| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US10218488B2 |
Interface circuit and information processing system
A signal is transmitted at a high speed in a direction opposite to a transmitting direction of a main large-capacity channel. A first transmitting unit transmits a first signal including a clock component to an external device through a transmission path as a differential signal. A second transmitting unit superimposes a second signal including a clock component on the transmission path as an in-phase signal to transmit to the external device. A state notifying unit communicates with the external device through a pair of differential transmission paths included in the transmission path and notifies the external device of a connection state of its own device by a DC bias potential of at least one of the pair of differential transmission paths. |
| US10218483B2 |
Systems and methods for signaling and generating variable length block acknowledgment fields in a wireless network
Systems, methods, and apparatuses for signaling and generating variable length block acknowledgement fields in a wireless network are provided. One aspect of this disclosure provides a method of wireless communication. The method includes generating, by an apparatus, a block acknowledgment (BA) frame comprising a BA bitmap field. The method further includes determining a size of the BA bitmap field. The method further includes inserting an indication of the determined size of the BA bitmap field. |
| US10218480B2 |
Uplink sounding signal triggering method and system, and apparatus
An uplink sounding signal triggering method, system, and apparatus are provided. The method includes: sending, by a base station, a downlink control information (DCI) using a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), with the DCI including a sounding reference signal SRS control information intended for each UE of Y number of UEs, with Y comprising a positive integer greater than 1. |
| US10218473B2 |
Control channel detection method, user equipment, and base station
Embodiments of the present invention provide a control channel detection method, a user equipment, and a base station, where the method includes: acquiring parameter configuration information corresponding to different control channel resource sets, and detecting a control channel in the corresponding different control channel resource sets according to the parameter configuration information, which therefore implements selection of a dynamic node. |
| US10218471B1 |
Selection of positioning reference signal occasions
Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. A user equipment (UE) may support selection of positioning reference signal (PRS) occasions. For example, a UE may identify a first pair of PRS occasions for monitoring a PRS at a first frequency and a second pair of PRS occasions for monitoring a PRS at a second frequency and occurring after the first pair of PRS occasions. The UE may measure a first PRS of the first pair of PRS occasions at the first frequency, and then measure a first PRS of the second pair of PRS occasions at the second frequency. The UE may then measure a second PRS of the first pair of PRS occasions at the first frequency after measuring the first PRS of the second pair of PRS occasions at the second frequency. |
| US10218468B2 |
USB device, data transfer system and data transfer method
To prevent an increase in a circuit configuration that is used for a case in which when a header is incorrect under a specific condition, a correctly-received payload is kept and only the header is resent. A USB device according to the present disclosure includes a first processing unit configured to, when a predetermined error is included in a first header of a first packet received from a host apparatus, discard the first header and transmit a first payload of the first packet to a subsequent stage, and a second processing unit configured to discard the first payload received from the first processing unit and transmit a first packet resending request to the host apparatus. |
| US10218467B2 |
Methods and systems for managing error correction mode
The present invention discloses methods and systems for managing an error correction mode at a first communications router. The first communication router transmits data packets to a second communications router and stores the first data packet in a local storage medium, When a delay inquiry message is received from the second communications router, the first communications router activates the error correction mode. When the error correction mode is activated, the first data packet is retransmitted to the second communications router and an error correction packet corresponding to the first data packet is also transmitted. When a back-to-normal message is received from the second communications router, the first communications router deactivates the error correction mode. The back-to-normal message indicates that the first communications router no longer needs to be in error correction mode. |
| US10218465B2 |
Method and system for maximizing channel bandwidth while employing error control coding
A system and method includes employing a cyclical redundancy check (CRC) code to information being transmitted on the channel, the CRC code including appending a single CRC code bit to the information, the single CRC code bit having a value of 0. The method further includes adding an error correcting code with a value of 0 to the information and to a plurality of error correcting code parity bits provided by the error correcting code. The method further includes transmitting, by the communication device, the information on the channel without the single CRC code bit, the additional information bit, and the error correcting code parity bits for being decoded and set by a receiver. |
| US10218464B2 |
Method and an apparatus for generating a second data packet from a first data packet
Embodiments relate to a method for generating a second data packet for a second network layer from a first data packet including a first header portion with information related to a first network layer higher than the second network layer. The method comprises generating, based on the first header portion, a second header portion including information related to the second network layer and generating a payload portion including the first data packet. The method further comprises generating the second data packet for the second network layer by linking the second header portion and the payload portion. |
| US10218463B2 |
Method and system for wireless local area network (WLAN) long symbol duration migration
A STA may perform packet detection to detect a packet and decode a legacy preamble of the detected packet including a legacy short training field (L-STF), a legacy long training field (L-LTF), and a legacy signal (L-SIG) field. The STA may decode a high efficiency signal A (HE-SIG-A) field to obtain a first partial association identifier (PAID) comprising group information. If the decoded group information matches group information stored in a memory of the STA, the STA may decode a high efficiency (HE) preamble and a high efficiency signal B (HE-SIG-B) field of the detected packet. The HE-SIG-B field may include a station identifier within the group. When the group information is combined with the station identifier, the STA may determine an accurate address. |
| US10218456B2 |
Modulation processing method and device
A modulation processing method, a UE and a base station are disclosed; herein, the base station transmits a high-layer configuration signaling to the UE, herein the high-layer configuration signaling is used to indicate whether to support a high-order Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) modulation scheme, the high-order QAM modulation scheme is a modulation scheme of M QAM, and M is a number greater than 64. |
| US10218454B2 |
Open, modular, and scalable optical line system
A reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexer (ROADM) includes a plurality of interconnected ROADM blocks. Each ROADM block includes an ingress switchable-gain amplifier, an output power detector coupled to an output of the ingress switchable gain amplifier, and a wavelength-selective switch coupled to the output of the ingress switchable gain amplifier. Each ROADM block includes a plurality of add/drop blocks coupled to the wavelength-selective switches of the plurality of ROADM blocks. The ROADM includes a controller configured to receive an indication of an output signal power from the output power detector and adjust gain and equalization parameters of the ingress switchable-gain amplifier based on the received indication of the output signal power. |
| US10218453B2 |
Methods and apparatus for logical associations between routers and optical nodes within a wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) system
An apparatus includes a memory and a processor operatively coupled to the memory. The processor is configured to partition a set of ports of an optical multiplexer into a set of port groups including a first port group having a first set of ports and a second port group having a second set of ports mutually exclusive from the first set of ports. The processor is configured to associate the first port group with a first router and associate the second port group with a second router. When the optical multiplexer is operatively coupled to the first router and the second router, the first router is operatively coupled to the optical multiplexer via the first set of ports and not the second set of ports, and the second router is operatively coupled to the optical multiplexer via the second set of ports and not the first set of ports. |
| US10218452B2 |
High speed embedded protocol for distributed control system
A control network communication arrangement includes a second protocol embedded into a first protocol in a way that modules supporting the second protocol may be aware of and utilize the first protocol whereas modules supporting only the first protocol may not be aware of the second protocol. Operation of modules using the second protocol does not disturb operation of the modules not configured to use or understand the second protocol. By one approach, the messages sent using the second protocol will be seen as messages sent using the first protocol but not having a message necessary to understand or as needing a particular response. In another approach, modules using the second protocol can be configured to send message during transmission of first protocol messages by other modules, the second protocol messages being triggered off of expected aspects of the message sent under the first protocol. |
| US10218450B1 |
Interference mitigation in short-range wireless communication
Systems and techniques are described for mitigating interference in wireless communication devices. In various examples, a device may determine a first energy level of a first received wireless signal and may determine that the first energy level is above a first threshold. The device may attenuate the first received wireless signal by a first amount. The device may filter the first received wireless signal with a band pass filter with a first passband frequency range. The device may be effective to program the band pass filter with the first passband frequency range based on the detected first energy level exceeding the first threshold. |
| US10218448B2 |
System and method for determining vehicle position based upon light-based communication and time-of-flight measurements
A system and method for determining vehicle position uses light based communication (LBC) signals and a time-of-flight (TOF) pulse. Each vehicle includes a LBC system having light emitting diodes (LEDs) and receiver photodiodes capable of sending and receiving pulsed light binary messages. The LBC system may also include a TOF transceiver for sending and receiving TOF pulses, or the transmitter and receiver diodes may be used to send and receive TOF pulses. Each LBC system has a controller coupled to the transmitter diodes and receiver diodes (and the TOF transceiver when present). The controller includes a processor configured to determine the distance between vehicles. Optical characteristics are used to discern relative angle, a header is used to determine relative orientation, and the time-of-flight is used to determine distance, which together may be used by the processor to determine the relative location between transmitting vehicle and the receiving vehicle. |
| US10218444B2 |
PAM4 transceivers for high-speed communication
The present invention is directed to data communication. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention provide a transceiver that processes an incoming data stream and generates a recovered clock signal based on the incoming data stream. The transceiver includes a voltage gain amplifier that also performs equalization and provides a driving signal to track and hold circuits that hold the incoming data stream, which is stored by shift and holder buffer circuits. Analog to digital conversion is then performed on the buffer data by a plurality of ADC circuits. Various DSP functions are then performed over the converted data. The converted data are then encoded and transmitted in a PAM format. There are other embodiments as well. |
| US10218438B2 |
Distributed array for direction and frequency finding
An optical imaging system and method that reconstructs RF sources in k-space by utilizing interference amongst modulated optical beams. The system and method involves recording with photodetectors the interference pattern produced by RF-modulated optical beams conveyed by optical fibers having unequal lengths. The photodetectors record the interference, and computational analysis using known tomography reconstruction methods is performed to reconstruct the RF sources in k-space. |
| US10218429B2 |
Information processing device and information processing method for relaying signal
An information processing device that includes circuitry that: receives a signal from a first device; measures a signal strength of the signal received from the first device; determines whether the signal strength is less than a threshold; and in a case that the signal strength is determined to be less than the predetermined threshold, transmits to an second device an instruction signal such that, in response to the instruction signal, the second device moves to a position to relay the signal from the first device to the information processing device. |
| US10218409B2 |
Systems and methods for small cell placement using PNM metrics
A communication device is provided for a communication network having a cable plant within an operational vicinity of a macro base station wirelessly transmitting an LTE signal. The communication device includes a processor configured to obtain at least one PNM metric for a cable signal communicated over the cable plant, detect a signature of the LTE signal based on the obtained PNM metric, estimate, based on the detected LTE signature, an existing LTE signal power at a point of leakage in the cable plant, determine a CNR of the cable plant at the point of leakage based on a power of the cable signal and the estimated LTE signal power, and calculate a minimum safe distance from the point of leakage in which a small cell base station may operate without the substantial interference from the LTE signal of the macro base station. |
| US10218407B2 |
Radio frequency system and method for wearable device
A radio frequency (RF) system includes an RF integrated circuit (IC) die. The RF IC die includes a first transmit circuit, a second transmit circuit, a first receive circuit, a second receive circuit, and a control circuit coupled to the first transmit circuit, the second transmit circuit, the first receive circuit, and the second receive circuit. The RF system further includes a first antenna coupled to the first transmit circuit and the first receive circuit using a first coupling structure. The control circuit is configured to activate the first transmit circuit and deactivate the first receive circuit during a first operation mode. The RF system further includes a second antenna coupled to the second transmit circuit and the second receive circuit using a second coupling structure. The control circuit is configured to activate the second transmit circuit and deactivate the second receive circuit during a second operation mode. |
| US10218406B2 |
Narrowband communication for different device capabilities in unlicensed spectrum
Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communication are described. Resources for narrowband communication in an unlicensed radio frequency spectrum band may be configured and allocated based on resource availability, regulatory constraints, and device capability or category. A narrowband wireless device, such as a machine type communication device or other relatively low complexity device, may communicate using one or more narrowband carriers, which may occupy between one tone and multiple resource blocks in an unlicensed spectrum band (e.g., any number of resources between one (1) tone and multiple resource blocks (RBs)). Different device types may thus be configured differently as they move between geographic regions. The base station may then communicate with the narrowband mobile device based on the resource allocation and the carrier configuration. |
| US10218405B2 |
I/Q modulator and demodulator with wide instantaneous bandwidth and high local-oscillator-port-to-radio-frequency-port isolation
An improved quadrature modulator/demodulator (IQMD) may use two-phase quadrature local oscillator (LO) signal generation for generating 0° and 90° LO signals, and an anti-phase combiner/divider (at 0° and 180°) on the RF (radio frequency) port. The IQMD may include mixers (which may be double-balanced passive mixers) that function as downconverters when a signal is incident at their radio frequency (RF) ports, and function as upconverters when signals are incident on their intermediate frequency (IF) ports. Accordingly, the IQMD may function as an I/Q modulator by connecting digital-to-analog converters (DAC) to the differential I and Q ports, and/or it may also function as an I/Q demodulator by connecting analog-to-digital converters (ADC) to the differential I and Q ports. |
| US10218404B2 |
Interconnect element circuitry for RF electronics
In one embodiment, interconnect element (IE) circuitry electrically interconnects electronic components (e.g., a transceiver and a filter or a filter and an antenna). The IE circuitry has an inductive signal path and a grounded, inductive return path, where at least one actively controlled impedance-compensation element, electrically interconnecting the signal and ground paths, is controllable to selectively provide different impedance levels, such that overall impedance of the IE circuitry is controllable to achieve low pass-band insertion loss and high stop-band attenuation between the electronic components without requiring expensive RF connectors to connect the IE circuitry to the electronic components and an RF filter to provide stop-band attenuation. In a T-filter configuration, the IE circuitry has only one impedance-compensation element; in a Pi-filter configuration, the IE circuitry has two impedance-compensation elements. Each impedance-compensation element has at least one controllable device such as a varactor diode, a switched-capacitor array, or a tunable capacitor. |
| US10218403B2 |
System and method for a modular dynamic wireless power control system in a convertible information handling system
A system and method operating a convertible information handling system comprising a processor executing code instructions for a modular dynamic wireless power control system for detecting an active wireless link operating via an antenna system and a first orientation mode, wherein the transmission power of the antenna system is limited to a regulatory safety maximum depending on orientation, the processor determining the permitted regulatory safety maximum transmission power for the first orientation mode for the information handling system and the processor determining relative transmission activity levels for the information handling system relative to the first active wireless link and the second active wireless link, including a first wireless link data rate transmission level for the first antenna system and a second wireless link data rate transmission level for the second antenna system. The modular dynamic wireless power control system instructing the wireless interface adapter controller to increase transmission power to the first antenna and decrease transmission power to the second antenna relative to the regulatory safety maximum power level when the first wireless link data rate transmission level is greater than the second wireless link data rate transmission level. |
| US10218402B2 |
Multi-subscriber identity module (SIM) call setup
Apparatus and methods for method for a wireless communication device having a first Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) enabling a first subscription and a second SIM enabling a second subscription to manage communications over the first subscription and the second subscription, including but not limited to determining an error rate associated with the first subscription or a network congestion parameter associated with the first subscription and determining to skip at least one page decode on the second subscription based on the error rate associated with the first subscription or the network congestion parameter associated with the first subscription. |
| US10218399B2 |
Systems and methods for activity determination based on human frame
Systems and related methods providing for determining activities of individuals are discussed herein. Circuitry may be configured to wirelessly receive tag signals from a plurality of RF location tags. Two or more of the RF location tags may be positioned on an individual, such as at positions that may at least partially define a human frame. The circuitry may be configured to correlate the two or more RF location tags with the individual. Location data for each of the two or more RF location tags may be determined based on the received tag signals. An activity of the individual may be determined based on the location data. In some embodiments, one or more activities involving multiple individuals may be determined based on RF location tags and sensors positioned on each of the multiple individuals. Furthermore, sensor data from the sensors may be communicated over the UWB channel. |
| US10218395B2 |
Amplification system for public safety
Provided is an amplification system for a public safety service. The amplification system may be installed to cover a radio-shadow zone, and stably maintain the service despite a distortion in a wireless environment and an excessive input of a spurious interference signal. |
| US10218390B2 |
Circuits and methods related to radio-frequency receivers having carrier aggregation
Circuits and methods related to radio-frequency (RF) receivers having carrier aggregation. In some embodiments, a carrier aggregation (CA) circuit can include a first filter configured to allow operation in a first frequency band, and a second filter configured to allow operation in a second frequency band. The CA circuit can further include a first path implemented between the first filter and a common node, with the first path being configured to provide a substantially matched impedance for the first frequency band and a substantially open-circuit impedance for the second frequency band. The CA circuit can further include a second path implemented between the second filter and the common node, with the second path being configured to provide a substantially matched impedance for the second frequency band and a substantially open-circuit impedance for the first frequency band. |
| US10218387B2 |
ECC memory controller supporting secure and non-secure regions
A system and method of utilizing ECC memory to detect software errors and malicious activities is disclosed. In one embodiment, after a pool of memory is freed, every data word in that pool is modified to ensure that an ECC error will occur if any data word in that pool is read again. In another embodiment, the ECC memory controller is used to detect and prevent non-secure applications from accessing secure portions of memory. |
| US10218382B2 |
Decompression using cascaded history windows
The following description is directed to decompression using cascaded history buffers. In one example, an apparatus can include a decompression pipeline configured to decompress compressed data comprising code words that reference a history of decompressed data generated from the compressed data. The apparatus can include a first-level history buffer configured to store a more recent history of the decompressed data received from the decompression pipeline. The apparatus can include a second-level history buffer configured to store a less recent history of the decompressed data received from the first-level history buffer. |
| US10218380B1 |
High speed data weighted averaging architecture
Data weighted averaging of a thermometric coded input signal is accomplished by controlling the operation of a crossbar switch matrix to generate a current cycle of a data weighted averaging output signal using a control signal generated in response to feedback of a previous cycle of the data weighted averaging output signal. The control signal specifies a bit location for a beginning logic transition of the data weighted averaging output signal in the current cycle based on detection of an ending logic transition of the data weighted averaging output signal in the previous cycle. |
| US10218379B2 |
Scalable interleaved digital-to-time converter circuit for clock generation
Some embodiments include apparatus and methods using a first digital-to-time converter (DTC) circuit to receive an input clock signal and generate a first clock signal based on the input clock signal, a second DTC circuit to receive the input clock signal and generate a second clock signal based on the input clock signal, and an output circuit to receive the first and second clock signals to generate an output clock signal based on the first and second clock signals. |
| US10218377B2 |
Gain calibration for ADC with external reference
Representative implementations of devices and techniques provide gain calibration for analog to digital conversion of time-discrete analog inputs. An adjustable capacitance arrangement is used to reduce or eliminate gain error caused by capacitor mismatch within the ADC. For example, the capacitance arrangement may include an array of multiple switched capacitances arranged to track gain error during search algorithm operation. |
| US10218375B2 |
Circuit device, oscillator, electronic apparatus, and vehicle
A circuit device includes an A/D conversion unit that performs A/D conversion of a temperature detection voltage applied from a temperature sensor unit and outputs temperature detection data, a processing unit that performs a temperature compensation process of an oscillation frequency on the basis of the temperature detection data, and an oscillation signal generation circuit that includes a D/A conversion unit and an oscillation circuit and generates an oscillation signal using frequency control data received from the processing unit and a vibrator. The D/A conversion unit includes modulation circuit that receives the frequency control data of (n+m) bits and modulates n-bit data on the basis of m-bit data of the frequency control data, a D/A converter that performs D/A conversion of the modulated n-bit data, and a filter circuit that smoothes the output voltage of the D/A converter. |
| US10218369B2 |
Systems and methods for delay-based continuous time processing
Disclosed herein are some continuous time systems and methods. Some of the disclosed systems and methods use a continuous-time analog-to-digital converter (ADC) configured to receive an analog input and to generate an ADC output, a continuous-time digital signal processor configured to receive the ADC output and generate one or more digital outputs, one or more digital-to-analog converters configured to receive the one or more digital outputs, each digital-to-analog converter configured to receive a corresponding digital output and generate an analog output, and an adder configured to receive the analog outputs of the one or more digital-to-analog converters and to generate a summed analog output. |
| US10218368B2 |
System and method for in-situ optimization of microwave field homogeneity in an atomic clock
A method of operating a cold atom clock to maintain a highly homogeneous microwave field is provided. The method includes: driving a subset of microwave feed lines to excite a microwave field in a resonator, while a power and a phase of at least one microwave feed line in the subset is held constant, and while the power or the phase of at least one other microwave feed line in the subset is changed; measuring a strength of the atomic transition excited by the microwave field; extracting a relative power and a relative phase between or among the subset of microwave feed lines by processing the strength of the atomic transitions excited by the microwave field measured in at least one auxiliary-measurement sequence; and determining if an adjustment to one or more of the microwave feed lines is needed to improve the homogeneity of the microwave field phase and amplitude. |
| US10218366B1 |
Phase locked loop calibration for synchronizing non-constant frequency switching regulators
A calibration circuit for synchronizing a switching regulator includes a phase locked loop circuit to generate one or more control signals based on an output of the switching regulator. A digital calibration circuit provides a digital output signal based on the control signals from the phase locked loop circuit. A timer can provide switching pulses to the switching regulator based on the digital output signal and the control signals. The phase locked loop circuit can adjust the control signals based on a reference clock signal to synchronize a feedback signal of the switching regulator with the reference clock signal. |
| US10218364B2 |
Time to digital converter, phase difference pulse generator, radio communication device, and radio communication method
A time to digital converter has a counter to measure the number of cycles of a first signal, a first phase difference detector to generate a phase difference signal having a pulse width corresponding to a phase difference, a first capacitor to be charged with an electric charge, a second capacitor including capacitance N times the capacitance of the first capacitor, the N being a real number larger than 1, a comparator to compare a charge voltage of the first capacitor and a charge voltage of the second capacitor, a first charge controller to continue to charge the second capacitor until the comparator detects that the charge voltage of the second capacitor has reached the charge voltage of the first capacitor or more, and a first phase difference arithmetic unit to operate the phase difference between the first signal and the second signal. |
| US10218361B2 |
Low-noise oscillator amplitude regulator
A frequency generation solution controls an oscillator amplitude using two feedback paths to generate high frequency signals with lower power consumption and lower noise. A first feedback path provides continuous control of the oscillator amplitude responsive to an amplitude detected at the oscillator output. A second feedback path provides discrete control of the amplitude regulating parameter(s) of the oscillator responsive to the detected oscillator amplitude. Because the second feedback path enables the adjustment of the amplitude regulating parameter(s), the second feedback path enables an amplifier in the first feedback path to operate at a reduced gain, and thus also at a reduced power and a reduced noise, without jeopardizing the performance of the oscillator. |
| US10218355B2 |
Power supply circuit and control method thereof
