide, and a secondary battery including the same. The cathode active material according to the present invention includes predetermined hetero elements at a surface thereof and therein, and, as such, a secondary battery based on the cathode active material may exhibit excellent high-speed charge characteristics and lifespan characteristics. |
| US10177375B2 |
Alkaline battery cathode structures incorporating multiple carbon materials and orientations
Cathode active materials for alkaline cells are disclosed. In particular, the cathode structures encompass conductive carbons introduced to the cathode so as to have a specific spatial orientation and/or a multi-carbon structure. The overall intent is to leverage the conductor(s) provided to the cathode structure to improve electronic and ionic conductance and, by extension, improve battery discharge performance. |
| US10177373B2 |
Positive electrode active material for non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery and method for producing same, and non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery manufactured using said positive electrode active material
A positive electrode active material for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery, including primary particles of a lithium nickel composite oxide represented by the formula: LibNi1-x-yCoxMyO2 wherein M represents at least one element selected from Mg, Al, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Nb, Zr and Mo; b represents a number satisfying 0.95≤b≤1.03; and x represents a number satisfying 0 |
| US10177369B2 |
Method and apparatus for continuously mixing battery pastes
A process and apparatus for continuously mixing and applying paste to battery grids for use in lead-acid battery systems, in which particulate lead oxide, water and sulphuric acid are reacted in an elongated mixer having a mixing to conveying ratio of about 65:35 to 80:20 with controlled reaction temperature for an exit product temperature in the range of above 60° C. to about 80° C. Additives including reinforcing fibers can be added in an amount up to 0.6 wt % of the lead oxide and carbon and graphite powder can be added in an amount up to 6 wt % of the lead oxide. |
| US10177366B2 |
High purity lithium and associated products and processes
High purity lithium and associated products are provided. In a general embodiment, the present disclosure provides a lithium metal product in which the lithium metal is obtained using a selective lithium ion conducting layer. The selective lithium ion conducting layer includes an active metal ion conducting glass or glass ceramic that conducts only lithium ions. The present lithium metal products produced using a selective lithium ion conducting layer advantageously provide for improved lithium purity when compared to commercial lithium metal. Pursuant to the present disclosure, lithium metal having a purity of at least 99.96 weight percent on a metals basis can be obtained. |
| US10177362B2 |
Composition for non-aqueous secondary battery functional layer, functional layer-equipped substrate for non-aqueous secondary battery, method for producing laminate for non-aqueous secondary battery, and non-aqueous secondary battery
Provided is a composition for a non-aqueous secondary battery functional layer capable of forming a functional layer for a non-aqueous secondary battery that can provide a battery component with high blocking resistance and cause excellent adhesiveness to be displayed before and after immersion in electrolysis solution. The composition contains a particulate polymer having a core-shell structure including a core portion and a shell portion partially covering an outer surface thereof. The core portion is formed by a polymer having a glass transition temperature of −50° C. to 60° C. and a degree of swelling in electrolysis solution of at least a factor of 5 and no greater than a factor of 30. The shell portion is formed by a polymer having a glass transition temperature of 50° C. to 200° C. and a degree of swelling in electrolysis solution of greater than a factor of 1 and no greater than a factor of 4. |
| US10177360B2 |
Battery separators with controlled pore structure
Disclosed are battery separators comprising glass fibers and having a basis weight (gsm), a specific surface area (m2/g), a density (gsm/mm) and a mean pore size (μm), which satisfy the equation disclosed herein, provided that: the specific surface area is less than 1.5 m2/g, or the density is greater than 180 gsm/mm. Also disclosed are batteries comprising the battery separators, and processes for making the separators. |
| US10177358B2 |
Film production method and film production device
A method for film production includes the steps of obtaining information on the position of a defect (D) in a separator (12a) and providing marks (LA, LB) at the respective positions in the vicinity of the defect (D), the marks indicating the position of the defect. |
| US10177354B2 |
Energy storage device having improved thermal performance
The present disclosure is directed to an energy storage device having improved thermal performance. More specifically, the energy storage device includes a housing with side walls that define an internal volume. The side walls include bottom and front side walls, with the front side wall having an air inlet and outlet configured to circulate cooling air therethrough. The energy storage device also includes a plurality of cells arranged in a matrix within the internal volume atop the bottom side wall. Further, the cells define a top surface. Further, the energy storage device includes an exhaust manifold adjacent to the front side wall between at least a portion of the cells and the air inlet. Thus, the exhaust manifold is configured to direct airflow from the top surface towards the bottom side wall and then to the air outlet so as to provide an airflow barrier between cooling air entering the air inlet and the cells. |
| US10177352B2 |
Battery module
A battery module has battery cells. The battery cells are arranged side by side while being separately held by battery holders. The battery cells are connected in series with bus bars. Each bus bar has a bent portion. Each battery holder includes a protruding wall that is provided between connection terminals adjacent to each other in the direction in which the battery cells are arranged. The protruding walls protrude further than the connection terminals in the direction in which the connection terminals protrude from the cases. |
| US10177350B2 |
Electrochemical cell packaging material for housing an electrochemical cell body
Provided is a packaging material for electrochemical cells which has an identification mark that can be recognized from the outside and that is difficult to forge. The packaging material comprises a multilayer film which has a structure formed by laminating a base layer (11), an adhesive layer (13), a metal foil layer (12), an acid-modified polyolefin layer (14), and a heat-sealable layer (15) in this order, wherein the base layer (11) comprises both a oriented polyester film (11b) and a oriented nylon film (11e) with a printed layer (11c) provided on the surface of the oriented polyester film (11b) that faces the oriented nylon film (11e). |
| US10177348B2 |
Nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery and pack battery
A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes a wound electrode body housed in a battery case. The wound electrode body is positioned to the battery case with a positioning member. Among a spatial volume excluding the wound electrode body in the battery case, in a direction of a winding axis of the wound electrode body, a spatial volume X on a negative electrode side of the battery case is larger than a spatial volume Y on a positive electrode side of the battery case. Here, the spatial volume X and the spatial volume Y satisfy 2.1≤(X/Y)≤5.7. |
| US10177346B2 |
Substrate unit, display device and method for manufacturing display device
A substrate unit, a display device, and a method for manufacturing the display device are disclosed. The method for manufacturing the display device includes the steps of: providing a first carrier plate and forming a first interlayer on the first carrier plate; disposing a first glass substrate on the first interlayer to form a first substrate unit; forming a first device layer on the first glass substrate to obtain a first device substrate; providing a second carrier plate and forming a second interlayer on the second carrier plate; disposing a second glass substrate on the second interlayer to form a second substrate unit; combining the first device substrate with the second substrate unit; separating the first glass substrate from the first interlayer; and separating the second glass substrate from the second interlayer to obtain the display device. |
| US10177339B2 |
Organic light-emitting display apparatus including a flexible substrate having a foldable non-display region and method of manufacturing the same
An organic light-emitting display apparatus includes a flexible substrate having a display region and a non-display region located at an outer region of the display region, the non-display region being folded with respect to the display region; at least one organic light-emitting diode (OLED) on the display region of the flexible substrate; and an encapsulation member encapsulating the display region. |
| US10177338B2 |
Glass powder blend, glass powder paste and photoelectric package
The present invention provides a glass powder blend comprising glass powder and additives, wherein the additives comprise copper powder, and the copper powder accounts for 2-3 mass % based on the total amount of the glass powder blend in 100 mass %. The present invention also provides a glass powder paste and a photoelectric package. Due to the addition of copper powder to the glass powder, the melting point of the glass powder blend can be decreased, thereby lowering the temperature for melting the glass powder blend by using laser, and reducing the thermal stress generated during encapsulation. |
| US10177335B2 |
Light-emitting device with auxiliary wiring and lens array
An EL light-emitting element in which a lower electrode layer, an EL layer, and an upper electrode layer are stacked is formed on a substrate, and a wiring is formed on a counter substrate. Further, the substrate and the counter substrate are bonded so that the wiring is in physical contact with the upper electrode layer of the EL element. Accordingly, the wiring can serve as an auxiliary wiring for increasing conductivity of the upper electrode layer. With such an auxiliary wiring, a potential drop due to the resistance of the upper electrode layer can be suppressed even in the light-emitting device whose light-emitting portion is large. |
| US10177333B2 |
Organic light-emitting display panel and device
Embodiments of the present disclosure disclose an organic light-emitting display panel and an organic light-emitting display device. The organic light-emitting display panel includes: a substrate; a first electrode and a second electrode that are stacked, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are both located on the same side of the substrate; an organic light-emitting layer, which is located between the first electrode and the second electrode; an electron transport layer, which is located between the organic light-emitting layer and the second electrode; wherein, a rare earth transitional metal is also contained at any location between the surface of the second electrode away from the organic light-emitting layer and the surface of the electron transport layer near to the organic light-emitting layer. |
| US10177327B2 |
Method of manufacturing an organic light emitting display device including a flexible substrate and a bending area
Provided are an organic light emitting display device and a method of manufacturing the organic light emitting display device. The method of manufacturing an organic light emitting display device includes forming a sacrificial layer on a lower mother substrate in which a plurality of cells is defined, forming a flexible substrate on the sacrificial layer, forming a display unit including a circuit unit and an organic light emitting diode in each of the plurality of cells on the flexible substrate, removing the lower mother substrate, bonding a supporting film to the flexible substrate, irradiating a portion of the supporting film corresponding to a boundary of a bending area of the flexible substrate, removing a portion of the supporting film corresponding to the bending area of the flexible substrate, performing a process for enhancing adhesion of the supporting film remaining after removing a portion of the supporting film, irradiating a boundary between a non-display area extended from the bending area and a pad area extended from the non-display area, and separating the plurality of cells into cell units by irradiating boundaries of the plurality of cells. |
| US10177326B2 |
Polymeric dielectrics, methods of manufacturing the same, and electronic devices and thin film transistors including the same
A polymeric dielectric may include a coordination complex of a modified elastic polymer and a metal cation. The modified elastic polymer may include an organic ligand moiety that coordinates the metal cation in a main chain of the elastic polymer. Provided are a method of manufacturing the same, and an electronic device and a thin film transistor including the same. |
| US10177325B2 |
Light emitting hybrid semiconductors based on IB-VII binary compounds
Inorganic-organic hybrid IB-VII semiconductor compounds, in which a Group IB transition metal halide salt is coordinated with an organic heteroaromatic ligand, wherein at least one ring atom of said heteroaromatic ligand is a heteroatom independently selected from N, O and S and the Group IB metal of the halide salt is coordinated to a ring heteroatom. Also disclosed are semiconductor and light emitting devices comprising these materials, including light emitting diodes, and methods of preparing these materials and devices. |
| US10177324B2 |
White organic electroluminescent device and preparation method thereof
Provided is a white organic electroluminescent device, composed of a substrate, an anode layer, an anode modification layer, a hole transporting-electron blocking layer, a hole-dominated light-emitting layer, an electron-dominated light-emitting layer, a hole blocking-electron transporting layer, a cathode modification layer, and a cathode layer arranged in turn, wherein the electron-dominated light-emitting layer is composed of an organic sensitive material, a blue organic light-emitting material, and an electron-type organic host material. A rare earth complex having a matched energy level, such as Tm(acac)3Phen or Dy(acac)3phen is selected as the organic sensitive material, and a trace amount of the same is doped into the electron-dominated light-emitting layer, which has the function of an energy transporting ladder and a deep binding center for charge carriers, so as to improve the light-emitting effectiveness, spectral stability, and service life of the device, reduce the operating voltage of the device, and delay the attenuation of the effectiveness of the device. |
| US10177321B2 |
Metal complex and organic light-emitting component
A metal complex and an organic light-emitting component are disclosed. In an embodiment, the metal complex includes the following structural formula I: |
| US10177320B2 |
Photoelectric conversion element, imaging device, optical sensor, and method of using photoelectric conversion element
The present invention provides a photoelectric conversion element having a photoelectric conversion film which exhibits excellent photoelectric conversion efficiency and responsiveness, an imaging device, an optical sensor, and a method of using a photoelectric conversion element. In the photoelectric conversion element of the invention, a photoelectric conversion material contains at least one selected from the group consisting of a compound represented by General formula (1), a compound represented by General formula (2), and a compound represented by General formula (3). |
| US10177319B2 |
Nitrogen-containing polycyclic compound and organic light emitting element using same
The present application relates to a polycyclic compound including nitrogen and an organic light emitting device including the same. |
| US10177317B2 |
Organic light emitting display device
An organic light emitting display device is provided. The organic light emitting display device includes at least two or more light emitting parts each having a light emitting layer and an electron transport layer; and a charge generation layer between the at least two or more light emitting parts. The charge generation layer comprises a compound that includes a core with two nitrogen atoms and a functional group having crystallinity. |
| US10177313B2 |
Diketopyrrolopyrrole polymers for use in organic semiconductor devices
The present invention relates to polymers comprising one or more (repeating) unit(s) of the formula (I) which are characterized in that Ar1 and Ar1′ are independently of each other are an annulated (aromatic) heterocyclic ring system, containing at least one thiophene ring, which may be optionally substituted by one, or more groups, and their use as organic semiconductor in organic devices, especially in organic photovoltaics (solar cells) and photodiodes, or in a device containing a diode and/or an organic field effect transistor. The polymers according to the invention have excellent solubility in organic solvents and excellent film-forming properties. In addition, high efficiency of energy conversion, excellent field-effect mobility, good on/off current ratios and/or excellent stability can be observed, when the polymers according to the invention are used in organic field effect transistors, organic photovoltaics (solar cells) and photodiodes. |
| US10177304B1 |
Hall effect sensor with enhanced sensitivity and method for producing the same
Methods of forming a high sensitivity Hall effect sensor having a thin Hall plate and the resulting devices are provided. Embodiments include providing a SOI substrate having a sequentially formed Si substrate and BOX and Si layers; forming a first STI structure in a first portion of the Si layer above the BOX layer, the first STI structure having a cross-shaped pattern; forming a second STI structure in a frame-shaped pattern in a second portion of the Si layer; the second STI structure formed outside and adjacent to the first STI structure; removing a portion of the Si layer between the first and second STI structures down to the BOX layer; removing the first STI structure, a cross-shaped Si layer remaining; and implanting N+ dopant ions into each end of the cross-shaped Si layer to form N+ implantation regions. |
| US10177303B2 |
Unipolar magnetoelectric magnetic tunnel junction
A magneto-electric magnetic tunnel junction device (ME-MTJ) that permits direct driving of ME-MTJ devices by a prior ME-MTJ device is the unipolar magneto-electric magnetic tunnel junction (UMMTJ) device. The UMMTJ device enables full logic circuitry to be implemented without level shifting between each logic element. |
| US10177301B2 |
Method of promoting electric output of piezoelectric/conductive hybrid polymer and fabricating method of piezoelectric/conductive hybrid polymer thin film
A method of fabricating a piezoelectric/conductive hybrid polymer thin film is provided, which is promoting an electric output of a piezoelectric polymer and includes: a mixing step including: forming a piezoelectric solution by dissolving a PVDF-TrFE in an active solvent; forming a conductive solution by dissolving a PEDOT:PSS in a water; and forming a piezoelectric/conductive hybrid polymer solution by mixing the piezoelectric solution and the conductive solution; a filming step, wherein the piezoelectric/conductive hybrid polymer solution is heated, thus the piezoelectric/conductive hybrid polymer thin film is formed; and an anneal step, wherein the piezoelectric/conductive hybrid polymer thin film is recrystallized and a nano-sized protruding structure is formed on a surface of the piezoelectric/conductive hybrid polymer thin film. |
| US10177299B2 |
Method for controlling at least one piezoelectric actuator of a fuel injector of an internal combustion engine
A method for controlling a piezoelectric actuator of a fuel injector of an internal combustion engine of a vehicle, the actuator acting on valve elements to open or close the injector, respectively enabling or stopping the injection of fuel into a combustion chamber of the engine, includes the steps of: applying to the actuator a first nominal electric charge required to open the injector in accordance with the torque requested and the engine speed, to open the valve elements for fuel injection, instructing the closure of the injector to stop the fuel injection, by applying an electric discharge to the actuator to close the valve elements, the method applied from an on-board engine control unit during operation, and including applying to the actuator between these 2 steps at least one second electric charge to polarize the actuator during an opening phase of the injector and during fuel injection. |
| US10177292B2 |
Carrier, carrier leadframe, and light emitting device
A light emitting device may comprise a wing portion of an electrode exposed from the resin housing. The wing portion may be made by a single or multiple stamp cutting process. To increase the connecting region between the electrode and solder, the outer side surface of the wing portion is an uneven surface. The device may further comprise a protective plating layer and an external protective plating layer. The protective plating layer may be coated on the top surface, bottom surface and a portion of the side surface of the electrode. The external portative plating layer would be coated on the outer surface of the wing region. The light reflection of the device from top surface of the electrode portion can be maintained and the outer side surface of wing portion can be protected for improving the reliability of connection between light emitting device and outer substrate. |
| US10177290B2 |
Light-emitting device
This disclosure discloses a light-emitting device includes a semiconductor stack, an electrode, an electrode post, a reflective insulating layer, an extending electrode, and a supporting structure. The electrode is disposed on a lower surface of the semiconductor stack, and electrically connected to the semiconductor stack. The electrode post is disposed on the electrode. The reflective insulating layer surrounds the electrode post, and has a bottom surface which is coplanar with the electrode post. The extending electrode is disposed on an upper surface of the semiconductor stack. The supporting structure is located on the extending electrode. |
| US10177288B2 |
Optoelectronic device comprising light-emitting diodes with improved light extraction
An optoelectronic device including a semiconductor substrate having a face, light-emitting diodes arranged on the face and including wired conical or frustoconical semiconductor elements, and an at least partially transparent dielectric layer covering the light-emitting diodes, the refractive index of the dielectric layer being between 1.6 et 1.8. |
| US10177285B2 |
Method of producing a housing cover, method of producing an optoelectronic component, and optoelectronic component
A method of producing a housing cover includes providing a cover blank having a mounting surface formed on an underside; connecting the underside of the cover blank to a silicon slice; creating at least one opening in the silicon slice to expose at least part of the mounting surface; arranging a base metallization on the exposed part of the mounting surface; and removing the silicon slice. |
| US10177284B2 |
Ultraviolet light emitting diode and method of manufacturing the same
A sidewall light emitting ultraviolet light emitting diode and a method of manufacturing thereof are disclosed. A light emitting structure is formed in an active region recessed from a substrate surface, and the light emitting structure is formed by growth in a direction parallel to the surface of the substrate. Also, a reflective metal layer is formed above or below the light emitting structure such that ultraviolet light can be released in a second direction perpendicular to a first direction which is the growth direction of the light emitting structure. |
| US10177280B2 |
Light emitting diode
A light emitting diode include a light emitting chip, a first reflecting layer surrounding the light emitting diode chip, a first encapsulation layer and a second encapsulation layer covering on the light emitting diode chip. The light emitting chip has a light exiting surface, a first electrode and a second electrode. the first electrode and the second electrode are located opposite to the light exiting surface. Further, a second reflecting layer surrounds the periphery of the light emitting chip and also locates between the first encapsulation layer and the second encapsulation layer. A reflectivity of the first reflecting layer is greater than a reflectivity of the first reflecting layer. A bottom surface of the first electrode and the second electrode are exposed from the first reflecting layer. |
| US10177277B2 |
Flip chip type light-emitting diode and method for manufacturing the same
In a flip chip type light-emitting diode, a light-emitting diode structure possesses one unique layer with properties of both thermal conduction and electrical isolation disposed on its second contact metal layer. A first dielectric layer covers the light-emitting diode structure. A first-level metal interconnect is divided into three blocks, which are disposed on the first dielectric layer and are respectively connected to a first contact metal layer, the second contact metal layer, and the insulated heat-transfer layer. A first bonding pad structure, a second bonding pad structure, and a heat-dissipating pad structure, forming a second-level interconnect metal layer, are disposed on a second dielectric layer and respectively connected to the blocks of the first-level metal interconnect. The first bonding pad structure, the second bonding pad structure, and the heat-dissipating pad structure are respectively disposed on a first electrode, a second electrode, and a heat-dissipating electrode of a circuit board. |
| US10177276B2 |
Group III nitride semiconductor light-emitting device and production method therefor
There is provided a Group III nitride semiconductor light-emitting device exhibiting improved crystallinity while suppressing abnormal growth of semiconductor layer due to pits and a production method therefor. In forming an n-side electrostatic breakdown preventing layer, pits are generated from the n-side electrostatic breakdown preventing layer. In forming an n-side superlattice layer, the layer is formed by alternately depositing a first InGaN layer and a GaN layer having an In composition ratio lower than that of the first InGaN layer, so that the In composition ratio and the total thickness of the first InGaN layers satisfy the following equation: 0 |
| US10177274B2 |
Red light emitting diode and lighting device
A red light emitting device, a fabricating method of the light emitting device, a light emitting device package and a lighting system are provided. The red light emitting device according to an embodiment may include a first conductive type first semiconductor layer 112; an active layer 114 on the first conductive type first semiconductor layer 112; a second conductive type third semiconductor layer 116 on the active layer 114; a second conductive type fourth semiconductor layer 124 on the second conductive type third semiconductor layer 116; and a second conductive type fifth semiconductor layer 125 on the second conductive type fourth semiconductor layer 124. The second conductive type fifth semiconductor layer 125 may include a superlattice structure of a GaP layer 125a/InxGa1-xP layer (0≤x≤1) 125b. |
| US10177271B2 |
Photodetectors exploiting electrostatic trapping and percolation transport
This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus related to photodetectors. In one aspect, a photodetector device comprises a substrate, a polycrystalline layer disposed on the substrate, and a first electrode and a second electrode disposed on the polycrystalline layer. The polycrystalline layer comprises nanograins with grain boundaries between the nanograins. The nanograins comprise a semiconductor material. A doping element comprising a halogen is segregated at the grain boundaries. A length of the polycrystalline layer is between and separating the first electrode and the second electrode. |
| US10177268B2 |
Optical device, optical module structure and manufacturing process
An optical device includes: (1) an emitter; (2) a detector disposed adjacent to the emitter; (3) an encapsulation layer encapsulating the emitter and the detector; (4) a dielectric layer disposed on the emitter, the detector and the encapsulation layer; (5) a redistribution layer disposed on the dielectric layer and electrically connected to the emitter and the detector; and (6) a light shielding structure disposed on the encapsulation layer and corresponding to a location between the emitter and the detector. |
| US10177266B2 |
Contact for silicon heterojunction solar cells
A photovoltaic device and method include a substrate coupled to an emitter side structure on a first side of the substrate and a back side structure on a side opposite the first side of the substrate. The emitter side structure or the back side structure include layers alternating between wide band gap layers and narrow band gap layers to provide a multilayer contact with an effectively increased band offset with the substrate and/or an effectively higher doping level over a single material contact. An emitter contact is coupled to the emitter side structure on a light collecting end portion of the device. A back contact is coupled to the back side structure opposite the light collecting end portion. |