A power supply circuit according to an embodiment of the invention includes: voltage sources; voltage control circuits that boost an input voltage; and a voltage source connection switch that connects at least one of the voltage sources to one of the voltage control circuits. For example, the voltage source connection switch connects, to the voltage control circuit, a voltage source having a voltage lower than a predetermined reference voltage among the voltage sources, and connects, to the voltage control circuit, a voltage source having a voltage equal to or higher than the determined reference voltage among the voltage sources. |
| US10218352B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit
A semiconductor integrated circuit includes an output circuit driven by a power voltage across a first and a second node. A control circuit is driven by the power voltage to control output a digital signal at a pad terminal, a logic value of the signal being set by a core circuit connected to the output circuit. The digital signal causes a voltage at the first node to be high and a voltage at the second node to low when a predetermined power voltage higher than a withstanding voltage of the output circuit is applied across the first and second nodes. The control circuit controls voltages across terminals of switching elements in the output circuit to be less than their withstanding voltages and to prevent current flowing from the pad terminal to the output circuit when the first power node is in a high impedance state. |
| US10218351B2 |
Parallel driving circuit of voltage-driven type semiconductor element
A PCH driving section of a gate driving circuit applies a high level driving voltage that can be changed by a high side pre-driver to a gate of a P-channel MOSFET connected between a high potential side terminal and a high side driving terminal. An NCH driving section applies a low level driving voltage to a gate of an N-channel MOSFET connected between a low side driving terminal and a low potential side terminal using a low side pre-driver. The low potential side terminal is provided separately from a ground terminal. |
| US10218350B2 |
Circuit with transistors having coupled gates
A circuit can include a first transistor including a source and a gate; a second transistor including a drain and a gate, wherein the source of the first transistor is coupled to the drain of the second transistor; and a switchable element. In one embodiment, a first current-carrying terminal of the switchable element is coupled to the gate of the first transistor, and a second current-carrying terminal of the switchable element is coupled to the gate of the second transistor. In another embodiment, the switchable element is coupled to the gate of the first transistor and includes a first selectable terminal of the switchable element coupled to a source of the second transistor, and a second selectable terminal of the switchable element coupled to the gate of the second transistor. In a particular embodiment, the circuit can be a cascode circuit. |
| US10218347B2 |
High frequency switch
A high frequency switch includes a first signal transferring unit configured to transfer a high frequency signal from a first port to a common port, and a second signal transferring unit configured to transfer the high frequency signal from the common port to a second port. The high frequency switch also includes an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protecting unit including a protective transistor positioned between the common port and a ground and a diode element positioned between a control terminal of the protective transistor and the first port. |
| US10218345B2 |
High-side gate drive circuit, semiconductor module, and three-phase inverter system
A high-side gate drive circuit includes pulse generating circuits that generate a first pulse synchronized with an input signal, and level shift circuits that shift a level of a reference voltage for the first pulse to a power supply voltage of a high-side switching element. The level shift circuits include MOSFETs to be driven by the first pulse. The high-side gate drive circuit includes a mask signal generating circuit that generates a mask signal that becomes a high level in a period in which source potential of the MOSFETs becomes a high level, and reshot circuits that input, when the first pulse is input into the level shift circuits during a mask period that is a period in which the mask signal is a high level, a second pulse into the level shift circuits after the mask period. |
| US10218342B2 |
System and method for duty cycle correction
Apparatuses and methods for correcting a duty cycle of a clock signal are described. An example apparatus includes: a duty cycle corrector (DCC) that receives an input clock signal and a control signal and produces an output clock signal responsive, at least in part, to the input clock signal and the control signal; a circuit that divides a frequency of the input clock signal by a positive even integer and generates an intermediate clock signal; and a phase detector that generates the control signal responsive, at least in part, to a difference in phase between the output clock signal and the intermediate clock signal. |
| US10218334B2 |
Acoustic wave device
An acoustic wave device includes: a substrate; an acoustic wave resonator that is formed on the substrate; a first wiring line that is formed on the substrate and is electrically coupled to the acoustic wave resonator; and a second wiring line that is electrically coupled to the first wiring line, at least a part of the second wiring line being formed immediately above the acoustic wave resonator across an air gap. |
| US10218333B2 |
Microelectromechanical resonator
A moveable micromachined member of a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device includes an insulating layer disposed between first and second electrically conductive layers. First and second mechanical structures secure the moveable micromachined member to a substrate of the MEMS device and include respective first and second electrical interconnect layers coupled in series, with the first electrically conductive layer of the moveable micromachined member and each other, between first and second electrical terminals to enable conduction of a first joule-heating current from the first electrical terminal to the second electrical terminal through the first electrically conductive layer of the moveable micromachined member. |
| US10218331B2 |
Quadrature hybrid with multi-layer structure
The disclosure provides a quadrature hybrid. The quadrature hybrid has a first, second, third and fourth ports. The quadrature hybrid comprises: a substrate having a plurality of dielectric layers; a first, second and third capacitors, each capacitor having a first predetermined number of layers each being arranged on one of the plurality of dielectric layers; and a first, second, third and fourth inductors, each inductor having a second predetermined number of layers each being arranged on one of the plurality of dielectric layers. |
| US10218323B2 |
Differential amplifier, receiver, and circuit
A differential amplifier which does not have an effect of noise resistance deterioration, waveform distortion, and a lower bandwidth while having a wide input range is realized. The differential amplifier does not cause deterioration in a signal quality due to an increase in an input load, and it is not necessary to additionally provide a configuration for generating a reference voltage. The differential amplifier includes a differential amplification circuit and an output circuit for amplifying and outputting a differential output from the differential amplification circuit. The differential amplification circuit includes a first conductive type first differential pair which supplies output currents according to a positive phase input signal and a reverse phase input signal to the output circuit, a second conductive type second differential pair which supplies output currents according to a positive phase input signal and a reverse phase input signal to the output circuit, a detector which detects an operation state of a differential pair, and an alternative current supplying circuit which supplies an alternative current for the output current of the differential pair which has been turned off to the output circuit. |
| US10218320B1 |
Vacuum tube audio amplifier
The present invention provides a vacuum tube audio amplifier which includes an audio pre-amplifying portion and an audio output transforming portion. The audio pre-amplifying portion includes an equalizer for enhanced sound quality and amplifies an audio signal, which is subsequently transmitted to the audio output transforming portion. Furthermore, the audio output transforming portion includes an audio output transformer which includes a plurality of stacked E-shaped silicon steel sheets and a plurality of stacked I-shaped silicon steel sheets, wherein the stacked E-shaped silicon steel sheets and the stacked I-shaped silicon steel sheets have a same height which is smaller than or equal to 48 mm. |
| US10218319B2 |
Radio frequency (RF) amplifiers with voltage limiting using non-linear feedback
Radio Frequency (RF) amplifiers with voltage limiting using non-linear feedback are presented herein. According to one aspect, an RF amplifier comprises an amplifier circuit having an input terminal and an output terminal and a non-linear feedback circuit having an input terminal and an output terminal. The input terminal of the non-linear feedback circuit is connected to the output terminal of the amplifier circuit and the output terminal of the non-linear feedback circuit is connected to the amplifier circuit to reduce the gain of the amplifier circuit when an RF voltage swing present at the input terminal of the non-linear feedback circuit exceeds a predefined threshold. In one embodiment, the output terminal of the non-linear feedback circuit is connected to the input terminal of the amplifier circuit. In another embodiment, the output terminal of the non-linear feedback circuit is connected to a bias circuit of the amplifier circuit. |
| US10218317B2 |
High-frequency amplifier module
A high-frequency amplifier module includes a semiconductor substrate and an insulating substrate. The semiconductor substrate includes multiple emitter electrodes, each of which is coupled to the emitter of a corresponding one of high-frequency amplifying transistors. The insulating substrate includes a common ground electrode, ground terminal electrodes, and thickness-direction coupling electrodes. The common ground electrode is formed on or near the front surface of the insulating substrate, and is joined to the emitter electrodes. The ground terminal electrodes are formed on the back surface of the insulating substrate. The thickness-direction coupling electrodes couple the common ground electrode to the ground terminal electrodes. |
| US10218311B2 |
Multi-mode power amplifiers with phase matching
Apparatus and methods for multi-mode power amplifiers are provided herein. In certain configurations, a wireless device includes a multi-mode power amplifier including a plurality of amplification paths electrically connected in parallel with one another. The plurality of amplification paths includes a first amplification path including an input stage of a first stage type and an output stage of a second stage type, and a second amplification path including an output stage of the second stage type. The first stage type provides non-inverting gain and the second stage type provides inverting gain. The wireless device further includes a transceiver that provides a radio frequency signal to the multi-mode power amplifier, and that operates the multi-mode power amplifier in a selected power mode chosen from a plurality of power modes based on selectively activating one or more of the plurality of amplification paths. |
| US10218307B2 |
Solar panel junction boxes having integrated function modules
A connection box for solar panels to enable the use of multiple types of passive and active covers for different functionalities in the junction box built into the panel to which the connection box is fixedly attached. |
| US10218306B2 |
Apparatus for securing a solar panel rail guide to a support bracket
In various representative aspects, an assembly for securing a support bracket to rail guide used for mounting and installing solar panels is provided. More specifically, the assembly provides a novel and improved nut with a serrated surface in combination with a t-bolt with a serrated surface that is capable of penetrating the respective oxidation surface layers of the bracket and the rail guide when installed. When installed, provides a mechanism for using the bracket to connect the rail guide to a flashing that is typically installed on a roof. An alternate embodiment of the nut also includes rotational and vertical stabilizing features that prevent the nut from moving along the bracket once it is secured. By employing the apparatus at various locations along the roof in a linear fashion, the rail support structure can be properly installed so that an array of solar panel modules to be installed. |
| US10218304B2 |
Roof mounting system
A roof mount assembly mounts a structure to a roof having a rafter and a substrate supported by the rafter. The roof mount assembly includes a piece of flashing positioned on the substrate. The flashing includes a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface and an aperture extending through the flashing. A fastener extends through the flashing aperture. A bracket is connected to the flashing via the fastener, and the bracket is sized to support at least one roof-mounted structure on the roof. A seal is positioned between the flashing aperture and the fastener. The seal is sized to form a water-tight seal with the aperture to inhibit flow of fluid through the aperture. The seal includes a first portion and a second portion, in which the first portion is positioned to abut the flashing first surface and the second portion is positioned to extend through the aperture. |
| US10218302B2 |
Controller and control method for electric motor
To provide a controller and a control method for an electric motor including plural energization systems each composed of an inverter and coils corresponding to plural phases. The controller performs first diagnosis processing for detecting an abnormality in each system under energization control, and second diagnosis processing for detecting an abnormality in each system not under energization control. When the first diagnosis processing detects an abnormality in one system and the second diagnosis processing detects no abnormality in the one system or when the first diagnosis processing detects an abnormality in one system to thereby stop energization control over the one system and in such a state, an abnormality is detected in another system, the energization control over the one system is restarted to drive the electric motor. It is therefore possible to avoid stopping output from a normal system when some of the systems have an abnormality. |
| US10218301B1 |
System and method for speed sensorless motor drives
A motor drive of an induction motor includes a motion controller to provide a reference signal and a memory to store a transformed model relating dynamics of a transformed state of the motor with measurements through parameters of transformed model including unknown parameters. The transformed state is a function of an electromagnetic state of the motor and parameters of transformed model. The dynamics of the transformed state is defined by a sum of components, each component is a linear function of the transformed state and at least one of the unknown parameters of the transformed model. The motor drive also include a motor controller to produce an estimate of speed and flux of the motor based on measurements and the transformed model, and to produce a reference voltage to track the reference signal based on the estimate of the speed and the flux of the motor. |
| US10218300B2 |
Transformer phase permutation causing more uniform transformer phase aging and general switching network suitable for same
A method includes determining whether transformer phases should be permuted. The method includes, responsive to a determination that the transformer phases should be permuted, permuting the transformer phases, based on historical aging information of transformer input phases, to cause transformer input phases with higher ages to be connected to transformer output phases with lower output loads and transformer input phases with lower ages to be connected to transformer output phases with higher output loads. Multiple apparatus and program products are also disclosed. |
| US10218299B2 |
Phase voltage detection circuit and power generation control device
An object of this invention is to obtain a phase voltage detection circuit that can detect a phase voltage signal reliably even when a leak current flows therein and a DC bias voltage of the phase voltage signal varies. A phase voltage detection circuit that detects a phase voltage signal generated by an armature coil of an AC power generator includes a peak hold circuit that determines an envelope of the phase voltage signal using an operational amplifier, a voltage offsetting circuit that shifts an output voltage from the peak hold circuit by a preset offset amount, and a comparator that compares the phase voltage signal with an output voltage from the voltage offsetting circuit, and outputs a phase voltage detection signal. |
| US10218298B2 |
Spillover of reactive current to line side converter
Systems and methods for controlling reactive current output of a line converter in a power system are provided. In one example embodiment, a method includes receiving a margin signal determined based at least in part on a stator current margin or a rotor current margin. The method includes determining a spillover margin based at least in part on the margin signal. The method includes determining an adjusted spillover margin using a spillover gain. The method includes determining a reactive current command for a line converter based at least in part on the adjusted spillover margin. The method includes controlling the output of the reactive current by the line converter based at least in part on the reactive current command. The spillover gain is variable based at least in part on a maximum line converter current. |
| US10218295B2 |
Motor drive controller and method for controlling motor
A motor drive controller includes: a motor drive unit; and a lock energization control circuit configured to control the motor drive unit to cause a lock current for holding the rotor at a predetermined lock position to flow from the motor drive unit to the drive coils for lock energization duration before rotation of the motor is started. The lock energization control circuit includes: a first lock energization unit that controls the motor drive unit such that a magnitude of the lock current becomes a first predetermined value when first predetermined duration has elapsed after the lock energization duration is started; and a second lock energization unit that controls the motor drive unit such that the magnitude of the lock current becomes a second predetermined value smaller than the first predetermined value when the lock energization duration is terminated after the first predetermined duration has elapsed. |
| US10218290B2 |
Inverter having at least one inverter bridge between two busbars
An inverter has an inverter bridge connected between two DC busbars on the input side and connected to an AC output on the output side. The two DC busbars run, in a manner overlapping one another, in planes which are parallel to one another. The inverter bridge has a subcircuit having a plurality of semiconductor switches between the AC output and each DC busbar. Semiconductor modules which form the two subcircuits are connected, in a manner arranged beside one another, to the two DC busbars and to the AC output via connections. A connection element which leads to the AC output begins on that side of the DC busbar which faces the semiconductor modules in a region overlapped by the DC busbars and connects the semiconductor modules of the two subcircuits to one another there. |
| US10218287B2 |
Power conversion device
A power conversion device includes a single phase full-bridge rectification circuit, a reactor being connected to a power source in series between one of input terminals of the single phase full-bridge rectification circuit and the power source, capacitors being connected to each other in series via a connection point between output terminals of the single phase full-bridge rectification circuit, a first switch connected between the input terminal and the connection point, and a second switch connected between the input terminals. |
| US10218286B2 |
Multiple stage gate drive for cascode current sensing
A power converter includes an energy transfer element, a cascode circuit including a low voltage switch and a normally-on switch coupled to the energy transfer element, and a controller coupled to control switching of the cascode circuit. The controller includes a current sense circuit to generate a current limit signal and an overcurrent signal in response to a source signal and first and second sense finger signals from the cascode circuit, a control circuit to generate a control signal in response to the current limit signal and the overcurrent limit signal, and a drive circuit to generate a drive signal in response to the control signal to control the switching of the low voltage switch. The drive signal provided by a first stage is coupled not to fully enhance the low voltage switch, and provided by a second stage is coupled to fully enhance the low voltage switch. |
| US10218284B1 |
DC-DC power converters including a valley skipping mode and methods of operating DC-DC power converters
A DC-DC power converter includes an input, an output, a transformer, and a primary FET coupled to selectively conduct current though a primary winding of the transformer. The primary FET includes a drain that experiences multiple resonant voltage valleys during each dead-time period of the converter. The converter further includes a synchronous rectifier coupled to selectively conduct current through a secondary winding of the transformer, and a control circuit. The control circuit is configured to operate the primary FET in a valley skipping mode by turning on the primary FET during a second or subsequent one of the multiple resonant voltage valleys, and to allow a negative current in the secondary winding of the transformer before turning off the synchronous rectifier during one or more of the multiple resonant voltage valleys. Methods of operating DC-DC power converters are also disclosed. |
| US10218281B2 |
Switch mode power supplies, control arrangements therefor and methods of operating thereof
A control arrangement is disclosed for a switch mode power supply (SMPS) operable in a burst mode and comprising an opto-coupler configured to transfer, from a secondary side to a primary side of the switch mode power supply by means of an LED current, a control signal indicative of a time-varying error between a reference signal and a signal indicative of an actual value of an output parameter, the control arrangement comprising: an error amplifier configured to operate as a proportional-integrating error amplifier to determine the LED current from the time-varying; and a feedback loop configured to adjust the magnitude of the LED current between bursts by modifying the time-dependant error. A SMPS comprising such a control arrangement, and a corresponding method is also disclosed. |
| US10218279B2 |
Methods and circuitry for operating switching power supplies based on switching frequency comparison
Controllers and methods for controlling power supplies are disclosed herein. An example of a controller includes comparison circuitry operable to compare a switching frequency of the controller to a predetermined switching frequency. Voltage measuring circuitry is operable to measure the output voltage of the power supply. Circuitry is operable to disable at least one component in the power supply in response to the switching frequency being less than the predetermined switching frequency and the output voltage being greater than a predetermined output voltage. |
| US10218272B2 |
Control circuit and control method for switch power supply, and switch power supply
For controlling a switch power supply, an adjustment module produces a first control voltage by comparing a period of a switch signal with a reference period. A current source module generates a first charging current according to the first control voltage. A pulse signal generating module converts the first charging current into an on time signal or off time signal of a switch transistor. A driving module produces the switch signal according to the on time or off time signal of the switching transistor, so as to control the turn on and turn off signal of a switching transistor. A time measurement module obtains a time parameter according to the switch signal, and generates a periodic adjustment signal according to the time parameter. The adjustment module adjusts the reference period according to the periodic adjustment signal to adjust the period of the switch signal. |
| US10218271B2 |
Electric power system
An electric power system includes a direct voltage rail (101), battery elements (102-104) connected with supply-converters (105-107) to the direct voltage rail, and load-converters (111-113) for converting direct voltage of the direct voltage rail into voltages suitable for loads of the electric power system, where the supply-converters and the load-converters are connected with over-current protectors (108-110, 114-116) to the direct voltage rail. The electric power system further includes a capacitor system (117) connected to the direct voltage rail and capable of supplying fault current for switching an over-current protector into a non-conductive state in response to a fault causing a voltage drop at an electrical node connected to the direct voltage rail via the over-current protector. The capacitor system may include one or more high-capacitance electric double layer capacitors. The fault current available from the capacitor system enables a selective protection. |
| US10218262B1 |
Hybrid direct current link system for a regenerative drive
A system includes a converter operatively connected to an alternating current (AC) power source and a direct current (DC) bus, an inverter operatively connected to a motor and the DC bus, and a hybrid DC link system operatively connected between a high side and a low side of the DC bus. The converter includes a first plurality of switching devices in selective communication with each phase of the AC power source and the DC bus. The inverter includes a second plurality of switching devices in selective communication with each phase of the motor and the DC bus. The hybrid DC link system includes a ripple current control branch in parallel with an energy buffering branch. |
| US10218259B2 |
Power conversion device
In a power converter having a semiconductor switch, common-mode noise is effectively reduced by setting the common-mode inductance value of reactors which are inserted into both lines such that the resonance frequency of the combined capacity of a line-to-ground bypass capacitor and the reactors which are inserted into both lines becomes a predetermined value or more. |
| US10218242B2 |
Motor
A motor includes a rotating portion, a stationary portion, and a bearing arranged to support the rotating portion such that the rotating portion is rotatable with respect to the stationary portion. The rotating portion includes a shaft arranged to extend along a central axis, a magnet, a rotor hub arranged to extend in an annular shape around the shaft, and a flywheel fixed to the rotor hub. At least a portion of an outward surface of the rotor hub is a metal surface. The metal surface is arranged radially inward of an outer circumferential surface of the flywheel. A reflectance of the outer circumferential surface of the flywheel is lower than a reflectance of the metal surface. |
| US10218234B2 |
Electric motor with asymmetric design for improved operation
An electric motor in which at least one of the rotor and the stator has an asymmetric design is disclosed. The electric motor is divided into a number of segments, where each segment has an equal number of windings and an equal number of poles. The physical construction of each pole within a segment is identical and the number of turns of each winding within a segment is identical. The asymmetry is formed by varying the physical construction of the either the rotor or the stator within one segment from the corresponding construction of the rotor or stator in the other segments. The asymmetries are designed to improve one or more operating characteristics such as sensorless performance, torque ripple, or cogging torque in the motor. |
| US10218233B2 |
Multi-component rotor for an electric motor of an appliance
A motor for a laundry appliance includes a drive shaft coupled to a drum at a first end. The rotor frame is coupled proximate the second end of the drive shaft, where the rotor frame includes at least one polymeric material. A central hub includes a core and a perimetrical ring that extends circumferentially around the core. A plurality of recesses are defined within a planar surface of the perimetrical ring, wherein a portion of the polymeric material is received within the plurality of recesses to secure the rotor frame to the central hub. |
| US10218232B2 |
High speed electric machine
An electric machine is provided which includes a rotor disk extending along a radial direction and having a rotor flange attached to or formed integrally with the rotor disk and extending substantially along the axial direction. A plurality of rotor magnets are mounted on the rotor disk and positioned against the rotor flange. The electric machine includes a stator assembly including a tracking tooth in magnetic flux communication with the rotor magnets across an air gap. The stator assembly further includes an actuator operable with the tracking tooth to move the tracking tooth along the radial direction to adjust a height of the air gap. |
| US10218225B2 |
Wireless power transfer gate-drive power reduction
A device and circuits are provided for wireless power transfer (WPT) gate-drive power reduction. A WPT receiver circuit includes a receive coil to couple to a transmit coil of a WPT transmitter circuit. A rectification circuit is coupled to the receive coil to generate a rectified voltage. The rectification circuit is a bridge rectifier circuit including a first set of field-effect transistors (FETs). One or more gate-drive control circuits improve power dissipation of the rectification circuit by controlling drive voltages of gate terminals of the first set of FET switches after start-up of the WPT receiver circuit. |
| US10218224B2 |
Tunable wireless energy transfer systems
This application includes systems and techniques relating to wireless power transfer, such as a system including: sensing and measurement circuitry configured to process signals associated with a resonator and an impedance matching network coupled with the resonator; a PWM (pulse width modulation) generator configured to control a driving signal to drive the resonator through the impedance matching network; and a controller coupled with the sensing and measurement circuitry, the controller configured to adjust operation of the PWM generator and operation of the impedance matching network based on measured signals from the sensing and measurement circuitry. |
| US10218221B2 |
Wireless power transfer using one or more rotating magnets in a receiver
The present disclosure is directed towards wireless power transfer using one or more rotating magnets in a receiver. An exemplary embodiment provides for a system comprising a transmitter that generates a dynamic magnetic field and a receiver comprising a magnet and a coil. In operation, the magnet rotates in response to the dynamic magnetic field and induces a voltage across the coil. |
| US10218220B2 |
Wireless power transmitter and method of controlling the same
A wireless power transmitter includes a resonator configured to transmit a detection signal; a period detector configured to detect a period of oscillation of an oscillation signal caused by remnants of the detection signal; and a controller configured to determine whether an external charging object is approaching in response to a change in the period of the oscillation signal. |
| US10218217B2 |
UPS for mixed AC and DC loads
According to one aspect, embodiments of the invention provide a UPS comprising an input to receive input AC power, a bus configured to receive backup DC power, a first output configured to provide an output AC voltage derived from at least one of the input AC power and the backup DC power, a second output configured to provide an output DC voltage derived from at least one of the input AC power and the backup DC power, a first inverter coupled between the bus and a first transformer, the first transformer coupled to the input, a second inverter coupled between the bus and a second transformer, the second transformer coupled to the first output, and a controller configured to operate the second inverter to maintain the output AC voltage above a first threshold value and to operate the first inverter to maintain the output DC voltage above a second threshold. |
| US10218215B2 |
System and method for supplying uninterruptible power to a PoE device with active power negotiation and extended range
A system (10) and method for supplying uninterruptible power has active power negotiation and an extended range. The system includes a housing (12), a power supply input (14), a power source equipment input (16), a powered device output (18), an alternative power supply (20), and a control module (22). The control module (22) includes a comparator (36), a switch (38), a converter (40) and an injector (34). The injector includes a regulator (45) and power autonegotiation module (47). The injector actively manages the power to the powered device, even when the PoE available from older power source equipment differs from the PoE requirements of an updated powered device. There can also be an Ethernet switch (49) as a power source equipment extension between the powered device and the system. The Ethernet switch extends the range of the powered device from the system. |
| US10218208B2 |
Wireless power transfer system having wireless power transfer system-charger
One embodiment of the present invention can provide: a wireless power transfer system which can reduce the error of the output voltage of a DC-DC transformer, and at the same time, change the magnitude of the output voltage according to the power transfer method and efficiency; and a wireless power transfer system which can variably control an output control port in a control part, and thus actively control the output of the DC-DC transformer regardless of the characteristics of the DC-DC transformer. |
| US10218194B2 |
Lithium-based battery pack for a hand held power tool
A method for conducting an operation including a power tool battery pack. The battery pack can include a housing, a first cell supported by the housing and having a voltage, and a second cell supported by the housing and having a voltage. The battery pack also can be connectable to a power tool and be operable to supply power to operate the power tool. The method can include discharging one of the first cell and the second cell until the voltage of the one of the first cell and the second cell is substantially equal to the voltage of the other of the first cell and the second cell. |
| US10218190B2 |
Battery apparatus and cell balancing circuits
Disclosed examples include battery apparatus and balancing circuits for transferring charge between one or more of a plurality of battery cells and a second battery, in which a battery is coupled with a first winding of a transformer, and the second battery is coupled with a second transformer winding. A first transistor is turned on to allow current flow in the first winding to discharge the first battery, and then the first transistor is turned off. The resulting induced voltage in the second winding turns on a second transistor to provide flyback active charge balancing to charge the second battery. A signal from the third winding allows detection of low or zero current flow in the second winding for a controller to begin subsequent charge transfer cycles for full isolation between the first and second batteries. |
| US10218185B2 |
Device for switching a semiconductor-based switch and sensor for detecting a current change velocity at a semiconductor-based switch
A device for switching a semiconductor-based switch includes a terminal that is configured to be connected to a control terminal of the semiconductor-based switch. A controllable deactivation voltage source connected to the terminal is configured to provide, at least temporarily, a switching potential at a potential node. A control device is configured to control the controllable deactivation voltage source in a time-varying manner, such that the controllable deactivation voltage source provides the switching potential at the potential node during a switching interval. The switching potential is galvanically coupled to a supply node to which a supply potential of the control device is applied and has a lower potential value than a threshold voltage of the semiconductor-based switch. The control device is configured to control the controllable deactivation voltage source. |
| US10218184B2 |
Method for inhibiting multiple inverter stations from entering passive control mode in island state
The present invention provides a method for inhibiting multiple inverter stations from entering a passive control mode in an island state. The method includes dividing inverter stations into groups in advance; a principle for group division is dividing inverter stations whose alternating-current sides are connected to each other through an alternating-current line in a normal running condition into a group; priorities of the inverter stations are preset in each group to tune relevant fixed values of the inverter stations for island detection; a tuning principle is that an inverter station with a higher priority has a more sensitive relevant fixed value, and an island state is more easily detected for the corresponding inverter station; an inverter station for which an island state is detected can enter a passive control mode only when all the other inverter stations with priorities higher than the priority of the inverter station in the group send enabling signals. |
| US10218183B2 |
Household photovoltaic system and smart micro-grid system
The present disclosure provides a household photovoltaic system and a smart micro-grid system. The household photovoltaic system includes a photovoltaic assembly module, a household photovoltaic inverter and an AC grid. The household photovoltaic system further includes a monitoring assembly and a wireless communication assembly. The monitoring assembly includes DC-side monitoring assemblies each configured to monitor an operating parameter of an output end of the photovoltaic assembly module, and AC-side monitoring assemblies each configured to monitor an operating parameter of an output end of the household photovoltaic inverter. The wireless communication assembly includes a DC-side wireless communication assembly and an AC-side wireless communication assembly which are configured to transmit the operating parameters monitored by each DC-side monitoring assembly and each AC-side monitoring assembly to a predetermined monitoring terminal. |
| US10218182B2 |
Photovoltaic systems with voltage limiting devices
A photovoltaic system includes voltage limiting devices that are connected in series. A voltage limiting device clips a corresponding photovoltaic string to limit a voltage of the photovoltaic string. Unclipping of clipped photovoltaic strings is coordinated by a central controller or in a distributed fashion by the voltage limiting devices based on monitored string conditions. |
| US10218181B2 |
Grid frequency response
Methods, and apparatus for determining inertia within a synchronous area of an electric power grid are described. A frequency characteristic relating to a frequency of electricity flowing in the electric power grid is measured, a magnitude relating to a power flow modulation is determined based on data relating to power characteristics of one or more power units arranged to consume electric power from and/or provide real and/or reactive electric power to the electric power grid, and a frequency response characteristic associated with at least one area of the electric power grid is determined on the basis of the measured frequency characteristic and the determined magnitude characteristic. This enables frequency response characteristics within a synchronous area of the electric power grid to be easily determined. |
| US10218180B2 |
Start-up of HVDC networks
Methods and apparatus for controlling a voltage source converter to energize a DC link. A voltage order generating module generates a voltage order for controlling the voltage source converter to generate a DC voltage on the DC link. the voltage order is based on a time varying voltage reference signal. A voltage reference module, which may include a ramp generator generates the time varying voltage reference signal such that the rate of change of the voltage reference signal changes over time. The rate of change of the voltage reference signal may decrease over time, to become more gradual as the nominal operating voltage is reached to avoid over-voltages. |
| US10218176B2 |
Method and device for controlling local voltage
A method and a device for controlling a local voltage are provided. The method includes: obtaining a first voltage value of a high-voltage side bus in a local transformer substation; determining a control strategy according to a starting threshold value for a voltage enhancement control, a starting threshold value for an under-voltage load shedding and the first voltage value of the high-voltage side bus; and performing the control strategy to control a charging power of an electric vehicle charging station corresponding to the local transformer substation, so as to control the local voltage of the local transformer substation. |
| US10218168B2 |
Load side ground fault circuit interruption protection for fluid pump motor
A method is disclosed providing ground fault circuit interruption protection for a pump motor which includes determining a current difference between at least two leads located on a load side of an electromechanical device, wherein the electromechanical device is configured to mechanically drive a road, and wherein the method further comprises interrupting a flow of current in response to the current difference exceeding a threshold current difference. |
| US10218164B2 |
Method of forming wire overmold device
A wire overmold device including a carrier body having a distal end and a proximal end, a wire cap configured to engage the distal end of the carrier body, at least one of a jacketed cable and one or more wires at least partially enclosed between the wire cap and the carrier body, and an overmold formed over the proximal end of the carrier body and at least portions of the wire cap and the distal end of the carrier body, wherein the wire cap and the distal end of the carrier body protrude from the overmold. |
| US10218163B2 |
Sump junction box
A system including a sump having an inner volume and a junction box coupled to the sump. The junction box has a body defining an inner volume, and also has a first inlet and a second inlet, wherein each inlet is in fluid communication with the inner volume of the body. The junction box further has a first outlet and a second outlet, wherein each outlet is in fluid communication with the inner volume of the body such that a first wire is positionable in the first inlet and the first outlet and a second wire is positioned in the second inlet and the second outlet. |
| US10218159B2 |
Electrical distribution system including neutral connection device and methods of assembling same
An electrical distribution system is provided. The system includes a bus bar assembly including a neutral bus bar and a plurality of power bus bars. The system further includes a circuit breaker including a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the first end including a plurality of first conductive terminals electrically coupled to respective power bus bars, the second end including a plurality of second conductive terminals located a first distance from the plurality of power bus bars. The system further includes a neutral connection device including a first conductive terminal electrically coupled to the neutral bus bar, a second conductive terminal, and a conductive component, the neutral connection device second conductive terminal located a second distance from the neutral bus bar, the second distance one of greater than the first distance and equal to the first distance. |
| US10218158B1 |
Electrical power distribution assemblies including pivotable compartment component, rotatable compartment assemblies, and operational servicing methods
An electrical distribution cabinet switchgear component is disclosed. The electrical distribution cabinet switchgear component includes a compartment housing forming an internal compartment configured to contain secondary electrical components and configured to be coupled to a switchgear cabinet, a hinge assembly coupled to the compartment housing, and a wire guard coupled to the hinge assembly. Electrical distribution cabinet compartment assemblies, including the electrical distribution cabinet switchgear component and a frame connector configured to attach to a frame of a switchgear cabinet, electrical distribution cabinet assemblies, and methods of servicing electrical components located within an internal chamber of an switchgear cabinet are provided, as are other aspects. |
| US10218153B2 |
Spark plug
A spark plug includes an insulator; a center electrode; a metal shell; and a ground electrode whose base end is fixed to the metal shell. A distal end of the ground electrode includes a first surface facing the center electrode, a second surface facing a side opposite to the first surface, and an inclined surface that is inclined with respect to the second surface. A noble metal tip is partially buried in the inclined surface. A width of the inclined surface is larger than that of the noble metal tip. In this spark plug, A B is satisfied, where A is a distance from a distal end of the ground electrode to a proximal-end-side end portion of the inclined surface and B is a distance from the distal end of the ground electrode to a proximal-end-side end portion of the noble metal tip. |
| US10218152B1 |
Semiconductor laser diode with low threshold current
A group III nitride based laser light emitting device includes an n-side group III nitride based semiconductor region, a p-side group III nitride based semiconductor region, and a group III nitride based active region between the p-side group III nitride based semiconductor region and n-side group III nitride based semiconductor region. The group III nitride based active region includes first and second quantum well layers and a barrier layer between the first and second quantum well layers, the respective compositions of the first and second quantum well layers comprising different respective amounts of indium. The first quantum well is closer to the n-side group III nitride based semiconductor region than the second quantum well, the second quantum well is closer to the p-side group III nitride based semiconductor region than the first quantum well, and the first quantum well has a larger band gap than the second quantum well. |
| US10218151B1 |
Laser module package with dual colors and multi-dies
A laser module package with dual colors and multi-dies mainly includes a first PCB arranged in long shape and electrically connected to a plurality of first dies, a second PCB arranged in long shape and electrically connected to a plurality of second dies, a plurality of first collimators correspondingly disposed in a plurality of first openings, and a plurality of second collimators correspondingly disposed in a plurality of second openings. A plurality of first reflectors correspondingly reflects laser beams emitted from the first dies to the first collimators and a plurality of second reflectors correspondingly reflects laser beams emitted from the second dies to the second collimators; or having a plurality of first metal pieces fixing corresponding first dies for the laser beams emitted therefrom to go through the corresponding first collimators and a plurality of second metal pieces fixing corresponding second dies for the laser beams emitted therefrom to go through the corresponding second collimators. |
| US10218146B2 |
Laser crystal
The present disclosure provides a method of optimising an optical system of a mode-locked laser oscillator or a regenerative, multi-pass or single pass amplifier. The method may include the steps of identifying crystallographic axes of an active laser gain medium crystal, cutting the crystal, and orienting the crystal in the optical system in a predetermined orientation relative to a propagation vector of a laser pulse depending on the required output of the optical system. |
| US10218145B1 |
Vortex laser generation device in degenerate cavity with spiral phase element and vortex laser generation method
A vortex laser generation device in a degenerate cavity with a spiral phase element and a vortex laser generation method are provided. The vortex laser generation device has a degenerate cavity, and the degenerate cavity has a resonator mirror, a gain medium, an optical element, and an output coupler. The off-axis beams are formed in multiple pass transverse modes to resonate by disposing an optical element in the degenerate cavity, so that a vortex laser with orbital angular momentum can be generated. |
| US10218140B2 |
Laser security interlocking device and corresponding method
The disclosed technology provides a laser security interlocking device and a corresponding method. In one aspect, an example laser security interlocking device includes a housing, a laser capable of emitting laser light in the housing and a laser light-emitting interlocking circuit, with the housing including a door capable of being opened or closed. When the door is closed, the housing can define an enclosed space within which the laser is positioned. The laser light-emitting interlocking circuit is configured to control the laser security interlocking device to automatically stop the laser emitting laser light before or while the door is opened. |
| US10218139B2 |
Twist-on wire connector and application tool therefor
A twist-on wire connector is releasably engageable with a tool. The connector and the tool are provided with complimentary driving features which allow the tool to be moved independent of and relative to the connector when the tool is moved in one rotational direction and which place the tool and connector into driving engagement when the tool is moved in the opposite rotational direction such that the connector is moved with the tool to apply the connector onto a plurality of electrical conductors. The complimentary driving features are provided to the tool and the connector by providing to each of the tool and the connector one or more engagement surfaces positioned adjacent to a slipping surface. |
| US10218137B2 |
USB car charger with integrated vehicle alarm
A USB charger includes a connector for plugging into a cigarette lighter socket of a motor vehicle. The USB charged provides one or more USB sockets and includes an integrated alarm unit for protection against intruders in the motor vehicle. The alarm unit includes a motion sensor and an acoustic alarm signal generator. |
| US10218135B2 |
Modular electrical system including back-to-back receptacle configurations and capable of providing four wire circuitry
An electrical system comprises a four-wire integral receptacle junction block assembly (530) having a first male end connector set (536) and a second male end connector set (538). The assembly (530) also includes a first duplex receptacle set (540) and a second duplex receptacle set (541). The connector sets (534, 536) are connected to a series of buss bars (570) comprising two hot buss bars (586, 616), a neutral buss bar (620), and a ground buss bar (598). The buss bars (570) can be configured so as to selectively apply incoming power to the duplex receptacle sets (540, 541) from either of two circuits. |
| US10218134B2 |
Electrical receptacle connector
An electrical receptacle connector includes a metallic shell, an insulated housing, first receptacle terminals, second receptacle terminals, a shielding plate, and a terminal organizer. The insulated housing is in the receptacle cavity of the metallic shell. The first receptacle terminals are assembled with the insulated housing. The second receptacle terminals are assembled with the terminal organizer. The insulated housing and the terminal organizer are assembled with each other. The shielding plate is between the first receptacle terminals and the second receptacle terminals. The terminal organizer extends the fixation portion attaching to the front portions of the second receptacle terminals, so that the front portions of the second receptacle terminals are securely held on the tongue portion. Therefore, when the terminal organizer is deformed due to heating, the front portions of the second receptacle terminals can be still fixed on the tongue portion without being deflected upwardly. |
| US10218133B2 |
Distal connector assemblies for medical lead extensions
Distal connector assemblies that are on the distal end of medical lead extensions provide increased rigidity by including a rigid holder that contains the electrical connectors. The electrical connectors are separated within the rigid holder by insulative spacers that may be individual items or may be formed from a compliant carrier that the electrical connectors may reside within where the carrier is positioned within the rigid holder. The rigid holder may also contain a set screw block defining set screw bore or the rigid holder may include an integral portion that defines a set screw bore. The integral portion may include a slot to allow a molding pin loaded with the electrical connectors and other components to be dropped into a cavity of the rigid holder. An overmold may be present to surround the rigid body containing the electrical connectors and insulative spacers. |
| US10218129B1 |
Overvoltage protection for universal serial bus type-C (USB-C) connector systems
An electronic device includes a first switch configured to connect a first configuration channel (CC) terminal of a Universal Serial Bus Type-C (USB-C) controller to a VCONN supply of the USB-C controller. The first CC terminal of the USB-C controller being is to directly connect to the first CC terminal of a USB-C receptacle. The electronic device includes a second switch configured to connect a second CC terminal of the USB-C controller to a control channel physical layer logic (PHY) of the USB-C controller. The second CC terminal is to directly connect to the second CC terminal of the USB-C receptacle. The electronic device includes an overvoltage detection and protection circuit configured to deactivate the first switch or the second switch when a voltage exceeding a predetermined threshold is detected. The first switch and the second switch are each coupled to the overvoltage detection and protection circuit. |
| US10218125B2 |
Electrical connector having interlocked shell and housing portions and stacked grounding terminals
An electrical connector includes: a contact module comprising an insulative housing having a base portion and a tongue portion, and a number of conductive terminals affixed to the insulative housing and each comprising a contacting portion exposed to a surface of the tongue portion, a soldering portion and a connecting portion connecting the contacting portion and the soldering portion; and a metal shell comprising a pair of locking grooves depressed forwardly from a rear surface thereof; wherein the insulative housing comprises a pair of mounting portions located at two lateral sides of a rear end thereof, the mounting portions are stuck in the locking grooves when the contact module is assembled to the metal shell along a rear-to-front direction, and a lower portion of each mounting portion is resisted against the rear surface of the metal shell. |
| US10218124B1 |
Electrical connector with terminal position assurance
An electrical connector includes a first housing with a plurality of first terminal slots. Each first terminal slot includes a first terminal lock. Each first terminal slot also includes a first end stop. The first end stops are part of the first housing. Each first terminal slot is configured to retain a first electrical terminal between the first terminal lock and the first end stop. The electrical connector also includes a first terminal position assurance. The first terminal position assurance includes a first terminal position assurance body. A plurality of first lock retainers extend from the first terminal position assurance body. The first lock retainers prevent the first terminal locks from moving to a release position. The first terminal position assurance body is located in the same plane as the first end stops. |
| US10218123B1 |
Coaxial pin connector seizure assembly
A container may be provided. The container may comprise a seizure assembly, a housing, a circuit board, and a pin connector. The seizure assembly may comprise a retainer, a pressure applicator, and a charger. The retainer may comprise a casing and a nose with a nose opening. The charger may apply a force to the pressure applicator forcing the pressure applicator into the casing. The housing may comprise a housing cavity in which the seizure assembly is disposed, a housing wall comprising a housing opening that may be congruent with the nose opening, and a housing bottom comprising a charger recess in which the charger is disposed. The circuit board may be disposed in the housing cavity and may have an extender comprising a body and a head. The pin connector may be disposed in the housing wall and have a pin disposed between the pressure applicator and the head. |
| US10218118B2 |
Connector and connector assembly having elastically deformed springs
A connector assembly that includes a first connector and a second connector. The first connector has a spring member press-fitted into a housing thereof. The second connector has a groove in a housing thereof. At the time of mating, the spring member is inserted in the groove in a mating direction to be deformed elastically in a direction intersecting the mating direction. Then, with the spring member of the first connector elastically deformed in the groove of the second connector, looseness between the housing of the first connector and the housing of the second connector is prevented. |
| US10218117B1 |
Electrical connector with assist lever
An electrical connector includes a first housing. A second housing is movable relative to the first housing. A lever is mounted on the first housing for relative rotational movement. The lever can move between a pre-stage position and a final position. The lever engages the second housing to move the second housing linearly between a pre-stage position and a seated position relative to the first housing. A lock on the first housing retains the lever in the final position relative to the first housing. |
| US10218113B2 |
Low voltage bus system
A charging module usable with a conductive bus having a center rail disposed intermediate a first conductive rail and a second conductive rail. The charging module has a base on which is disposed a centered electrical contact and a first plurality of electrical contacts. The centered electrical contact is arranged on the base such that the centered electrical contact will engage with the center rail when the housing is placed into a use position on the conductive bus. The first plurality of electrical contacts are arranged on the base along a perimeter of a first circle that is generally centered on the centered electrical contact such that at least one of the first plurality of electrical contacts will engage with the first conductive rail and at least one different one of the first plurality of electrical contacts will engage with the second conductive rail when the housing is placed into the use position on the conductive bus in any rotational orientation of the housing relative to the conductive bus over a full 360 degrees. |
| US10218111B2 |
Implantable plug connector
An implantable plug connector is provided, an inner portion of which has a number of contact surfaces which are embedded in a surface of a first substrate. An outer portion of the implantable plug connector has a number of contact surfaces embedded in at least one surface of a second substrate. The outer portion defines a space, in which the inner portion can be received in a mounting state, where, in a pre-mounting state, the contact surfaces are set back with respect to the surface of the respective substrate, and where, in a mounting state, the inner portion is pressed against the outer portion such that mutually corresponding contact surfaces come into contact with each other. |
| US10218109B2 |
Water resistant pop-up outlet
A pop-up outlet includes a lower housing configured to receive one or more conductors. A middle housing is connected to the lower housing. An upper housing is moveably connected to the middle housing. An outlet is positioned in the upper housing having an outlet body and at least one receptacle opening. A raise/lower mechanism is configured to move the upper housing with respect to the middle housing from a first position where the outlet body is positioned in the middle housing to a second position where the outlet body is exposed to a user. |
| US10218104B2 |
Connector with a spring terminal ensuring reliable connection to a mating terminal
A connector (10) includes a body portion (14), a conductive member (20) including a held portion (20A) having conductivity and held in the body portion (14), a flexible portion (20B) extending from the held portion (20A) toward a mating terminal (40) and having flexibility and a connecting portion (20C) provided on a leading end part of the flexible portion (20B) and to be connected to the mating terminal (40) by being pressed into contact with the mating terminal (40), and a spring member (60) having a spring property, held in the body portion (14) and extending from the body portion (14) toward the connecting portion (20C). The spring member (60) includes a contact portion (60C) configured to give a spring property to the connecting portion (20C) by being held in contact with the connecting portion (20C). |
| US10218102B2 |
Terminal fitting and connector
A terminal fitting that can reduce the terminal insertion force and can suppress surface oxidation of a plating film, even if the terminal fitting is exposed to a hot and humid environment, and a connector that uses the terminal fitting. The terminal fitting includes a metal base material, and the plating film. The plating film includes a Ni foundation layer, an outermost layer exposed at the outermost surface, and a Ni3Sn4 layer formed between the Ni foundation layer and the outermost layer. The outermost layer includes a Sn parent phase, and intermetallic compound that is dispersed in the Sn parent phase, and is made of (Ni0.4Pd0.6)Sn4. The intermetallic compound protrudes from the lower side of the outermost layer to the Ni3Sn4 layer side, and is partially buried in the Ni3Sn4 layer. A connector includes the terminal fitting, and a housing that holds the terminal fitting. |
| US10218100B2 |
Connector for zero-force contacting on a printed circuit board
A connector for installation on a printed circuit board a contacting part has which includes at least two contact elements, each of which can be connected, on the connection side, to an individual conductor and, on the plug-in side, to a conductive track of the printed circuit board, wherein the connector a connection part which encloses the individual conductors and, in the region of each individual conductor, has a recess, into each of which a contact element engages for the electrical connection between individual conductor and contact element. The contacting part is formed in an injection molding process, wherein at least two contact elements having an insulation-displacement connector are inserted or engaged in the contacting part or are directly encapsulated, and the connection part is formed in an injection molding process, wherein at least two individual conductors, each having a cable sheath, are thus placed in an injection molding tool and are encapsulated. |