| US10177264B2 |
Methods of capturing and aligning an assembly of nanowires
A method for transferring an assembly of oriented nanowires from a liquid interface onto a surface including providing a first liquid and a second liquid, wherein the first and second liquids phase separate into a bottom phase, a top phase and an interface between the bottom phase and the top phase, providing nanowires in the first and second liquids such that the majority of the nanowires are located at the interface and providing the nanowires onto a substrate such that a majority of the nanowires are aligned with respect to each other on the substrate. |
| US10177263B2 |
Cu2XSnY4 nanoparticles
Materials and methods for preparing Cu2XSnY4 nanoparticles, wherein X is Zn, Cd, Hg, Ni, Co, Mn or Fe and Y is S or Se, (CXTY) are disclosed herein. The nanoparticles can be used to make layers for use in thin film photovoltaic (PV) cells. The CXTY materials are prepared by a colloidal synthesis in the presence of labile organo-chalcogens. The organo-chalcogens serves as both a chalcogen source for the nanoparticles and as a capping ligand for the nanoparticles. |
| US10177259B2 |
Solar cell module and method for producing solar cell module
Provided is a solar cell module which has a high anti-glare property and is capable of maintaining power output at a high level. In a solar cell module with a light-incident surface formed by laminating an antireflection film on a plate body made of glass, and a surface of the plate body is roughened. A substance for forming the antireflection film is introduced into a space formed in a crack situated slightly inside from the roughened surface. Formation of a layer of air in the crack is prevented to suppress reflection of light at a portion in which the crack is formed. |
| US10177253B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same
A semiconductor device capable of adjusting profiles of a gate electrode and a gate spacer by implanting or doping an element semiconductor material into an interlayer insulating layer may be provided. The semiconductor device may include a gate spacer on a substrate, the gate spacer defining a trench, a gate electrode filling the trench, and an interlayer insulating layer on the substrate, which surrounds the gate spacer, and at least a portion of which includes germanium. |
| US10177252B2 |
Semiconductor device isolation with RESURF layer arrangement
A device includes a semiconductor substrate, a doped isolation barrier disposed in the semiconductor substrate, a body region disposed in the semiconductor substrate within the doped isolation barrier and in which a channel is formed during operation, an isolation contact disposed at the semiconductor substrate and to which a voltage is applied during operation, and a plurality of reduced surface field (RESURF) layers disposed in the semiconductor substrate, the plurality of reduced surface field (RESURF) layers being arranged in a stack between the body region and the isolation contact. |
| US10177250B2 |
Method of manufacturing a semiconductor device with a metal-filled groove in a polysilicon gate electrode
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes: forming a trench extending into a semiconductor substrate and a polysilicon gate electrode in the trench; forming a body region of a first conductivity type in the substrate adjacent the trench and a source region of a second conductivity type adjacent the body region and the trench; forming a dielectric layer on the substrate; forming a gate metallization on the dielectric layer which covers part of the substrate and a source metallization on the dielectric layer which is electrically connected to the source region, spaced apart from the gate metallization and covering a different part of the substrate than the gate metallization; and forming a metal-filled groove in the polysilicon gate electrode which is electrically connected to the gate metallization. The metal-filled groove extends along a length of the trench underneath at least part of the source metallization. |
| US10177242B2 |
Semiconductor arrangement and formation thereof
A semiconductor arrangement and method of formation are provided. The semiconductor arrangement comprises a conductive contact in contact with a substantially planar first top surface of a first active area, the contact between and in contact with a first alignment spacer and a second alignment spacer both having substantially vertical outer surfaces. The contact formed between the first alignment spacer and the second alignment spacer has a more desired contact shape then a contact formed between alignment spacers that do not have substantially vertical outer surfaces. The substantially planar surface of the first active area is indicative of a substantially undamaged structure of the first active area as compared to an active area that is not substantially planar. The substantially undamaged first active area has a greater contact area for the contact and a lower contact resistance as compared to a damaged first active area. |
| US10177236B2 |
Method of manufacturing semiconductor device
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes: setting a plurality of main semiconductor wafers and a plurality of sub semiconductor wafers in a load lock chamber of an electrode forming equipment; repeating a wafer-transfer and electrode-formation process of transferring at least one of the main semiconductor wafers from the load lock chamber to the film formation chamber in a state where the load lock chamber and the film formation chamber are decompressed and then forming a surface electrode on a surface of the at least one main semiconductor wafer transferred in the film formation chamber; removing the main semiconductor wafers on which the surface electrodes have been formed and the sub semiconductor wafers from the electrode forming equipment without forming an electrode on the sub semiconductor wafers by the electrode forming equipment; and making the surface electrodes Schottky-contact the main semiconductor wafers. |
| US10177233B2 |
Silicon carbide semiconductor device
A silicon carbide semiconductor device includes a gate insulating film and a gate electrode. A first main surface is provided with a trench defined by a side surface penetrating a third impurity region and a second impurity region to reach a first impurity region, and a bottom provided continuously with the side surface. In a stress test in which a gate voltage of at least one of −10 V and 20 V is applied to the gate electrode for 100 hours at a temperature of 175° C., where a threshold voltage before the stress test is defined as a first threshold voltage and a threshold voltage after the stress test is defined as a second threshold voltage, an absolute value of a difference between the first threshold voltage and the second threshold voltage is not more than 0.25 V. The second threshold voltage is not less than 2.5 V. |
| US10177232B2 |
Methods for manufacturing a Schottky device with mesa regions in-between conductive trenches and having multi-concentration doping profiles
A Schottky device includes a plurality of mesa structures where one or more of the mesa structures includes a doped region having a multi-concentration dopant profile. In accordance with an embodiment, the Schottky device is formed from a semiconductor material of a first conductivity type. Trenches having sidewalls and floors are formed in the semiconductor material to form a plurality of mesa structures. A doped region having a multi-concentration impurity profile is formed between two trenches, where the impurity materials of the doped region having the multi-concentration impurity profile are of a second conductivity type. A Schottky contact is formed to at least one of the mesa structures having the doped region with the multi-concentration impurity profile. |
| US10177231B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same
A semiconductor device comprises a semiconductor substrate and a semiconductor fin. The semiconductor substrate has an upper surface and a recess extending downwards into the semiconductor substrate from the upper surface. The semiconductor fin is disposed in the recess and extends upwards beyond the upper surface, wherein the semiconductor fin is directly in contact with semiconductor substrate, so as to form at least one semiconductor hetero-interface on a sidewall of the recess. |
| US10177230B2 |
Semiconductor device including at least one type of deep-level dopant
A semiconductor device includes a first semiconductor region including a first semiconductor material and a second semiconductor region adjoining the first semiconductor region, the second semiconductor region including a second semiconductor material different from the first semiconductor material. The semiconductor device further includes at least one of a drift zone and a base zone in the first semiconductor region, and at least one type of deep-level dopant in an emitter region of the second semiconductor region. The at least one type of deep-level dopant has a distance to the valence or conduction band of at least 100 meV. |
| US10177222B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same
A semiconductor device and a method of fabricating the same are provided. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate in which a multi-depth trench is formed, the multi-depth trench including a shallow trench and a deep trench arranged below the shallow trench, a first dielectric material formed in partial area of the multi-depth trench, the first dielectric material including a slope in the shallow trench that extends upward from a corner where a bottom plane of the shallow trench and a sidewall of the deep trench meets, the slope being inclined with respect to the bottom plane of the shallow trench, and a second dielectric material formed in areas of the multi-depth trench in which the first dielectric material is absent. |
| US10177221B2 |
Integrated Schottky diode in high voltage semiconductor device
This invention discloses a method for manufacturing a semiconductor power device in a semiconductor substrate comprises an active cell area and a termination area. The method comprises the steps of a) growing and patterning a field oxide layer in the termination area and also in the active cell area on a top surface of the semiconductor substrate b) depositing and patterning a polysilicon layer on the top surface of the semiconductor substrate at a gap distance away from the field oxide layer; c) performing a blank body dopant implant to form body dopant regions in the semiconductor substrate substantially aligned with the gap area followed by diffusing the body dopant regions into body regions in the semiconductor substrate; d) implanting high concentration body-dopant regions encompassed in and having a higher dopant concentration than the body regions and e) applying a source mask to implant source regions having a conductivity opposite to the body region with the source regions encompassed in the body regions and surrounded by the high concentration body-dopant regions. |
| US10177220B2 |
High voltage metal oxide semiconductor device
A high voltage MOS device includes: a first drift region with a first conductive type, a body region with a second conductive type, plural second drift regions with the second conductive type, a gate, a source region with the first conductive type, a drain with the first conductive type, and a body contact region with the second conductive type. The plural second drift regions contact the body region along the lateral direction, and are located separately in the width direction. Any neighboring two second drift regions do not contact each other. Each of the second drift regions is separated from the drain by the first drift region. |
| US10177213B2 |
Magnetic inductor stacks with multilayer isolation layers
A magnetic laminating structure and process includes alternating layers of a magnetic material and a multilayered insulating material, wherein the multilayered insulating material is intermediate adjacent magnetic material layers and comprises a first insulating layer abutting at least one additional insulating layer, wherein the first insulating layer and the at least one additional insulating layer comprise different dielectric materials and/or are formed by a different deposition process, and wherein the layers of the magnetic material have a cumulative thickness greater than 1 micron. |
| US10177212B2 |
Organic electroluminescent display device
Disclosed herein is an electroluminescent display device capable of improving reliability of a contact portion between low-potential supply line and a cathode electrode of an organic light emitting diode. The electroluminescent display device includes a low potential voltage supply line disposed on a display panel to supply a low potential voltage to the display panel; a cathode electrode overlapped with the low potential voltage supply line and having at least one contact portion; and an auxiliary cathode electrode overlapped with the low potential voltage supply line and the cathode electrode to connect the low potential voltage supply line to the cathode electrode, wherein a bank layer is disposed between the cathode electrode and the auxiliary cathode electrode to cover a rim of the auxiliary cathode electrode, or the cathode electrode covers a rim of the auxiliary cathode electrode and an inorganic insulation layer. |
| US10177211B2 |
Electro-optical device and electronic apparatus
Subpixels of R, G, and B corresponding to a scanning line extended in a row direction and a data transfer line extended in a column direction are provided. A plurality of transistors in the subpixel of each of the colors is disposed along the column direction, and a reflective layer in the subpixel of at least one color is disposed along the row direction so as to overlap any transistor of subpixels of each display color. A power source wiring is disposed between the reflective layer and the transistor along the row direction, so as to overlap the transistor. Relay electrodes which connects the reflective layer and any transistor of subpixels of each display color are formed on a layer between a layer on which the power source wiring is formed, and the reflective layer. |
| US10177207B2 |
Organic light emitting diode display and manufacturing method thereof
An organic light emitting diode display according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a substrate; a first electrode disposed on the substrate; an auxiliary electrode formed at the same layer as the first electrode; a pixel defining layer having a first contact hole overlapping a part of the auxiliary electrode; an organic light emitting member disposed on the pixel defining layer and having a second contact hole enclosing the first contact hole; and a second electrode disposed on the organic light emitting member and inside the first contact hole and the second contact hole, wherein the second electrode is in contact with the auxiliary electrode through the first contact hole and the second contact hole. |
| US10177205B2 |
Display device having a bank and method for manufacturing display device having a bank
A display device including a plurality of first electrodes arranged in a display region above a substrate, each of the plurality of first electrodes being in common with n (n is an integer of 2 or more) number of light emitting elements, a bank having a recess part and partitioning the n number of light emitting elements with the recess part as a boundary in each of the plurality of first electrodes, a light emitting layer arranged above the plurality of first electrodes throughout the display region, and n groups of second electrodes arranged above the light emitting layer and electrically separated with the recess part as a boundary. |
| US10177194B2 |
Fingerprint identification apparatus
A fingerprint identification apparatus including a display device, a first translucent base, photosensitive structures, a first light-guide structure, and a light source is provided. The display device has pixel regions and transmissive regions located between the pixel regions. The first translucent base has photosensitive regions and light-emitting regions located between the photosensitive regions. The photosensitive structures are respectively disposed in the photosensitive regions of the first translucent base. The first translucent base is disposed between the photosensitive structures and the first light-guide structure. The light source is disposed adjacent to the first translucent base. |
| US10177193B2 |
Array of mesa photodiodes with an improved MTF
An array of mesa photodiodes, including a useful layer of CdxHg1-xTe wherein pads are formed. The array includes a first doped zone having a first N or P doping; and second doped zones having a second P or N doping of a different type from that of the first doping, and each extending on an upper region of a pad. The first doped zone includes at least one first region having a first doping density, located at least under each of the pads; and at least one second region, located between two neighboring pads, and having a second doping density higher than the first doping density, each second region being separated from the closest second doped zone by at least one portion of the first region. |
| US10177192B2 |
Image sensor having photodiodes sharing one color filter and one micro-lens
An image sensor is provides. The image sensor may include first and second photodiodes, a first color filter shared by the first and the second photodiodes, and first and second floating diffusion regions coupled to the first and the second photodiodes, respectively. |
| US10177189B2 |
Semiconductor structure and manufacturing method thereof
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor structure includes receiving a substrate and an interlayer dielectric (ILD) over the substrate; bonding the substrate and the ILD over a carrier substrate; forming a recessed portion extended through the substrate and the ILD; disposing a conductive material into the recessed portion; and removing the carrier substrate, wherein the conductive material is in contact with the ILD and is separated from the substrate. |
| US10177188B2 |
Semiconductor package and method of fabricating the same
A semiconductor package including a substrate, a memory chip on the substrate, a mold layer on the substrate to cover a side surface of the memory chip, an image sensor chip on the memory chip and the mold layer, and a connection terminal between and electrically connecting the memory chip to the image sensor chip may be provided. |
| US10177186B2 |
Pixel structure of image sensor and method of forming same
A photo diode includes a pixel unit, a photo conversion layer, and a dielectric layer. The pixel unit includes a pair of pixels. The photo conversion layer is above the pixel unit and has a pair of portions, each of which corresponds to a respective one of the pixels. The dielectric layer is between the portions of the photo conversion layer. A method of manufacturing the photo diode is also disclosed. |
| US10177184B2 |
Solid-state imaging device, method of manufacturing solid-state imaging device, and electronic apparatus
A solid-state imaging device including an imaging area where a plurality of unit pixels are disposed to capture a color image, wherein each of the unit pixels includes: a plurality of photoelectric conversion portions; a plurality of transfer gates, each of which is disposed in each of the photoelectric conversion portions to transfer signal charges from the photoelectric conversion portion; and a floating diffusion to which the signal charges are transferred from the plurality of the photoelectric conversion portions by the plurality of the transfer gates, wherein the plurality of the photoelectric conversion portions receive light of the same color to generate the signal charges, and wherein the signal charges transferred from the plurality of the photoelectric conversion portions to the floating diffusion are added to be output as an electrical signal. |
| US10177179B2 |
Thin-film transistor device
A thin-film transistor (TFT) device may include a data line and a gate line formed on a base substrate, a TFT connected to the data line and the gate line, and a magnetic field antenna spaced apart from the data line and the gate line on the base substrate. The magnetic field antenna may be connected to the TFT and configured to transmit and receive a signal to and from the TFT or to control a driving of the TFT. |
| US10177177B2 |
Display panel and display device
A display panel includes a TFT substrate, an opposite substrate and a display layer. A TFT of the TFT substrate has a drain. A first insulating layer has a first sub-layer and a second sub-layer disposed on the drain sequentially. The first sub-layer has a first opening with a first width. The second sub-layer has a second opening with a second width on the first opening. The first and second openings form a first via, and the second width is greater than the first width. A passivation layer is disposed on the first insulating layer. A second insulating layer is disposed on the passivation layer. A pixel electrode layer is disposed on the second insulating layer and disposed in the first via to connect the drain. The display layer is disposed between the TFT substrate and the opposite substrate. |
| US10177176B2 |
Thin film transistor array substrate and method for manufacturing the same
To prevent light leakage and compensate for a step between a display region and a non-display region, a thin film transistor array substrate can include a base substrate having a display region and a non-display region, a plurality of pixel regions defined by gate lines and data lines crossing each other in the display region of the base substrate, a common line corresponding to between adjacent pixel regions, a thin film transistor and a color filter in each pixel region, a first dummy color filter between the adjacent pixel regions, a second dummy color filter in the non-display region on the base substrate, the second dummy color filter being provided at an upper surface thereof with at least one recess, and a protective film over the entire surface of the base substrate to cover the first and second dummy color filters and fill the recess. |
| US10177175B2 |
Display device including source driver sandwiched between gate drives
Provided is a display device, including: a plurality of gate lines extending in a first direction; a plurality of source lines extending in a second direction; a gate driver configured to output a gate signal; and a plurality of gate lead-out lines extending in the second direction and being configured to transmit the gate signal to the plurality of gate lines, in which each of the plurality of gate lines is electrically connected to at least one of the plurality of gate lead-out lines, and at least one of the plurality of gate lines is electrically connected to at least two of the plurality of gate lead-out lines. |
| US10177173B2 |
Touch drive circuit and driving method therefor, and array substrate
A touch drive circuit and a driving method therefor, an array substrate and a touch display apparatus relate to a field of display. The driving method includes: during touch scanning time period in one frame, by each of output control unit (2), receiving a touch enable signal, a common voltage signal and a touch scanning signal, and receiving an output signal of an shift register unit connected with the output control unit; and outputting, by each of the output control units, the touch scanning signal to a touch drive electrode connected with the touch control unit in a first time period according to the touch enable signal and the output signal of the shift register unit connected with the output control unit, wherein the first time period is scanning time allocated to the touch drive electrode in one frame of time. |
| US10177172B2 |
Array substrate, display panel and display device including the same
An array substrate, and a display panel and display device including the same are disclosed. An embodiment of the array substrate comprises a display region and a non-display region. The non-display region comprises: abase substrate; and a first metal layer, a second metal layer, and a third metal layer arranged in a direction perpendicular to the base substrate. A transistor and a metal line are arranged in the non-display region. A gate electrode of the transistor is located in the first metal layer. A source electrode and a drain electrode of the transistor are located in the second metal layer. The metal line is located in the third metal layer. The orthographic projection of the transistor onto the base substrate overlaps, at least partially, with the orthographic projection of the metal line onto the base substrate. |
| US10177166B2 |
Integrated circuit including complex logic cell
An integrated circuit includes a complex logic cell. The complex logic cell includes a first logic circuit providing a first output signal from a first input signal group and a common input signal group, and a second logic circuit providing a second output signal from a second input signal group and the common input signal group. The first and second logic circuits respectively include first and second transistors formed from a gate electrode, the gate electrode extending in a first direction and receiving a first common input signal of the common input signal group. |
| US10177164B2 |
Semiconductor device
A stack structure including a plurality of gate electrodes is vertically stacked on a substrate and extends in a first direction. A channel structure includes vertical channels penetrating the stack structure and a horizontal channel connecting the vertical channels. The horizontal channel are provided under the stack structure. First lower wiring patterns are disposed between the substrate and the stack structure and electrically connected to the channel structure. Each first lower wiring pattern includes a first portion and a second portion having different widths from each other in the first direction. |
| US10177163B1 |
SOI-based floating gate memory cell
One illustrative device disclosed a floating gate capacitor located in and above a first region of an SOI substrate located on a first side of an isolation trench and a transistor device located in and above a second region of the SOI substrate that is on the opposite side of the isolation trench. The device also includes a control gate formed in the bulk semiconductor layer in the first region and a gate structure that extends across the isolation trench and above the first and second regions. A first portion of the gate structure is positioned above the first region and the control gate and a second portion of the gate structure is positioned above the second region, wherein the first portion of the gate structure constitutes a floating gate for the floating gate capacitor and the second portion of the gate structure constitutes a transistor gate structure for the transistor device. |
| US10177159B2 |
Memory cells and memory arrays
Some embodiments include memory cells having four transistors supported by a base, and vertically offset from the base. The four transistors are incorporated into first and second inverters having first and second inverter outputs, respectively. A first access transistor gatedly couples the first inverter output to a first comparative bitline, and second access transistor gatedly couples the second inverter output to a second comparative bitline. The first and second access transistors have first and second gates coupled to one another through a wordline. The four transistors are along a first side of the wordline, and are vertically displaced from the wordline. The first and second comparative bitlines are laterally adjacent to one another along a second side of the wordline, and are vertically displaced from the wordline. Some embodiments include memory arrays. |
| US10177155B2 |
Method of manufacturing semiconductor devices having contact plugs overlapping associated bitline structures and contact holes
A semiconductor device can include a plurality of landing pads arranged according to a layout on a substrate, wherein a cross-sectional shape of each of the landing pads has a diamond shape so that opposing interior angles of the diamond shape are equal to one another and adjacent interior angles of the diamond shape are unequal to one another. |
| US10177129B2 |
Display device with a chip on film
A display device includes a display panel including a substrate, pixels provided on the substrate, and first lines connected to the pixels, the display device having a bending area where the display panel is bent. The display panel also includes a chip on film overlapping with a portion of the display panel and having second lines, an anisotropic conductive film provided between the chip on film and the display panel connecting the first lines and the second lines, and a coating layer covering the bending area and one end of the chip on film. In such a device, lines of the chip on film may be prevented from being corroded as they may be spaced apart from an edge of an insulating film. |
| US10177123B2 |
Light emitting diode array on a backplane and method of making thereof
A backplane optionally having stepped horizontal surfaces and optionally embedding metal interconnect structures is provided. First conductive bonding structures are formed on first stepped horizontal surfaces. First light emitting devices on a first transfer substrate are disposed on the first conductive bonding structures, and a first subset of the first light emitting devices is bonded to the first conductive bonding structures. Laser irradiation can be employed to selectively disconnect the first subset of the first light emitting devices from the first transfer substrate while a second subset of the first light emitting devices remains attached to the first transfer substrate. Additional devices on each additional transfer substrate can be bonded to additional conductive bonding structures on the backplane employing the same method provided that the additional devices are not present in positions that would overlap with pre-existing first light emitting devices or devices on the backplane at a bonding position. |