| US10218097B2 |
Card edge connector assembly
A card edge connector assembly includes a card edge connector having a housing defining a card slot receiving a circuit card and a card guide module coupled to the housing. The card guide module has a base and a support beam extending from the base having a support surface supporting the circuit card. The card guide module has a locking arm pivotably coupled to the support beam. The locking arm has a latch at a distal end thereof latchably secured to the circuit card in a latched position to secure the circuit card in the card slot. The locking arm has an ejector engaging the circuit card and moving the circuit card in an unmating direction when the locking arm is moved to an unlatched position. |
| US10218095B2 |
Press-fit pin converters
In one example, a system for a press-fit pin converter includes a first housing coupled to a second housing to enclose a portion of a press-fit contact pin between the first housing and the second housing, where a side of the first housing provides a ball grid array (BGA) connection and a side of the second housing provides a press-fit pin connection. |
| US10218094B2 |
Connectors having a cable gripping portion
A cable connector includes an outer conductor engager, a body, a coupler, a compression sleeve, and a grounding member. The outer conductor engager is configured to receive an end of a coaxial cable. The body includes an annular ring portion coaxially aligned with the outer conductor engager along an axis, and the annular ring is configured to circumscribe the coaxial cable. The coupler is rotatably mounted relative to the outer conductor engager and the body, and the compression sleeve is disposed at an opposite axial side of the body relative to the coupler. The grounding member is configured to establish an electrical grounding path between the outer conductor engager and the coupler. The body includes a plurality of flexible fingers spaced about a periphery of the body. The flexible fingers include outer surfaces that extend radially outward from an outer surface of the connector body. As the compression sleeve is moved axially relative to the body in a direction toward the coupler, the compression sleeve urges the flexible fingers radially inward to engage an outer jacket of a coaxial cable. |
| US10218093B2 |
Thread to compress connector
A cable connector connects a coaxial cable to an interface port by an outer conductor engager, a body and a coupler. The coupler draws the body over a plurality of resilient fingers of the outer conductor engager to urge the fingers into electrical contact with a peripheral outer surface of a stripped/prepared end of a coaxial cable. |
| US10218088B2 |
Cable connector assembly
A cable connector assembly includes an insulating body, a first terminal group and a second terminal group received in the insulating body and arranged into an upper row and a lower row, a shielding sheet fixed in the insulating body and located between the first terminal group and the second terminal group, and a cable having a ground core wire. The first terminal group includes a first ground terminal, and the first ground terminal has a first soldering portion. The second terminal group includes a second ground terminal, and the second ground terminal has a second soldering portion. The ground core wire is located between the first soldering portion and the second soldering portion and is in electrical contact with the first soldering portion, the second soldering portion and the shielding sheet. |
| US10218087B2 |
Dual band MIMO antenna and wireless access point
Antenna arrays and access points are disclosed. An antenna array includes first second, third, and fourth antennas formed in a 2×2 grid on a first surface of a planar substrate. Each of the four antennas is linearly polarized in a first direction and provides a roughly cardiod radiation pattern in a plane normal to the first direction. Nulls of the cardiod radiation patterns of the first and second antennas face the third and fourth antennas, respectively, and nulls of the cardiod radiation patterns of the third and fourth antenna face the first and second antennas, respectively. |
| US10218085B2 |
Antenna system
An antenna system includes a ground element, a switch element, a first antenna, and a second antenna. The switch element is selectively closed or opened according to a control signal. The first antenna has a first feeding terminal. The first feeding terminal of the first antenna is coupled to a first signal source. The second antenna has a second feeding terminal and a grounding terminal. The second feeding terminal of the second antenna is coupled through the switch element to a second signal source. The grounding terminal of the second antenna is coupled to the ground element. |
| US10218084B2 |
Per-element power control for array based communications
An array based communications system may comprise a plurality of element processors. Each element processor may comprise a combining circuit, a crest factor circuit, and a phase shifter circuit. The combining circuit may produce a weighted sum of a plurality of digital datastreams. The crest factor circuit may be operable to determine whether the weighted sum has a power above or below a power threshold. If the power is above the power threshold, the crest factor circuit is operable to reduce the power. If the power is below the power threshold, the crest factor circuit is operable to increase the power. The phase shifter circuit may introduce a phase shift to out-of-band components of the weighted sum according to the power increase or the power decrease by the crest factor circuit. |
| US10218076B1 |
Hexagonal waveguide based circularly polarized horn antennas
A circularly polarized horn antenna can comprise a rectangular waveguide, a hexagonal waveguide connected to the rectangular waveguide, a first transition part connected to the hexagonal waveguide, and a horn connected to the first transition part. The horn can include a first corrugated inner surface, and the first transition part can include a second corrugated inner surface. |
| US10218073B2 |
Antenna with frequency-selective elements
Antenna systems have a substrate and antenna on the substrate, where the antenna has a plurality of leg elements. The plurality of leg elements comprises a conductive ink and forms a continuous path. At least one of the plurality of leg elements is individually selectable or de-selectable to change a resonant frequency of the antenna, and leg elements that are selected create an antenna path length corresponding to the resonant frequency. In some embodiments, the antennas are energy harvesters. |
| US10218071B2 |
Antenna and electronic device
An antenna includes a dielectric multilayer substrate that includes a first conductor layer and a second conductor layer different from the first conductor layer, the first conductor layer including a first conductor, the first conductor including a first split ring part, the first split ring part surrounding a first opening part and being divided by a first split part, and a power feed line that is provided on the second conductor layer, the power feed line including a first end and a second end, the first end being connected to the first split ring part, the second end spanning the first opening part and extending to a region opposing the first conductor. |
| US10218070B2 |
Method and apparatus for tuning a communication device
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a tuning system for a communication device having an antenna, where the tuning system includes at least one first tunable element connected with at least one radiating element of the antenna for tuning the antenna where the adjusting of the at least one first tunable element is based on at least one of a use case associated with the communication device and location information associated with the communication device, and a matching network having at least one second tunable element coupled at a feed point of the antenna, wherein the matching network receives control signals for adjusting the at least one second tunable element to tune the matching network. Additional embodiments are disclosed. |
| US10218063B2 |
Radio signal pickup from an electrically conductive substrate utilizing passive slits
Embodiments of the present application relate generally to electronic hardware, computer software, wireless communications, network communications, wearable, hand held, and portable computing devices for facilitating communication of information and presentation of media. An electrically conductive substrate, such as a sheet of metal or metal alloy, for example, includes an active antenna formed by a slot or opening formed in the substrate, and also includes at least one separate passive slot or opening (e.g., a passive slit) formed in the substrate. The active antenna may be intentionally detuned from one or more target frequencies (e.g., 802.11, 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz) such that the active antenna is not optimized (e.g., is not tuned) for the one or more target frequencies. One portion of the active antenna may be electrically coupled with a ground potential. Another portion of the active antenna may be electrically coupled with a RF receiver, transmitter, or transceiver. |
| US10218062B2 |
Wireless train communication system
A method and system for wireless communication between a moving vehicle and a remote server through at least one external mobile network are disclosed. The communication system comprises a plurality of antennas arranged on the train, and at least one router in the train for receiving and transmitting wireless data communication to and from a stationary communication server outside the train through at least one exterior mobile network via the plurality of antennas. The antennas are here window antennas, arranged integrated in or connected to windowpanes of the train. This provides very efficient communication performance, and at the same time requires almost no additional space. |
| US10218061B2 |
Wireless communications antenna and wireless communications device using the same
A wireless communications antenna includes a first coil including first conductive patterns disposed on a first layer along a first axis and a second coil including second conductive patterns disposed on a second layer along a second axis having a direction different from a direction of the first axis. |
| US10218059B2 |
Beam-steering antenna deflector
Radio transceivers comprising phased-array antennas and adjacent radio-reflective deflectors permit a scanning angle reachable by the phased-array antenna to be increased or multiplied to improve directed communications with peer transceivers located over a wider range (i.e., outside the scanning angle reachable by the phased-array alone). Embodiments may be used in wireless local area network (“WLAN”) access points (“APs”). |
| US10218056B2 |
Wireless communication device and wireless communication system
There is provided an excellent wireless communication device that can suitably perform short range communication by using a millimeter wave.Described are a method of generating a whirl of waves and its characteristic of attenuation proportional to a fourth power of a distance when the waves are in a state L=0 or L=±2. Accordingly, instead of an electric field induction antenna that cannot be used in the millimeter wave band, an initiator and a responder are both equipped with an array antenna generating the whirl of waves to perform communication by using the whirl of waves in the state characteristically attenuating in proportion to the fourth power of the distance, so that the party at the other end approaching can easily be detected while at the same time properly restricting a communication area and preventing improper connection. |
| US10218054B2 |
Antenna for device
An antenna for an electronic device is disclosed that can reduce or prevent problems such as a shock hazard and/or an Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) issue, particularly in the case when device are subjected to impact such as being dropped. The antenna includes a radiator; an antenna clip connected with a metallic housing of the electronic device; a capacitor includes a part of the antenna clip; and a feeding part and a ground for operating the antenna. |
| US10218049B2 |
Electronic device incorporated into a sheet
Among other things, a sheet has a thickness and extends in two dimensions normal to the thickness of the sheet. Within the sheet there is an electronic device having an integrated circuit and conductive elements connected to the integrated circuit. The electronic device extends in the two dimensions, the extent of the device in each of the two dimensions being greater than 3 mm. |
| US10218046B2 |
Integrated cell site sector
A cell site sector includes: a mounting frame; an RF antenna mounted to one side of the mounting frame; and at least one (RRU mounted to a second, opposed side of the mounting frame and operationally connected with the antenna. The RRU and the RF antenna have horizontal width and depth dimensions, the width dimension being greater than the depth dimension, wherein the width dimension of the RRU is generally parallel with the width dimension of the RF antenna. |
| US10218045B2 |
Serially connected transmission line sections each having a conductive shield member overlying a portion of a strip conductor
A microwave transmission line structure having a pair of ground strip conductors on a surface of a dielectric substrate structure. A signal strip conductor is disposed on the surface of the dielectric substrate structure between the pair of ground strip conductors. A solid dielectric layer is disposed over: the signal strip conductor; the upper surface of the dielectric substrate structure between sides of each one of the ground strip conductors; and the signal strip conductor. An electrically conductive shield member is disposed on the solid dielectric layer and on, and in direct contact with, upper surfaces of the pair of ground strip conductors. The structure is used on each one of a plurality of proximate microwave transmission lines formed on the substrate structure to electrically isolate the transmission line. |
| US10218044B2 |
Johnson lithium oxygen electrochemical engine
A rechargeable lithium air battery is provided. The battery contains a ceramic separator forming an anode chamber, a molten lithium anode contained in the anode chamber, an air cathode, and a non-aqueous electrolyte. The cathode has a temperature gradient comprising a low temperature region and a high temperature region, and the temperature gradient provides a flow system for reaction product produced by the battery. |
| US10218043B2 |
Dual phase battery cooling system
A cooling system for a battery cell. In one embodiment, the cooling system includes a wicking material and a first cooling liquid; a battery cell support to hold the battery cell in communication with the wicking material; a first cooling channel having a wall, the wall having an interior and an exterior surface, the interior surface of the wall defining a lumen, the exterior surface of the wall of the first cooling channel in communication with the wicking material; whereby a first cooling fluid is passed through the lumen of the first cooling channel, whereby the first cooling liquid in the wicking material vaporizes in response to heat radiating from the battery cell, and whereby the vaporized first cooling liquid condenses upon contact with the wall of the first cooling channel and is wicked by the wicking material. |
| US10218042B2 |
Heat dissipating device for an electrochemical storage device
A system having an electrochemical storage device is provided including an anode chamber filled with anode material and cathode chamber filled with cathode material. The anode chamber is separated from the cathode chamber by ion-conducting solid body electrolytes. The anode chamber is defined on one side by the solid body electrolytes, and on the other side by a wall surrounding the solid body electrolytes. The device has a head part to receive and/or supply electric energy, base part arranged opposite the head part and at least one lateral part having at least one wall between the head and base part. At least one heat dissipating device receives heat from the electrochemical storage device via a first surface and/or to supply heat thereto and to supply and/or receive heat via a second surface. A receiving section is in thermal contact with the heat dissipating device. |
| US10218038B2 |
Battery sensor positioner, battery sensor assembly equipped with same, and battery sensor
A battery sensor assembly (10) is provided with a positioner (11) and a battery sensor (1). The positioner (11) is provided with a sensor-fixing part (29) for fixing the battery sensor (1) and a rotation-blocking part (31) capable of coming in contact with a side surface (2b) of a battery (2). The sensor-fixing part (29) is provided with a fitting section (30). The fitting section (30) allows a casing (8) of the battery sensor (1) to be inserted from a prescribed insertion direction and fits to the inserted battery sensor (1). Additionally, the rotation-blocking part (31) is provided with a reinforcement rib. |
| US10218037B2 |
Method and device for regenerating nickel metal hydride battery
A method for regenerating a nickel metal hydride battery is provided. The nickel metal hydride battery includes a hydrogen absorbing alloy that serves as a negative electrode material and a safety valve that opens when an internal pressure of a battery case is greater than or equal to a predetermined pressure. The method includes connecting a plurality of nickel metal hydride batteries in parallel. Each nickel metal hydride battery is formed by integrating one or more battery cells. The method further includes overcharging the nickel metal hydride batteries by supplying current from a charge unit that is connected in parallel to the nickel metal hydride batteries. The method further includes, when each nickel metal hydride battery is overcharged, restoring a discharge reserve of a negative electrode by releasing at least some of an oxygen gas generated at a positive electrode out of the battery case through the safety valve. |
| US10218028B2 |
Elevated temperature Li/metal battery system
In accordance with one embodiment an electrochemical cell system includes a housing, at least one electrochemical cell within the housing and including an anode including a form of lithium, and an ionic liquid electrolyte within a cathode, the cathode separated from the anode by a solid separator impervious to the ionic liquid electrolyte, a temperature sensor within the housing, and an environmental controller at least partially positioned within the housing and configured to maintain a temperature within the housing at least 50° C. above ambient based upon input from the temperature sensor. |
| US10218023B2 |
Process for producing fluorinated ion exchange resin fluid
To provide a process for forming a polymer electrolyte membrane having good durability and few wrinkles, a polymer electrolyte membrane capable of forming a catalyst layer, or a catalyst layer; a process for producing a fluorinated ion exchange resin fluid, or a paste for forming a catalyst layer, which can be used for such a forming process; and a process for producing a membrane/electrode assembly for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell having good durability and power generation properties. A fluorinated ion exchange resin fluid obtained by subjecting a powder or pellets of a fluorinated ion exchange resin having cation exchange groups to hydrogen peroxide treatment, followed by mixing with a solvent, is used. |
| US10218009B2 |
Coolant purification
A fuel cell system comprising a fuel cell stack is disclosed. An ozone generator is configured to introduce ozone into a coolant in the fuel cell system. A deionization apparatus is coupled to the fuel cell stack. A bypass conduit is arranged in parallel with the deionization apparatus. A controller is configured to control flow of the coolant to the fuel cell stack through either the deionization apparatus or the bypass conduit based on the operating state of the ozone generator. |
| US10218005B2 |
Secondary battery, battery pack, and vehicle
According to one embodiment, a secondary battery is provided. The secondary battery includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and an electrolyte including a water-containing solvent and a lithium ion. The negative electrode includes an aluminum-containing negative electrode current collector and a boehmite-containing cover layer, and the boehmite-containing cover layer is provided on at least a part of a surface of the negative electrode current collector, and has a thickness of 10 nm to 1000 nm. |
| US10218004B2 |
Electrolytic copper foil for lithium secondary battery and lithium secondary battery comprising the same
An electrolytic copper foil for a lithium secondary battery has yield strength of 30 kgf/mm2 to 60 kgf/mm2, a surface area ratio of 1 to 3, and a weight deviation of 3% or below. |
| US10218003B2 |
Anode and secondary battery including the same
An anode and a secondary battery including the anode, which can improve charge and discharge efficiency and can reduce or suppress precipitation of metal ions, are provided. The anode includes a negative electrode active material layer on a current collector, the negative electrode active material layer including a negative electrode active material, a binder, and a conductive material. The negative electrode active material includes at least one pore on a surface thereof, and the conductive material is located at the pore of the negative electrode active material. |
| US10218001B2 |
Olivine oxide-containing positive active material for rechargeable lithium battery with improved electro-conductivity, rate characteristics and capacity characteristics, method for manufacturing the same, and rechargeable lithium battery including the same
A rechargeable lithium battery with improved electro-conductivity and improved rate characteristics and capacity characteristics is disclosed. The battery includes a positive active material that includes an olivine-type composite oxide; and a metal or an alloy thereof adhered to a surface of the olivine-type composite oxide, wherein the metal or the alloy is selected from the group consisting of germanium (Ge), zinc (Zn), gallium (Ga), and a combination thereof. |
| US10218000B2 |
Positive electrode active material for nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery
A positive electrode active material for nonaqueous electrolyte secondary batteries is provided with which increased DCR after cycling can be controlled. A positive electrode active material according to an aspect of the present invention is secondary particles of a lithium transition metal oxide formed through the aggregation of primary particles of the oxide, the lithium transition metal oxide containing at least Ni. Secondary particles of a rare earth compound formed through the aggregation of particles of the rare earth compound are adhering to depressions each created between adjacent two of the primary particles on the surfaces of the secondary particles. The secondary particles of the rare earth compound are adhering to both of the two adjacent primary particles at the depressions. |
| US10217995B2 |
Active material for battery, nonaqueous electrolyte battery, and battery pack
An active material containing a monoclinic β-type titanium oxide or a monoclinic β-type titanium complex oxide. A carbonate ion is disposed on at least a part of a surface of the active material. The active material has a peak belonging to a carbonate ion in at least a. region of 1430±30 cm−1, 1500±30 cm−1 and 2350±30 cm −1 in an infrared diffuse reflection spectrum obtained using a Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer. |
| US10217981B2 |
Battery module
A battery module includes a plurality of battery cells aligned in a first direction and a housing portion fixing the plurality of battery cells, wherein central parts of the plurality of battery cell are concave, and wherein first adhesive members are between adjacent battery cells. |
| US10217977B2 |
Battery pack with cells of different capacities electrically coupled in parallel
The disclosed embodiments provide a battery pack for use with a portable electronic device. The battery pack includes a first set of cells with different capacities electrically coupled in a parallel configuration. Cells within the first set of cells may also have different thicknesses and/or dimensions. The first set of cells is arranged within the battery pack to facilitate efficient use of space within a portable electronic device. For example, the first set of cells may be arranged to accommodate components in the portable electronic device. |
| US10217974B2 |
Sealant film for packaging material of power storage device, packaging material for power storage device, and power storage device
A sealant film has a structure made of a laminated body of two or more layers. The laminated body includes a first resin layer 7 containing 50 mass % or more of a random copolymer containing propylene and a copolymer component other than propylene as copolymer components, and a second resin layer 8 formed by a mixed resin containing a first elastomer-modified olefin based resin having a melting point of 155° C. or higher and a crystal melting energy of 50 J/g or more, and a second elastomer-modified olefin based resin having a melting point is 135° C. or higher and a crystal melting energy of 30 J/g or less. With this structure, when the inner pressure of a power storage device is excessively increased, breakage (separation) occurs inside the sealant layer, causing gas-releasing, which in turn can prevent bursting of the packaging material due to the inner pressure increase. |
| US10217968B2 |
Electro-optical panel including stretch film
An electro-optical panel includes: an electro-optical element emitting a light or adjusting a transmittance of a light; and a stretch film including a polymeric material, wherein a main stretching axis direction of the stretch film is disposed within a range of ±30° with respect to a side of the electro-optical panel. |
| US10217965B2 |
Organic light emitting diode device and display apparatus
An organic light emitting diode includes a glass substrate, a first electrode, an organic light emitting layer, a second electrode, and a light extracting enhanced layer below the glass substrate or on the second electrode. Material of the light extracting enhanced layer has a first material with a first index of refraction and a second material with a second index of refraction. |
| US10217963B2 |
Display device and manufacturing method thereof
A display device includes a flexible substrate, a display element unit disposed on a first surface of the flexible substrate and including a thin-film transistor (TFT) and an organic light-emitting element coupled to the TFT, and a protective layer comprising an organic material and disposed directly on a second surface of the flexible substrate, the second surface being opposite to the first surface. Impact resistance of the display device can be strengthened by lowering of the neutral plane through the use of the protective layer. |
| US10217960B2 |
OLED encapsulation method
The present invention provides an OLED encapsulation method, which comprises frit coated on a cover plate to correspond to an outer circumference of an OLED device and a water-contact-to-release-heat layer formed on a backing plate to correspond to the frit. The cover plate and the backing plate are laminated together to make the frit contacting the water-contact-to-release-heat layer. Afterwards, a water-contained gas is introduced to cause reaction of the water-contact-to-release-heat layer to release heat so as to heat and melt the frit for bonding the cover plate and the backing plate, and compared to the prior art, there is no need of a laser based operation so that the cost of laser facility can be saved, the manufacturing cost can be reduced, and also, the heat generated by the water-contact-to-release-heat layer is controllable and uniform, so that the effect of encapsulation is good and product yield is high. |
| US10217957B2 |
Organic EL display device and method of manufacturing organic EL display device
An organic EL display device includes: a first support member having flexibility; an organic EL layer layered in a matrix form on the first support member; and a second support member disposed opposite the first support member with the organic EL layer interposed between the first support member and the second support member. Grooves on the first support member and grooves on the second support member overlap with one another. As a result, flexibility of the organic EL display device can be enhanced. |
| US10217954B2 |
Compound, material for organic electroluminescent element, organic electroluminescent element, and electronic device
A compound of the invention is represented by a formula (1) below. In the formula (1), Cz is represented by a formula (1a) below and Az is represented by a formula (11) below. |
| US10217952B2 |
Nano-scale transistor
The present disclosure relates to a nano-scale transistor. The nano-scale transistor includes a source electrode, a drain electrode, a gate electrode and a nano-heterostructure. The nano-heterostructure is electrically coupled with the source electrode and the drain electrode. The gate electrode is insulated from the nano-heterostructure, the source electrode and the drain electrode via an insulating layer. The nano-heterostructure includes a first carbon nanotube, a second carbon nanotube and a semiconductor layer. The semiconductor layer includes a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The first carbon nanotube is located on the first surface, the second carbon nanotube is located on the second surface. |
| US10217941B2 |
Method for producing an organic light-emitting diode and organic light-emitting diode
A method for producing an organic light-emitting diode and an organic light-emitting diode are disclosed. In an embodiment, the method includes providing a substrate with a continuous application surface, generating multiple adhesion regions on the application surface, the adhesion regions being completely surrounded by the application surface, applying metal nanowires over the entire surface of the application surface, removing the metal nanowires outside of the adhesion regions by a washing process using a solvent such that the remaining metal nanowires completely or partly form a light-permeable electrode of the organic light-emitting diode, and applying an organic layer sequence onto the light-permeable electrode. |
| US10217939B1 |
Substrate and evaporation device used for manufacturing organic light emitting display panel
The present disclosure provides a substrate and an evaporation device used for manufacturing an organic light emitting display panel. The substrate includes a base plate; a plurality of layer formation areas on the base plate, wherein the layer formation areas are where an organic light emitting layer is formed; a plurality of first spacers disposed on the base plate at a clearance region between the layer formation areas; and a plurality of second spacers disposed on the base plate at outer peripheries of the layer formation areas, wherein each of the second spacers includes a photoresist material and a plurality of magnetic polymer microspheres. |
| US10217934B2 |
Method for manufacturing magnetic memory cells
The present invention is directed to a method for manufacturing a memory cell that includes a magnetic memory element electrically connected to a two-terminal selector. The method includes the steps of depositing a selector film stack on a substrate; depositing a magnetic memory element film stack on top of the selector film stack; etching the magnetic memory element film stack with an etch mask formed thereon to remove at least an insulating tunnel junction layer in the magnetic memory element film stack not covered by the etch mask, thereby forming a magnetic memory element pillar; depositing a first conforming dielectric layer over the magnetic memory element pillar, including a sidewall thereof, and surrounding surface; etching a portion of the first conforming dielectric layer covering the surrounding surface to form a first protective sleeve around at least the insulating tunnel junction layer of the magnetic memory element pillar; and etching the selector film stack using the etch mask and the first protective sleeve as a composite mask to form a memory cell pillar. |
| US10217931B2 |
Magnetic element, skyrmion memory, solid-state electronic device, data-storage device, data processing and communication device
Provided is a magnetic element which can generate a skyrmion by a stacked film including a magnetic layer and a non-magnetic layer, and a skyrmion memory to which the magnetic element is applied and the like. Provided is a magnetic element for generating a skyrmion, the magnetic element comprising a two-dimensional stacked film, wherein the two-dimensional stacked film is at least one or more multiple layered films including a magnetic film and a non-magnetic film stacked on the magnetic film. Also, provided is a skyrmion memory including a plurality of the magnetic elements stacked in a thickness direction. |
| US10217925B2 |
Method for producing an electronic structural element as a stack
A method of forming an electronic structural element having a stack including first and second electrode layers arranged alternatively with material layers is disclosed. A stack is formed with the first electrode layers projecting beyond a first lateral side of the stack and the second electrode layers spaced radially inward from the first lateral side. A first contacting structure that contacts each first electrode layer is applied directly to the first side of the stack, which contacting structure embeds such the projecting first electrode layers in an electrically conductive manner. A second contacting structure is formed by exposing the first and second electrode layers at a second side of the stack, forming, by an additive method, a solvent-free insulating structure that electrically insulates the first electrode layers, and applying an electrically conductive material over the solvent-free insulating structure to form the second contacting structure that contacts each second electrode layer. |
| US10217921B2 |
Display apparatus
A display apparatus is provided. The display apparatus includes a display panel, a chassis configured to support the display panel, a backlight unit configured to be installed on the chassis, and an electricity generator configured to use the backlight unit as a heat source to generate electricity. The electricity generator includes a heat transfer unit which contacts the backlight unit, at least one heat storage unit which contacts the heat transfer unit, and at least one thermoelectric device comprising a heat generator and a heat absorber contacting the heat transfer unit. The at least one thermoelectric device absorbs heat, which is generated from the backlight unit, through the heat transfer unit in response to the backlight unit being driven and absorbs heat from the at least one heat storage unit through the heat transfer unit in response to the backlight unit not being driven. |
| US10217915B2 |
Optoelectronic semiconductor component
An optoelectronic semiconductor device includes a carrier having a carrier top side, at least one optoelectronic semiconductor chip arranged at the carrier top side and having a radiation main side remote from the carrier top side, at least one bonding wire, at least one covering body on the radiation main side, and at least one reflective potting compound surrounding the semiconductor chip in a lateral direction and extending from the carrier top side at least as far as the radiation main side, wherein the bonding wire is completely covered by the reflective potting compound or completely covered by the reflective potting compound and the covering body, the bonding wire is fixed to the semiconductor chip in an electrical connection region on the radiation main side, and the electrical connection region is free of the covering body and covered partly or completely by the reflective potting compound. |
| US10217912B2 |
Light emitting diode module for surface mount technology and method of manufacturing the same
An LED is provided to include: a first conductive type semiconductor layer; an active layer positioned over the first conductive type semiconductor layer; a second conductive type semiconductor layer positioned over the active layer; and a defect blocking layer comprising a masking region to cover at least a part of the top surface of the second conductive semiconductor layer and an opening region to partially expose the top surface of the second conductive type semiconductor layer, wherein the active layer and the second conductive type semiconductor layer are disposed to expose a part of the first conductive type semiconductor layer, and wherein the defect blocking layer comprises a first region and a second region surrounding the first region, and a ratio of the area of the opening region to the area of the masking region in the first region is different from a ratio of the area of the opening region to the area of the masking region in the second region. |
| US10217909B2 |
Optoelectronic semiconductor component
An optoelectronic semiconductor component is disclosed. In an embodiment, the semiconductor component includes at least one optoelectronic semiconductor chip for generating primary radiation in a near-ultraviolet or in a visible spectral range, at least one phosphor for partial or complete conversion of the primary radiation into a longer-waved secondary radiation which is in the visible spectral range and at least one filter substance for partial absorption of the secondary radiation, wherein the phosphor and the filter substance are closely connected to the semiconductor chip. |
| US10217906B2 |
Light-emitting device
A light-emitting device includes a semiconductor structure including a first semiconductor layer, a second semiconductor layer, and an active layer formed between the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer; a surrounding part surrounding the semiconductor structure and exposing a surface of the first semiconductor layer; a first insulating structure formed on the semiconductor structure, including a plurality of protrusions covering the surface of the first semiconductor layer and a plurality of recesses exposing the surface of the first semiconductor layer; a first contact portion formed on the surrounding part and contacting the surface of the first semiconductor layer by the plurality of recesses; a first pad formed on the semiconductor structure; and a second pad formed on the semiconductor structure. |
| US10217904B2 |
Light-emitting device with metallized mounting support structure
This disclosure discloses a light-emitting device. The light-emitting device has a first outermost sidewall and includes a light-emitting diode and an electrode. The light-emitting diode has a pad and a side surface. The electrode has a segment formed on the pad to extend beyond the side surface, and a first protrusion extending from the segment to the first outermost sidewall. |
| US10217902B2 |
Light emitting device and lighting apparatus including the same
A light-emitting device includes a substrate, first and second electrode pads, first to M-th light-emitting cells arranged in a line in a first direction between the first and second electrode pads, and first to N-th connection wires for electrically connecting the first to M-th light-emitting cells, wherein each of the first to M-th light-emitting cells comprises a first conductive semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a second conductive semiconductor layer, wherein the first electrode pad is connected to the second conductive semiconductor layer of the first light-emitting cell while the second electrode pad is connected to the first conductive semiconductor layer of the M-th light-emitting cell, and an n-th connection wire electrically connects the first conductive semiconductor layer of an n-th light-emitting cell to the second conductive semiconductor layer of an (n+1)-th light-emitting cell, which are adjacent to each other. |
| US10217898B2 |
Semiconductor device having an internal-field-guarded active region
A semiconductor device comprises a layer sequence formed by a plurality of polar single crystalline semiconductor material layers that each have a crystal axis pointing in a direction of crystalline polarity and a stacking direction of the layer sequence. A core layer sequence is formed by an active region made of an active layer stack or a plurality of repetitions of the active layer stack. The active layer stack has an active layer having a first material composition associated with a first band gap energy, and carrier-confinement layers embedding the active layer on at least two opposite sides thereof, having a second material composition associated with a second band gap energy larger than the first band gap energy. A pair of polarization guard layers is arranged adjacent to the active region and embedding the active region on opposite sides thereof. Both polarization guard layers have the first material composition. |
| US10217897B1 |
Aluminum nitride-aluminum oxide layers for enhancing the efficiency of group III-nitride light-emitting devices
Light-emitting devices having a multiple quantum well (MQW) diode structure and methods of making and using the devices are provided. The devices include aluminum nitride/aluminum oxide bilayers on their hole injection layers. The bilayers improve the energy efficiency of the devices, with respect to devices that lack the bilayers or that include only a layer of aluminum oxide on their hole injection layers. |
| US10217893B2 |
Methods, apparatus, and systems for passivation of solar cells and other semiconductor devices
A method of passivating semiconductor devices using existing tools of junction isolation and phosphosilicate glass (PSG)/borosilicate glass (BSG) etch via room temperature wet chemical growth (RTWCG) processes is provided. Back side processing of the semiconductor device achieves passivation and junction isolation in a single step, while front side processing achieves passivation, PSG/BSG etch, anti-reflection coating and potential induced degradation (PID) mitigation simultaneously. A modified solar cell fabrication method is then provided by integrating the passivation formation method into conventional solar cell manufacturing systems. The resulting solar cells comprise a semiconductor substrate having a front surface and a back surface. The front surface is coated with a SiOx layer less than 50 nm thick, over which a SiNx layer is deposited. On the back surface, another SiOx layer is coated. Experimental data shows high efficiency and mitigated PID of the solar cells. |
| US10217891B2 |
Method for producing biomimetic-inspired infrared sensors from zinc phosphide microwires
The present invention includes a method for biomimetic-inspired infrared sensors utilizing a bottom up approach. This method includes providing a sinusoidal alternating electrical field between a preformed electrode gap comprising two gold micro-electrodes. Providing single needles of zinc phosphide crystals optimized for growth conditions using a physical vapour transport. Immobilizing at least one individual zinc phosphide nanowire in the preformed electrode gap using dielectrophoretic manipulation. And, placing and contacting the at least one individual zinc phosphide nanowire in the preformed electrode gap. Two nanowires are combined to form a lambda shape for improved sensing. |
| US10217886B2 |
Photoelectric conversion device
According to example embodiments, a photoelectric conversion device includes a first electrode including a light-receiving surface, a second electrode spaced apart from the first electrode and facing the first electrode, and an auxiliary layer between the second electrode and an exciton producing layer. The first electrode may be on the second electrode. The exciton producing layer may be between the first electrode and the second electrode. The exciton producing layer may be spaced apart from the second electrode by a distance corresponding to one of a crest and a trough of a standing wave of light to be converted into electricity. |
| US10217885B2 |
Interconnector and solar panel
An interconnector includes a first electrode configured to be connected to a first photovoltaic cell, a second electrode configured to be connected to a second photovoltaic cell, and a connection body that connects the first electrode and the second electrode. The connection body includes a first detour, a second detour, and a joint. The first detour includes a first curved part that is curved toward a first side in a first direction and connected to the first electrode. |
| US10217884B2 |
Process for producing a solar cell having an aromatic polyimide film substrate for high photoelectric conversion efficiency
A CIS solar cell having flexibility and high conversion efficiency may be produced, using, as a substrate, a polyimide film which is prepared from an aromatic tetracarboxylic acid component comprising 3,3′,4,4′-biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride as the main component and an aromatic diamine component comprising p-phenylenediamine as the main component, and has a maximum dimensional change in the temperature-increasing step of from 25° C. to 500° C. within a range of from +0.6% to +0.9%, excluding +0.6%, based on the dimension at 25° C. before heat treatment. |
| US10217883B2 |
Functional yarn equipped with semiconductor functional elements
Functional yarn equipped with semiconductor functional elements includes: a plurality of semiconductor functional elements whose electrically conductive directions defined by positive and negative electrodes are aligned and disposed between a pair of conducting wires in which each of the positive electrodes being connected to the conducting wire and each of the negative electrodes being connected to the conducting wire; an element mounting region consisting of conducting wire portions on which a plurality of the semiconductor functional elements are disposed; a conducting wire region consisting of only conducting wire portions and an insulating member that covers the surface of at least one of the pair of conducting wire portions of the conducting wire region. |
| US10217882B2 |
Quantum rod, synthesis method of the same and quantum rod display device
A quantum rod, a synthesis method of the quantum rod and a quantum rod display device are discussed. The quantum rod according to an embodiment includes a core, a first shell covering the core, and a second shell covering a side of the first shell. In the quantum rod, a first thickness of the first shell is greater than a second thickness of the second shell, and a first length of the first shell is smaller than a second length of the second shell. |
| US10217881B2 |
Metal-contact-free photodetector
A Ge-on-Si photodetector constructed without doping or contacting Germanium by metal is described. Despite the simplified fabrication process, the device has responsivity of 1.24 A/W, corresponding to 99.2% quantum efficiency. Dark current is 40 nA at −4 V reverse bias. 3-dB bandwidth is 30 GHz. |
| US10217877B2 |
Solar cell
Disclosed is a solar cell including a semiconductor substrate, a conductive area including first and second conductive areas disposed on one surface of the semiconductor substrate, and an electrode including a first electrode connected to the first conductive area and a second electrode connected to the second conductive area. The electrode includes an adhesive layer disposed on the semiconductor substrate or the conductive area, an electrode layer disposed on the adhesive layer and including a metal as a main component, and a barrier layer disposed on the electrode layer and including a metal that is different from the metal of the electrode layer as a main component. The electrode layer has a thickness greater than a thickness of each of the adhesive layer and the barrier layer, and the barrier layer has a higher melting point than a melting point of the electrode layer. |
| US10217874B2 |
Semiconductor device having a transparent window for passing radiation
Method of encapsulating a semiconductor structure comprising providing a semiconductor structure comprising an opto-electric element located in a cavity formed between a substrate and a cap layer, the cap layer being made of a material transparent to light, and having a flat upper surface; forming at least one protrusion on the cap layer; bringing the at least one protrusion of the cap layer in contact with a tool having a flat surface region, and applying a opaque material to the semiconductor structure where it is not in contact with the tool; and removing the tool thereby providing an encapsulated optical semiconductor device having a transparent window integrally formed with the cap layer. |
| US10217869B2 |
Semiconductor structure including low-K spacer material
A semiconductor structure includes a substrate, and a replacement metal gate (RMG) structure is attached to the substrate. The RMG structure includes a lower portion and an upper tapered portion. A source junction is disposed on the substrate and attached to a first low-k spacer portion. A drain junction is disposed on the substrate and attached to a second low-k spacer portion. A first oxide layer is disposed on the source junction, and attached to the first low-k spacer portion. A second oxide layer is disposed on the drain junction, and attached to the second low-k spacer portion. A cap layer is disposed on a top surface layer of the RMG structure and attached to the first oxide layer and the second oxide layer. |
| US10217863B2 |
Fabrication of a vertical fin field effect transistor with an asymmetric gate structure
A method of forming a vertical fin field effect transistor (vertical finFET) with two concentric gate structures, including forming one or more tubular vertical fins on a substrate, forming a first gate structure around an outer wall of at least one of the one or more tubular vertical fins, and forming a second gate structure within an inner wall of at least one of the one or more tubular vertical fins having the first gate structure around the outer wall. |
| US10217859B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device is provided that includes a semiconductor substrate; an insulating film that is provided on the semiconductor substrate, has an opening through which the semiconductor substrate is exposed, and contains oxygen; a first barrier metal portion that is provided at least on a bottom portion of the opening and in which one or more kinds of films are laminated; and an upper electrode provided above the insulating film. The barrier metal is not provided between an upper surface of the insulating film and the upper electrode, or the semiconductor device further comprises a second barrier metal portion between the upper surface of the insulating film and the upper electrode, the second barrier metal portion having a configuration different from that of the first barrier metal portion. |
| US10217856B2 |
Semiconductor device having super junction metal oxide semiconductor structure and fabrication method for the same
A semiconductor device includes: a first base layer; a drain layer disposed on the back side surface of the first base layer; a second base layer formed on the surface of the first base layer; a source layer formed on the surface of the second base layer; a gate insulating film disposed on the surface of both the source layer and the second base layer; a gate electrode disposed on the gate insulating film; a column layer formed in the first base layer of the lower part of both the second base layer and the source layer by opposing the drain layer; a drain electrode disposed in the drain layer; and a source electrode disposed on both the source layer and the second base layer, wherein heavy particle irradiation is performed to the column layer to form a trap level locally. |
| US10217848B2 |
Thin film transistor structure and manufacturing method of the same
A thin film transistor (TFT) structure is provided herein, which comprises a substrate, a light-shielding resin, a polysilicon, a gate electrode insulator, a gate electrode, an interlayer dielectric layer, a source electrode, and a drain electrode. The light-shielding resin has functions of light-shielding and insulation. With doping through two through holes at two sides, the manufacturing process is simplified, the exposure process is simplified, the production time is shortened, the usage of masks is decreased, and the production cost is lowered. |
| US10217846B1 |
Vertical field effect transistor formation with critical dimension control
Disclosed are a method of forming vertical field effect transistor(s) and the resulting structure. In the method, five semiconductor layers are formed in a stack by epitaxial deposition. The first and fifth layers are one semiconductor material, the second and fourth layers are another and the third layer is yet another. The stack is patterned into fin(s). Vertical surfaces of the second and fourth layers of the fin(s) are etched to form upper and lower spacer cavities and these cavities are filled with upper and lower spacers. Vertical surfaces of the third layer of the fin(s) are etched to form a gate cavity and this cavity is filled with a gate. Since epitaxial deposition is used to form the semiconductor layers, the thicknesses of these layers and thereby the heights of the spacer cavities and gate cavity and the corresponding lengths of the spacers and gate can be precisely controlled. |
| US10217845B2 |
Vertical field effect transistors with bottom source/drain epitaxy
A vertical fin field-effect-transistor and a method for fabricating the same. The vertical fin field-effect-transistor includes a substrate, a first source/drain layer including a plurality of pillar structures, and a plurality of fins disposed on and in contact with the plurality of pillar structures. A doped layer epitaxially grown from the first source/drain layer is in contact with the plurality of fins and the plurality of pillar structures. A gate structure is disposed in contact with two or more fins in the plurality of fins. The gate structure includes a dielectric layer and a gate layer. A second source/drain layer is disposed on the gate structure. The method includes epitaxially growing a doped layer in contact with a plurality of fins and a plurality of pillar structures. A gate structure is formed in contact with two or more fins. A second source/drain layer is formed on the gate structure. |
| US10217843B2 |
Fabrication of vertical field effect transistor structure with strained channels
A method of forming a vertical fin field effect transistor (vertical finFET) with a strained channel, including forming one or more vertical fins on a substrate, forming a sacrificial stressor layer adjacent to the one or more vertical fins, wherein the sacrificial stressor layer imparts a strain in the adjacent vertical fins, forming a fin trench through one or more vertical fins and the sacrificial stressor layer to form a plurality of fin segments and a plurality of sacrificial stressor layer blocks, forming an anchor wall adjacent to and in contact with one or more fin segment endwalls, and removing at least one of the plurality of the sacrificial stressor layer blocks, wherein the anchor wall maintains the strain of the adjacent fin segments after removal of the sacrificial stressor layer blocks adjacent to the fin segment with the adjacent anchor wall. |
| US10217841B2 |
Forming an uniform L-shaped inner spacer for a vertical transport fin field effect transistor (VT FinFET)
A method of forming a vertical transport fin field effect transistor (VT FinFET), including, forming a plurality of vertical fins on a substrate, forming a sacrificial liner on at least two of the plurality of vertical fins, forming sidewall spacers on the vertical surfaces of the sacrificial liner, wherein the sidewall spacers are on opposite sides of the at least two of the plurality of vertical fins, and removing a portion of the sacrificial liner to form an l-shaped channel adjacent to each of the at least two of the plurality of vertical fins. |
| US10217839B2 |
Field effect transistor (FET) with a gate having a recessed work function metal layer and method of forming the FET
Disclosed is a field effect transistor (FET) with a replacement metal gate (RMG) and a method of forming the FET. The RMG includes a conformal gate dielectric layer and a stack of gate conductor layers on the gate dielectric layer. The stack includes a conformal work function metal (WFM) layer and a conductive fill material (CFM) layer on the WFM layer. Within the stack, the top surface of the CFM layer is above the level of the top of an adjacent vertical portion of the WFM layer. A dielectric gate cap has a center portion and an edge portion. The center portion is above the top surface of the CFM layer and the edge portion is above the top of the adjacent vertical portion of the WFM layer and is further positioned laterally immediately adjacent to an upper portion of an outer sidewall of the CFM layer. |
| US10217836B2 |
Method of manufacturing power semiconductor device
A method of manufacturing a power semiconductor device includes forming trenches in a substrate, wherein the substrate includes a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, forming a gate insulating layer and a gate electrode in each of the trenches, forming a P-type base region between the trenches in the substrate, performing a first implantation process using P-type dopants implanted onto the P-type base region, forming an N+ source region in the substrate, forming an interlayer insulating layer on the N+ source region, performing a second implantation process using P-type dopants to form a P+ doped region on the P-type base region, forming an emitter electrode in contact with the N+ source region and the P+ doped region, forming a P-type collector region on the second surface of the substrate, and forming a drain electrode on the P-type collector region. |
| US10217834B2 |
Binary metal oxide based interlayer for high mobility channels
A method of forming a gate stack that includes treating a semiconductor substrate with a wet etch chemistry to clean a surface of the semiconductor substrate and form an oxide containing interfacial layer, and converting the oxide containing interfacial layer to a binary alloy oxide based interlayer using a plasma deposition sequence including alternating a metal gas precursor and a nitrogen and/or hydrogen containing plasma. The method of forming the gate stack may further include forming a high-k dielectric layer atop the binary alloy oxide based interlayer. |
| US10217832B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device is provided that includes a semiconductor substrate; an insulating film that is provided on the semiconductor substrate, has an opening through which the semiconductor substrate is exposed, and contains oxygen; a first barrier metal portion that is provided at least on a bottom portion of the opening and in which one or more kinds of films are laminated; and an upper electrode provided above the insulating film. The barrier metal is not provided between an upper surface of the insulating film and the upper electrode, or the semiconductor device further comprises a second barrier metal portion between the upper surface of the insulating film and the upper electrode, the second barrier metal portion having a configuration different from that of the first barrier metal portion. |
| US10217825B2 |
Metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) contacts and method of forming
A semiconductor device containing a metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) contact and method of forming are described. The method includes providing a semiconductor substrate containing a contact region, depositing an insulator film on the contact region, the insulator film including a mixed oxide material containing TiO2 and at least one additional metal oxide. The method further includes depositing a metal-containing electrode layer abutting the insulator film to form a MIS structure, and heat-treating the MIS structure to scavenge oxygen from the TiO2 to the metal-containing electrode layer to form a MIS contact with oxygen vacancies in the TiO2. According to one embodiment the at least one additional metal oxide is selected from HfO2, ZrO2, Al2O3, and combinations thereof, and the metal-containing electrode layer is selected from the group consisting of Ti metal, Al metal, Hf metal, Zr metal, Ta metal, Nb metal, and a combination thereof. |
| US10217824B2 |
Controlled ion implantation into silicon carbide using channeling and devices fabricated using controlled ion implantation into silicon carbide using channeling
Methods of forming a semiconductor structure include the use of channeled implants into silicon carbide crystals. Some methods include providing a silicon carbide layer having a crystallographic axis, heating the silicon carbide layer to a temperature of about 300° C. or more, implanting dopant ions into the heated silicon carbide layer at an implant angle between a direction of implantation and the crystallographic axis of less than about 2°, and annealing the silicon carbide layer at a time-temperature product of less than about 30,000° C.-hours to activate the implanted ions. |
| US10217820B2 |
Semiconductor devices
Semiconductor devices may include a diffusion prevention insulation pattern, a plurality of conductive patterns, a barrier layer, and an insulating interlayer. The diffusion prevention insulation pattern may be formed on a substrate, and may include a plurality of protrusions protruding upwardly therefrom. Each of the conductive patterns may be formed on each of the protrusions of the diffusion prevention insulation pattern, and may have a sidewall inclined by an angle in a range of about 80 degrees to about 135 degrees to a top surface of the substrate. The barrier layer may cover a top surface and the sidewall of each if the conductive patterns. The insulating interlayer may be formed on the diffusion prevention insulation pattern and the barrier layer, and may have an air gap between neighboring ones of the conductive patterns. |
| US10217819B2 |
Semiconductor device including metal-2 dimensional material-semiconductor contact
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor layer, a metal layer electrically contacting the semiconductor layer, and a two-dimensional material layer between the semiconductor layer and the metal layer and having a two-dimensional crystal structure. |
| US10217816B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a plurality of channels, source/drain layers, and a gate structure. The channels are sequentially stacked on a substrate and are spaced apart from each other in a first direction perpendicular to a top surface of the substrate. The source/drain layers are connected to the channels and are at opposite sides of the channels in a second direction parallel to the top surface of the substrate. The gate structure encloses the channels. The channels have different lengths in the second direction and different thicknesses in the first direction. |
| US10217815B1 |
Integrated circuit device with source/drain barrier
Various examples of an integrated circuit device and a method for forming the device are disclosed herein. In an example, a method includes receiving a workpiece that includes a substrate, and a device fin extending above the substrate. The device fin includes a channel region. A portion of the device fin adjacent the channel region is etched, and the etching creates a source/drain recess and forms a dielectric barrier within the source/drain recess. The workpiece is cleaned such that a bottommost portion of the dielectric barrier remains within a bottommost portion of the source/drain recess. A source/drain feature is formed within the source/drain recess such that the bottommost portion of the dielectric barrier is disposed between the source/drain feature and a remainder of the device fin. |
| US10217813B2 |
Method for manufacturing silicon carbide semiconductor device and silicon carbide semiconductor device