| US10177122B2 |
High voltage solid-state transducers and solid-state transducer arrays having electrical cross-connections and associated systems and methods
Solid-state transducer (“SST”) dies and SST arrays having electrical cross-connections are disclosed herein. An array of SST dies in accordance with a particular embodiment can include a first terminal, a second terminal and a plurality of SST dies coupled between the first and second terminals with at least a pair of the SST dies being coupled in parallel. The plurality of SST dies can individually include a plurality of junctions coupled in series with an interconnection between each individual junction. Additionally, the individual SST dies can have a cross-connection contact coupled to the interconnection. In one embodiment, the array can further include a cross-connection between the cross-connection contacts on the pair of the SST dies. |
| US10177121B1 |
Package including a plurality of stacked semiconductor devices, an interposer and interface connections
A system can include a first semiconductor device, a second semiconductor device and a first semiconductor memory device. The first semiconductor device can include a first capacitor having first and second capacitor nodes that each include at least one essentially vertically formed conductive portion in a substrate. The first capacitor node can be coupled to receive a power supply potential. At least one conductive data path is coupled between the first semiconductor memory device and the second semiconductor device. |
| US10177119B2 |
Fan out semiconductor device including a plurality of semiconductor die
A semiconductor package is disclosed including a number of stacked semiconductor die, electrically connected to each other with wire bonds. The stacked semiconductor die are provided in a mold compound such that a spacing exists between a top die in the die stack and a surface of the mold compound. The wire bonds to the top die may be provided in the spacing. An RDL pad is affixed to the surface of the mold compound. Columns of bumps may be formed on the die bond pads of the top die in the die stack to electrically couple the RDL pad to the die stack across the spacing. |
| US10177116B2 |
Large channel interconnects with through silicon vias (TSVs) and method for constructing the same
An electrical device that includes at least two active wafers having at least one through silicon via, and at least one unitary electrical communication and spacer structure present between a set of adjacently stacked active wafers of the at least two active wafers. The unitary electrical communication and spacer structure including an electrically conductive material core providing electrical communication to the at least one through silicon via structure in the set of adjacently stacked active wafers and a substrate material outer layer. The at least one unitary electrical communication and spacer structure being separate from and engaged to the adjacently stacked active wafers, wherein coolant passages are defined between surfaces of the adjacently stacked active wafers and the at least one unitary electrical communication and spacer structure. |
| US10177114B2 |
Hybrid 3D/2.5D interposer
Representative implementations of devices and techniques provide a hybrid interposer for 3D or 2.5D package arrangements. A quantity of pockets is formed on a surface of a carrier in a predetermined pattern. The pockets are filled with a reflowable conductive material. Chip dice are coupled to the interposer carrier by fixing terminals of the dice into the pockets. The carrier may include topside and backside redistribution layers to provide fanout for the chip dice, for coupling the interposer to another carrier, board, etc. having a pitch greater than that of the chip dice. |
| US10177108B2 |
Method of manufacturing electronic component module and electronic component module
A method of manufacturing an electronic component module and the electronic component module manufactured by the manufacturing method includes bumps, each including a thicker portion having a relatively large thickness and a thinner portion having a relatively small thickness and formed on one surface of the substrate. When looking at the electronic component in a mounted state in a plan view, the thicker portion is positioned on a side of a corresponding outer terminal closer to a center of the electronic component and the thinner portion is positioned on the opposite side of the corresponding outer terminal. In the plan view, joining portions joining the outer terminals respectively to the bumps are formed such that a height of each joining portion on the opposite side is lower than a height of the joining portion on the side closer to the center of the electronic component. |
| US10177106B2 |
Conductive pad structure for hybrid bonding and methods of forming same
A representative device includes a patterned opening through a layer at a surface of a device die. A liner is disposed on sidewalls of the opening and the device die is patterned to extend the opening further into the device die. After patterning, the liner is removed. A conductive pad is formed in the device die by filling the opening with a conductive material. |
| US10177105B2 |
Semiconductor structure and method of forming
A device package and methods of forming are provided. The device package includes a logic die and a first passivation layer over the logic die. The device package also includes a memory die and a molding compound extending along sidewalls of the logic die and the memory die. The device package also includes a conductive via extending through the molding compound, and a first redistribution layer (RDL) structure over the molding compound. The molding compound extends between a top surface of the memory die and a bottom surface of the first RDL structure. A top surface of the first passivation layer contacts the bottom surface of the first RDL structure. |
| US10177100B2 |
Fan-out semiconductor package
A fan-out semiconductor package includes a first connection member having a through-hole, a semiconductor chip disposed in the through-hole of the first connection member, the semiconductor chip including an active surface having connection pads disposed thereon and an inactive surface opposing the active surface, a passive component attached to the active surface of the semiconductor chip, an encapsulant encapsulating at least a portion of the first connection member and the inactive surface of the semiconductor chip, and a second connection member disposed on the first connection member and the active surface of the semiconductor chip, the first connection member and the second connection member each including at least one redistribution layer electrically connected to the connection pads of the semiconductor chip, and the passive component being electrically connected to the connection pads of the semiconductor chip through the redistribution layer of the second connection member. |
| US10177099B2 |
Semiconductor package structure, package on package structure and packaging method
A semiconductor package structure includes a substrate, a first semiconductor device, a first encapsulant and a second encapsulant. The substrate has a first coefficient of thermal expansion CTE1. The first semiconductor device is disposed adjacent to a first surface of the substrate. The first encapsulant is disposed on the first surface of the substrate, and covers at least a portion of the first semiconductor device. The first encapsulant has a second coefficient of thermal expansion CTE2. The second encapsulant is disposed on a second surface of the substrate and has a third coefficient of thermal expansion CTE3. A difference between CTE1 and CTE2 is substantially equal to a difference between CTE1 and CTE3. |
| US10177097B2 |
Multiple driver pin integrated circuit structure
An integrated circuit (IC) structure includes a plurality of driver pins, each driver pin positioned at a driver pin level and oriented in a driver pin direction, and a plurality of layers of metal segment arrays. Each layer of metal segment arrays has a layer direction and includes two parallel metal segments oriented in the layer direction. The layer direction of a lowermost layer is perpendicular to the driver pin direction, the layer direction of each additional layer is perpendicular to the layer direction of a layer immediately below the additional layer, and each metal segment of a topmost layer is electrically connected to each driver pin of the plurality of driver pins. |
| US10177096B2 |
Semiconductor package and method for manufacturing the same
Semiconductor packages and a methods for manufacturing a semiconductor package are provided. The method includes providing a package including a substrate, a semiconductor chip provided on the substrate, and a molding layer provided on the substrate and covering the semiconductor chip, the substrate including a ground pattern exposed at one surface of the substrate; and applying a solution including metal particles and a conductive carbon material onto the molding layer to form a shielding layer covering the molding layer. The shielding layer includes the metal particles and the conductive carbon material connected to at least one of the metal particles. The shielding layer extends onto the one surface of the substrate and is electrically connected to the ground pattern. |
| US10177090B2 |
Package-on-package semiconductor assembly having bottom device confined by dielectric recess
A package-on-package semiconductor assembly is characterized by a semiconductor device positioned in a dielectric recess of a core base and surrounded by an array of metal posts. The recess in the core provides lateral displacement control between the device and the metal posts, and the minimal height of the metal posts needed for the vertical connection between two both opposite sides of the core base can be reduced by the amount equal to the depth of the recess. Further, another semiconductor device is disposed over a top surface of the core base and is electrically coupled to the semiconductor device in the dielectric recess through a buildup circuitry under a bottom surface of the core base. |
| US10177089B2 |
Advanced E-fuse structure with controlled microstructure
An advanced e-Fuse structure is described. An e-Fuse device includes an anode region, a cathode region and a fuse element which interconnects the anode and cathode regions in a dielectric material on a first surface of a substrate. The fuse element has a smaller cross section and a higher aspect ratio than the anode and cathode regions. The anode and cathode regions are comprised of a large grained copper structure and the fuse element is comprised of a fine grained copper structure. |
| US10177088B2 |
Electrical antifuse having solid core
An antifuse structure including an opening through a dielectric material to a contact surface and an antifuse material layer present within the opening. The antifuse material layer may be a phase change material alloy of tantalum and nitrogen, wherein at least a base surface of the antifuse material layer is present on the contact surface and sidewall surfaces of the antifuse material layer are present on sidewalls of the opening through the dielectric material. An airgap or solid material core may be in the opening atop the base surface of the phase change material alloy. An electrically conductive material may be in direct contact with at least the antifuse material layer. |
| US10177086B2 |
Microelectronic components with features wrapping around protrusions of conductive vias protruding from through-holes passing through substrates
In a microelectronic component having conductive vias (114) passing through a substrate (104) and protruding above the substrate, conductive features (120E.A, 120E.B) are provided above the substrate that wrap around the conductive vias' protrusions (114′) to form capacitors, electromagnetic shields, and possibly other elements. Other features and embodiments are also provided. |
| US10177085B2 |
Power commutation module
A power commutation module includes a printed circuit board, a first plate-shaped bus bar, and a first plurality of power switches each including a plurality of connection pins which are connected on the upper face of the printed circuit board and a metal base plate which is applied against the bus bar. The first plurality of power switches is mounted on the first bus bar. The power switches are generally aligned along a longitudinal edge of the first bus bar, in that said longitudinal edge of the first bus bar is arranged along a first longitudinal edge of the printed circuit board, and the portion of the first bus bar on which the power switches are mounted is arranged next to the printed circuit board. |
| US10177083B2 |
Alternative surfaces for conductive pad layers of silicon bridges for semiconductor packages
Alternative surfaces for conductive pad layers of silicon bridges for semiconductor packages, and the resulting silicon bridges and semiconductor packages, are described. In an example, a semiconductor structure includes a substrate having a lower insulating layer disposed thereon. The substrate has a perimeter. A metallization structure is disposed on the lower insulating layer. The metallization structure includes conductive routing disposed in a dielectric material stack. First and second pluralities of conductive pads are disposed in a plane above the metallization structure. Conductive routing of the metallization structure electrically connects the first plurality of conductive pads with the second plurality of conductive pads. An upper insulating layer is disposed on the first and second pluralities of conductive pads. The upper insulating layer has a perimeter substantially the same as the perimeter of the substrate. |
| US10177081B2 |
Thyristor and thermal switch device and assembly techniques therefor
A device may include a lead frame, where the lead frame includes a central portion, and a side pad, the side pad being laterally disposed with respect to the central portion. The device may further include a thyristor device, the thyristor device comprising a semiconductor die and further comprising a gate, wherein the thyristor device is disposed on a first side of the lead frame on the central portion. The device may also include a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) device electrically coupled to the gate of the thyristor device, wherein the PTC device is disposed on the side pad on the first side of the lead frame; and a thermal coupler having a first end connected to the thyristor device and a second end attached to the PTC device. |
| US10177077B2 |
Chip structure having redistribution layer
A chip structure including a chip and a redistribution layer is provided. The chip includes a plurality of pads. The redistribution layer includes a dielectric layer and a plurality of conductive traces. The dielectric layer is disposed on the chip and has a plurality of contact windows located above the pads. The conductive traces are located on the dielectric layer and are electrically coupled to the pads through the contact windows. At least one of the conductive traces includes a body and at least one protrusion coupled to the body, and the at least one protrusion is coupled to an area of the body other than where the contact windows are coupled to on the body. |
| US10177076B2 |
Air gap and air spacer pinch off
Embodiments are directed to a method of forming a semiconductor device and resulting structures having an air spacer between a gate and a contact by forming a gate on a substrate and over a channel region of a semiconductor fin. A contact is formed on a doped region of the substrate such that a space between the contact and the gate defines a trench. A first dielectric layer is formed over the gate and the contact such that the first dielectric layer partially fills the trench. A second dielectric layer is formed over the first dielectric layer such that an air spacer forms in the trench between the gate and the contact. |
| US10177074B1 |
Flexible semiconductor package
Implementations of semiconductor packages may include a die including a first side and a second side opposing the first side, the second side of the die coupled to a layer, a first end of a plurality of wires each bonded to the first side of the die, a mold compound encapsulating the die and the plurality of wires, and a second end of the plurality of wires each directly bonded to one of a plurality of bumps, wherein a surface of the layer is exposed through the mold compound. |
| US10177073B2 |
Wafer level embedded heat spreader
Disclosed herein are a device having an embedded heat spreader and method for forming the same. A carrier substrate may comprise a carrier, an adhesive layer, a base film layer, and a seed layer. A patterned mask is formed with a heat spreader opening and via openings. Vias and a heat spreader may be formed in the pattern mask openings at the same time using a plating process and a die attached to the head spreader by a die attachment layer. A molding compound is applied over the die and heat spreader so that the heat spreader is disposed at the second side of the molded substrate. A first RDL may have a plurality of mounting pads and a plurality of conductive lines is formed on the molded substrate, the mounting pads may have a bond pitch greater than the bond pitch of the die contact pads. |
| US10177069B2 |
Heat-dissipating structure and semiconductor module using same
A heat-dissipating structure is formed by bonding a first member and a second member, each being any of a metal, ceramic, and semiconductor, via a die bonding member; or a semiconductor module formed by bonding a semiconductor chip, a metal wire, a ceramic insulating substrate, and a heat-dissipating base substrate including metal, with a die bonding member interposed between each. At least one of the die bonding members includes a lead-free low-melting-point glass composition and metal particles. The lead-free low-melting-point glass composition accounts for 78 mol % or more in terms of the total of the oxides V2O5, TeO2, and Ag2O serving as main ingredients. The content of each of TeO2 and Ag2O is 1 to 2 times the content of V2O5, and at least one of BaO, WO3, and P2O5 is included as accessory ingredients, and at least one of Y2O3, La2O3, and Al2O3 is included as additional ingredients. |
| US10177065B2 |
Silicon-based heat dissipation device for heat-generating devices
Embodiments of a silicon-based heat dissipation device and a chip module assembly are described. An apparatus includes a chip module assembly that includes a silicon-based heat dissipation device and an extended device coupled to the silicon-based heat dissipation device. The silicon-based heat dissipation device includes a base portion having a first primary side and a second primary side opposite the first primary side. The silicon-based heat dissipation device also includes a protrusion portion on the first primary side of the base portion and protruding therefrom, with the protrusion portion having a plurality of fins. The extended device includes an extended layer. The second primary side of the base portion is configured to receive one or more heat-generating devices thereon such that at least a portion of heat generated by the one or more heat-generating devices is dissipated to the silicon-based heat-dissipation device by conduction. |
| US10177062B2 |
Surface passivation having reduced interface defect density
Embodiments are directed to a method of passivating a surface of a high-mobility semiconductor and resulting structures having a reduced interface defect density. A semiconductor layer is formed on a substrate. A surface of the semiconductor layer is contacted with a sulfur source including thiourea at a temperature of up to about 90 degrees Celsius to form a sulfur passivation layer on the surface of the semiconductor layer. A dielectric layer is formed on the sulfur passivation layer and a minimum of interface trap density distribution at an interface between the semiconductor layer and the dielectric layer is less than about 2.0×1011 cm−2eV−1. |
| US10177059B2 |
Method for manufacturing semiconductor apparatus using a base-attached encapsulant
A base-attached encapsulant for semiconductor encapsulation is used for collectively encapsulating a device-mounted surface of the semiconductor device-mounted substrate having semiconductor devices mounted thereon or a device-formed surface of a semiconductor device-formed wafer having semiconductor devices formed thereon. The base-attached encapsulant has a base and an encapsulating resin layer containing an uncured or semi-cured thermosetting resin component formed onto one of the surfaces of the base, and a linear expansion coefficient α1 of the semiconductor device to be encapsulated by the base-attached encapsulant, a linear expansion coefficient α2 of a cured product of the encapsulating resin layer, and a linear expansion coefficient α3 of the base satisfy both of the following formula (1) and (2); α1<α3<α2 (1) −2<α1+α2−2α3<2 (2) wherein the unit of the linear expansion coefficient is ppm/K. The base-attached encapsulant for semiconductor encapsulation which suppress package warpage even if a package with a large area is encapsulated. |
| US10177058B1 |
Encapsulating composition, semiconductor package and manufacturing method thereof
An encapsulating composition and a semiconductor package are provided. The encapsulating composition adapted to encapsulate a semiconductor die includes a photosensitive dielectric material and a polarizable compound suspended in the photosensitive dielectric material. The polarizable compound within a predetermined region of the encapsulating composition affected by an external stimulus is arranged uniformly in a thickness direction to provide a conductive path penetrating through the photosensitive dielectric material along the thickness direction. The semiconductor package includes the encapsulating composition encapsulating the semiconductor die, a first and a second redistribution layer. The first and the second redistribution layer disposed on the opposite sides of the encapsulating composition are electrically connected each other through the encapsulating composition. A manufacturing method of the semiconductor package is also provided. |
| US10177056B2 |
Repackaged integrated circuit assembly method
A method is provided. The method includes one or more of extracting a die from an original packaged integrated circuit, modifying the extracted die, reconditioning the modified extracted die, placing the reconditioned die into a cavity of a hermetic package base, bonding a plurality of bond wires between reconditioned die pads of the reconditioned die to leads of the hermetic package base or downbonds to create an assembled hermetic package base, and sealing a hermetic package lid to the assembled hermetic package base to create a new packaged integrated circuit. Modifying the extracted die includes removing the one or more ball bonds on the one or more die pads. Reconditioning the modified extracted die includes adding a sequence of metallic layers to bare die pads of the modified extracted die. The extracted die is a fully functional semiconductor die with one or more ball bonds on one or more die pads of the extracted die. |
| US10177049B2 |
Embedded SiGe epitaxy test pad
Techniques for measuring and testing a semiconductor wafer during semiconductor device fabrication include designating a test area on the top surface of the wafer and etching a first rectangular trench and a second rectangular trench on the top surface of the wafer in the test area. The trenches are oriented such that a length of the first trench is perpendicular to a length of the second trench, and positioned such that the length of the first trench, if extended, intersects the length of the second trench. A silicon-germanium compound is deposited into the first trench and the second trench, and a test pad is removed from the test area of the wafer. The test pad includes a side surface where both the first trench and the second trench are exposed. The side surface of the test pad is scanned with a transmission electron microscope to take measurements of the silicon-germanium. |
| US10177046B2 |
Vertical FET with different channel orientations for NFET and PFET
A technique relates to forming a semiconductor device. A first substrate is provided adjacent to a second substrate. The first substrate has a first surface orientation, and the second substrate has a second surface orientation different from the first surface orientation. An n-type field effect transistor (NFET) device is formed with the first substrate. The NFET device includes a first source, a first drain, and one or more first fins. The first source and the first drain have a vertical relationship with respect to the one or more first fins. A p-type field effect transistor (PFET) device is formed with the second substrate. The PFET device includes a second source, a second drain, and one or more second fins. The second source and the second drain have a vertical relationship with respect to the one or more second fins. |
| US10177039B2 |
Shallow trench isolation structures and contact patterning
A dual layer shallow isolation trench region for semiconductor structures including field effect transistors (FETs) and methods for making the same. The first layer of the shallow trench isolation region includes a dielectric material disposed between adjacent FETs. The second layer is an etch resistant material disposed on the dielectric material and has an increased etch resistance relative to the dielectric material. The etch resistant material overlays the shallow trench region to provide the dual layer shallow trench isolation region, which permits self-alignment of contacts to the source and/or drain of FETs. |
| US10177037B2 |
Methods of forming a CT pillar between gate structures in a semiconductor
A method includes providing a semiconductor structure having a substrate and a plurality of fins extending upwards from the substrate. A CT pillar layer is disposed over the semiconductor structure. A CT mask is lithographically patterned over the CT pillar layer. The CT mask is anisotropically etched to remove exposed portions of the CT pillar layer and to form a CT pillar between the fins. A dummy gate structure is disposed across the CT pillar. The dummy gate structure is replaced with first and second metal gate structures that are electrically isolated from each other by the CT pillar. |
| US10177028B1 |
Method for manufacturing fully aligned via structures having relaxed gapfills
The present disclosure generally relates to semiconductor structures and, more particularly, to fully aligned via structures having relaxed gapfills and methods of manufacture. The method includes: selectively depositing a capping material on a conductive material within a plurality of interconnect structures to form capped interconnect structures; depositing at least one insulator material over the capped interconnect structures; forming a fully aligned via structure through the at least one insulator material to expose the capping material; filling the fully aligned via structure with an alternative metal; and depositing a metal material on the alternative metal in the fully aligned via structure. |
| US10177027B2 |
Method for reducing cracks in a step-shaped cavity
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes providing a semiconductor substrate including a substrate and a multilayer film having a step-shaped portion on the substrate; forming a protective layer covering the step-shaped portion of the multilayer film; forming a capping layer having a plurality of steps on the protective layer covering the semiconductor substrate; and removing at least one layer of the multilayer film to form a cavity that is defined by the capping layer and a remaining multilayer film that has the at least one layer removed. The thus formed semiconductor device does not have cracks in the steps of the capping layer when performing an etch process, thereby improving the performance of the semiconductor device. |
| US10177026B2 |
Semiconductor structure and fabrication method therefor
A method of fabricating a semiconductor structure. The method includes forming a sacrificial gate structure, depositing a dielectric material, and implanting the dielectric material using a silicon cluster gas. The silicon cluster gas has two or more silicon atoms. |
| US10177024B2 |
High temperature substrate pedestal module and components thereof
A semiconductor substrate processing apparatus comprises a vacuum chamber in which a semiconductor substrate may be processed, a showerhead module through which process gas from a process gas source is supplied to a processing zone of the vacuum chamber, and a substrate pedestal module. The substrate pedestal module includes a platen, a stem having a side wall defining a cylindrical interior region thereof, a lower surface, and an upper end that supports the platen, and an adapter having a side wall defining a cylindrical interior region thereof and an upper surface that supports the stem. The lower surface of the stem includes a gas inlet in fluid communication with a respective gas passage located in the side wall of the stem and a gas outlet located in an annular gas channel in the upper surface of the adapter. The upper surface of the adapter includes an inner groove located radially inward of the gas outlet and an outer groove located radially outward of the inner groove. The inner groove and the outer groove have respective O-rings therein so as to form a vacuum seals during processing. The platen includes at least one platen gas passage in fluid communication with a respective gas passage in the side wall of the stem through which backside gas can be supplied to a region below a semiconductor substrate when supported on the upper surface of the platen during processing. |