A method for manufacturing a silicon carbide semiconductor device includes the steps of preparing a silicon carbide substrate having a first main surface and a second main surface located on a side opposite to the first main surface, forming an epitaxial layer on the first main surface, the epitaxial layer having a first conductivity type and having a third main surface located on a side opposite to a side on which the silicon carbide substrate is located, forming a trench, which includes side walls intersecting with the third main surface and a bottom portion connected to the side walls, in the epitaxial layer, widening an opening of the trench, and forming an embedded region, which has a second conductivity type different from the first conductivity type, in the trench. The epitaxial layer adjacent to the embedded region and the embedded region constitute a superjunction structure. |
| US10217811B1 |
Semiconductor device, method for manufacturing semiconductor device, inverter circuit, driving device, vehicle, and elevator
A semiconductor device according to an embodiment includes a silicon carbide layer having a front surface inclined at 0° or more and 10° or less with respect to a (0001) face, a silicon oxide layer, and a region located between the front surface and the silicon oxide layer and having the number of carbon-carbon single bonds larger than the number of carbon-carbon double bonds. |
| US10217810B2 |
Capacitor formed on heavily doped substrate
The teachings of the present disclosure may be applied to the manufacture and design of capacitors. In some embodiments of these teachings, a capacitor may be formed on a heavily doped substrate. For example, a method for manufacturing a capacitor may include: depositing an oxide layer on a first side of a heavily doped substrate; depositing a first metal layer on the oxide layer; and depositing a second metal layer on a second side of the heavily doped substrate. |
| US10217807B2 |
Anisotropic conductive film and display device using the same
An anisotropic conductive film includes a conductive layer; a first resin insulating layer over a first surface of the conductive layer; and a second resin insulating layer over a second surface of the conductive layer, wherein the conductive layer comprises a plurality of conductive particles and a nano fiber connecting the plurality of conductive particles to each other, each of the plurality of conductive particles comprising a plurality of needle-shaped protrusions having a conical shape, and wherein the first resin insulating layer and the second resin insulating layer comprise a same material and have different thicknesses. |
| US10217805B2 |
Display apparatus
Disclosed herein is a display apparatus, including, a panel having a plurality of pixels disposed in a matrix and each including a self-luminous element for emitting light, the panel including first to third conductive layers laminated in order on a supporting substrate, a first contact portion between the first and second conductive layers and a second contact portion between the second and third conductive layers being disposed at the same position in a planar direction. |
| US10217803B2 |
Organic light-emitting display and an electronic apparatus including the same
An organic light-emitting diode display includes a substrate including an active area and a dead area surrounding the active area. The organic light-emitting diode display further includes a first organic light-emitting device disposed in the active area. The organic light-emitting diode display additionally includes a second organic light-emitting device disposed in the dead area, and a sensor configured to sense light emitted from the second organic light-emitting device. The first organic light-emitting device emits light in a first direction, and the second organic light-emitting device emits light in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction and is toward the sensor. |
| US10217795B1 |
Memory cell for non-volatile memory system
A non-volatile storage apparatus is proposed that includes a plurality of serially connected non-volatile reversible resistance-switching memory cells, a plurality of word lines such that each of the memory cells is connected to a different word line, a bit line connected to a first end of the serially connected memory cells and a switch connected to a second end of the serially connected memory cells. In one embodiment, the memory cells include a reversible resistance-switching structure comprising a first material, a second material and a reversible resistance-switching interface between the first material and the second material, a channel, and means for switching current between current flowing through the channel and current flowing through the reversible resistance-switching interface in order to program and read the reversible resistance-switching interface. A process for manufacturing the memory is also disclosed. |
| US10217794B2 |
Integrated circuits with vertical capacitors and methods for producing the same
Integrated circuits and methods of producing the same are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, an integrated circuit includes a capacitor, where the capacitor includes a first capacitor plate and a second capacitor plate. The first capacitor plate includes a first memory cell, and the second capacitor plate includes a second memory cell. The capacitor is utilized as a functional capacitor in the integrated circuit. |
| US10217791B2 |
Method of manufacturing bonded substrate, bonded substrate, method of manufacturing solid-state imaging apparatus, solid-state imaging apparatus, and camera
Disclosed herein is a method of manufacturing a bonded substrate, including the steps of: forming a first bonding layer on a surface on one side of a semiconductor substrate; forming a second bonding layer on a surface on one side of a support substrate; adhering the first bonding layer and the second bonding layer to each other; a heat treatment for bonding the first bonding layer and the second bonding layer to each other; and thinning the semiconductor substrate from a surface on the other side of the semiconductor substrate to form a semiconductor layer. |
| US10217790B2 |
Imaging detector module assembly
A module assembly device (402) is configured for assembling a module assembly (114) for a detector array (110) of an imaging system (100). The module assembly device includes a base (400) having a long axis (401). The module assembly device further includes a first surface (406) of the base and side walls (408) protruding perpendicular up from the first surface and extending in a direction of the long axis along at least two sides of the base. The first surface and side walls form a recess (404) configured to receive the module substrate on the surface and within the side walls. The module assembly device further includes protrusions (403) protruding from the side walls in a direction of the side walls. The protrusions and side walls interface forming a ledge which serves as a photo-detector array tile support (410) configured to receive the photo-detector array tile (118) over the ASIC and the module substrate. |
| US10217786B2 |
Solid-state image pickup device
A solid-state image pickup device capable of suppressing the generation of dark current and/or leakage current is provided. The solid-state image pickup device has a first substrate provided with a photoelectric converter on its primary face, a first wiring structure having a first bonding portion which contains a conductive material, a second substrate provided with a part of a peripheral circuit on its primary face, and a second wiring structure having a second bonding portion which contains a conductive material. In addition, the first bonding portion and the second bonding portion are bonded so that the first substrate, the first wiring structure, the second wiring structure, and the second substrate are disposed in this order. Furthermore, the conductive material of the first bonding portion and the conductive material of the second bonding portion are surrounded with diffusion preventing films. |
| US10217785B2 |
Solid-state imaging device, manufacturing method of solid-state imaging device, and electronic apparatus
There is provided a solid-state imaging device including a first substrate having a pixel circuit including a pixel array unit formed thereon, and a second substrate having a plurality of signal processing circuits formed thereon so as to be arranged through a scribe region. The first substrate and the second substrate are stacked. |
| US10217781B2 |
One transistor active pixel sensor with tunnel FET
A tunneling field effect transistor for light detection, including a p-type region connected to a source terminal, a n-type region connected to a drain terminal, an intrinsic region located between the p-type region and the n-type region to form a P-I junction or an N-I junction with the n-type region or the p-type region, respectively, a first insulating layer and a first gate electrode, the first gate electrode covering a portion of the intrinsic region on one side, and a second insulating layer and a second gate electrode, the second insulating layer and the second gate electrode covering an entire other side of the intrinsic region opposite to the one side, wherein an area of the intrinsic region that is not covered by the first gate electrode forms a non-gated intrinsic area configured for light absorption. |
| US10217778B2 |
Array substrate and manufacturing method thereof
The present invention provides an array substrate and a manufacturing method thereof. The method includes covering a reduction metal layer on an oxide semiconductor layer film and simultaneously forming a source pattern, a drain pattern, a pixel electrode pattern, and an oxide semiconductor layer through patterning the oxide semiconductor layer film and the reduction metal layer with one mask-based operation, followed by reducing the source pattern, the drain pattern, and the pixel electrode pattern to conductors through laser annealing to simultaneously form a source electrode, a drain electrode, and a pixel electrode. The entire manufacturing process needs, at most, only three rounds of mask-based operations so that, compared to the prior art, the number of mask-based operations required can be effectively reduced, the manufacturing operation can be simplified, and the performance of a TFT can be improved and an aperture ratio of the array substrate can be increased. |
| US10217777B2 |
Display device, semiconductor device, and method of manufacturing display device
A display device according to the present disclosure includes: a transistor section (100) that includes a gate insulating film (130), a semiconductor layer (140), and a gate electrode layer (120), the semiconductor layer being laminated on the gate insulating film, the gate electrode film being laminated on an opposite side to the semiconductor layer of the gate insulating film; a first capacitor section (200) that includes a first metal film (210) and a second metal film (220), the first metal film being disposed at a same level as wiring layers (161, 162) that are electrically connected to the semiconductor layer and is disposed over the transistor section, the second metal film being disposed over the first metal film with a first interlayer insulating film (152) in between; and a display element that is configured to be controlled by the transistor section. |
| US10217774B2 |
Thin film transistor and manufacturing method thereof, array substrate, and display device
The technical disclosure relates to a thin film transistor and a manufacturing method thereof, an array substrate and a display device. The thin film transistor comprises a base substrate, a gate electrode, an active layer, source/drain electrodes, a pixel electrode and one or more insulating layers, wherein at least one of the insulating layers comprises a bottom insulating sub-layer and a top insulating sub-layer, the top insulating sub-layer having a hydrogen content higher than that of the bottom insulating sub-layer. |
| US10217772B2 |
Display device
Provided is a display device with high resolution, high display quality, or high aperture ratio. A pixel includes three subpixels and is electrically connected to two gate lines. One of the gate lines is electrically connected to a gate of a transistor included in each of the two subpixels, and the other gate line is electrically connected to a gate of a transistor included in the other subpixel. Display elements of the three subpixels are arranged in the same direction. Three pixel electrodes of the three subpixels are arranged in the same direction. |
| US10217767B2 |
Thin film transistor array panel and manufacturing method thereof
A thin film transistor array panel includes a substrate and a thin film transistor disposed on a surface of the substrate. The thin film transistor includes a semiconductor, a source electrode, and a drain electrode that are disposed on a same layer as one another. The semiconductor is between the source electrode and the drain electrode. The thin film transistor array panel further includes a buffer layer disposed between the semiconductor and the substrate and including an inorganic insulating material. The first edge of the buffer layer is substantially parallel to an adjacent edge of the semiconductor, a second edge of the buffer layer is substantially parallel to an adjacent edge of the source electrode, and a third edge of the buffer layer is substantially parallel to an adjacent edge of the drain electrode. |
| US10217765B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit
A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type which is stacked on a support substrate with an insulating layer interposed between the semiconductor layer and the support substrate, a first well region of a second conductivity type buried in an upper part of the semiconductor layer so as to be separated from the insulating layer, a second well region of the first conductivity type buried in an upper part of the first well region, and an isolation region of the first conductivity type buried in the upper part of the semiconductor layer such that the isolation region surrounds the first well region and is separated from the first well region and the insulating layer. |
| US10217761B1 |
Semiconductor structure and manufacturing method thereof
A semiconductor structure for three-dimensional memory device and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The semiconductor structure is disposed on the substrate and has a plurality of openings penetrating through the semiconductor structure and extending into the substrate. The semiconductor structure includes a substrate, a stacked structure and an epitaxial layer. The stacked structure includes insulating layers and gate layers stacked alternatively. Each of the plurality of openings includes a first portion located above the surface of the substrate and a second portion located below the surface of the substrate. The aspect ratio of the second portion is more than 1. The epitaxial layer is disposed in each of the plurality of openings. The top surface of the epitaxial layer is between the top surface and the bottom surface of the i-th insulating layer as counted upward from the substrate, wherein i≥2. |
| US10217748B2 |
Dynamic random access memory and method of manufacturing the same
A dynamic random access memory (DRAM) includes a substrate, a bit line, a capacitor contact, a dielectric structure, a capacitor, and a landing pad. The bit line is located on the substrate. The capacitor contact is aside the bit line. The capacitor contact protrudes from a space between adjacent bit lines, such that upper sidewalls of the capacitor contact are exposed by the bit line. The dielectric structure is located on the upper surface of the bit line and extending to one portion of the upper sidewalls of the capacitor contacts. The capacitor is located above the capacitor contact. The landing pad is located between the capacitor contact and the capacitor. The landing pad at least covers one portion of the upper surface of the capacitor contact. A contact area between landing pad and the capacitor contact is greater than a contact area between the landing pad and the capacitor. |
| US10217745B2 |
High-K gate dielectric and metal gate conductor stack for fin-type field effect transistors formed on type III-V semiconductor material and silicon germanium semiconductor material
An electrical device that includes at least one n-type field effect transistor including a channel region in a type III-V semiconductor device, and at least one p-type field effect transistor including a channel region in a germanium containing semiconductor material. Each of the n-type and p-type semiconductor devices may include gate structures composed of material layers including work function adjusting materials selections, such as metal and doped dielectric layers. The field effect transistors may be composed of fin type field effect transistors. The field effect transistors may be formed using gate first processing or gate last processing. |
| US10217743B2 |
Detecting process variation of memory cells
Various implementations described herein are directed to an integrated circuit having a memory cell array disposed in a first area of the integrated circuit. The memory cell array may include memory cells with first transistors of multiple types. The integrated circuit may include a process sensor disposed in a second area of the integrated circuit that is different than the first area. The process sensor may include a process detector having second transistors of the multiple types that are separate from the first transistors. The second transistors of the process detector may be arranged for detecting process variation of the memory cells of the memory cell array. |
| US10217742B2 |
Semiconductor device having dummy active fin patterns
A semiconductor device includes circuit active fin lines and circuit gate lines intersecting each other in a circuit active region, dummy active fin lines and dummy gate lines intersecting each other in a dummy active region, the active fin lines and the dummy active fin lines having same width and pitch, and the circuit gate lines and the dummy gate lines having same width and pitch, wherein at least some of the dummy active fin lines are aligned with and collinear with respective circuit active fin lines, and at least some of the dummy gate lines are aligned with and collinear with respective circuit gate lines. |
| US10217740B2 |
Semiconductor device and radio frequency module formed on high resistivity substrate
A semiconductor device includes a high resistivity substrate, a first deep well region having a first conductive type and formed in the high resistivity substrate, a second deep well region having a second conductive type and formed on the first deep well region, a first well region having the first conductive type and formed on the second deep well region, and a transistor formed on the first well region. |
| US10217738B2 |
IGBT semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a base region formed in the semiconductor substrate on a front surface side thereof, a gate trench extending from a front surface side of the base region and penetrating thorough the base region, and a dummy trench extending from the front surface side of the base region and penetrating thorough the base region, where a portion of the dummy trench that extends beyond a back surface of the base region is longer than a portion of the gate trench that extends beyond the back surface of the base region. |
| US10217736B2 |
Semiconductor device including transistor and capacitor
A highly integrated semiconductor device including a transistor and a capacitor which occupies a small area for the required on-state current and required capacitance is provided. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor, first and second conductive films each in contact with top and side surfaces of the semiconductor, a first insulating film in contact with the top and side surfaces of the semiconductor, a third conductive film facing the top and side surfaces of the semiconductor with the first insulating film therebetween, a second insulating film which is in contact with the first conductive film and comprises an opening, a fourth conductive film in contact with the opening, a third insulating film facing the opening with the fourth conductive film therebetween, and a fifth conductive film facing the fourth conductive film with the third insulating film therebetween. |
| US10217733B2 |
Fast SCR structure for ESD protection
An ultra-low capacitance ESD protection device with an ultra-fast response time and a low turn-on voltage, and a high holding current. The device may include: a heavily-doped p-type substrate; a lightly-doped n-type epitaxial layer with a heavily-doped n-type buried layer; and a semiconductor-controlled rectifier (SCR) structure within the epitaxial layer. The SCR structure includes, between a ground terminal and a pad terminal: a shallow P+ region within a moderately-doped n-type well to form an emitter-base junction of a trigger transistor; a shallow N+ region within a moderately-doped p-type well to form an emitter-base junction of a latching transistor, and a PN junction coupled to either of the shallow regions as a forward-biased series diode. To reduce capacitance, the n-type and p-type wells are separated by a lightly-doped portion of the epitaxial layer having a small lateral dimension for enhanced switching speed. |
| US10217732B2 |
Techniques for forming a compacted array of functional cells
Techniques are disclosed for forming a compacted array of functional cells using next-generation lithography (NGL) processes, such as electron-beam direct write (EBDW) and extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUVL), to form the boundaries of the cells in the array. The compacted array of cells may be used for field-programmable gate array (FPGA) structures configured with logic cells, static random-access memory (SRAM) structures configured with bit cells, or other memory or logic devices having cell-based structures. The techniques can be used to gain a reduction in area of 10 to 50 percent, for example, for the array of functional cells, because the NGL processes allow for higher precision and closer cuts for the cell boundaries, as compared to conventional 193 nm photolithography. In addition, the use of NGL processes to form the boundaries for the cells may also reduce lithography induced variations that would otherwise be present with conventional 193 nm photolithography. |
| US10217731B2 |
Method of producing optoelectronic modules and an assembly having a module
A method produces a plurality of optoelectronic modules, and includes: A) providing a metallic carrier assembly with a plurality of carrier units; B) applying a logic chip, each having at least one integrated circuit, to the carrier units; C) applying emitter regions that generate radiation, which can be individually electrically controlled; D) covering the emitter regions and the logic chips with a protective material; E) overmolding the emitter regions and the logic chips so that a cast body is formed, which joins the carrier units, the logic chips and the emitter regions to one another; F) removing the protective material and applying electrical conductor paths to the upper sides of the logic chips and to a cast body upper side; and G) dividing the carrier assembly into the modules. |
| US10217727B2 |
Semiconductor device and electronic apparatus including a first semiconductor chip including an insulated gate bipolar transistor and a second semiconductor chip including a diode
For example, a semiconductor device capable of achieving a high performance applicable to an SR motor is provided. The semiconductor device includes a chip mounting portion TAB1 on which a semiconductor chip CHP1 having an IGBT is mounted, and a chip mounting portion TAB2 on which a semiconductor chip CHP2 having a diode is formed. The semiconductor device also includes a lead LD1A electrically connected to an emitter electrode pad EP of the semiconductor chip CHP1 via a clip CLP1, and a lead LD1B electrically connected to an anode electrode pad ADP of the semiconductor chip CHP2 via a clip CLP2. At this time, the chip mounting portion TAB1 is separated electrically from the chip mounting portion TAB2, and the clip CLP1 is separated electrically from the clip CLP2. |
| US10217726B1 |
Stacked semiconductor dies including inductors and associated methods
Several embodiments of the present technology are directed to semiconductor devices, systems including semiconductor devices, and methods of making and operating semiconductor devices. In some embodiments, a semiconductor device comprises a substrate, a first die mounted to the substrate and including first inductors, and a second die mounted to the first die in an offset position and including second inductors. The first inductors are at an active side of the first die, and the second inductors are at an active side of the second die. At least a portion of the first inductors are proximate and inductively coupled to the second inductors. The semiconductor device further comprises a first plurality of interconnects electrically coupling the substrate to the first die, and a second plurality of interconnects electrically coupling the second die to the substrate. The first plurality of interconnects extend from an upper surface of the substrate to the active side of the first die, and the second plurality of interconnects extend from the active side of the second die to the lower surface of the substrate. |
| US10217725B2 |
Microstructure modulation for metal wafer-wafer bonding
A three-dimensional (3D) bonded semiconductor structure is provided in which a first bonding oxide layer of a first semiconductor structure is bonded to a second bonding oxide layer of a second semiconductor structure. Each of the first and second bonding oxide layers has a metallic bonding structure embedded therein, wherein each metallic bonding structure contains a columnar grain microstructure. Furthermore, at least one columnar grain extends across a bonding interface that is present between the metallic bonding structures. The presence of the columnar grain microstructure in the metallic bonding structures, together with at least one columnar grain microstructure extending across the bonding interface between the two bonded metallic bonding structures, can provide a 3D bonded structure having mechanical bonding strength and electrical performance enhancements. |
| US10217724B2 |
Semiconductor package assembly with embedded IPD
The invention provides a semiconductor package assembly. The semiconductor package assembly includes a first semiconductor package including a first semiconductor die. A first redistribution layer (RDL) structure is coupled to the first semiconductor die. The first redistribution layer (RDL) structure includes a first conductive trace disposed at a first layer-level. A second conductive trace is disposed at a second layer-level. A first inter-metal dielectric (IMD) layer and a second inter-metal dielectric (IMD) layer, which is beside the first inter-metal dielectric (IMD) layer, are disposed between the first conductive trace and the second conductive trace. |
| US10217717B2 |
Distribution of electronic circuit power supply potentials
An integrated circuit includes peripheral conductive pads interconnected by a peripheral conductive track within an integrated circuit chip. The integrated circuit chip further includes internal conductive pads interconnected by an internal conductive track within the integrated circuit chip. A conductive bonding wire external to the integrated circuit chip connects the one peripheral conductive pad to one internal conductive pad. A package encapsulates the integrated circuit chip and the conductive bonding wire. |
| US10217709B2 |
Fan-out semiconductor package
The present disclosure relates to a semiconductor package, and more particularly, to a fan-out semiconductor package in which connection terminals may extend outwardly of a region in which a semiconductor chip is disposed. In the fan-out semiconductor package, a circuit density of a redistribution layer may be increased even in a limited area. |
| US10217708B1 |
High bandwidth routing for die to die interposer and on-chip applications
Routing structures including signal routing between die areas is described. In an embodiment, routing structures include signal lines with a characteristic thickness that is greater than a width. The signal lines may be twisted, and run directly underneath pads. |
| US10217707B2 |
Trench contact resistance reduction
A method is presented for forming a semiconductor device. The method includes forming source/drain over a semiconductor substrate, forming a sacrificial layer over the source/drain, and forming an inter-level dielectric (ILD) layer over the sacrificial layer. The method further includes forming trenches that extend partially into the sacrificial layer, removing the sacrificial layer to expose an upper surface of the source/drain, and filling the trenches with at least one conducting material. The sacrificial layer is germanium (Ge) and the at least one conducting material includes three conducting materials. |
| US10217702B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of forming an embedded SoP fan-out package
A semiconductor device includes a BGA package including first bumps. A first semiconductor die is mounted to the BGA package between the first bumps. The BGA package and first semiconductor die are mounted to a carrier. A first encapsulant is deposited over the carrier and around the BGA package and first semiconductor die. The carrier is removed to expose the first bumps and first semiconductor die. An interconnect structure is electrically connected to the first bumps and first semiconductor die. The BGA package further includes a substrate and a second semiconductor die mounted, and electrically connected, to the substrate. A second encapsulant is deposited over the second semiconductor die and substrate. The first bumps are formed over the substrate opposite the second semiconductor die. A warpage balance layer is formed over the BGA package. |
| US10217699B2 |
Preformed lead frame
A preformed lead frame includes a plurality of lead frame units and intersecting cutting paths extending between two adjacent rows of said lead frame units, and a molding layer. Each of the lead frame units includes a die pad, and a plurality of spaced-apart leads. Each of the cutting paths has a plurality of metallic connecting portions and etched grooves. The molding layer embeds the lead frame units and the connecting portions. Each of the etched grooves is indented from the top surface of the molding layer. A top open end of each of the etched grooves includes two opposite curved edges respectively meeting an adjacent one of the leads of one of the lead frame units and an adjacent one of the leads of the other one of the lead frame units. |
| US10217697B2 |
Semiconductor device and lead frame with high density lead array
A semiconductor device includes a lead frame having leads arranged in an array that has columns extending in a first direction and rows extending in a second direction. Each lead includes a bond pad portion and a solder pad portion down-set from the bond pad portion. The solder pad portion horizontally extends from the bond pad portion in the first direction. A semiconductor die is mounted on a set of the plurality of leads and electrically connected to the bond pad portion of at least one of the plurality of leads. The semiconductor die, and the plurality of leads are encapsulated by a molding material, wherein the molding material defines a package body, and the solder pad portion of each lead is exposed at a back side of the package body. |
| US10217696B2 |
Non-bridging contact via structures in proximity
A first photoresist layer is patterned with a first pattern that includes an opening in a region between areas of two adjacent via holes to be formed. The opening in the first photoresist is transferred into a template layer to form a line trench therein. The lateral dimension of the trench is reduced by depositing a contiguous spacer layer that does not fill the trench completely. An etch-resistant material layer is conformally deposited and fills the trench, and is subsequently recessed to form an etch-resistant material portion filling the trench. A second photoresist layer is applied and patterned with a second pattern, which includes an opening that includes areas of two via holes and an area therebetween. A composite pattern of an intersection of the second pattern and the complement of the pattern of the etch-resistant material portion is transferred through the template layer. |