| US10177023B2 |
Protective cover for electrostatic chuck
In embodiments, manufacturing a protective cover for an electrostatic chuck comprises coating a top surface and side walls of a conductive wafer with a plasma resistant ceramic, masking an inner region of a bottom surface of the conductive wafer, coating inner region of the bottom surface with the plasma resistant ceramic, and grinding the inner region of the bottom surface to a flatness of less than approximately 300 microns. In embodiments, a protective cover is manufactured by a process comprising applying a mask to an outer perimeter of a bottom surface of a plasma resistant ceramic wafer, coating the bottom surface of the plasma resistant ceramic wafer with an electrically conductive layer, and removing the mask, wherein an inner region of the bottom surface of the plasma resistant ceramic wafer is coated with the conductive layer. |
| US10177015B2 |
Method of transferring light-emitting diodes
A method of transferring light-emitting diodes including picking up the light-emitting diodes from a base substrate by using a first stamper; rotating the light-emitting diodes by about 90 degrees and arranging the light-emitting diodes over the first stamper or a sacrificial substrate; picking up the rotated light-emitting diodes arranged over the first stamper or the sacrificial substrate by using a second stamper; and releasing the light-emitting diodes from the second stamper towards a display substrate. |
| US10177014B2 |
Thermal radiation barrier for substrate processing chamber components
An apparatus for a substrate support heater and associated chamber components having reduced energy losses are provided. In one embodiment, a substrate support heater is provided. The substrate support heater includes a heater body having a first surface to receive a substrate and a second surface opposing the first surface, a heating element disposed in the heater body between the first surface and the second surface, and a thermal barrier disposed on the second surface of the heater body, wherein the thermal barrier comprises a first layer and a second layer disposed on the first layer. |
| US10177013B2 |
Monocrystal and polycrystal texturing device
A monocrystal and polycrystal texturing device includes a device body, various stations arranged in the device body, a transmission device and a control system. The various stations are respectively a dipping acid texturing station, a spray washing station, a drying station, a spray alkali texturing station, a spray washing station, a dipping acid treatment station, a spray washing station, an acid treatment station, a spray washing station and a drying station arranged in sequence. The transmission device is for transmitting a silicon wafer to each station in sequence. The spray alkali texturing station is also connected with a heating device. The control system controls the working status of each station and the heating device. The technology of the present invention has the advantages of stable operation, high efficiency and reliability, and can conduct seamless switching among polycrystal acid texturing, monocrystal alkali texturing, monocrystal acid texturing, and monocrystal alkali texturing. |
| US10177011B2 |
Chip packaging method by using a temporary carrier for flattening a multi-layer structure
A chip packaging method includes forming a first redistribution layer and a first dielectric layer on a first temporary carrier to generate a plurality of first conductive interfaces close to the first temporary carrier, each pair of neighboring first conductive interfaces having a first pitch; forming a second dielectric layer on a first portion of the first redistribution layer and the first dielectric layer so as to cover the first portion of the first redistribution layer and expose a second portion; and forming a second redistribution layer and a third dielectric layer over the second dielectric layer to generate a plurality of second conductive interfaces. A circuitry being formed by at least the first redistribution layer and the second redistribution layer and each pair of neighboring second conductive interfaces has a second pitch larger than the first pitch. |
| US10177009B2 |
Manufacturing method for semiconductor device including first and second thermal treatments
A semiconductor device includes: an SiC substrate having a first surface and a second surface; a first conductivity type SiC layer disposed on the first surface side of the SiC substrate, and including a low level density region having Z1/2 level density of 1×1011 cm−3 or less measured by deep level transient spectroscopy (DLTS); a second conductivity type SiC region disposed on a surface of the SiC layer; a first electrode disposed on the SiC region; and a second electrode disposed on the second surface side of the SiC substrate. |
| US10177002B2 |
Methods for chemical etching of silicon
Improved methods for chemically etching silicon are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method of etching a silicon material includes: (a) exposing the silicon material to a halogen-containing gas; (b) evacuating the halogen-containing gas from the semiconductor processing chamber; (c) exposing the silicon material to an amine vapor to etch a monolayer of the silicon material; (d) evacuating the amine vapor from the semiconductor processing chamber and; (e) optionally repeating (a)-(d) to etch the silicon material to a predetermined thickness. |
| US10176997B1 |
Direct gate patterning for vertical transport field effect transistor
Forming a semiconductor structure, including epitaxially growing a first source drain region between a first fin in an N-FET region and a second fin in a P-FET region, forming a shallow trench isolation region separating the N-FET region and the P-FET region, conformally forming an insulator on exposed surfaces of the semiconductor structure, conformally forming a work function metal layer on exposed surfaces, conformally forming a liner, conformally forming an organic planarization layer, forming a titanium nitride layer, patterning a photo resist mask, forming an first opening between the N-FET region and the P-FET region, wherein a top surface of a portion of the liner is exposed at a bottom of the first opening, removing the portion of the liner between the N-FET region and the P-FET region and removing a portion of the work function metal layer between the N-FET region and the P-FET region. |
| US10176996B2 |
Replacement metal gate and fabrication process with reduced lithography steps
Embodiments of the present invention provide a replacement metal gate and a fabrication process with reduced lithography steps. Using selective etching techniques, a layer of fill metal is used to protect the dielectric layer in the trenches, eliminating the need for some lithography steps. This, in turn, reduces the overall cost and complexity of fabrication. Furthermore, additional protection is provided during etching, which serves to improve product yield. |
| US10176990B2 |
SiGe FinFET with improved junction doping control
A semiconductor device and a method for fabricating the device. The method includes: providing a FinFET having a source/drain region, at least one SiGe fin, a silicon substrate, a local oxide layer is formed on the silicon substrate, a gate structure is formed on the at least one SiGe fin and the local oxide layer, the gate structure is encapsulated by a gate hard mask and sidewall spacer layers; recessing the at least one SiGe fin in the source/drain region to the sidewall spacer layers and the silicon substrate layer; recessing the local oxide layer in the source/drain region to the sidewall spacer layer and the silicon substrate; growing a n-doped silicon layer on the silicon substrate; growing a p-doped silicon layer or p-doped SiGe layer on the n-doped silicon layer; and forming a silicide layer on the p-doped silicon layer or p-doped SiGe layer. |
| US10176989B2 |
Method of manufacturing integrated circuit device
A method of manufacturing an integrated circuit device and an integrated circuit device prepared according to the method, the method including forming a silicon oxycarbonitride (SiOCN) material layer on an active region of a substrate, the forming the SiOCN material layer including using a precursor that has a bond between a silicon (Si) atom and a carbon (C) atom; etching a portion of the active region to form a recess in the active region; baking a surface of the recess at about 700° C. to about 800° C. under a hydrogen (H2) atmosphere, and exposing the SiOCN material layer to the atmosphere of the baking while performing the baking; and growing a semiconductor layer from the surface of the recess baked under the hydrogen atmosphere. |
| US10176983B1 |
Charged particle induced deposition of boron containing material
A method for produce a boron containing film by admitting a gaseous boron precursor into a vacuum chamber containing a substrate and directing an electron beam or ion beam into the vacuum chamber onto to the surface of the substrate. The electron beam or ion beam dissociates the gaseous boron precursor at the surface of the substrate creating non-volatile fragments that bind to the substrate surface forming a boron containing film. |
| US10176982B2 |
Method for forming a gradient thin film by spray pyrolysis
The present invention proposes a method to form a gradient thin film using a spray pyrolysis technique. The method comprises providing a base substrate, preparing a spray aqueous solution by mixing at least two precursor compounds comprising at least two different elements and spraying the spray aqueous solution onto the base substrate. According to the present invention, the ratio of the concentration of the at least two different elements within the spray aqueous solution is varied while performing the method. In this way, a thin film having a gradient of elemental composition over its layer thickness may be formed. |
| US10176977B2 |
Ion source for soft electron ionization and related systems and methods
An ion source is configured for soft electron ionization and produces a low electron-energy, yet high-intensity, electron beam. The ion source includes an electron source that produces the electron beam and transmits it into an ionization chamber. The electron beam interacts with sample material in the ionization chamber to produce an ion beam that may be transmitted to a downstream device. The electron source is configured for generating a virtual cathode upstream of the ionization chamber, which enhances the intensity of the electron beam. |
| US10176976B2 |
Ion source and method for generating elemental ions from aerosol particles
The invention relates to an ion source (50) for generating elemental ions and/or ionized metal oxides from aerosol particles, comprising: a reduced pressure chamber (61) having an inside; an inlet (56) and a flow restricting device (60) for inserting the aerosol particles in a dispersion comprising the aerosol particles dispersed in a gas, in particular in air, into the inside of the reduced pressure chamber (61), the inlet (60) fluidly coupling an outside of the reduced pressure chamber (61) via the flow restricting device (60) with the inside of the reduced pressure chamber (60); a laser (62) for inducing in a plasma region (63) in the inside of the reduced pressure chamber (61) a plasma in the dispersion for atomizing and ionizing the aerosol particles to elemental ions and/or ionized metal oxides; wherein the reduced pressure chamber (61) is adapted for achieving and maintaining in the inside of the reduced pressure chamber (61) a pressure in a range from 0.01 mbar to 100 mbar. The invention further relates to a method for generating elemental ions and/or ionized metal oxides from aerosol particles, comprising the steps of inserting aerosol particles in a dispersion comprising the aerosol particles dispersed in a gas, in particular in air, through an inlet (56) via a flow restricting device (60) into an inside of a reduced pressure chamber (61), while maintaining in the inside of the reduced pressure chamber (61) a pressure in a range from 0.01 mbar to 100 mbar, preferably from 0.1 mbar to 100 mbar or from 1 mbar to 100 mbar, particular preferably from 0.1 mbar to 50 mbar or from 1 mbar to 50 mbar, most preferably from 0.1 mbar to 40 mbar or from 1 mbar to 40 mbar; and inducing with a laser (62) in a plasma region (63) in the inside of the reduced pressure chamber (61) a plasma in the dispersion for atomizing and ionizing the aerosol particles to elemental ions and/or ionized metal oxides, wherein the laser (62) is adapted for inducing in the plasma region (63) in the inside of the reduced pressure chamber (61) the plasma in the gas of the dispersion for atomizing and ionizing the aerosol particles to elemental ions. |
| US10176968B2 |
Method for adjusting charged particle beam device and adjusting beam aperture based on a selected emission condition and charged particle beam device for same
The present invention relates to enabling a versatile charged particle beam device, which is used for a wide range of kinds of samples to be observed and has parameters of emission conditions of a primary charged particle beam that is difficult to be registered in advance, to be operated easily and accurately even by a less-experienced operator and to obtain high-resolution images. A charged particle beam device according to the present invention includes, for example: a charged particle source, a focusing lens for a primary charged particle beam emitted from the charged particle source, an objective lens for focusing the primary charged particle beam, a movable objective aperture having multiple objective apertures disposed on a side of the charged particle source with respect to the objective lens, a detector of a secondary signal from the sample resulting from emission of the primary charged particle beam, a display unit configured to process and display a detected secondary signal, and a storage unit configured to store multiple emission conditions of the primary particle beam. The operation controller makes one emission condition be selected, determines whether or not the objective aperture is suitable for the selected emission condition, displays that the objective aperture is unsuitable when the objective aperture is unsuitable, and preadjusts the primary charged particle beam according to the selected emission condition and stores the preadjustment result as parameters for the emission conditions when the objective aperture is suitable. |
| US10176967B2 |
Load lock system for charged particle beam imaging
A load lock system for charged particle beam imaging with a particle shielding plate, a bottom seal plate and a plurality of sensor units is provided. The sensor units are located above the wafer, the shield plate is designed to have a few number of screws, and the bottom seal plate contains no cable, no contact sensors and fewer screws used. In the invention, the system is designed to improve the contamination particles from components in the load lock system of charged particle beam inspection tool and also to simplify its assembly. |
| US10176966B1 |
Edge detection system
An edge detection system is provided that generates a scanning electron microscope (SEM) linescan image of a pattern structure including a feature with edges that require detection. The edge detection system includes an inverse linescan model tool that receives measured linescan information for the feature from the SEM. In response, the inverse linescan model tool provides feature geometry information that includes the position of the detected edges of the feature. |
| US10176965B1 |
Aberration-corrected multibeam source, charged particle beam device and method of imaging or illuminating a specimen with an array of primary charged particle beamlets
A charged particle beam device for inspection of a specimen with an array of primary charged particle beamlets is described. The charged particle beam device includes a charged particle beam source to generate a primary charged particle beam; a multi-aperture plate having at least two openings to generate an array of charged particle beamlets having at least a first beamlet having a first resolution on the specimen and a second beamlet having a second resolution on the specimen; an aberration correction element to correct at least one of spherical aberrations and chromatic aberrations of rotational symmetric charged particle lenses; and an objective lens assembly for focusing each primary charged particle beamlet of the array of primary charged particle beamlets onto a separate location on the specimen. |
| US10176960B2 |
Devices and methods for enhancing the collection of electrons
The present disclosure relates to devices and methods for enhancing the collection of charge carriers, such as electrons. Methods of manufacturing the devices are also disclosed. An electronic device can include a cathode, an anode, a gate electrode, and a focus electrode. The cathode can include a cathode substrate and an emitting region that is configured to emit an electron flow. The anode can include an anode substrate and a collection region that is configured to receive and/or absorb the electron flow. The gate electrode can be receptive to a first power source to produce a voltage in the gate electrode that is positively-biased with respect to the cathode. The focus electrode can be receptive to a second power source to produce a voltage in the focus electrode that is negatively-biased with respect to the gate electrode and/or the cathode. |
| US10176956B2 |
Safety tripping device for a frame-type ACB drawer seat
A safety tripping device for a frame-type ACB drawer seat, which includes a special gear, a first lever, a tension spring, a second lever, and a tripping shaft. The special gear includes the first rotation shaft and the first irregular convex flange feature. The irregular convex flange is lapped with a bending edge of one end of the first lever. The other end of the first lever is connected to the tension spring. An arc-shaped notch is provided at one end of the first lever which corresponds to the connecting spring. An arc-shaped protrusion matching the arc-shaped notch is provided at one end of the second lever. The arc-shaped protrusion engages with or separates from the arc-shaped notch to achieve the tripping operation. The frame-type ACB drawer seat according to the present invention is suitable for large-scale production applications. |
| US10176955B2 |
Multi-pole molded case circuit breaker
The present invention relates to a multi-pole molded case circuit breaker, more particularly, to a multi-pole molded case circuit breaker having a safety device (with an isolation function) which prevents a manipulation handle from being moved to an off-position when a fusion occurs on a contact portion. |
| US10176952B2 |
Electromagnetic relay
Provided is an electromagnetic relay that is reduced in size and has great flexibility in designing. For this purpose, when a predetermined time has passed after generation of an arc at least either between a movable contact and a fixed contact or between a movable contact and a fixed contact, an arc generated between the movable contact and the fixed contact is extended by a magnetic field generation unit to be longer than an arc generated between the movable contact and the fixed contact. |
| US10176951B2 |
Constant voltage supplying circuit for circuit breaker
The constant voltage supplying circuit for a circuit breaker according the invention comprises: a first switching device; a constant current source configured to supply a constant current; a feedback circuit section commonly connected to an output terminal of each of the first switching device and the constant current source; a constant voltage source connected to the feedback circuit section, and configured to supply a constant voltage; a current adjusting circuit section connected to the output terminal of the first switching device, and configured to adjust an output current of the first switching device; and a divided voltage resistor section including a first resistor and a second resistor, and configured to provide a divided voltage of an output voltage of the constant voltage supplying circuit, to the feedback circuit section, through a connection node between the first resistor and the second resistor. |
| US10176949B2 |
Control apparatus for relay and controlling method thereof
A control apparatus for a relay and controlling method thereof. The controlling method includes: detecting an input voltage of the relay and a current flowing through the relay; obtaining a voltage zero crossing point information according to the input voltage and a reference voltage value; turning on the relay at an initial turn-on time point according to the voltage zero crossing point information, and obtaining a real turn-on time point of the relay according to the current flowing through the relay; obtaining a turn-on delay of the relay according to the initial turn-on time point and the real turn-on time point, and adjusting the initial turn-on time point to obtain a compensated turn-on time point according to the turn-on delay. |
| US10176948B2 |
Manual charging apparatus for vacuum interrupter
A manual charging apparatus for a vacuum interrupter, including a motor for charging a closing spring mounted on a vacuum interrupter; a charging shaft configured to rotate by a rotational force of the motor; and a manual charging handle coupled to one end of the charging shaft and configured to manually rotate the manual charging handle, wherein the manual charging handle includes an insertion part formed in an cylindrical shape and inserted into one end of the charging shaft; an extension part vertically bent from the insertion part and extended to increase a revolution torque; and a handle part vertically bent from the extension part and configured to apply a manual operation force, and wherein the insertion part includes a rotation restriction means configured to restrict a rotation in one direction. |
| US10176945B2 |
DC electrical circuit breaker
A DC electrical circuit breaker includes first and second movable electrical contacts. The circuit breaker includes a magnetic circuit including a magnet and generating a magnetic field able to guide an electrical arc in the direction of a quenching chamber, and having for this purpose curved field lines extending perpendicularly to opposite lateral walls of an electrical arc formation chamber, these field lines converging, in a central region of the arc formation chamber containing the contact zones, toward the quenching chamber while extending parallel to the longitudinal plane. |
| US10176943B1 |
High-voltage switch for series/parallel applications and tap changer applications
A switch includes an insulating base having an upper surface and an assembly having a mounting surface. The assembly configured to be arranged on the insulating base, the assembly having a lower surface, the assembly being configured to be arranged on the upper surface of the insulating base with an open space between the lower surface of the assembly and the upper surface of the insulating base. The switch further includes a plurality of fixed contact units mounted in an aligned arrangement on the mounting surface of the assembly and a movable contactor mounted to move within the bore of the insulating body and the electrical contacts of the plurality of fixed contact units. |
| US10176940B2 |
Electrical cable section detection circuit breaker and method of controlling such a circuit breaker
A cable section detection circuit breaker and a method of control making it possible notably to automatically calibrate the circuit breaker according to the section detected. For this purpose, the circuit breaker, provided for the protection of at least one electrical line comprising at least one electrical cable, comprises: an electrical cable diameter sensor; and a data processing unit connected to the diameter sensor for receiving a value of said diameter. The processing unit is capable of verifying that the value of said diameter is greater than or equal to a limit value determined from an assigned current of said circuit breaker. |
| US10176937B2 |
Electrical switches and sensors
Electrical switches or sensors that comprise (a) a first electrical pole, (b) a layer of a variable resistance material in electrical contact with the first electrical pole, and (c) a second electrical pole that is in electrical contact with the variable resistance material and is not in electrical contact with the first pole, wherein the variable resistance material comprises at least one polymer having a glass transition temperature of no higher than about 10° C. |
| US10176928B2 |
Magnetically enhanced energy storage systems
In one embodiment, a system, comprising: a first non-magnetic conductive electrode; a second non-magnetic conductive electrode; a dielectric layer disposed between the first and second electrodes, the dielectric layer extending between the first and second electrodes; and first and second layers comprising plural pairs of magnetically coupled pairings of discrete magnets, the first and second layers separated by a non-magnetic material, wherein the magnets of at least the first layer are conductively connected to the first non-magnetic conductive electrode. |
| US10176925B2 |
Precision laser adjustable thin film capacitors
Disclosed are apparatus and methodology for providing a precision laser adjustable (e.g., trimmable) thin film capacitor array. A plurality of individual capacitors are formed on a common substrate and connected together in parallel by way of fusible links. The individual capacitors are provided as laddered capacitance value capacitors such that a plurality of lower valued capacitors corresponding to the lower steps of the ladder, and lesser numbers of capacitors, including a single capacitor, for successive steps of the ladder, are provided. Precision capacitance values can be achieved by either of fusing or ablating selected of the fusible links so as to remove the selected subcomponents from the parallel connection. In-situ live-trimming of selected fusible links may be performed after placement of the capacitor array on a hosting printed circuit board. |
| US10176923B2 |
Ceramic electronic component and method of producing the same
A ceramic electronic component includes a body, a first external electrode, and a second external electrode. The body includes a first end surface and a second end surface that face each other, surfaces each extending between the first end surface and the second end surface, an outer edge that is provided along the surfaces and includes recesses, the recesses extending from the first end surface and the second end surface along ridges of the surfaces, and a functional unit that is disposed inward relative to the outer edge. The first external electrode and the second external electrode respectively cover the first end surface and the second end surface and extend to come close to each other from the first end surface and the second end surface along the surfaces and the recesses. |
| US10176918B2 |
Electronic component and manufacturing method for same
An electronic component includes a first ceramic substrate having a first principal surface on the upper side and a second principal surface on the lower side, a multilayer body constituted by a plurality of insulator layers each made of a material containing resin and laminated on the first principal surface, a first coil disposed in and/or on the multilayer body, a first relay conductor connected to the first coil, and a first outer electrode disposed on the first ceramic substrate and electrically connected to the first relay conductor. The plurality of insulator layers include one or more first insulator layers in each of which a first corner has a shape cut away as a first cut-away portion, the first relay conductor is disposed in the first cut-away portion, and the plurality of insulator layers include a second insulator layer that is contacted with the first relay conductor from below. |
| US10176917B2 |
Embedded magnetic component device
An embedded magnetic component device includes a magnetic core located in a cavity extending into an insulating substrate. The cavity and magnetic core are covered with a cover layer. Through holes extend through the cover layer and the insulating substrate, and are plated to define conductive vias. Metallic traces are provided at exterior surfaces of the cover layer and the insulating substrate to define upper and lower winding layers. The metallic traces and conductive vias define the respective primary and secondary side windings for an embedded transformer. At least a first isolation barrier is provided on the cover layer, and at least a third insulating layer is provided on the substrate. The second and third insulating layers provide additional insulation for the device, and define and function as a circuit board for surface mounted power electronics. |
| US10176916B2 |
Electronic component
A multilayer body is formed of a plurality of insulator layers that are stacked on top of one another. A coil is a helical coil provided in the multilayer body and includes a plurality of coil conductor layers that are superposed with one another so as to form a ring-shaped path when seen in plan view from a stacking direction and a plurality of via hole conductors that connect the plurality of coil conductor layers together. The path includes corners that project outward and corners that project inward. Each of the via hole conductors are provided at one of the corners, which project outward. |
| US10176898B2 |
Nuclear fuel containing a neutron absorber
Fuel bundles for a nuclear reactor are described and illustrated, and in some cases include fuel elements each having a fissile content of 235U between about 0.9 wt % 235U and 5.0 wt % 235U, and wherein at least one of the fuel elements is a poisoned low-enriched uranium fuel element including a neutron poison in a concentration greater than about 5.0 vol %. |
| US10176895B2 |
Configurable user interface systems for hospital bed
Configurable user interface systems for a patient support structure are disclosed. As described a control interface comprises the capability to allow limited impact on processes deemed important when other applications and programs are run. The configurable user interface systems described herein allow for customized display of information and display options available to a user in various environments. |
| US10176890B2 |
Segmenting and interpreting a document, and relocating document fragments to corresponding sections
A method comprising receiving a document having multiple sections of different types using a processor. The method also comprises obtaining a plurality of lexicons using the processor, each of the lexicons for interpreting fragments in one or more of the section types. The method further comprises interpreting fragments in a first section of the multiple sections using the processor and one or more lexicons. The method still further comprises determining, based upon the interpretation and using the processor, that a fragment in the first section is misplaced. The method still further comprises re-locating, using the processor, the misplaced fragment to a second section of the multiple sections in the document to generate a re-organized document. The method additionally includes storing the re-organized document in a hardware storage system using the processor. |
| US10176889B2 |
Segmenting and interpreting a document, and relocating document fragments to corresponding sections
A computer program product comprising a computer-readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions executable by a processor to cause the processor to receive a document having multiple section headers, segment the document into at least first and second sections based on the section headers, segment items in the first section into fragments and identify a section type for each of the fragments, determine that the identified section type for at least one of the fragments better matches a type of the second section than it matches a type of the first section, and re-locate the at least one of the fragments to the second section. |
| US10176888B2 |
Architecture for field upgrade of a health monitoring system
An architecture allows individual system components to be developed and tested individually, i.e., as distinct modules, and to be subsequently combined through standardized electrical and communication interfaces. Any combination of these modules can be implemented to form different products that provide any number of functions, such as an integrated system for monitoring a health condition and/or delivering a medication. The architecture also provides an approach for dynamically updating the product and offering its users the latest generation of technology even after the users have already purchased the product. In particular, the embodiments employ the communication interfaces to also provide connection to a remote network that can update or upgrade the product's software when the product is out in the field. |
| US10176885B2 |
Semiconductor memory apparatus and test method thereof
A semiconductor memory apparatus includes a comparison circuit generating a detection code in response to stored data and expected data, a counting circuit generating a counting code in response to the detection code, a selection code output circuit outputting one of a plurality of expected codes as a selection code in response to a selection signal, and a plurality of signal storage circuits. A comparison result output circuit including a plurality of signal storage circuits which stores a comparison result of a comparison between the counting code and the selection code in one signal storage circuit among the plurality of signal storage circuits according to the selection signal, and a value stored in one signal storage circuit among the plurality of signal storage circuits is output as a result signal in response to an output enable signal. |
| US10176884B2 |
Sense amplifier driving device
A semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell, a bit line connected to the memory cell, and a sense amplifier. The sense amplifier is connected to the bit line, receives a first control signal, and detects and amplifies a bit line signal of the bit line. The sense amplifier includes a precharge device that is turned on or turned off based on a read control signal, and a transistor output unit that outputs an output voltage based on the bit line signal when the precharge device is turned off. |
| US10176882B1 |
Secure storage apparatus
In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a non-volatile memory, a one-time programmable (OTP) memory, and a processor operative to write data values to the non-volatile memory and then initiate programming of a first bit of the OTP memory, the first bit being associated with locking the non-volatile memory from further data being written thereto, and after the non-volatile memory has been locked from further data being written thereto, initiate programming of the second bit of the OTP memory in order to lock the non-volatile memory from further data being erased therefrom. |
| US10176881B2 |
Non-volatile memory devices having temperature and location dependent word line operating voltages
A non-volatile memory device includes: a memory cell array including a memory cell string including a ground selection transistor and a plurality of serially connected non-volatile memory cells; a ground selection line connected to the ground selection transistor and a plurality of word lines connected to the plurality of memory cells; a voltage generator configured to generate a program verification voltage and a read voltage applied to the plurality of word lines; and a control circuit configured to control a compensation for the program verification voltage based on a program verification temperature offset, and control a to compensation for the read voltage based on a read temperature offset. |
| US10176880B1 |
Selective body reset operation for three dimensional (3D) NAND memory
Technology for a memory device is described. The memory device can include a plurality of memory cells and a memory controller. The memory controller can apply a first voltage level to a selected wordline associated with the plurality of memory cells during a body reset operation. The memory controller can apply a second voltage level to an unselected wordline associated with the plurality of memory cells during the body reset operation. The selected wordline can transit to a stable negative pillar potential, such that selected memory cells associated with the selected wordline can have a reduced threshold voltage instability. |
| US10176878B2 |
Sense amplifier and memory device using the same
A single-ended sense amplifier and a memory device including the same are presented. A sense amplifier, which senses and amplifies data of a memory cell, may include a precharge circuit pre-charging a data line which is connected to the memory cell and provides a sensing voltage, and a reference line which provides a reference voltage, with a power supply voltage; a reference voltage generating circuit which generates the reference voltage by discharging the reference line based on a reference current, and adjusts an amount of the reference current based on the data of the memory cell; and a comparator which compares the sensing voltage and the reference voltage, and outputs a comparison result as the data of the memory cell. |
| US10176877B2 |
Non-volatile semiconductor memory device and memory system
A non-volatile semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array and a control circuit. A control circuit performs an erase operation providing a memory cell with a first threshold voltage level for erasing data of a memory cell, and then perform a plurality of first write operations providing a memory cell with a second threshold voltage level, the second threshold voltage level being higher than the first threshold voltage level and being positive level. When the control circuit receives a first execution instruction from outside during the first write operations, the first execution instruction being for performing first function operation except for the erase operation and the first write operations, the circuit performs the first function operation during the first write operations. |
| US10176874B2 |
Storage device and method of controlling the storage device
A storage device includes bit lines including a first bit line and a second bit line, memory units including a first memory string having memory cells connected in series, connected to the first bit line, and a second memory string having memory cells connected in series, connected to the second bit line, word lines each connected in common to a gate of a memory cell in the first string and a gate of a memory cell in the second string, and a controller configured to control voltages applied to the bit lines and the word lines during writing. When writing is performed on a selected memory cell of the first memory string, a first voltage is applied to a selected word line connected to the gate of the selected memory cell while a second voltage higher than a zero voltage is applied to the first bit line. |
| US10176873B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and reading method thereof
A semiconductor memory device and a reading method thereof are provided. A flash memory includes a memory cell array; a page buffer/reading circuit, holding data of a selected page of the memory cell array; a decoding/selecting circuit, selecting n bits data from the data held by the page buffer based on a column address; and a data bus for n bits, which is connected to the decoding/selecting circuit. The decoding/selecting circuit further connects n/2 bits data of an even address to a lower bit position of the data bus and connects n/2 bits data of an odd address to a upper bit position of the data bus based on the column address. When the start address is the odd address, data of the odd address and data of the even address next to the odd address are selected. |
| US10176866B1 |
Recap layer scheme to enhance RRAM performance
An RRAM device is disclosed. The RRAM device includes a lower electrode structure over a conductive lower interconnect layer, an upper electrode structure over the lower electrode structure, and a switching layer between the lower electrode and the upper electrode structure. The switching layer has switching layer outer sidewalls. The RRAM device also includes a recap layer having a vertical portion that extends vertically from corners of the switching layer along the upper electrode sidewalls. The recap layer has a horizontal portion that extends horizontally from the corners to the switching layer outer sidewalls. |
| US10176858B1 |
Adjusting instruction delays to the latch path in DDR5 DRAM
Memory devices may provide a communication interface that is configured to receive control signals, and/or address signals from user circuitry, such as a processor. The memory device may receive and process signals employing different signal paths that may have different latencies, leading to clock skews. Embodiments discussed herein the application are related to interface circuitry that may decrease certain response times of the memory device by adding delays that minimize the clock skews. For example, a delay in a control path, such as a chip select path, may allow reduction in a delay of an address path, and leading to a decrease of the access time of the memory device. Embodiments also disclose how training modes may be employed to further adjust the delays in the control and/or address paths to decrease access times during regular operation. |
| US10176856B2 |
Semiconductor memory apparatus
A semiconductor memory apparatus may be provided. The semiconductor memory apparatus may include a row decoder configured to generate one or more row decoding signals based on a plurality of row addresses. The semiconductor memory apparatus may include a column decoder configured to generate one or more column decoding signals based on a plurality of column addresses. |
| US10176854B2 |
Memory decoding system
A memory decoding system includes a memory decoding reference current module. The memory decoding reference current module includes: a first reference current unit connected to one end of a second reference bit line; a second reference current unit connected to one end of a first reference bit line; a third reference current unit connected to one end of a third reference bit line; a first reference NMOS transistor, a source of which is connected to the second reference bit line; a second reference NMOS transistor, a source of which is connected to a drain of the first reference NMOS transistor; and a gate of the first reference NMOS transistor and a gate of the second NMOS transistor are connected to a logic high level. |
| US10176852B2 |
Semiconductor memory devices, methods of operation, and memory systems having reduced decoder width and core skew
A semiconductor memory device includes bank arrays, row decoders, column decoders, a timing control circuit and repeaters. The bank arrays are distributed in a core region of a substrate, and each bank array includes sub-array blocks and includes a plurality of memory cells coupled to a plurality of word-lines and a plurality of bit-lines. Each row decoder is disposed adjacent each bank array in a first direction. Each column decoder is disposed adjacent each bank array in a second direction. The timing control circuit, which is disposed in a peripheral region of the substrate, generates a first control signal to control the word-lines and a second control signal to control the bit-lines in response to operation control signals. Each repeater is disposed adjacent each column decoder and each repeater transfers the first and second control signals to the sub-array blocks in the second direction. |
| US10176851B2 |
Loop structure for operations in memory
Examples of the present disclosure provide apparatuses and methods related to performing a loop structure for operations performed in memory. An example apparatus might also include a controller configured to cause sensing circuitry to iterate through a plurality of first elements and a plurality of second elements via a loop structure to perform an operation using the plurality of first elements and the plurality of second elements, wherein a conditional statement associated with the loop structure is used to determine whether at least one of a plurality of bits stored as an iterator mask has a particular bit-value. An example apparatus might also include sensing circuitry controllable to perform a shift operation using the iterator mask at each iteration of the loop structure and perform an AND operation using the iterator mask at each iteration of the loop structure. |
| US10176849B1 |
Shingled magnetic recording storage system
The disclosed technology includes methods and systems that reduce off-track write retry operations in shingled magnetic recording systems. In one implementation, the method includes writing data to an initial track, determining which side of the initial track is a shingled side, calculating a percentage of position error signal (PES) at a shingled side end of the initial track (PES1) when an off-track write operation occurs, determining whether the PES1 meets a first pre-determined threshold, continue writing data to a second track responsive to determining the PES1 is below a first pre-determined threshold, calculating a percentage of PES at a shingled side end of the second track (PES2), determining whether a combined value of PES1 and PES2 is above a second predetermined threshold to determine a probability value of the initial track being erased, and continue writing to a third track if the combined value is below the second predetermined threshold. |
| US10176848B2 |
Recording and reproducing apparatus and method thereof
In a recording and reproducing apparatus and a recording and reproducing method for the recording and reproducing apparatus for recording and reproducing image information on a scene obtained through photographing, relative to a predetermined first recording medium and being capable of setting one or more chapters to each scene, a face recognizing process is executed for a photographed image based on the image information, an importance level of each chapter is set in accordance with a result of the face recognizing process for a very important person (VIP) set by a user, and each chapter having a relevant importance level among importance levels of respective chapters is selectively reproduced. A user can therefore find an object chapter and scene quickly and easily. |
| US10176845B2 |
Seamless forward-reverse video loops
Techniques and devices for creating a Forward-Reverse Loop output video and other output video variations. A pipeline may include obtaining input video and determining a start frame within the input video and a frame length parameter based on a temporal discontinuity minimization. The selected start frame and the frame length parameter may provide a reversal point within the Forward-Reverse Loop output video. The Forward-Reverse Loop output video may include a forward segment that begins at the start frame and ends at the reversal point and a reverse segment that starts after the reversal point and plays back one or more frames in the forward segment in a reverse order. The pipeline for the generating Forward-Reverse Loop output video may be part of a shared resource architecture that generates other types of output video variations, such as AutoLoop output videos and Long Exposure output videos. |
| US10176843B2 |
Detection of z-axis non-operation shock
Systems and methods for determining an occurrence of non-operation shock (NOS) in a disc drive are described. Such determining may be used to determine whether or not the disc drive should be recalibrated or compensated to account for changes induced by NOS. Determining NOS may be based at least in part on a harmonic of the spindle of the disc drive other than the first harmonic, such as a third harmonic of the spindle. In some embodiments, determining NOS may be based on the first harmonic of the spindle and at least one other harmonic of the spindle. |
| US10176841B2 |
Recording medium, playback device, and playback method
A recording medium records data including a digital stream where video information has been encoded. A recording region of the recording medium has a first recording region where reading is performed at a first read rate, and a second recording region where reading is performed at a second read rate that is faster than the first read rate. The data is classified into digital stream data having a real-time attribute and a data file having a non-real-time attribute in a file system of the data. The digital stream is not continuously recorded spanning a boundary between the first recording region and the second recording region. The data file is permitted to be continuously recorded spanning the boundary. |
| US10176840B1 |
Data storage device adjusting spindle motor current based on continuous function of voice coil current during seek
A data storage device is disclosed comprising a spindle motor configured to rotate a disk, and a first voice coil motor (VCM) configured to actuate a head over the disk. During at least fifty percent of a seek of the head over the disk, a spindle control signal is generated based on a continuous function of a current flowing through the first VCM, and the spindle control signal is applied to the spindle motor. |
| US10176837B2 |
Optical storage system divider based DRAW verification with high frequency writing strategy pattern
An optical storage system includes an optical head configured to split a light beam into a higher power main beam and at least one lower power side beam. The optical storage system also includes a controller configured to alter an optical medium, via modulation of the higher power main beam according to a writing strategy waveform that defines at least n pulses for every n bits of data to be written to the medium, while processing a first signal resulting from the at least one lower power side beam being reflected from the medium and a second signal indicative of the writing strategy waveform to remove noise from the first signal caused by the higher power main beam to generate output indicative of the data directly after writing. |
| US10176831B2 |
Tunnel valve read sensor with crystalline alumina tunnel barrier deposited using room temperature techniques
In one general embodiment, a method includes forming a first magnetic layer, forming a tunnel barrier layer above the first magnetic layer, and forming a second magnetic layer above the tunnel barrier layer. The tunnel barrier layer includes crystalline alumina. The tunnel barrier layer is formed at a temperature of less than 100 degrees centigrade. |
| US10176818B2 |
Sound processing using a product-of-filters model
Sound processing using a product-of-filters model is described. In one or more implementations, a model is formed by one or more computing devices for a time frame of sound data as a product of filters. The model is utilized by the one or more computing devices to perform one or more sound processing techniques on the time frame of the sound data. |
| US10176817B2 |
Low-frequency emphasis for LPC-based coding in frequency domain
The invention provides an audio encoder including a combination of a linear predictive coding filter having a plurality of linear predictive coding coefficients and a time-frequency converter, wherein the combination is configured to filter and to convert a frame of the audio signal into a frequency domain in order to output a spectrum based on the frame and on the linear predictive coding coefficients; a low frequency emphasizer configured to calculate a processed spectrum based on the spectrum, wherein spectral lines of the processed spectrum representing a lower frequency than a reference spectral line are emphasized; and a control device configured to control the calculation of the processed spectrum by the low frequency emphasizer depending on the linear predictive coding coefficients of the linear predictive coding filter. |
| US10176812B2 |
Decoder and method for multi-instance spatial-audio-object-coding employing a parametric concept for multichannel downmix/upmix cases
A decoder for generating an audio output signal having one or more audio output channels from a downmix signal having three or more downmix channels, wherein the downmix signal encodes three or more audio object signals is provided. The decoder includes an input channel router and at least two channel processing units. Each channel processing unit of the at least two channel processing units is configured to generate one or more of at least two processed channels depending on side information and depending on one or more of the three or more downmix channels received by the channel processing unit from the input channel router. |
| US10176811B2 |
Neural network-based voiceprint information extraction method and apparatus
A method and an apparatus of extracting voiceprint information based on neural network are disclosed. The method includes: extracting a phonetic acoustic feature from an input voice segment; inputting the phonetic acoustic feature into a voiceprint model trained based on a neural network, and extracting a bottleneck feature of the neural network in the voiceprint model; and mapping frame vectors of the bottleneck feature of the neural network into a single-frame voiceprint expression vector, which serves as voiceprint information corresponding to the input voice segment. The neural network-based voiceprint information extraction method and apparatus extract voiceprint information of a voice segment using a voiceprint model trained based on a neural network, and thus the extraction process is relatively simple, and a short-time voice segment can be processed in a better manner. |
| US10176808B1 |
Utilizing spoken cues to influence response rendering for virtual assistants
Techniques for integrating a virtual assistant into a spoken conversation session, the techniques including receiving an utterance information that expresses an utterance spoken by a first participant included in a plurality of participants of a spoken conversation session; processing the utterance information using at least one machine-trained model to determine an intent or content for a command or query included in the utterance; selectively identifying a recipient subset of one or more of the plurality of participants based on at least the determined intent or content for the utterance; generating a response for the command or query; and providing, during the spoken conversation session, the response to the identified recipient subset. |
| US10176807B2 |
Voice setup instructions
A home assistant device assisting with the setup of devices is described. An assistant device can determine setup instructions for devices. The setup instructions for one device can be determined to include a step requesting information related to the setup of another device. The setup of the devices can be ordered based on that determination. The setup instructions can then be provided. |
| US10176805B2 |
Networked audible and visual alarm light system and method with voice command control and base station having alarm for smoke, carbon monoxide and gas
A networked visual and audible alarm light system and method with voice command control and base station having alarm for smoke, carbon monoxide, and gas provides illuminating LEDs, audible alerts, a base control, and a voice command control. The system detects and alerts to smoke, carbon monoxide, and gas. Multiple light fixtures audibly and visually alert in different colors, patterns, and intensities, dependent on the type of event detected. A network of systems are monitored and controlled from a base station that facilitates communication therebetween. The system provides speech recognition for powering on and off, dimming, brightening, and adjusting the lighting; including presets and emergency situations. The voice recognition command controls lighting choices, and can silence or suspend alarm-state by verbally commanding SHUT OFF. The base station monitors and programs individual LED and detecting devices that create a network within a home or structure to manage lighting and security. |
| US10176801B2 |
System and method of improving speech recognition using context
A system and method are provided for improving speech recognition accuracy. Contextual information about user speech may be received, and then speech recognition analysis can be performed on the user speech using the contextual information. This allows the system and method to improve accuracy when performing tasks like searching and navigating using speech recognition. |
| US10176798B2 |
Facilitating dynamic and intelligent conversion of text into real user speech
A mechanism is described for facilitating dynamic and intelligent conversion of text into real user speech according to one embodiment. A method of embodiments, as described herein, includes receiving a textual message from a first user, and accessing a voice profile associated with the first user, where the voice profile includes a real voice of the first user and at least one of emotional patterns relating to the first user, context distinctions relating to the first user, and speech characteristics relating to the first user, where accessing further includes extracting the real voice and at least one of an emotional pattern, a context distinction, and a speech characteristic based on subject matter of the textual message. The method may further include converting the textual message into a real speech of the first user based on the voice profile including the real voice and at least one of the emotional pattern, the context distinction, and the speech characteristic. |
| US10176796B2 |
Voice personalization for machine reading
Systems and techniques of voice personalization for machine reading are described herein. A message with textual content may be received. A sender of the message may be identified. A voice model that corresponds to the sender may be identified. An audio representation of the textual content may be rendered using the voice model. |
| US10176795B2 |
Active noise control by adaptive noise filtering
The present invention relates to a method of noise reduction including the steps of filtering reference signals and representing noise by an adaptive filter comprising adaptive filter coefficients to obtain actuator driving signals, outputting the actuator driving signals by loudspeakers to obtain loudspeaker signals. The method further includes detecting the loudspeaker signals by microphones and filtering the reference signals by estimated transfer functions representing the transfer of the loudspeaker signals output by the loudspeakers to the microphones to obtain filtered reference signals. The method further includes updating the filter coefficients of the adaptive filter based on the filtered reference signals and based on the previously updated filter coefficients of the adaptive filter multiplied by leakage factors. |
| US10176793B2 |
Method, active noise control circuit, and portable electronic device for adaptively performing active noise control operation upon target zone
A method for performing active noise control upon a target zone includes: using an adaptive filtering circuit to receive at least one microphone signal obtained from a microphone; and, dynamically compensating at least one coefficient of the adaptive filtering circuit to adjust a frequency response of the adaptive filtering circuit according to an energy distribution of the at least one microphone signal, so as to make the adaptive filtering circuit receive the at least one microphone signal to generate a resultant anti-noise signal to the target zone based on the dynamically adjusted frequency response. |