| US10217692B2 |
Heat transfer device for high heat flux applications and related methods thereof
A device and related method that provides a two-phase heat transfer device with a combination of enhanced evaporation and increase cooling capacity. A recess topology is used to increase suction of working fluid toward a heat source. A non-wetting coating or structure may be used to keep working fluid away from the spaces between elongated members of an evaporator and a wetting coating or structure may be used to form thin films of working fluid around the distal regions of elongated members. The devices and method described herein may be used to cool computer chips, the skin of a hypersonic flying object, a parabolic solar collector, a turbine engine blade, or other heat sources that require high heat flux. |
| US10217691B2 |
Heat spreader with optimized coefficient of thermal expansion and/or heat transfer
Methods, systems and an apparatus relating to a heat spreader to be coupled to a heat source having a heat source coefficient of thermal expansion (HS CTE), the heat spreader comprising an anisotropic material having a high expansion axis. The heat spreader also including a surface to be coupled to the heat source, wherein the high expansion axis of the anisotropic material is oblique to the surface of the heat spreader and wherein the high expansion axis of the anisotropic material is oriented at a first angle of rotation about a first axis of the heat spreader wherein the first angle of rotation is selected to optimize a match of a first CTE of the heat spreader with the HS CTE. |
| US10217688B2 |
Electronic component having a heat-sink thermally coupled to a heat-spreader
An electronic component includes one or more semiconductor dice embedded in a first dielectric layer, a heat-spreader embedded in a second dielectric layer and a heat-sink thermally coupled to the heat-spreader. The heat-spreader has a higher thermal conductivity in directions substantially parallel to the major surface of the one or more semiconductor dice than in directions substantially perpendicular to the major surface of the one or more semiconductor dice. The heat-sink has a thermal conductivity in directions substantially perpendicular to the major surface of the one or more semiconductor dice that is higher than the thermal conductivity of the heat-spreader in directions substantially perpendicular to the major surface of the one or more semiconductor dice. The heat-spreader and the heat-sink provide a heat dissipation path from the one or more semiconductor dice having a lateral thermal resistance which increases with increasing distance from the one or more semiconductor devices. |
| US10217686B2 |
Air-cavity package with enhanced package integration level and thermal performance
The present disclosure relates to an air-cavity package, which includes a bottom substrate, a top substrate, a perimeter wall, a bottom electronic component, a top electronic component, and an external electronic component. The perimeter wall extends from a periphery of a lower side of the top substrate to a periphery of an upper side of the bottom substrate to form a cavity. The bottom electronic component is mounted on the upper side of the bottom substrate and exposed to the cavity. The top electronic component is mounted on the lower side of the top substrate and exposed to the cavity. And the external electronic component is mounted on an upper side of the top substrate, which is opposite the lower side of the top substrate and not exposed to the cavity. |
| US10217683B2 |
Mounted semiconductor module with a mold resin portion
A semiconductor module is provided in which a semiconductor element is mounted and a plurality of outside connecting modules are drawn from a side of a mold resin portion. To ensure sufficient space for a holding tool used in mounting the semiconductor module to a device with a simple structure, holding side portions are provided for at least two opposing corner portions of corner portions between adjacent sides of the mold resin portion. |
| US10217678B2 |
Display device and method of manufacturing the display device
A display device includes a substrate, a first transistor, a second transistor and a conductive connection portion disposed on the substrate. The first transistor is electrically connected to the gate electrode of the second transistor through the conductive connection portion. An insulating layer is disposed on the conductive connection portion. A pixel electrode is disposed on the insulating layer and is electrically connected to the second transistor. The pixel electrode is at least partially overlapped with the conductive connection portion. A light-emitting element is disposed on the pixel electrode. The conductive connection portion and the pixel electrode form a capacitor. The capacitor has an equivalent permittivity and a thickness. The ratio of the equivalent permittivity to the thickness is in a range from 0.4*(1E+5)F/m^2 to 296.48*(1E+5)F/m^2. |
| US10217676B2 |
Method and apparatus for manufacturing a semiconductor device including a plurality of semiconductor chips connected with bumps
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device including a plurality of semiconductor chips includes steps of placing, on a first semiconductor chip, a second semiconductor chip, such that a plurality of bumps is located between the first semiconductor chip and the second semiconductor chip, determining a distance between the first semiconductor chip and the second semiconductor chip, and determining whether or not the distance is within a predetermined range and stopping placement of additional chips if the distance is determined to be outside the predetermined range. |
| US10217666B2 |
Stacked structure having a protective layer between an insulation layer and wiring
A stacked structure, includes: a wiring; an insulating layer; a substrate; and a protective layer, wherein the wiring, the insulating layer, and the substrate are stacked from a bottom side, and an end portion of the wiring is projected from a side face of the stacked structure, and the protective layer is provided between the insulating layer and at least a part of the wiring and is configured of a material different from a material configuring the insulating layer. |
| US10217663B2 |
Apparatus for uniform metal deposition
A system includes a deposition chamber comprising first, second, and third stations, a delivery system providing a substrate to the deposition chamber, a processing system processing the substrate, a controller controlling the delivery system and the processing system, and an etch chamber. The delivery system provides the substrate to the first station, where the processing system performs a nucleation process on the substrate to form a metal nucleation layer, the substrate is then provided by the delivery system to the second station, where the processing system performs a first deposition process at a first temperature to form a first metal layer, the delivery system provides the substrate including the first metal layer metal to the etch chamber, where the first metal layer is etched back using a first gas. The substrate is provided back to the first station, wherein it undergoes a cleaning process using a second gas. |
| US10217661B2 |
Articles including ultra low dielectric layers
An article may include a structure including a patterned metal on a surface of a substrate, the patterned metal including metal features separated by gaps of an average dimension of less than about 1000 nm. A porous low dielectric constant material having a dielectric value of less than about 2.7 substantially occupies all gaps. An interface between the metal features and the porous low dielectric constant material may include less than about 0.1% by volume of voids. |
| US10217659B2 |
Dual isolation fin and method of making
A method of making a dual isolation fin comprises applying a mask to a substrate and etching the exposed areas of the substrate to form a mandrel; forming a dielectric layer on the surface of the substrate and adjacent to the mandrel; forming a first epitaxially formed material on the exposed portions of the mandrel; forming a second epitaxially formed material on the first epitaxially formed material; forming a first isolation layer on the dielectric layer and adjacent to the second epitaxially formed material; removing the mask and mandrel after forming the first isolation layer; removing the first epitaxially formed material after removing the mask and mandrel; and forming a second isolation layer. |
| US10217658B2 |
Method and structure for minimizing fin reveal variation in FinFET transistor
A semiconductor device includes a plurality of fins spaced apart from each other on a substrate; a liner layer on the substrate between each fin of the plurality of fins and on at least a portion of a sidewall of each fin; and a plurality of isolation regions adjacent and between the plurality of fins. The plurality of isolation regions are on a top surface of the liner layer on the substrate and includes a dielectric layer; and a doped region on the dielectric layer. |
| US10217654B1 |
Embedded features for interlocks using additive manufacturing
The present disclosure describes a method and apparatus for determining whether components in a semiconductor manufacturing system are authorized for use in that system. By embedding an identification feature in the component, it is possible for a controller to determine whether that component is qualified for use in the system. Upon detection of an unauthorized component, the system may alert the user or, in certain embodiments, stop operating of the system. This identification feature is embedded in a component by using an additive manufacturing process that allows the identification feature to be embedded in the component without subjecting the identification feature to extreme temperatures. |
| US10217653B2 |
Apparatus for treating substrate
A substrate-treating apparatus according to an example embodiment of the inventive concepts includes a support unit on which a substrate is loaded, an optical measurement unit providing light to the substrate to obtain image data and checking whether the substrate is abnormal or not, based on the image data, and a control unit controlling the support unit and the optical measurement unit. The control unit processes the image data transmitted from the optical measurement unit. The control unit includes an interlock control part performing an interlock operation interrupting a process performed on the substrate if an abnormal signal is detected from the image data. |
| US10217649B2 |
Semiconductor device package having an underfill barrier
A semiconductor device package includes a substrate, a semiconductor device, and an underfill. The substrate includes a top surface defining a mounting area, and a barrier section on the top surface and adjacent to the mounting area. The semiconductor device is mounted on the mounting area of the substrate. The underfill is disposed between the semiconductor device and the mounting area and the barrier section of the substrate. A contact angle between a surface of the underfill and the barrier section is greater than or equal to about 90 degrees. |
| US10217647B2 |
Method of manufacturing semiconductor device
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device may include forming active patterns, forming a polygonal mask pattern having a first width and a second width on the active patterns, forming an active region by executing a first etching process using the mask pattern, forming a first cutting mask for removing a first corner rounding in which a width of the active region is the first width, removing the first corner rounding by executing a second etching process using the first cutting mask, forming a second cutting mask for removing a second corner rounding in which the width of the active region is changed from the first width to the second width, and executing a third etching process using the second cutting mask. |
| US10217642B2 |
Substrate processing apparatus, substrate processing method and substrate holding member
A substrate processing apparatus includes a process chamber, and a turntable provided in the process chamber and including a substrate holding region formed in a top surface along a circumferential direction of the turntable. A surface area increasing region is provided in the top surface of the turntable around the substrate holding region and is configured to increase a surface area of the top surface of the turntable to an area larger than a surface area of a flat surface by including a concavo-convex pattern in its top surface. A process gas supply unit is configured to supply a process gas to the top surface of the turntable. |
| US10217640B2 |
Methods of fabricating semiconductor devices
A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming first and second gate dielectric layers on first and second regions of a semiconductor substrate, respectively, forming a first metal-containing layer on the first and second gate dielectric layers, performing a first annealing process with respect to the first metal-containing layer, removing the first metal-containing layer from the first region, forming a second metal-containing layer on an entire surface of the semiconductor substrate, performing a second annealing process with respect to the second metal-containing layer, forming a gate electrode layer on the second metal-containing layer, and partially removing the gate electrode layer, the second metal-containing layer, the first metal-containing layer, the first gate dielectric layer, and the second gate dielectric layer to form first and second gate patterns on the first and second regions, respectively. |
| US10217638B2 |
Method for removing crystal originated particles from a crystalline silicon body using an etch process
A method for removing crystal originated particles from a crystalline silicon body having opposite first and second surfaces includes: increasing a surface area of at least one of the first and second surfaces by an etch process; and oxidizing the increased surface area at a temperature of at least 1000° C. and for a duration of at least 20 minutes. |
| US10217636B2 |
Method of manufacturing a silicon carbide semiconductor device by removing amorphized portions
A trench is formed that extends from a main surface into a crystalline silicon carbide semiconductor layer. A mask is formed that includes a mask opening exposing the trench and a rim section of the main surface around the trench. By irradiation with a particle beam a first portion of the semiconductor layer exposed by the mask opening and a second portion outside of the vertical projection of the mask opening and directly adjoining to the first portion are amorphized. A vertical extension of the amorphized second portion gradually decreases with increasing distance to the first portion. The amorphized first and second portions are removed. |
| US10217635B2 |
Method of manufacturing semiconductor device
Provided is a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device. The method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a target etching layer on a substrate, patterning the target etching layer to form a pattern layer including a pattern portion having a first height and a first width and a recess portion having a second width, providing a first gas and a second gas on the pattern layer, and performing a reaction process including reacting the first and second gases with a surface of the pattern portion by irradiating a laser beam on the pattern layer. The performing the reaction process includes removing a portion of sidewalls of the pattern portion so that the pattern portion has a third width that is smaller than the first width. |
| US10217633B2 |
Substantially defect-free polysilicon gate arrays
A single critical mask process flow and associated structure eliminate the formation of narrow polysilicon defects at the ends of polysilicon gate arrays, and obviate the need to implement complicated ground rules and post-design fill methods to avoid generation of the defects. |
| US10217631B2 |
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 and having an active surface having connection pads disposed thereon and an inactive surface opposing the active surface; an encapsulant encapsulating at least portions 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 and including a redistribution layer electrically connected to the connection pads. The first connection member includes a first electromagnetic interference (EMI) blocking part surrounding side surfaces of the semiconductor chip, the second connection member includes a second EMI blocking part surrounding the redistribution layer, and the first EMI blocking part and the second EMI blocking part are connected to each other. |
| US10217624B2 |
High PAR maintenance rate type high pressure sodium lamp with auxiliary starting switch
A high PAR maintenance rate type high pressure sodium lamp with an auxiliary starting switch is provided with an external glass tube and a discharge tube which is arranged at the center in the external glass tube and coaxial with the external glass tube. The surface of the discharge tube is provided with a metal lead. The left and right ends of an external glass shell are provided with pressure sealing plates which are fused and sealed through high temperature. The pressure sealing plates are internally provided with conductive sheets. One end of the discharge tube is connected with the conductive sheet of the left end through a left internal conductive support, and the other end is connected with the conductive sheet of the right end through an auxiliary starting switch component. According to the high pressure sodium lamp, the high pressure sodium lamp can be quickly lit up through a temperature controlled switch so that the high pressure sodium lamp has the advantages of being great in starting performance, great in lighting effect, high in stability, long in the service life, great in high temperature resistance and high pressure resistance and safe and reliable and is not liable to crack. |
| US10217618B2 |
Current threshold response mode for arc management
This disclosure describes systems, methods, and apparatuses for extinguishing electrical arcs in a plasma processing chamber. Once an arc is detected, the steady state voltage provided to the plasma processing chamber can be reduced, and the current being provided to the chamber decays below a steady state value as the arc is extinguished. When the current falls to or below a current threshold, the voltage can be ramped back up bringing the voltage and current back to steady state values. This technique enables power to return to a steady state level faster than traditional arc mitigation techniques. |
| US10217617B2 |
Plasma processing apparatus and method therefor
A dry etching apparatus plasma processes a wafer held by a carrier having a frame and a holding sheet. An electrode unit of a stage includes an electrostatic chuck. An area of an upper surface of the electrostatic chuck onto which the wafer is placed via the holding sheet is a flat portion and is not subject to backside gas cooling. A first groove structure is formed in the area onto which the wafer is placed via the holding sheet as well as in an area onto which a holding sheet between the wafer and the frame is placed. To a minute space defined by the first groove structure and the carrier, a heat transfer gas is supplied from a first heat transfer gas supply section through a heat transfer gas supply hole (backside gas cooling). |
| US10217614B2 |
Ceramic gas distribution plate with embedded electrode
A gas distribution plate for a substrate processing system includes a ceramic lower portion of the gas distribution plate including a plurality of ceramic green sheets. A ceramic upper portion of the gas distribution plate includes a plurality of ceramic green sheets. An electrode is printed on at least one of an upper surface of the ceramic lower portion and a lower surface of the ceramic upper portion using metal screen printing. A first plurality of through holes is machined through the ceramic lower portion and the ceramic upper portion of the gas distribution plate prior to sintering. |
| US10217612B2 |
Plasma processing apparatus and plasma processing method with a carrier wave group generating unit
A plasma processing apparatus includes a processing vessel; a carrier wave group generating unit configured to generate a carrier wave group including multiple carrier waves having different frequencies belonging to a preset frequency band centered around a predetermined center frequency; and a plasma generating unit configured to generate plasma within the processing vessel by using the carrier wave group. |
| US10217610B2 |
Arrangements for manipulating plasma confinement within a plasma processing system and methods thereof
Methods for controlling bevel etch rate of a substrate during plasma processing within a processing chamber includes securing the substrate on a lower electrode within the processing chamber. A power source is provided. A gas mixture is flowed into the processing chamber. A first match arrangement coupled to an upper electrode is adjusted to control current flowing through the upper electrode to change the upper electrode from a grounded state to a floating state. A second match arrangement coupled to a top ring electrode is adjusted to control current flowing through the top ring electrode so as to control plasma formed above a top edge of the substrate. An extension of the upper electrode is lowered during plasma processing so as to minimize a gap between the extension of the upper electrode and the substrate received on the lower electrode, such that the gap is incapable of supporting plasma formed in the processing chamber. |
| US10217607B2 |
Ion implantation apparatus and ion implantation method
An ion implantation apparatus includes a beam scanner that provides a reciprocating beam scan in a beam scan direction in accordance with a scan waveform, a mechanical scanner that causes a wafer to reciprocate in a mechanical scan direction, and a control device that controls the beam scanner and the mechanical scanner to realize a target two-dimensional dose amount distribution on a surface of the wafer. The control device includes a scan frequency adjusting unit that determines a frequency of the scan waveform in accordance with the target two-dimensional dose amount distribution, and a beam scanner driving unit that drives the beam scanner by using the scan waveform having the frequency determined by the scan frequency adjusting unit. |
| US10217599B2 |
Electron gun, control method and control program thereof, and three-dimensional shaping apparatus
When an emission current is changed, a decrease in brightness of an electron beam is prevented. An electron gun includes a cathode that emits thermoelectrons, a Wehnelt electrode that focuses the thermoelectrons, a control electrode that extracts the thermoelectrons from a distal end of said cathode, an anode that accelerates the thermoelectrons and irradiates a powder with the thermoelectrons as an electron beam, and an optimum condition collection controller that changes at least one of a bias voltage to be applied to the Wehnelt electrode and a control electrode voltage to be applied to the control electrode, and decides a combination of the bias voltage and the control electrode voltage at which the brightness of the electron beam reaches a peak. |
| US10217592B2 |
Circuit breaker and method for operation thereof
A circuit breaker having, in a current path, a switching device having a thermal and/or magnetic tripping device for interruption of a current circuit having the current path comprehensive in an event of overcurrent or short-circuit, wherein a functional component of the switching device connected into the current path is bridged by means of a bypass which carries the load current detected by means of a current sensor when the current is below a current threshold, and is shut off when the current threshold is exceeded. |
| US10217589B2 |
High-speed circuit breaking array for breaking a current path in a switching device
A high-speed circuit breaking array, for breaking a current path in a switching device in the event of a short circuit or overload, has a drive for moving a drive armature from a standby position to a trigger position, wherein the movement of the drive armature is designed to act on at least one movable contact of the switching device in such a way that the current path is broken using a holding device. A switching device having a contact system has at least one fixed contact and at least one movable contact, wherein in order to make and break a current path the movable contact can be reversibly moved in relation to the fixed contact between a make position and a break position using a drive for the purpose of functional switching, and has a high-speed circuit breaking array of this type. |
| US10217588B2 |
Enclosed type electromagnetic switch having status indication function
The present invention relates to an enclosed type electromagnetic switch having a status indication function, and more particularly, to and enclosed-type electromagnetic switch having a status indication function that can show the electromagnetic switch's status on an enclosure. |
| US10217587B2 |
Pulse solenoid control circuit
Disclosed herein is a device comprising a pulse trigger switch module configured to generate a first control signal in response to a first input signal value and generate the second control signal in response to a second input signal value. An on pulse generator module provides a first pulse signal having a first predetermined pulse duration in response to the first control signal and an off pulse generator module provides a second pulse signal having a second predetermined pulse duration in response to the second control signal. An on pulse switch module connects a power signal to an output in response to the first pulse signal and an off pulse switch module connects the power signal to the output in response to the second pulse signal. |
| US10217585B2 |
Control circuit for composite switch with contact protection based on diode and relay control method
A composite switch with diode contact protection based on a diode is disclosed and includes a primary relay contact protection circuit, a primary relay contact and a relay control circuit, where the primary relay contact protection circuit is formed by an auxiliary relay contact and a diode connected in series and is connected with the primary relay contact in parallel, a current capacity of the auxiliary relay contact is 1/10 to 1/1000 of a current capacity of the primary relay contact. |
| US10217584B2 |
Magnetic reed switch
A magnetic reed switch, including: an insulating casing, magnetic reeds, and at least one flexible element. The insulating casing is a hollow structure. The magnetic reeds are disposed inside and at two ends of the insulating casing, respectively. Ends of the magnetic reeds overlap. The at least one flexible element is an electrically conductive material and is disposed on at least one magnetic reed. The at least one flexible element is connected in parallel to two ends of the magnetic reeds. |
| US10217577B2 |
Remote control with configurable buttons
Described herein are several examples of an apparatus that features receptacles configured to accept interchangeable buttons. Each of the interchangeable buttons has a receptacle interface on a first side, which allows them to electrically connect to and communicate with the aforementioned apparatus, and a unique user-perceivable label on a second side. Electronic elements embedded in each interchangeable button, or alternatively located on its first side, correspond to a unique user-perceivable label. Based on these electronic elements, the apparatus recognizes each button individually, and identifies their user-perceivable label. As a result, the interchangeable buttons may be re-positioned on the apparatus and maintain their intended functionality according to their user-perceivable label. In addition, new interchangeable buttons with different user-perceivable labels and new functionality, according to their labels, can be introduced to the apparatus. |
| US10217576B2 |
Balancing structure for long key of keyboard
A balancing structure for a long key of a keyboard includes a balancing rod and a pair of clamping hooks arranged on a bottom plate of the keyboard. The balancing rod includes a cross rod matched with a keycap of the key and two sliding rods extending from two end parts of the cross rod and matched with the pair of clamping hooks respectively. During the keycap pressing or spring-back process, each of the two sliding rods slides on a clamping port edge on at least one side of the corresponding clamping hook along with the rotation of the cross rod, and the moving trajectory of the contact point of each sliding rod and the corresponding port edge is an arc in the sliding process. |
| US10217575B2 |
Switch device
A switch device includes a base part which includes a switch element, an operating member, a force transmission member which transmits a force between the switch element and the operating member, a light source, and a reflective surface. The operating member includes an operating outer surface, an operating inner surface, and a transmitting member. The transmitting member has a transmitting inner surface. At least a portion of the force transmission member is disposed along a pressing direction between the transmitting inner surface and the switch element. The reflective surface is disposed at a position where it reflects at least a part of the light from the light source to at least a portion of the transmitting inner surface. |
| US10217574B2 |
Low-voltage switching device with a variable design
A low-voltage switching device includes a base module, with a connection region for electrical conductors. Auxiliary contacts and a coil connection are arranged in a separate auxiliary module that is attachable to and detachable from the base module to maximize flexibility in configuration, manufacture, functionality and utility of the switching device while reducing production costs. |
| US10217573B2 |
Universal contact input supporting programmable wetting current
A system and method according to various embodiments can include a universal contact input status detection circuit. A voltage source wets a contact with a wetting voltage. A current mirror circuit is connected across an input of the contact to provide a constant wetting current over a wide input voltage range. The input voltage can be varied over a range wide enough to include both AC voltages and DC voltages. The current mirror circuit maintains the constant wetting current during varying wetting voltage inputs across the input of the contact. A wetting voltage sensor senses the wetting voltage provided to the contact so that the status of the contact can be determined. |
| US10217572B2 |
Low frequency converters having electrochemical capacitors
In one embodiment of the invention, a low frequency converter is described that includes a first electrochemical capacitor to charge to an input voltage and a second electrochemical capacitor that is coupled to the first electrochemical capacitor. The second electrochemical capacitor is associated with an output voltage of the low frequency converter. Each electrochemical capacitor may have a capacitance of at least one millifarad (mF) and a switching frequency that is less than one kilohertz. |
| US10217570B2 |
Electric storage device
An electric storage device has an electrode body and a housing body. The electrode body has a plurality of positive plates and a plurality of negative plates. The positive plates and the negative plates are alternately stacked on each other via separators. The housing body houses the electrode body together with an ion conductor. The electric storage device is provided with a magnetic field generating unit that generates magnetic force lines in a certain direction. |
| US10217569B2 |
Devices comprising a capacitor and support material that laterally supports the capacitor