| US10176792B1 |
Audio canceling of audio generated from nearby aerial vehicles
The implementations described include an audio canceling device that receives an unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”) audio signature representative of audio generated by an unmanned aerial vehicle, monitors audio within an environment in which the audio canceling device is located for audio generated by the UAV, generates an attenuation-signal based on detected audio generated by the UAV, and outputs the attenuation-signal to attenuate the audio generated by the UAV. In one example, the audio canceling device may be used to attenuate audio generated by a UAV that is permeating into a user's home during delivery of an item to the user's home by the UAV. |
| US10176791B2 |
Electronic device, method for recognizing playing of string instrument in electronic device, and method for providng feedback on playing of string instrument in electronic device
An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes an image sensor configured to sense a motion of a bow to the string instrument, a vibration sensor configured to sense a vibration generated by the string instrument, and a control module configured to determine a fingering position of a user with respect to the string instrument using the motion of the bow and the vibration. |
| US10176786B2 |
Preventing screen rotation during use
For preventing a display from automatically rotating while receiving input from a user, an apparatus, method, and computer program product are disclosed. The apparatus includes a display device for presenting the user interface, a processor, and a memory that stores code executable by the processor. The processor (by executing the code) monitors for a user input event, prevents rotation of the user interface for a predetermined amount of time responsive to detecting the user input event, and allows rotation of the user interface responsive to expiration of the predetermined amount of time. The processor may initiate a timer to measure the predetermined amount of time. The processor may further detect an additional user input event during the predetermined amount of time and reset that the predetermined amount of time, responsive to detecting the additional user input event. |
| US10176785B2 |
System and method of adjusting a device display based on eyewear properties
The present invention provides a system and method of adjusting an electronic device display based on eyewear properties. Eyewear properties such as tint level, tint shade, and polarization are obtained from eyewear, a database, or manual entry. The device display is then adjusted based on the eyewear properties to facilitate viewability of the electronic display for the user while wearing the eyewear. |
| US10176784B2 |
Multi-mode display sharing
A multi-mode display device may, responsive to a user-selection, divide a display region into different regions corresponding to display data received from different user devices, such as a primary information handling system and a secondary portable information handling system. First display data received from the primary information handling system may be output to a first display region and second display data received from the secondary portable information handling system maybe output to a second display region. |
| US10176774B2 |
Array substrate and display device
An array substrate includes: a display area; a non-display area outside of the display area; a gate-in-panel (GIP) circuit in the non-display area; a plurality of clock signal lines in the non-display area and configured to transfer signals to the GIP circuit; and connection lines in the non-display area and configured to connect the plurality of clock signal lines to the GIP circuit. Each of the plurality of clock signal lines is a ring shaped line. |
| US10176765B2 |
Enhancements of a transparent display to form a software configurable luminaire
The examples relate to various implementations of a software configurable lighting device, having an enhance display device that is able to generate light sufficient to provide general illumination of a space in which the lighting device is installed and provide an image display. The general illumination is provided by additional light sources and/or improved display components of the enhanced display device. |
| US10176759B2 |
AMOLED pixel driver circuit and pixel driving method
The invention provides an AMOLED pixel driver circuit and pixel driving method. The AMOLED pixel driver circuit has a 6T1C structure, comprising a first thin film transistor (TFT) (T1), a second TFT (T2) forming mirror relation with the first TFT (T1), a third TFT (T3), a fourth TFT (T4), a fifth TFT (T5), a sixth TFT (T6), a capacitor (C1), and an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) (D1), and receiving a first scan signal (Scan1), a second scan signal (Scan2), a third scan signal (Scan3), a light-emitting signal (EM), a data signal (Data), and a reference voltage (Vref). The circuit can effectively compensate the threshold voltage of the driving TFT to solve the problem of unstable current flowing through the OLED caused by the threshold voltage drift to ensure uniform luminance of the OLED and improve the display quality. |
| US10176758B2 |
AMOLED pixel driver circuit and pixel driving method
The invention provides an AMOLED pixel driver circuit and pixel driving method. The AMOLED pixel driver circuit has a 6T2C structure, comprising a first thin film transistor (TFT) (T1), a second TFT (T2) forming mirror relation with the first TFT (T1), a third TFT (T3), a fourth TFT (T4), a fifth TFT (T5), a sixth TFT (T6), a first capacitor (C1), a second capacitor (C2) and an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) (D1), and receiving a first scan signal (Scant), a second scan signal (Scan2), a third scan signal (Scan3), a data signal (Data), and a predefined voltage (Vpre). The circuit can effectively compensate the threshold voltages of the driving TFT and the OLED, simplify the data signal, stabilize the current flowing through the OLED to ensure uniform light-emission of the OLED and improve display quality. |
| US10176751B2 |
Drive circuit
A drive circuit having an output terminal includes a buffer circuit including a first transistor and a second transistor that are connected in parallel between a power supply and the output terminal. The first transistor and the second transistor are controlled such that after the first transistor and the second transistor are simultaneously turned on, the second transistor is turned off earlier than the first transistor. |
| US10176750B2 |
Display device
A display device is provided, which includes a light emitter including an LED array; a current detector configured to detect current that flows through the LED array; a driving circuit configured to provide constant current to the LED array; and a cable including a first line configured to provide the constant current that is provided from the driving circuit to the light emitter, and a second line configured to connect a node, to which the current detector and the driving circuit are commonly connected, and the driving circuit to each other. |
| US10176741B2 |
Gate driving unit, gate driving circuit and driving method thereof and display device
This disclosure provides a gate driving unit, comprising an input sub-circuit, a pull-up sub-circuit, a transmission sub-circuit, an output sub-circuit, a reset sub-circuit, a pull-down sub-circuit and a storage sub-circuit, an input signal input terminal, a first clock signal input terminal, a second clock signal input terminal, a third clock signal input terminal, a fourth clock signal input terminal, a reset signal input terminal, a first level input terminal, a second level input terminal and a gate driving signal output terminal. This disclosure further provides a gate driving circuit and a driving method thereof, as well as a display device. |
| US10176739B2 |
Partial refresh of display devices
An aspect of the present invention proposes a method for performing partial refresh on display panels. According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, the display panels may be implemented as self-refreshing display panels communicatively coupled with a computing device that generates graphical data for display in the display panel. To perform partial refresh, consecutive frames are compared to identify the portions of the frames with updated material. In one or more embodiments, only the pixels corresponding to the updated portion(s) are refreshed in the display panel. |
| US10176738B2 |
Display systems with compensation for line propagation delay
A method for characterizing and eliminating the effect of propagation delay on data and monitor lines of AMOLED panels is introduced. A similar technique may be utilized to cancel the effect of incomplete settling of select lines that control the write and read switches of pixels on a row. |
| US10176732B1 |
Display card holder
A display card holder including a sleeve for a printed card and a sleeve holder defining a cavity open at one end to receive a sleeve end section having a pair of cutouts. The cavity defines a sleeve-receiving channel having a width providing clearance to the sleeve thickness. A button member movably supported by a sleeve holder body defines an actuator portion exposed to an outside of the sleeve holder. The button member includes wings extending from opposite sides of the actuator button. A spring biases the button member in a first direction with respect to the body of the sleeve holder. Each wing is formed to include: a pin adapted to extend through a corresponding one of the cutouts, and an elongate first edge forming a pivot about which the button member is pivotable with respect to the sleeve holder body. |
| US10176730B2 |
Winding device and label printing apparatus
A winding device includes: a separation unit that separates sheets layered and simultaneously transported; a winding unit that winds one of the sheets separated by the separation unit; and a pressure contact unit that presses the one of the sheets wound by the winding unit from outside of the wound sheet toward the winding unit. |
| US10176729B2 |
Navigable topological maps
Disclosed herein are methods of providing location-based information with respect to a topological map. A method may include (a) receiving a query for location-related information, (b) optionally generating data representing the topological map, (c) accessing the location-related information in a map-to-scale, (d) optionally determining an association between one or more points (or links) in the map-to-scale and one or more corresponding points (or links) in a topological map, (e) identifying one or more points (or links) in the map-to-scale that relate to the location-related information and that correspond to one or more points (or links) in the topological map, (f) optionally determining a relative position of the location-related information with respect to the identified one or more map-to-scale points (or links), and (g) displaying the location-related information with respect to the corresponding one or more points (or links) in the topological map. |
| US10176726B2 |
Handheld, portable vision aid device and vision aid system
A vision aid device comprises a housing having a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal axis therebetween. The proximal end has an eyepiece for holding up to an eye and viewing into the vision aid device to view a video display mounted within the housing. A camera is mounted within the housing at the distal end of the housing and is aimed in the direction of the longitudinal axis. A controller is mounted in the housing and is operably coupled to the camera and the video display. The controller is configured to: activate the camera to capture images in a field of view of the camera; and magnify the images to a currently set magnification and display on the display the magnified images on the video display. The device may have a finder function for toggling between the magnified view and an unmagnified view. |
| US10176725B2 |
System and method of pervasive developmental disorder interventions
Methods and systems for observing/analyzing interactive behavior are presented. In one instance, the method for observing/analyzing interactive behavior includes interacting, using a robot, with a subject and obtaining data from interaction between the subject and the robot, the data from the data acquisition components, the data being used for diagnosis and/or charting progress. In one instance, the robot includes data acquisition components, interaction inducing components (such as, but not limited to, movable eyelids, movable appendages, sound generating components), a control component operatively connected to the interaction inducing components and a processing component operatively connected to the control component and the data acquisition components, the processing component being configured to obtain data from the data acquisition components, the data being used for diagnosis and/or charting progress. In one instance, the robot is integrated with a computer-aided system for diagnosis, monitoring, and therapy. |
| US10176724B2 |
Obstacle avoidance system
An obstacle avoidance system is provided to assist a pilot in avoiding obstacles. The obstacle avoidance system includes a set of proximity sensors and a pilot interface device. The set of proximity sensors detects nearby obstacles by emitting a signal and receiving a reflected signal from an obstacle. A processor receives an obstacle indication from the set of proximity sensors and detects the obstacle that is in proximity to the aircraft based at least in part on the reflected signal. The processor acquires a distance and a direction to the obstacle and calculates a threat level posed by the obstacle. The pilot interface device is operable to display the following: an ownship icon indicative of the aircraft, a velocity vector icon indicative of a velocity vector of the aircraft, and an obstacle graphic indicative of the distance, direction, and threat level of the obstacle. |
| US10176720B2 |
Auto driving control system
An auto driving control system includes: a situation determining unit which recognizes a situation around the vehicle and determines whether automatic traveling is possible; a drive control unit which performs traveling control when the automatic traveling is possible; a state determining unit which determines whether an occupant is able to drive; and an estimation drive control unit configured such that when the automatic traveling is difficult and it is difficult for the occupant to take over the driving, and when it is determined that execution of a function of the automatic traveling is difficult due to a first sensor, the estimation drive control unit executes the function by using information of a second sensor, and performs traveling control of the vehicle, wherein the automatic traveling is continued based on a control instruction of the estimation drive control unit until the occupant becomes able to take over the driving. |
| US10176719B1 |
System for locating a parked vehicle
A system for locating a parked vehicle includes an elongated rod mountable on the parked vehicle and supporting a plurality of lights in an array extending along and about the elongated rod, and a portable control device adapted to be carried remote from the parked vehicle and activated to wirelessly communicate with and control the plurality of lights supported by the elongated rod. |
| US10176717B2 |
Systems and methods for detecting vehicle movements
Vehicular movement detection systems and methods are disclosed. A computing device is configured to monitor sensor data and location data associated with a first user device including one or more sensors, and monitor traffic data associated with a location of the first user device based on the sensor data and location data. In response to the data, the computing device determines whether to provide a user-selectable message to the first user device based on a vehicle speed, proximity to a destination, and vehicle speed relative to traffic speed. The user-selectable message comprises a prompt configured to transmit a search request for a listing location. In response to the determination, the user-selectable message is provided to the first user device. In response to receiving a search request, the computing device is configured to transmit instructions to the first user device to direct the first user device to a first listing location. |
| US10176715B2 |
Navigation system with dynamic mapping mechanism and method of operation thereof
A method of operation of a navigation system includes: identifying a first-device location for representing a smart vehicle; identifying a unintelligent-vehicle location associated with the first-device location, the unintelligent-vehicle location for representing an unintelligent vehicle; determining a smart vehicle data for representing the smart vehicle data from an environmental sensors of the smart vehicle; and generating with a vehicle control circuit, an area profile for the unintelligent-vehicle location, based on the smart vehicle data for representing geographic relationship between the unintelligent vehicle and the smart vehicle, a further vehicle, or a combination thereof. |
| US10176714B2 |
Driving support apparatus
A driving support apparatus includes a display information obtainment section, a lighting state obtainment section, a validity determination section, and a support content setting section. The display information obtainment section obtains display information indicating a display content of at least one road sign present around a vehicle. The lighting state obtainment section obtains a lighting state of a corresponding traffic light, which corresponds to the road sign. The validity determination section determines whether or not a display content of a light limiting sign is effective based on the lighting state, when the light limiting sign is obtained based on the display information, the light limiting sign being a road sign whose display content is effective if the corresponding traffic light is in a predetermined lighting state. The support content setting section that sets a content of driving support based on a determination result of the validity determination section. |
| US10176712B1 |
Intersection control system
An intersection control system is provided. The system utilizes a computerized controller to dynamically display to intersection drivers whose turn it is to enter the intersection. Sensors at the intersection can determine what cars are at the intersection and when, allowing the computerized controller to automatically determine the correct order to control the intersection. In some embodiments, the computerized controller may make special accommodation to allow additional cars to enter the intersection instead of one at a time in a particular order to ease traffic. |
| US10176711B2 |
Analyzing big data to manage traffic flow
A device can determine a set of average vehicle entry rates using traffic data associated with an intersection and can determine a set of average vehicle wait time values. The device can generate one or more data structures that include a set of state values that include the set of average vehicle entry rates and a set of transition values. The device can determine a set of customer satisfaction rating values. The device can generate a prediction data structure that associates the set of state values with a set of traffic light cycle time values and one or more customer satisfaction rating values. The device can determine a current state value. The device can identify a state value and a traffic light cycle time value that is associated with a highest customer satisfaction rating. The device can provide the traffic light cycle time value to a traffic controller. |
| US10176708B2 |
Trainable transceiver and camera systems and methods
A system for installation in a vehicle and for controlling a remote device including a trainable transceiver, a camera, and a control circuit coupled to the trainable transceiver and the camera. The control circuit is configured to use the camera to identify the remote device by comparing information received via the camera to information stored in memory, and the control circuit is configured to automatically transmit an activation signal formatted to control the remote device in response to identifying the remote device. |
| US10176707B2 |
Remote control
The present disclosure relates to a remote control including an electronic circuit comprising means for detecting the position, orientation and movement of the hand and/or forearm such as an accelerometer, means for transmitting at radiofrequency a control signal calculated depending on the measured position, orientation and movement, and a means for fastening to the forearm of an operator, wherein the remote control further comprises a contactor able to be actuated by the interaction of two fingers, the contactor controlling the activation of the electronic circuit and the maintenance of the control signal until the action on the contactor is stopped, and a bearing surface associated with a contactor controlling an emergency stoppage of the controlled equipment. |
| US10176701B2 |
Automated response to duress in distress signals
A system for facilitating automated response to a distress signal includes an attachment for a multifunction mobile computing device. In some embodiments, the attachment removably articulates to a sensor location coupled to a housing of the multifunction mobile computing device. In some embodiments, the system includes a computer program product in a non-transitory computer-readable medium. In some embodiments, the program instructions are computer-executable by the multifunction mobile computing device to implement detecting a disarticulation of the attachment from the sensor location on the multifunction mobile computing device, and, responsive to the detecting the disarticulation of the attachment from the sensor location on the multifunction mobile computing device, transmitting to a distress signal response receiver over a radio-frequency network from a radio-frequency transmitter located within a housing of the multifunction mobile computing device the distress signal. |
| US10176699B2 |
Safe zones in tracking device environments
A tracking system determines if a tracking device is located within a safe zone based on whether a set of safe conditions are satisfied. The set of safe conditions includes a geographic boundary or a geographic location and corresponding threshold distance. The set of safe conditions can also include a time window during which a safe zone is active. When a tracking device is within a safe zone (e.g., geographically and temporally), the tracking device is determined to be safe, and notifications associated with the tracking device can be minimized. The safe zones may be user-selected, user-defined, or determined based on data analytics. If a set of safe conditions are not satisfied, the tracking system generates and sends a notification to the user of the tracking device indicating that the tracking device may be lost. |
| US10176698B1 |
Preventing the loss of wireless accessories for mobile devices
Embodiments include methods, systems and computer program products for preventing the loss of wireless accessories for mobile devices. Aspects include calculating, by a processor, a distance between a mobile device and at least one of two or more wireless accessories in communication with the mobile device an determining whether the distance between the mobile device and the at least one of two or more wireless accessories is greater than a first threshold distance. Aspects also include generating an alert by the mobile device that indicates that the at least one of two or more wireless accessories is greater than the threshold distance away from the mobile device based on a determination that the distance between the mobile device and the at least one of two or more wireless accessories is greater than the first threshold distance. |
| US10176697B2 |
Impact handling and ultrasound alerting methods
Systems and methods of impact handling and ultrasound alerting are provided. Systems comprise an ultrasound transmitter is configured to transmit ultrasound signals at specified frequencies, a controller associated with a vehicle seat and configured to generate the ultrasound signals with respect to seat statuses and control the transmitter accordingly, and an application installable on a user's communication device to be associated with a device's audio receiver. The seat may comprise a dynamic part mounted on a static part and energy absorbing element(s) configured to restrain a movement of the dynamic part relative to the static part upon impact, via connection(s) between the static and dynamic parts that have static element(s) attached to the static part and dynamic element(s) attached to the dynamic part. |
| US10176694B2 |
Aircraft occupant seat for aircraft occupant health, safety, and comfort management
An aircraft occupant seat for providing health, safety, and comfort management to aircraft occupants is disclosed. In one embodiment, an aircraft occupant, seated in an aircraft occupant seat in an aircraft, is monitored for health, safety and comfort information using at least one sensor disposed in the aircraft occupant seat. Further, background auditory, electrical noise, temperature and mechanical vibration associated with the aircraft occupant seat is measured using the at least one sensor. The health, safety and comfort information associated with the aircraft occupant is then obtained using the monitored health safety and comfort information and the measured background electrical noise and mechanical vibration. Health, safety and comfort of the aircraft occupant are then managed based on the obtained health, safety and comfort information. |
| US10176688B2 |
Coded tags encoded using different magnetic materials and methods of detecting coded tags
A method includes transmitting a first magnetic detection signal at a first magnetic frequency and transmitting a second magnetic detection signal at a second magnetic frequency. The method also includes detecting a first response from a first magnetic material to the first magnetic detection signal and detecting a second response from the second magnetic material to the second magnetic detection signal. Each of the first magnetic material and the second magnetic material is associated with a substrate of the coded tag. The method further includes determining that the coded tag encodes first information based on detecting the first response and determining that the coded tag encodes second information based on detecting the second response. |
| US10176685B2 |
Image heat ray device and intrusion detection system using same
The present invention relates to an intrusion detection system. The intrusion detection system is installed in a surveillance area and may comprise: an image heat ray device for measuring infrared heat generated from an intruder intruding into the surveillance area to determine an intrusion occurrence and generate an alarm signal for indicating the intrusion occurrence, generating a first image and a second image by shooting an image in the surveillance area, generating an intrusion signal including the generated alarm signal, the first image, the second image and a reference image which is an image shot prior to a situation of the intrusion occurrence in the surveillance area, and transmitting the generated intrusion signal to a controller through a frequency for a security system; the controller for receiving the intrusion signal from the image heat ray device and transmitting the received intrusion signal to a server through an Internet network; and the server for receiving the intrusion signal from the controller, transmitting the intrusion signal to the controller and a pre-mapped mobile communication terminal, extracting the alarm signal, the reference image, the first image, and the second image from the received intrusion signal, displaying the extracted alarm signal in an alarm signal display area of a display unit installed at the server, and displaying the extracted reference image, first image, and second image, on an image display screen of the display unit. |
| US10176673B2 |
Dart game apparatus and dart game method for providing game mode interworked with mobile game and computer-readable medium thereof
Disclosed is a dart game apparatus providing a game mode interworked with a mobile game. The dart game apparatus may include: a controller recognizing information on a player and determining providing a reward to the player at least partially based on dart game execution data of the player; and a network connection unit transmitting data associated with the reward to at least one of a dart game server, a mobile game server, and a mobile terminal. The reward may include the reward for a game executed on the mobile terminal. |
| US10176670B2 |
Entertainment system having prize money game
An operation input interface includes multiple selection buttons for a player to play a prize money game, and an information output interface includes multiple selection items comprising hidden contents and positions associated with the selection buttons. The hidden contents of the selection items include multiple rewards and at least one ending option. After the prize game starts, the selection items and the selection buttons are respectively provided at the information output interface and the operation input interface to allow the player to select the selection buttons to further display the hidden contents. When any of the at least one ending option is displayed by the information output interface, the prize money game ends immediately. Thus, the player is allowed to play the prize money game intuitively, and provides the player with the pleasure of ending the prize money game unexpectedly by ending the prize money game randomly. |
| US10176667B2 |
Distributed anonymous payment wagering system
A distributed anonymous payment interleaved wagering system is disclosed, including an interactive processing device constructed to receive a request for processing a payment; communicate interactive processing device data and a request for an anonymous payment identifier; receive the anonymous payment identifier; lock the interactive processing device for a period of time; communicate anonymous payment identifier; receive gaming session data; unlock the interactive processing device; the process controller or wager controller constructed to: create an anonymous payment identifier; associate the anonymous payment identifier with the interactive processing device data; communicate the anonymous payment identifier; create a gaming session based on the anonymous payment data, the anonymous payment identifier, and the interactive processing device data; communicate gaming session data; the interactive payment controller constructed to: receive a value bearing item; communicate TITO data and anonymous payment identifier; the payment controller constructed to: communicate TITO data, anonymous payment data and anonymous payment identifier. |
| US10176666B2 |
Viral benefit distribution using mobile devices
Gaming machines and systems are configured to distribute of viral events, such as viral gaming events, amongst devices. The devices can present the viral events. The devices can, for example, be gaming machines and/or mobile devices. According to one embodiment, once a viral event is triggered, it is presented at one or more first devices at a first time. The viral event spreads to other devices, such as one or more second devices where it can be presented at a later time. The viral event may continue to spread to numerous other devices. Feedback or metrics may be used to control the devices to which the viral event spreads and/or the rate of spread. |
| US10176665B2 |
Electronic gaming system for awarding multiple of wager and method of use
An electronic gaming machine is provided, including a player interface, a meter, a game display, and a game controller. The player interface is configured to receive a wager for a round of the wagering game. The meter is configured to record a wager amount for the round. The game display is configured to display a matrix of symbols. The game controller is coupled to the meter and the game display. The game controller is configured to conduct the round of the wagering game, including selecting the matrix of symbols. The game controller is further configured to detect a trigger symbol among the matrix of symbols. The trigger symbol corresponds to a multiplier feature. The game controller is further configured to award a multiple of the wager amount according to the multiplier feature. |
| US10176664B2 |
Method of gaming, a gaming system and a game controller
Method and systems of gaming are provided herein. One method includes storing in a memory of the gaming system a plurality of reel strips sets, each reel strips set including a characteristic that is different from the other reel strips sets. The method may further include initiating a play of the game. The method may include selecting, at random, via the game controller, a reel strips set from the plurality of reel strips sets. The method also includes displaying, via the game controller, symbols in symbol display positions on the display of the gaming system. The method further includes evaluating, via the game controller, the selected symbols. The method further includes updating, via the game controller, a meter stored in the memory in accordance with the evaluation. |
| US10176659B2 |
Paper sheet authentication apparatus
A paper sheet authentication apparatus determines the type of the paper sheet by using a characteristic other than a fluorescent light characteristic, sequentially emits excitation lights of different wavelengths on the paper sheet, measures an intensity of light per wavelength within a predetermined range emitted by a fluorescent material applied to the paper sheet, and acquires fluorescent light characteristic data as the result. The paper sheet authentication apparatus performs the authentication of the paper sheet by using fluorescent light characteristic data of a genuine paper sheet previously stored per type of the paper sheet or a threshold calculated therefrom and the acquired fluorescent light characteristic data. |
| US10176649B2 |
Electronic apparatus and method for assisting an aircraft pilot, related computer program
Disclosed is an electronic apparatus for assisting an aircraft pilot. The aircraft includes avionics equipment implementing operational capacities and a monitoring system configured to determine monitoring information from operational capacities and operating parameters of the avionics equipment. The assistance apparatus includes in an acquisition module configured to acquire the monitoring information and an anomaly detection module configured to detect at least one anomaly from among a breakdown of an avionics equipment and a failure of an operational capacity, from monitoring information and anomaly detection rules contained in a predefined database. The assistance apparatus includes an inference module configured to identify, for each anomaly, one or several causes that may have caused the anomaly, based on relationships between breakdowns and failures, the relationships being contained in the database. |
| US10176648B2 |
Method and device for notifying an authorization to completely shut down an aircraft gas turbine engine
A method of notifying an authorization to shut down completely an aircraft gas turbine engine, the method being applied after detecting that the engine has passed to an idling speed, and including a) an evaluation step of using a value of a first operating parameter of the engine to evaluate a value for a second parameter T45MG wherein a thermal behavior of a part of the engine that might be subjected to coking; b) a comparison step (E30) of comparing the value of the second parameter T45MG with a predefined threshold value T45thresh corresponding to a value of the second parameter that does not lead to coking of the part; and c) a notification step of notifying authorization to shut down completely the engine if the value of the second parameter T45MG is lower than the value of the predefined threshold T45thresh, else reiterating steps a) to c). |
| US10176647B2 |
Sound recognition
Methods, systems, and apparatus for monitoring a sound are described. An audio signal is obtained and the audio signal is analyzed to generate an audio signature. An object type is identified based on the audio signature and an action corresponding to the object type is identified. |
| US10176645B2 |
Systems for linking features in medical images to anatomical models and methods of operation thereof
A medical imaging system configured to link acquired images to markers or tags on an anatomical illustration, based, at least in part on spatial and anatomical data associated with the acquired image. The medical imaging system may be further configured to generate a diagnostic report including the anatomical illustration containing the markers. The diagnostic report may allow a user to select a marker to view information associated with an acquired image and/or the acquired image. Multiple images may be associated with a marker, and/or multiple markers may be associated with an image. A set of 2D and/or 3D anatomical illustrations may be generated which contains markers from multiple diagnostic reports and updated automatically for an individual patient's anatomical model by the application to reflect measurements and/quantitative findings related to organ, tissue, and vessel size, location, deformation, and/or obstruction. |
| US10176641B2 |
Displaying three-dimensional virtual objects based on field of view
Examples disclosed relate to displaying virtual objects. One example provides, on a display device comprising a camera and a display, a method comprising acquiring, via the camera, image data imaging an environment, receiving a user input requesting display of a three-dimensional virtual object, comparing dimensional information for the three-dimensional virtual object to dimensional information for a field of view of the display device, modifying the three-dimensional virtual object based upon comparing the dimensional information for the three-dimensional virtual object to the dimensional information for the field of view to obtain a modified three-dimensional virtual object, and displaying the modified three-dimensional virtual object via the display. |
| US10176639B2 |
Virtual/augmented reality system having dynamic region resolution
A virtual image generation system and method is provided. A plurality of synthetic image frames of the three-dimensional scene are rendered, and sequentially displayed to an end user. Each of the displayed image frames has a non-uniform resolution distribution. |
| US10176637B2 |
Synchronized, interactive augmented reality displays for multifunction devices
A device can receive live video of a real-world, physical environment on a touch sensitive surface. One or more objects can be identified in the live video. An information layer can be generated related to the objects. In some implementations, the information layer can include annotations made by a user through the touch sensitive surface. The information layer and live video can be combined in a display of the device. Data can be received from one or more onboard sensors indicating that the device is in motion. The sensor data can be used to synchronize the live video and the information layer as the perspective of video camera view changes due to the motion. The live video and information layer can be shared with other devices over a communication link. |
| US10176636B1 |
Augmented reality fashion
Various approaches discussed herein enable augmenting an image of a person wearing an article of clothing to provide an augmented reality (i.e., virtual) article of clothing to a viewer in order to overlay, replace, and/or augment an actual article of clothing being worn by the user. The augmented reality article of clothing is positioned on the user's real-world piece of clothing according to various markings and/or data that allow the augmented reality article of clothing to appear as if it were being worn by the user, even during movement of the user. |
| US10176627B2 |
Tree-based graphics primitive rendering
A set of primitives is divided into plural sub-sets of primitives, and a tree representation for representing the set of primitives in which each leaf node of the tree represents one of the sub-sets, and each parent node of the tree represents a sub-set of primitives corresponding to the combination of the sub-sets of primitives of all of its child nodes, is generated. For each node of the tree representation data indicating: the sub-set of primitives that the node represents; the vertices that are used by the primitives in the sub-set of primitives that the node represents; and the volume of space that the sub-set of primitives that the node represents falls within, is determined. The tree representation is then used to determine a set of primitives and a set of vertices to be processed when processing the set of primitives for the output frame. |
| US10176623B2 |
Facilitation of depiction of geographic relationships via a user interface
Generation/rendering of a 2D perspective/view of a geographic region, e.g. a map the world or portion thereof, superimposed over which are indicators of related data items and graphical representations of the relationships therebetween is disclosed. Based on location data associated with each data item, a relative geographic presentation within, or otherwise superimposed over, the 2D presentation is generated relative to a 3D representation of the geographic region. Graphical interconnections are then derived based on the positions of the data items relative to each other and depicted in a manner which shows both the relationship between the data items and the geographic relationship with respect to the geographic region. The graphical interconnections may further be derived in a manner so as to depict a or other wise follow the perspective depicted by the 2D view, e.g. as arcs between related data items conforming to the depicted spherical contour of a globe. |
| US10176621B2 |
Using compute shaders as front end for vertex shaders
A set of graphics primitive information for a virtual object may be processed with compute shader running on a graphics processing unit (GPU) to generate a modified set of primitive information. The modified set of primitive information may be passed to a vertex shader running on the GPU. The vertex shader may perform vertex shading on the modified set of primitive information. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. |
| US10176616B2 |
Automatic capture and refinement of a digital image of a group of people without user intervention
Various embodiments receive frames as a stream captured during a camera session. During the camera session, faces and facial features of each face are detected from the frames. Then, each face in each frame is assigned a score based on the detected facial features. Using the scores, a candidate frame is selected for each individual face to represent a “best” representation of that face. In addition, an overall score is calculated for each frame based on a combination of assigned scores for the faces in the frame. Then, a reference frame is located from the frames based on the overall score for a respective frame. Faces from the candidate frames are then merged onto the reference frame, and an output image is generated for display. |
| US10176614B2 |
Image processing device, image processing method, and program
A registration unit configured to perform first registration of the first image (WF-SLO image) and the second image (AI-SLO image) included in the same set and second registration of the first images included in the different sets and to generate positional information of these registration; and a superimposition unit configured to superimpose the second image included in a first set and the second image included in a second set that is the set acquired after the first set on the first image included in the first set or on the first image included in the second set based on the positional information generated by the registerer to generate a superimposed image are provided. |
| US10176610B1 |
Density gradient analysis tool
Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with density gradient analysis tool for heat mapping systems. According to one embodiment, a method includes receiving data points. The method further includes calculating a data distribution of the data points. The data distribution has bins, and the bins represent intervals. The method further includes rendering a heat map based, at least in part, on the data distribution. The heat map includes regions corresponding to the bins. |
| US10176609B2 |
Analysis and visualization of interaction and influence in a network
Data is received characterizing a network represented by a directed graph having nodes and edges. The network includes an influence score associated with a node. The network is associated with a search keyword. A portion of the directed graph and influence score is displayed in a graphical user interface display space. The portion of directed graph is dynamically updated in response to receiving updated network data. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described. |
| US10176603B2 |
Sinogram (data) domain pansharpening method and system for spectral CT
A hybrid CT dataset is obtained from a combination of an integrating detector and a photon-counting detector. The hybrid CT dataset contains sparse spectral energy data and dense energy integration data. The dense panchromatic data sets inherit the resolution properties of the integrating detector while the sparse spectral data sets inherit the spectral information of the photon-counting detector. Subsequently, the sparse spectral energy data sets are pansharpened based upon at least one dense panchromatic data set that lacks spectral information according to a pansharpening algorithm. |
| US10176593B1 |
Systems and methods for tracking objects in an environment
Systems and methods for locating and/or tracking objects in an environment are discussed. The system may include non-visible light emitters and a camera and server system including an image geometry module configured to determine the location of an identified object in the environment. Objects may be identified based on a predefined frequency and/or pattern of pulses. |
| US10176592B2 |
Multi-directional structured image array capture on a 2D graph
This present disclosure relates to systems and processes for capturing an unstructured light field in a plurality of images. In particular embodiments, a plurality of keypoints are identified on a first keyframe in a plurality of captured images. A first convex hull is computed from all keypoints in the first keyframe and merged with previous convex hulls corresponding to previous keyframes to form a convex hull union. Each keypoint is tracked from the first keyframe to a second image. The second image is adjusted to compensate for camera rotation during capture, and a second convex hull is computed from all keypoints in the second image. If the overlapping region between the second convex hull and the convex hull union is equal to, or less than, a predetermined size, the second image is designated as a new keyframe, and the convex hull union is augmented with the second convex hull. |
| US10176591B2 |
Absolute position detection
A system for determining the absolute position of a first object with respect to a second object includes a scalar element attached to the first object and a measuring device attached to the second object. The scalar element comprises a series of coded regions. The coded region represents a number designating a position along an axis of the scalar element. The measuring device includes a two-dimensional optical sensor array configured to capture an image of a portion of the scalar element. The system also includes a processor configured to receive the image and determine an absolute position of the first object with respect to the second object based on at least one coded region of the series of coded regions. |
| US10176589B2 |
Method and system for completing point clouds using planar segments
Systems for completing missing points in a three-dimensional (3D) point cloud. The systems include a 3D sensor for measuring point data of objects in a scene, a processor in connection with the 3D sensor and a memory storing a program and the point data, and a display monitor connected to the processor and the 3D sensor for displaying a completed 3D point cloud, wherein the processor executes instruction steps of the program. The instruction steps include acquiring the point data of the objects to generate the 3D point cloud, wherein the point data include a set of points on the objects, extracting planar segments from the 3D point cloud, identifying connectivity relations and missing points among the planar segments, and filling the missing points in the 3D point cloud to generate the completed 3D point cloud using the planar segments and the connectivity relations. |
| US10176587B2 |
Medical cross-sectional image displaying apparatus and method for displaying cross-sectional image
The present invention provides an apparatus for displaying a two-dimensional cross-sectional image of an arbitrary base plane which matches to the subject's head without creating extra labor to the operator even when the subject's head is asymmetrical. The apparatus is connected to a display unit for displaying a cross-sectional image of a head. The apparatus comprising: a conversion parameter obtaining unit for obtaining a conversion parameter indicating a difference in shape between a standard head and a subject's head based on a volume data; a subject base plane generating unit for generating an anatomical base plane of the subject's head based on the conversion parameter and an anatomical base plane of the standard head; and a cross-sectional reconstruction unit for generating a cross-sectional image of the anatomical base plane of the subject's head based on the volume data of the subject's head and displaying said cross-sectional image on the display unit. |
| US10176585B2 |
Method and electronic apparatus for image background learning
A method and an electronic apparatus for image background learning are provided. In the method, a memory space for recording multiple historical background values of each pixel in an input image is disposed in a memory device, in which the memory space is divided into a lock area and an open area. Whenever receiving the input image, a processor determines whether each pixel in the input image is a background pixel according to the historical background values recorded in the memory space. If the pixel is determined as the background pixel, the processor updates one of the historic background values recorded in the open area by using the pixel value of the pixel while keeping the historical background values in the lock area unchanged. The processor also periodically switches a location of the lock area in the memory space, so as to forget old historical background values. |
| US10176580B2 |
Diagnostic system and diagnostic method
A first interface for reading a medical patient image record is provided. Furthermore, provision is made of an encoding module for machine-based learning of data encodings of image patterns by an unsupervised deep learning and for establishing a deep-learning-reduced data encoding of a patient image pattern contained in the patient image record. Furthermore, provision is made of a comparison module for comparing the established data encoding with reference encodings of reference image patterns stored in a database and for selecting a reference image pattern with a reference encoding which is similar to the established data encoding. An assignment module serves to establish a key term assigned to the selected reference image pattern and to assign the established key term to the patient image pattern. A second interface is provided for outputting the established key term with assignment to the patient image pattern. |
| US10176576B2 |
Medical image processing apparatus, medical image processing method, and computer-readable medium
A medical image processing apparatus includes a core line identifying unit that identifies a core line of a predetermined region of a tubular structure from medical three-dimensional image data, a center position identifying unit that identifies a center position of the tubular structure from a plurality of points forming the core line identified by the core line identifying unit, an obtaining unit that obtains positions where straight lines intersecting at the center position and the tubular structure in the medical three-dimensional image data are in contact with each other, and a calculating unit that calculates a length of the tubular structure based on the positions obtained by the obtaining unit. |
| US10176570B2 |
Inter-patient brain registration
An inter-patient brain registration method for data normalization deformably aligns two brain images obtained from different patients even with tumor presence. |
| US10176569B2 |
Multiple algorithm lesion segmentation
Multiple algorithm lesion segmentation using an atlas is provided. In various embodiments, a plurality of medical images are read from an image repository. Each of the plurality of medical images has a source modality. Each of the plurality of medical images is registered to an anatomical atlas. An anatomical region depicted in each of the plurality of medical images is determined thereby. Based upon the source modality and the anatomical region depicted in each of the plurality of medical images, one of a plurality of segmentation algorithms is selected for each of the plurality of medical images. The selected segmentation algorithms are applied to each of the plurality of medical images. The results of the selected segmentation algorithms are displayed. |
| US10176568B2 |
Tomographic apparatus and method
A tomography apparatus includes an image processor configured to obtain a first image, which is a partial image of an object, by using data obtained from a first angle section corresponding to a first point, and to obtain a second image, which is a partial image of the object, by using data obtained from a second angle section corresponding to a second point subsequent to the first point; and a controller configured to obtain first information representing a brightness change, to obtain second information representing a rate of change in a Hounsfield unit (HU) value between the first point and the second point based on the first information, and to determine a tomography start point of the object based on the second information. |
| US10176564B1 |
Collaborative disparity decomposition
A novel disparity computation technique is presented which comprises multiple orthogonal disparity maps, generated from approximately orthogonal decomposition feature spaces, collaboratively generating a composite disparity map. Using an approximately orthogonal feature set extracted from such feature spaces produces an approximately orthogonal set of disparity maps that can be composited together to produce a final disparity map. Various methods for dimensioning scenes and are presented. One approach extracts the top and bottom vertices of a cuboid, along with the set of lines, whose intersections define such points. It then defines a unique box from these two intersections as well as the associated lines. Orthographic projection is then attempted, to recenter the box perspective. This is followed by the extraction of the three-dimensional information that is associated with the box, and finally, the dimensions of the box are computed. The same concepts can apply to hallways, rooms, and any other object. |
| US10176561B2 |
Content-adaptive adjustments to tone mapping operations for high dynamic range content
Innovations in rendering of high dynamic range (“HDR”) content are described. A playback system can adjust a tone mapping function used when rendering the HDR content, thereby improving quality when rendering the HDR content. For example, the playback system includes decision logic, which is configured to receive summary information (e.g., histogram information) for sample values of a picture of HDR content, and set a tone mapping function based at least in part on the summary information. The tone mapping function can be selected from among multiple available tone mapping functions, and parameters of the selected tone mapping function can be determined based at least in part on the summary information. A tone mapper is configured to apply tone mapping to input values for the sample values of the picture of HDR content, according to the tone mapping function, and thereby produce output values. |
| US10176555B2 |
Method and device for simulating a wide field of view
It is disclosed a method for displaying input image data on a display device. The display device comprises a main display and a border display which at least partly surrounds the main display. The method comprises extrapolating the input image data to obtain extrapolated image data, displaying at least part of the input image data on the main display, and displaying at least part of the extrapolated image data on the border display. |
| US10176554B2 |
Camera calibration using synthetic images
A camera is to capture an actual image of a target pattern. A calibration device is to render pixels in a synthetic image of the target pattern by tracing rays from the pixels to corresponding points on the target pattern based on model parameters for a camera. The calibration device is to also modify the model parameters to minimize a measure of distance between intensities of the pixels in the synthetic image and intensities of pixels in the actual image. |
| US10176551B2 |
Configurable convolution engine for interleaved channel data
Embodiments relate to a configurable convolution engine that receives configuration information to perform convolution and other deep machine learning operations on streaming input data of various formats. The convolution engine may include two convolution circuits that each generate a stream of values by applying convolution kernels to input data. The stream of values may each define one or more channels of image data. A channel merge circuit combines the streams of values from each convolution circuit in accordance with a selected mode of operation. In one mode, the first and second streams from the convolution circuits are merged into an output stream having the combined channels of the first and second streams in an interleaved manner. In another mode, the first stream from the first convolution circuit is fed into the input of the second convolution circuit. |
| US10176550B1 |
GPU resource usage display and dynamic GPU resource allocation in a networked virtualization system
An architecture for implementing a mechanism for displaying GPU resource usage and dynamically allocating GPU resources in a networked virtualization system is provided. The mechanism compares an initial allocation of GPU resources to virtual machines supported by one or more nodes of the networked virtualization system to a current GPU resource usage by the virtual machines. Based at least in part on the comparison and workloads processed by the virtual machines, the mechanism may reallocate GPU resources to one or more of the virtual machines. A virtual machine is reassigned to a different vGPU profile if reassignment is likely to achieve a more efficient allocation of GPU resources to the virtual machine. A user interface indicating GPU resource usage relative to GPU resource allocation may also be generated and displayed. |
| US10176549B2 |
System, method and computer program product for remote graphics processing
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for remote rendering of computer graphics. The system includes a graphics application program resident at a remote server. The graphics application is invoked by a user or process located at a client. The invoked graphics application proceeds to issue graphics instructions. The graphics instructions are received by a remote rendering control system. Given that the client and server differ with respect to graphics context and image processing capability, the remote rendering control system modifies the graphics instructions in order to accommodate these differences. The modified graphics instructions are sent to graphics rendering resources, which produce one or more rendered images. Data representing the rendered images is written to one or more frame buffers. The remote rendering control system then reads this image data from the frame buffers. The image data is transmitted to the client for display or processing. In an embodiment of the system, the image data is compressed before being transmitted to the client. In such an embodiment, the steps of rendering, compression, and transmission can be performed asynchronously in a pipelined manner. |
| US10176540B2 |
Apparatus and method for generating title products
The present invention provides an apparatus and method for generating title products. A device accepts a title product search request for a title product for a property. The device initiates a search of databases that contain information about the property such as data or evidence of title. A rule engine compares the retrieved information with business rules such as title insurance underwriting criteria. The comparison provides results for generating a title report, insurance contract or other title insurance products. |
| US10176538B2 |
Method of managing petro-chemical reservoir production and program product therefor
A method and computer program product for managing hydrocarbon field production, e.g., petro-chemical reservoir production. The hydrocarbon field is modeled using the finite volume method (FVM) model and the finite element method (FEM). Centroids are located in each FVM cell and each FEM element and overlapping cells are identified. After determining the distance between centroids for overlapping cells, fluid characteristics are mapped to the FEM element centroids, weighted inversely for distance between the respective centroids. A permeability/conductivity weighted average is determined for pore pressure and temperature of sub-volumes clustered around each FEM element node. Field production may be adjusted in response to FEM element node characteristics. |
| US10176535B2 |
Method and system for providing social category indicators in a user profile header of an on-line posting
A user is allowed to include of social category indicators in a user profile header of an on-line posting. In response to answers to questions presented by a social category application executing on a user terminal device or a system, characteristics of a user's interests or personal traits may be determined. Using the characteristics, social category indicators are generated that include a symbol for presentation with a user profile header in a message board of a webpage. The social category application may interact with the provider website/application to substitute the social category user profile header for a standard user profile header of the webpage, so that the indicators appear on the message board(s) as part of the user's postings. The indicators in the social category user profile header allows user to more effectively identify persons with similar interests and backgrounds without engaging in lengthy text exchanges with other persons. |
| US10176533B2 |
Interactive chart utilizing shifting control to render shifting of time domains of data series
The invention disclosed is a system for providing an aggregated econometric database with selectable sources of economic data. The econometric database is accessible to a system application that graphically displays econometric data over selected periods, and allows display of external economic data in conjunction with internal company metrics. The system applications further provide for identifying the features of indicators, economic and business forecasting, and providing alerts based on the available econometric data. |
| US10176532B1 |
Insurance claim capitation and predictive payment modeling
A claim-based capitation model is proposed for handling vehicle repair insurance claims. Rather than determining a detailed estimate of the expected actual cost of repair, the estimate may be determined using a simpler model. For example, the insurance company and a repair facility may agree to following a predictive payment model in which the insurance company pays a fixed predicted capitated amount of money for each repair claim, regardless of the amount of repair work that will be needed. Alternatively, the insurance company may pre-pay a fixed capitated amount for a predicted number of future insurance claims. |
| US10176526B2 |
Processing system for data elements received via source inputs
Mediums, apparatus, computer program code, and means may be provided to evaluate relative risks based at least in part on source inputs received via a distributed communication network by an automated back-end application computer server. According to some embodiments, the server may access a data store containing electronic files associated with a set of entities to retrieve, for each of a plurality of the entities in the set of entities, electronic files associated with that entity. The server may also retrieve structured data elements, unstructured data elements, and external, third-party data elements for that entity. The server may then execute an automated risk model to assign a risk score to that entity based on the electronic files, the structured data elements, the unstructured data elements, and the external, third-party data elements for that entity and transmit indications of the risk scores for the plurality of entities. |
| US10176520B2 |
Product visualization system
A method and apparatus for displaying a product. The three-dimensional model includes objects and a spatial relationship of the objects to each other. A group of the objects in the three-dimensional model is identified based on a policy applied to a user input selecting a portion of the product and assigns a value to a group of attributes associated with the group of the objects. The value assigned to the group of the attributes indicates that the group of the objects is to be displayed on the display system. Other objects in the objects having the attributes without the value are not displayed. The attributes associated with the objects are outputted in which the group of the objects is displayed in three dimensions on the display system using the attributes associated with the objects, enabling a desired level of performance in visualizing the three-dimensional model of the product. |
| US10176518B2 |
Virtual salesperson system and method
A virtual salesperson system and method for tablet computers such as Apple's iPad can be used by the customer (as opposed to most applications which are for the dealer, or on a central kiosk) to provide the customer a tour of a showroom and each vehicle, highlighting key features and other content at the discretion of the OEM, such as videos tours conducted by their spokesperson. In at least one embodiment, the customer can also search inventory, potentially at this dealer and other ‘friendly’ dealerships with whom this dealer has a trading relationship. Other sales tools such as build and price, payment estimation, etc are available as well. |
| US10176508B2 |
System, method, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for evaluating search results for online grocery personalization
A system, method and computer product for allowing a processing device to generate search engine results using a cobought model algorithm, filter the search results based on product information and past transaction data, and provide personalized recommendations for online grocery shoppers. |
| US10176505B2 |
Systems and methods for providing customized food items that are customized based, at least in part, on customized food item integrity preference
Computationally implemented methods and systems include acquiring user information associated with one or more users for use in generating one or more customized food items that are customized specifically for the one or more users, the user information to be acquired including at least one or more user preferences related to integrity of one or more food ingredients to be included in the one or more customized food items; and directing generation of the one or more customized food items for the one or more users, the one or more customized food items having been customized to show one or more visual indicators that provide customized information that has been customized in accordance, at least in part, with the acquired user information. In addition to the foregoing, other aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text. |
| US10176496B2 |
Audience segmentation based on viewing angle of a user viewing a video of a multi-angle viewing environment
Audience segmentation can be based on a viewing angle of a user viewing a video of a multi-angle viewing environment. During playback, a sequence of the user-controlled viewing angles of the video are recorded. The sequence represents the viewing angle of the user at a given point in time. Based on the sequences of several users, a predominant sequence of viewing angles of the video is determined. One or more audience segment tags are assigned to the predominant sequence of viewing angles. During subsequent playbacks of the video, the sequence(s) of user-controlled viewing angles of the video are recorded. The recorded sequence(s) of the subsequent user(s) are compared to the predominant sequence of viewing angles of the video, and the subsequent user(s) are assigned to an audience segment based on the comparison and the corresponding audience segment tags. |
| US10176495B2 |
Selection of keyword phrases for providing contextually relevant content to users
A process is described for assessing the suitability of particular keyword phrases for use in serving contextually relevant content for display on pages of network-accessible sites. In one embodiment, the process involves scoring the key phrases based in part on collected user behavioral data, such as view counts of associated social media content items. A process is also disclosed in which selected keyword phrases on a page are transformed into links that can be selected by a user to view bundled content that is related to such keyword phrases. |
| US10176494B2 |
System for individualized customer interaction
A method and system for using individualized customer models when operating a retail establishment is provided. The individualized customer models may be generated using statistical analysis of transaction data for the customer, thereby generating sub-models and attributes tailored to customer. The individualized customer models may be used in any aspect of a retail establishment's operations, ranging from supply chain management issues, inventory control, promotion planning (such as selecting parameters for a promotion or simulating results of a promotion), to customer interaction (such as providing a shopping list or providing individualized promotions). |
| US10176487B2 |
Systems and methods for an online marketplace for accessories of a remote monitoring and management product
Systems and methods of the present disclosure facilitate providing a marketplace for accessories of a remote monitoring and management product. In some embodiments, the system may be configured to create a first user account for a first user with a first number of points, and a second user account for a second user with a second number of points. The system may obtain a first RMM accessory item (e.g., a monitor, a data view, an antivirus definition, a search, a report, a script, a system component, a plugin, a probe, or a definition) and a corresponding price. Responsive to receiving an indication of interest, the system may transmit the first RMM accessory item to the second user, add to the first number of points a first multiplier times the price, and subtract from the second number of points a second multiplier times the price. |
| US10176485B2 |
Techniques for channel-independent offer management
Techniques for channel-independent offer management are provided. An offer management server can be deployed in a variety of architectural arrangements within an enterprise. The offer management server provides cross-platform and channel-independent evaluation of offers and offer management for the enterprise. |
| US10176483B2 |
User interface for displaying purchase concentration data for unique items based on consumer-specified constraints
A system and method for providing a user interface to facilitate the purchase of unique items by presenting past purchase information of unique items to consumers. The user interface is a two-dimensional chart, with each axis of the chart representing a variation of values of an attribute that characterize an item that was previously sold. The system populates the chart with sales data that reflects the past sales of items having attribute values that fall within the chart. By visually presenting to consumers the distribution of past purchases, the consumer is better able to assess whether an item that they are purchasing falls within “typical” purchase behavior of other consumers. In some embodiments, the system allows a user to select a region of the chart and initiate a search for items that are available for purchase that satisfy the attribute values that are associated with the selected region. |
| US10176482B1 |
System to identify vulnerable card readers
Example embodiments relate to a network-based vulnerability detection system configured to access a database of customer transaction data corresponding to a set of card readers that includes transaction codes, receive an identification of a set of compromised card readers among the set of card readers, identify common transaction codes within the transaction data of the set of compromised card readers, and correlate the common transaction codes to one or more instances of fraud associated with the compromised set of card readers. In some example embodiments, the vulnerability detection system may be applied to monitor one or more card readers, receive transaction data corresponding to transaction conducted through the card readers, identify the common transaction codes correlated to the instances of fraud, and cause display of a notification that includes an indication of the instance of fraud at a client device. |
| US10176480B1 |
Stranded asset management in customer service call centers
A method, system and computer-readable storage medium provide for managing stranded assets of a customer service call center. The system includes an interface component that identifies an opportunity event of an established customer service session initiated by a user that is in a waiting queue for a customer service representative. The system includes an ingestion component that ingests one or more characteristics of the opportunity event that characterize at least one of: (i) the identity of the user; (ii) subject of the established customer service session; and (iii) situational context of the user. The system includes a correlation component that correlates the one or more ingested characteristics and an estimated duration of the waiting queue with at least one transaction-related content item. The system includes a publishing component that publishes a selected transaction-related content item via the established customer service session to the user while in the waiting queue. |
| US10176479B2 |
Confirming local marketplace transaction consummation for online payment consummation
Exemplary embodiment of the present invention would provide systems, including Internet-based systems, and computer-implemented methods, for providing online Buyers and Sellers who physically transact an exchange of an item at a local meeting place, indicia of confirmation of the exchange on which to base a background online payment. In particular, exemplary embodiments of the present invention would provide a way for Buyers and/or Sellers to input an identifier for online authentication to confirm that a physical exchange of an item sold had been transacted and that would accordingly provide an online system with a basis to charge the relevant Buyer's account for a sale amount and pay the Seller for the item sold. |
| US10176473B1 |
GPS validation for transactions
A location verification provision is implemented to determine the location of a device associated with a user at the time of an attempted transaction. The attempted transaction includes receiving user identification and/or payment information, which is associated with the device in an entry stored in a database. Location information of the device, as well as a time at each location, may also be stored in the database. To verify that the device is located at the location of the transaction, a comparison operation may be performed. If the device is located where the transaction is being processed, the transaction may be completed. Predetermined criteria may be defined to account for possible inaccuracies in location and time calculations. |
| US10176469B2 |
Interactive jewelry vending machine
Enables an interactive jewelry vending machine configured to enable users to quickly and conveniently purchase jewelry. The interactive jewelry vending machine allows users to view a rendition of the jewelry on their person with images taken by the camera and displayed on the point of sale system. Through a wireless communication system, users may check the inventory of each vending machine and purchase products remotely. The wireless communication system also provides additional security for the interactive jewelry vending machine by relaying alarm signals during break in attempts and sending out position signals when movement of the interactive jewelry vending machine is detected. An internal battery may power the wireless communication system when the interactive jewelry vending machine is no longer connected to an external power source. |
| US10176466B2 |
Check cashing automated banking machine
Described herein is a technique for cashing a check at an automated banking machine. A check is presented via a check acceptor which obtains check data from the check, the check data comprises an amount. If the amount of the check is greater than a predetermined threshold, or limit, the user is asked to provide additional identification, such as a driver's license. A driver's license scanner reads data from the driver's license. The data read from a driver's license may include a hologram and/or a bar code. |
| US10176465B2 |
Transactions with imaging analysis
A money transfer system with imaging. The system includes a first money transfer terminal and an imaging device. The imaging device is configured to acquire a first set of imaging information of a user. The system also includes a host computer system, configured to receive at least a portion of the first set of financial transaction information and at least a portion of the first set of imaging information. The system also includes a previous transaction database, an external database, and a decision maker terminal. The system also includes a second money transfer terminal and a second imaging device. The second imaging device is configured to acquire a second set of imaging information of the second user. |
| US10176463B2 |
Machine learning system for intelligently identifying suitable time slots in a user's electronic calendar
Training a machine to learn and to identify time slots to select in a user's electronic calendar, in one aspect, may include receiving an invitee list and meeting meta data associated with a meeting via an electronic calendar application. Candidate timeslots for the meeting may be determined and a database associated with the electronic calendar application analyzed to obtain user factors associated with the candidate timeslots and invitees in the invitee list. Based on the user factors, a predictive model may be generated that is associated with an invitee in the invitee list by a machine learning algorithm. The predictive model may be executed to determine a time slot to select for the invitee. |
| US10176460B2 |
Electronic business card exchange method and apparatus
An electronic business card exchange method and apparatus. The method comprises: if a first electronic business card terminal on which a first electronic business card is displayed receives a first touch signal, the first electronic business card terminal turns the first electronic business card upside down to enable the business card to face the other party, and establishes a data connection to a second electronic business card terminal (101); if the first electronic business card terminal on which the first electronic business card that has been turned is displayed receives a second touch signal, the first electronic business card terminal sends the first electronic business card to the second electronic card terminal through the data connection (103); and through the data connection, the first electronic business card terminal receives and displays a second electronic business card sent by the second electronic business card terminal (104). Users can exchange electronic business cards by only sending two touch signals, so that the problems of complex operation of electronic business card exchange and proneness to opposite end confusion in the prior art are solved. In addition, the process is formal and meets business card exchange etiquette, and the problem is solved that electronic business card cannot be popularized on a large scale all the time to replace paper business cards due to the concern of etiquette in electronic business card exchange. |
| US10176454B2 |
Automated shelf sensing system
Systems and methods for powering sensors on a shelf and using the sensors to detect attributes associated with physical objects are discussed. A handheld device can be coupled to a docking station which can be mounted on a supporting surface on of a shelf for supporting one or more physical objects. Sensors can be disposed on, in or about the supporting surface of the shelf. An electric circuit between the handheld device and the sensors can be powered to selectively energize or de-energize the sensors in response to the docking station coupling with the handheld device. |
| US10176453B2 |
Ensuring resilience of a business function by managing resource availability of a mission-critical project
A method and associated systems for ensuring resilience of a business function manages resource availability for projects that perform mission-critical tasks for the business function. The method and systems create a model that reveals dependencies among types of resources needed by a project, such that the model describes how the unavailability of one instance of a resource propagates disruptions to other instances of the same type of resource. This model automatically identifies a resource type as being critical if a disruption of an instance of the resource type would render a project task infeasible, and if restoring that task would incur unacceptable cost. The model may also automatically identify a first resource type as being critical for a second resource type when disruption of the first resource type reduces the available capacity of the second resource type to an unacceptable level. |
| US10176449B1 |
Timeout durations for radio frequency identification tags
This disclosure describes the establishment, use and adjustment of timeout durations for individual RFID tags. Each RFID tag within an inventory system has a timeout duration that is based at least in part on a time duration between receipts of a RFID tag identifier associated with the RFID tag. |
| US10176448B1 |
Generation of dynamic delivery zones for merchants
In some examples, a service provider may receive revenue value shared between the service provider and a merchant. The service provider may also receive an order request along with item information and a delivery location. Accordingly, the service provider may determine an original delivery boundary and a delivery fee associated with the order request based at least on the delivery location. If the value of revenue shared is more than a predefined value, the service provider allocates at least a part of the value of shared revenue toward modifying the delivery boundary, wherein the modified delivery boundary causes at least one of: (a) an inclusion of the buyer previously excluded from the delivery boundary, or (b) a new delivery fee for delivering the indicated items, where the new delivery fee is computed based on a contribution of the percentage value of the shared revenue toward the original delivery fee. |
| US10176444B2 |
Computer-implemented method, computer program product and system for analyzing a control-flow in a business process model
A new technique to analyze the control-flow, i.e., the workflow graph of a business process model, which is called symbolic execution, is provided. Acyclic workflow graphs that may contain inclusive OR-gateways are considered; a symbolic execution for them is defined, which runs in quadratic time. In particular, this symbolic execution essentially comprises labeling edges of nodes of the graph such that a label assigned to a first edge comprises a set of one or more edge identifiers, each identifying a second edge that is an outgoing edge of an XOR-split or an IOR-split node in the graph, whereby executing the second edge ensures that the first edge will be executed. Such a scheme may permit a decision for any pair of control-flow edges or tasks of the workflow graph whether they are sometimes, never, or always reached concurrently. This has different applications in finding control- and data-flow errors. |
| US10176441B2 |
Intelligent spatial enterprise analytics
For distributed analysis of time-series data in a smart entity environment, the data is received from a data source in the environment. An overall analysis of the data is distributed to a first node in the environment. In a network operating the environment the first node is at a smaller distance from the data source as compared to a second node. A first portion of the overall analysis is performed on the data at the first node to produce a first conclusion. The first conclusion is routed to the second node. The second node performs a second portion of the overall analysis. Using the first conclusion, from the first node, a first action is caused to occur on a component of the environment. The data source is associated with the component, the data is indicative of a condition in the environment, and the component participates in the condition. |
| US10176438B2 |
Systems and methods for data driven malware task identification
Embodiments of a system and method for identifying malware tasks using a controlled environment to run malicious software to generate analysis reports, a parser to extract features from the analysis reports and a cognitively inspired learning algorithm to predict tasks associated with the malware are disclosed. |
| US10176432B2 |
Weakly tunable qubit based on two coupled disparate transmons
A technique relates to providing a superconducting quantum device. A fixed frequency transmon qubit is provided. A tunable frequency transmon qubit is provided. The fixed frequency transmon qubit is coupled to the tunable frequency transmon qubit to form a single qubit. |
| US10176431B2 |
Low-noise, ultra-low temperature dissipative devices
A dissipative device has a planar configuration with one or more resistor elements formed on an insulating substrate. Conductors are formed on the insulating substrate and are coupled to the resistor element(s) to transmit signals to/from the resistor element(s). The geometry of and materials for the dissipative device allow the conductors to act as heat sinks, which conduct heat generated in the resistor element(s) to the substrate (and on to a coupled housing) and cool hot electrons generated by the resistor element(s) via electron-phonon coupling. The dissipative device can be used in cooling a signal to a qubit, a cavity system of a quantum superconducting qubit, or any other cryogenic device sensitive to thermal noise. |
| US10176430B2 |
Applying live camera colors to a digital design
The present disclosure is directed toward systems and methods for extracting colors from a live camera feed and applying the extracted colors to a user's input digital design. For example, in response to the user targeting the camera of a client-computing device at a fixed position for a threshold amount of time, one or more embodiments described herein extracts a palette of dominant colors from the live camera feed and maps the palette of dominant colors onto one or more colors of the user's input digital design in real time. |
| US10176423B1 |
Cards and devices with embedded holograms
A card, such as a payment card, or other device may include an electronics package. The electronics package may include electronic components mounted on a flexible, printed circuit board. The electronics package may be laminated (e.g., via a hot, cold, or molding lamination process) between layers of transparent polymer. A hologram may be fixed to one side of the electronics package such that the hologram may be viewed from the exterior of the laminated card having transparent polymer layers. As such, the hologram may not be removed without breaching the integrity of a transparent polymer layer. |