A device includes a capacitor that has first and second electrodes having a capacitor insulator there-between. The first electrode is elongated and extends elevationally. The first electrode has elevationally-extending first conductive material and has second conductive material that projects laterally outward from an elevationally-extending part of the first conductive material. The laterally-projecting second conductive material has a vertical thickness that is less than that of the elevationally-extending first conductive material. Support material laterally supports the capacitor and contacts a tip end of the laterally-projecting second conductive material. |
| US10217567B2 |
Multilayer capacitors
A multilayer capacitor may include a capacitor stack having pluralities of first and second plate electrodes connected to respective stack face terminals. Two face terminals on different stack sides are connected to the first plate electrodes. Two different face terminals also on different stack sides are connected to the second plate electrodes. Respective base conductors connect to the two sets of face terminals for connecting the capacitor to an external circuit. Three face terminals may be connected to the first or second plate electrodes. The base conductors may connect to the face terminals at the same relative position of the capacitor stack, at different relative positions of the capacitor stack. A capacitor stack may be positioned with a stack end facing a base substrate. Two multilayer capacitors may be mounted electrically in parallel with one or more lossy elements spanning a gap between the capacitors. |
| US10217558B2 |
Embedded magnetic component transformer device
A transformer device includes primary, secondary, and auxiliary windings, located in an insulating substrate by conductive vias joined together by conductive traces. Positions of the conductive vias are arranged so as to optimize the isolation properties of the transformer, and to improve the coupling of the transformer by increasing the leakage inductance and reducing the distributed capacitance. The transformer device is compact and is weakly coupled. The weak coupling between the windings reduces the likelihood of the transformer malfunctioning, particularly when used in a self-resonant converter circuit. |
| US10217557B2 |
Laminated inductor
One object is to provide a laminated inductor having a reduced thickness without reduction in the magnetic characteristic and the insulation quality. The laminated inductor includes a first magnetic layer, an internal conductor, second magnetic layers, third magnetic layers, and a pair of external electrodes. The first magnetic layer includes three or more magnetic alloy particles arranged in the thickness direction and an oxide film binding the magnetic alloy particles together and containing Cr. The three or more magnetic alloy particles have an average particle diameter of 4 μm or smaller. The internal conductor includes a plurality of conductive patterned portions electrically connected to each other via the first magnetic layer. The second magnetic layers are composed of magnetic alloy particles and disposed around the conductive patterned portions. The third magnetic layers are composed of magnetic alloy particles and disposed so as to be opposed to each other in thickness direction. |
| US10217556B2 |
Fault-tolerant power transformer design and method of fabrication
A transformer system for containing energy resulting from a sudden generation of gases which increases the pressure inside a transformer tank. The system comprises a) a transformer tank for housing a transformer coil and core assembly therein, and containing a dielectric fluid that is capable of electrically insulating components of the transformer coil and core assembly; and b) at least one heat exchanger connected to the transformer tank, wherein the at least one heat exchanger comprises at least one hollow panel or radiator. As the dielectric fluid increases in temperature and expands within the tank, the dielectric fluid is cooled by circulating the dielectric fluid through the at least one hollow panel or radiator in the at least one heat exchanger. The transformer tank and the at least one heat exchanger are capable of expanding in volume to contain energy resulting from the sudden generation of gases which increases the pressure inside the transformer tank. |
| US10217555B2 |
Compact inductor
For reducing volume requirements and magnetic flux leakage, a compact inductor includes a first planar core with a first core thickness along a first axis orthogonal to a plane of the first planar core. In addition, the inductor includes a second planar core disposed parallel to the first planar core with a second core thickness along the first axis. The inductor further includes a plurality of electrical windings disposed between and adjacent to an inside plane of the first planar core and an inside plane of the second planar core. The electrical windings may include insulated electrical wires. No magnetic teeth may be disposed between the first planar core and the second planar core. The first axis is parallel to a magnetic axis of each electrical winding. |
| US10217551B2 |
Magnetic sheet, method of making the same, and loud speaker including the same
A magnetic sheet having a magnetic material particle comprising a hexaferrite and a nanofiber matrix made of two or more nanofibers, wherein the magnetic material particle is dispersed in the nanofiber matrix. A manufacturing method thereof and a speaker including the magnetic sheet are also provided. |
| US10217548B2 |
Coaxial cable
A coaxial cable includes a conductor, an insulation layer provided around the conductor, a shield layer provided around the insulation layer, and a sheath provided around the shield layer. The insulation layer includes a first insulation layer, a second insulation layer and a third insulation layer that are arranged in this order from a conductor side. The first insulation layer includes a non-solid extruded layer. The second layer includes a foamed layer not adhering to the first insulation layer. The third insulation layer includes a non-foamed layer adhering to the second insulation layer. |
| US10217547B1 |
Power cable
A power cable to be provided inside a steel pipe that is electrically connected to a reference potential node, includes 3 transmission cables, 3 ground buses making contact with outer peripheral surfaces of adjacent transmission cables and arranged at 3-fold rotationally symmetrical positions with respect to a center of the transmission cables in a cross sectional view, a binder covering the ground buses and the transmission cables, and a jacket provided to overlap the binder. The transmission cables have outer diameters to inscribe a first circle having a radius corresponding to a radius of a second, envelope circle of the power cable having a maximum radius inside the steel pipe, but excluding thicknesses of the binder and the jacket. The ground buses have outer diameters to project outwardly of an envelope closed curve of the transmission cables, but less than or equal to a diameter of the first circle. |
| US10217545B2 |
Cable structure
A cable structure includes isolation layers, a first signal wire, a second signal wire, a first ground wire, a second ground wire, a first conductor, and a second conductor. These signal and ground wires are parallel along a first direction and between the isolation layers. These signal wires are adjacent, and the ground wires are respectively at outer sides of these signal wires. The first conductor is on at least one of the isolation layers along a second direction orthogonal to the first direction and is electrically connected to the first and second ground wires. The second conductor is on an outer surface of at least one of the second isolation layers along the first direction and is electrically connected to the first conductor. The second conductor is symmetrical based on a central line between the first and second signal wires. |
| US10217544B2 |
Energy cable having a cold-strippable semiconductive layer
Energy cable comprising, from the interior to the exterior, an electrical conductor, an inner semiconductive layer, an electrically insulating layer made from a thermoplastic material in admixture with a dielectric fluid, and an outer semiconductive layer, wherein the outer semiconductive layer comprises: (i) from 55 wt % to 90 wt % of a copolymer of ethylene with at least one ester comonomer having an ethylenic unsaturation; (ii) from 10 wt % to 45 wt % of a propylene copolymer with at least one olefin comonomer selected from ethylene and an α-olefin other than propylene, said copolymer having a melting point of from 145° C. to 170° C. and a melting enthalpy of from 40 J/g to 80 J/g; (iii) at least one conductive filler; (iv) at least one dielectric fluid; the amounts of (i) and (ii) being expressed with respect to the total weight of the polymeric components of the layer. The outer semiconductive layer is cold-strippable, having an adhesion with the underlying thermoplastic insulating layer which can be tuned so as to obtain a suitable balance between strippability at a temperature ranging from about 0° C. to about 40° C., without applying heat, and stable adhesion with the insulating layer during the cable lifespan. |
| US10217542B2 |
Conductive member
A conductive member disclosed herein is a conductive member that is routed from the front to the rear of a vehicle, and includes: a shape-retaining tubular pipe member made of a metal having excellent conductivity; a braided wire having flexibility and configured to be crimped to be connected to a crimped connection portion provided at front and rear ends of the pipe member; a round terminal configured to be crimped and connected to the braided wire; and a heat-shrinkable tube that covers from a crimped portion of the round terminal at the front end to a crimped portion of the round terminal at the rear end. |
| US10217541B2 |
Amorphous polycarbonate films for capacitors, methods of manufacture, and articles manufactured therefrom
A film comprising a copolycarbonate, wherein the film is a uniaxially-stretched, extruded film comprising at least one film region having: an average thickness of more than 0 and less than 14 micrometers with a standard deviation of 0.8 micrometer to 1.6 micrometers, a surface having a surface roughness average of less than 0.04 micrometer as measured by optical profilometry, a dielectric constant at 1 kHz and room temperature of at least 2.7, a dissipation factor at 1 kHz and room temperature of 1% or less, and a breakdown strength of at least 620 Volt/micrometer; and the copolycarbonate has a Tg of greater than 180° C. and comprises carbonate units derived from a bisphenol compound of the formula (3). |
| US10217540B2 |
Multifunctional nanoparticles
Multifunctional nanoparticles can include two or more different populations of nanocrystals that impart a combination of properties arising from the constituent populations in a single, multifunctional nanoparticle. |
| US10217538B2 |
Creation of isotopes using laser beams
A method for creating isotopes using laser beams, including the steps: 1) placing a target under plasma conditions, 2) bombarding the target under plasma conditions with particles generated using a bundle of laser beams, the bundle of laser beams being synchronized with the development of the plasma conditions, the fuel and the particles being selected in such a way that the interaction between the target under plasma conditions and the particles generates nuclear reactions, and 3) recovering the isotopes generated by the nuclear reactions. |
| US10217537B2 |
Container for radioactive waste
A container system for radioactive waste and method for using the same is provided. The system includes a canister configured for holding radioactive waste and a lid system. In one embodiment, the lid system comprises a two-part lid assembly including a confinement lid and a shielded lifting lid. The confinement lid is detachably mounted to the confinement lid. In use, the lifting lid supports the confinement lid for lifting and placement on the canister. The lifting lid further shields operators while the confinement lid is mounted to the canister. Thereafter, the lifting lid is removed and may be reused for confinement lid mountings on other canisters. In one embodiment, the confinement lid is bolted to the canister. The canister may be disposed in a protective overpack for transport and storage. |
| US10217533B2 |
Fuel rod cladding and methods for making and using same
In general, the present invention is directed to novel nuclear fuel rod claddings that have better performance characteristics compared to current claddings, particularly during a severe accident, such as a loss of coolant accident. The present invention provides a duplex cladding having two layers, an inner Mo or Mo-alloy layer and a protective layer disposed on the outside of the Mo or Mo-alloy layer. Optionally, the Mo or Mo-alloy layer may have a coating disposed on its inner surface to provide additional capability with the fuel pellets, thereby creating a triplex cladding. |
| US10217529B2 |
Patient bed inventory hardware and software system and method
A resource tracking system for monitoring the status of multiple resources, displaying the status of those resources to medical personnel, and mirroring the status information to multiple displays for remote users is disclosed. In the preferred embodiment, the tracking system is used to track the availability of beds in a hospital or treatment facility. The resource tracking system comprises a resource tracking board and a server. The board comprises a re-writable surface with a plurality of buttons and lights arrayed in one or more columns; and, a network interface operably coupled to the plurality of buttons and plurality of lights. The lights are configured to emit at least three colors including green when the associated resource is available, yellow when the resource is reserved, and red when the resource is in use. The server is configured to generate interactive displays enabling remote users to observe and reserve available resources. The interactive display features a representation of at least one of the plurality of buttons and lights on the physical board. The server causes any change in status of a resource on the physical board in the hospital or treatment facility to be reflected on the interactive displays. The server also causes any change in status of a resource on an interactive display to be reflected on the physical board in the hospital or treatment facility. |
| US10217527B2 |
Systems and methods for integrating, unifying and displaying patient data across healthcare continua
Implementations are directed to providing a user of a mobile device access to patient information and patient physiological data. Actions can include receiving user input, the user input indicating a user command to display a monitoring screen for a particular patient, processing patient-specific data and event data to provide one or more event summaries, each event summary including a graphical representation of an event based on the patient-specific data, and displaying the monitoring screen on the mobile device, the monitoring screen including the one or more event summaries, each event summary including at least a portion of patient-specific data displayed as a waveform associated with an event. |
| US10217521B2 |
Multi-time programmable non-volatile memory cell
A non-volatile programmable bitcell has a read enable device with a source coupled with a bitline, an anti-fuse device with a gate coupled with a first write line, a drain coupled with a supply voltage and a source coupled with a drain of the read enable device. The bitcell has a fuse device coupled between a second write line and the drain of the read enable device. A magnitude of current flowing in the bitline, when the read enable device is enabled for reading, is dependent both on (1) a voltage level applied to the first write line and anti-fuse device state and on (2) a voltage level applied to the second write line and fuse device state. Usages include in a memory array, such as for FPGA configuration memory. The bitcell can be used as a multi-time programmable element, or to store multiple bit values. |
| US10217518B1 |
Reducing hot electron injection type of read disturb in 3D memory device having connected source-end select gates
A memory device and associated techniques for reducing read disturb of memory cells during a sensing process. The drain-end select gate transistors of unselected sub-blocks are made temporarily conductive for a time period during the ramp up of the unselected word line voltages to reduce the amount of capacitive coupling up of the respective memory string channel. This reduces a channel gradient which can exist in the memory string channels, thereby also reducing the read disturb. Further, the time period is greater when the selected word line is in a source-end or midrange subset of the word lines than when the selected word line is in a drain-end subset of the word lines. Another option involves omitting the injection disturb countermeasure, or providing a less severe injection disturb countermeasure, when the unselected sub-blocks are unprogrammed. |
| US10217515B2 |
Programming memory devices
Technology for a memory device operable to program memory cells in the memory device is described. The memory device can include a plurality of memory cells and a memory controller. The memory controller can perform a first programming pass to program a memory cell in the plurality of memory cells. A defined number of blanket programming pulses can be applied to the memory cell during the first programming pass. The blanket programming pulses may not include verify operations. The memory controller can perform a second programming pass to program the memory cell. A defined number of program and verify (PV) pulses can be applied to the memory cell during the second programming pass. |
| US10217514B2 |
Semiconductor memory device
According to embodiments, a semiconductor memory device includes a first electrode, a second electrode, a memory cell, and a control circuit. The memory cell is provided between the first electrode and the second electrode and includes a metal film and a resistance change film. The control circuit applies a voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode to perform transition of a resistive state of the memory cell. The control circuit performs a first writing operation by applying a first pulse having a voltage of a first polarity to the memory cell and applying a second pulse having a voltage of the first polarity smaller than the voltage of the first pulse to the memory cell continuously after applying the first pulse. |
| US10217513B2 |
Phase change memory devices including two-dimensional material and methods of operating the same
A phase change memory device may include a phase change layer that includes a two-dimensional (2D) material. The phase change layer may include a layered structure that includes one or more layers of 2D material. The phase change layer may be provided between a first electrode and a second electrode, and the phase of at least a portion of one or more of the layers of 2D material may be changed based on an electrical signal applied to the phase change layer through the first electrode and the second electrode. The 2D material may include a chalcogenide-based material or phosphorene. The 2D material may be associated with a phase change temperature that is greater than or equal to about 200° C. and lower than or equal to about 500° C. |
| US10217503B2 |
Reading circuit of a long time constant circuit stage and corresponding reading method
A reading circuit for a charge-retention circuit stage is provided with a storage capacitor coupled between a first biasing terminal and a floating node, and a discharge element coupled between the floating node and a reference terminal. The reading circuit further has an operational amplifier having a first input terminal that is coupled to the floating node and receives a reading voltage, a second input terminal receives a reference voltage, and an output terminal on which it supplies an output voltage, the value of which is a function of the comparison between the reading voltage and the reference voltage and indicative of a residual charge in the storage capacitor. A shifting stage shifts the value of the reading voltage of the floating node, before the comparison is made between the reading voltage and the reference voltage for supplying the output voltage. |
| US10217499B2 |
Modified decode for corner turn
Examples of the present disclosure provide apparatuses and methods for performing a corner turn using a modified decode. An example apparatus can comprise an array of memory cell and decode circuitry coupled to the array and including logic configured to modify an address corresponding to at least one data element in association with performing a corner turn operation on the at least one data element. The logic can be configured to modify the address corresponding to the at least one data element on a per column select basis. |
| US10217498B2 |
Techniques for preventing tampering with PROM settings
Techniques for preventing tampering with programmable read-only memory of an integrated circuit are provided. A method according to these techniques includes performing a randomized read of data stored in the programmable read-only memory based on an input from an entropy source, writing the data to one or more registers of the integrated circuit, and initializing one or more components of the integrated circuit using the data stored in the one or more registers. |
| US10217497B2 |
Delay locked loop circuit and method of controlling same
A memory device includes a delay locked loop (DLL) circuit to receive an external clock, and delay the external clock by a DLL delay time to provide a DLL clock, an output driver to output the DLL clock as a data strobe signal, and a DLL offset control circuit configured to receive at least one of a plurality of functional statement commands, and adjust the DLL delay time based on the at least one of the functional statement commands. Each one of the DLL circuit and the output driver is selectively powered according to the at least one of the functional statement commands. |
| US10217493B2 |
DRAM data path sharing via a split local data bus
Provided is memory device and a memory bank, comprising a global data bus, and a local data bus split into two parts, wherein the local data bus is configurable to direct signals to the global data bus. Provided also is a method in which signals are received in a local data bus that is split into two parts, and the signals are directed from the local data bus to the global data bus. Provided also is a computational device comprised of a processor and the memory device. |
| US10217489B2 |
Systems and methods for media track management in a media editing tool
In a media editing device for reorganizing media content and editing the reorganized media content, a plurality of tracks is obtained, where each track comprises at least one component, each component comprising at least one segment, each segment comprising one of: image content, video content, audio content, and audio/video content. A first user input selecting a plurality of the tracks is received. A second user input selecting at least one reorganization technique to be applied to the selected tracks is also received. The selected reorganization technique is applied to the selected tracks, and the reorganized tracks are displayed. Editing operations are received for at least one of the reorganized tracks. |
| US10217478B2 |
Linear and rotational adjustment systems
Systems and methods may include a motor and an output shaft apparatus. The output shaft apparatus may be configured to position a manufacturing component using the motor. The output shaft apparatus may move linearly along a longitudinal axis and/or rotationally about the longitudinal axis. The system may also include an engagement apparatus coupling the motor to the output shaft apparatus. The engagement apparatus may be configured in a linear configuration for linearly moving the output shaft apparatus or a rotational configuration for rotationally moving the output shaft apparatus. |
| US10217477B2 |
Electronic device and speech recognition method thereof
An electronic device and a speech recognition method that is capable of adjusting an end-of-utterance detection period dynamically are disclosed. The electronic device includes a microphone, a display, an input device formed as a part of the display or connected to the electronic device as a separate device, a processor electrically connected to the microphone, the display, and the input device, and a memory electrically connected to the processor. The memory stores instructions, executable by the processor, for receiving an utterance input by a user through the microphone, converting the utterance to text comprised of a series of words or phrases with spaces, displaying the text on the display, the text comprising at least one space formed at an incorrect position, and receiving a user input for updating a predetermined time period through the input device. |
| US10217476B2 |
Companding system and method to reduce quantization noise using advanced spectral extension
Embodiments are directed to a companding method and system for reducing coding noise in an audio codec. A compression process reduces an original dynamic range of an initial audio signal through a compression process that divides the initial audio signal into a plurality of segments using a defined window shape, calculates a wideband gain in the frequency domain using a non-energy based average of frequency domain samples of the initial audio signal, and applies individual gain values to amplify segments of relatively low intensity and attenuate segments of relatively high intensity. The compressed audio signal is then expanded back to the substantially the original dynamic range that applies inverse gain values to amplify segments of relatively high intensity and attenuating segments of relatively low intensity. A QMF filterbank is used to analyze the initial audio signal to obtain a frequency domain representation. |
| US10217475B2 |
Headset and method for controlling same
A headset including a wireless communication unit configured to provide wireless communication; a first microphone mounted on the headset; and a second microphone to be placed within an ear of the user wearing the headset; a controller configured to receive a phone call via the wireless communication unit from an external device, select either one of the first microphone or the second microphone to receive a voice signal of the user responding to the received phone call, in response to the selection of the first microphone, receive the voice signal of the user through the first microphone, correct a sound quality of the voice signal received through the first microphone, and transmit the corrected voice signal to the external device, and in response to the selection of the second microphone, receive the voice signal of the user from the external auditory canal of the ear of the user having the second microphone placed therein, correct a sound quality of the voice signal received through the second microphone and transmit the corrected voice signal to the external device. |
| US10217474B2 |
System for maintaining reversible dynamic range control information associated with parametric audio coders
On the basis of a bitstream (P), an n-channel audio signal (X) is reconstructed by deriving an m-channel core signal (Y) and multichannel coding parameters (a) from the bitstream, where 1≤m |
| US10217466B2 |
Voice data compensation with machine learning
A method comprises: obtaining, at an apparatus, first voice data from a first user device associated with a first speaker participant in a communication session; detecting voice data loss or degradation in the first voice data; determining whether prediction probability of correctly compensating for the voice data loss or degradation is greater than a predetermined probability threshold; if the prediction probability is greater than the predetermined probability threshold, first compensating for the voice data loss or degradation using historical voice data received by the apparatus prior to receiving of the first voice data, the first compensating producing first compensated voice data; if the prediction probability is not greater than the predetermined probability threshold, second compensating for the voice data loss or degradation by inserting noise to the first voice data to produce second compensated voice data; and outputting the first compensated voice data or the second compensated voice data. |
| US10217465B2 |
Wearable device, system and method for name recollection
The invention concerns a wearable device 1 comprising a sensor 3 adapted for sensing a body part movement, a controller unit 4 adapted for sampling and processing data from the sensor 3 in order to detect a body part movement, and communication means 5 for communicating with at least one external device. The controller unit 4 is arranged to trigger at least voice capturing upon detection of a body part movement. The invention further concerns a name recalling system 100 comprising a wearable device 1, a mobile phone 20, a microphone 7, 28, 43, processing means 26, 31, a database 27, 32, and a name presentation unit 21, 52. The invention also concerns a method for name recollection. |
| US10217455B2 |
Linguistic model database for linguistic recognition, linguistic recognition device and linguistic recognition method, and linguistic recognition system
A method of building a database for a linguistic recognition device is provided The method includes storing common linguistic model data configured to infer a word or a sentence from a character acquired by recognizing a language input by a user in a storage section of a linguistic recognition device, collecting recognition-related information related to the user after storing the common linguistic data, and analyzing the collected recognition-related information to be stored as individual linguistic model data. |
| US10217454B2 |
Voice synthesizer, voice synthesis method, and computer program product
According to an embodiment, a voice synthesizer includes a content selection unit, a content generation unit, and a content registration unit. The content selection unit determines selected content among a plurality of pieces of content registered in a content storage unit. The content includes tagged text in which tag information for controlling voice synthesis is added to text serving as a target of the voice synthesis. The content generation unit applies the tag information in the tagged text included in the selected content to designated text to generate new content. The content registration unit registers the generated new content in the content storage unit. |
| US10217453B2 |
Virtual assistant configured by selection of wake-up phrase
A speech-enabled dialog system responds to a plurality of wake-up phrases. Based on which wake-up phrase is detected, the system's configuration is modified accordingly. Various configurable aspects of the system include selection and morphing of a text-to-speech voice; configuration of acoustic model, language model, vocabulary, and grammar; configuration of a graphic animation; configuration of virtual assistant personality parameters; invocation of a particular user profile; invocation of an authentication function; and configuration of an open sound. Configuration depends on a target market segment. Configuration also depends on the state of the dialog system, such as whether a previous utterance was an information query. |
| US10217452B2 |
Speech synthesis device and method
This invention is an improvement of technology for automatically generating response voice to voice uttered by a speaker (user), and is characterized by controlling a pitch of the response voice in accordance with a pitch of the speaker's utterance. A voice signal of the speaker's utterance (e.g., question) is received, and a pitch (e.g., highest pitch) of a representative portion of the utterance is detected. Voice data of a responsive to the utterance is acquired, and a pitch (e.g., average pitch) based on the acquired response voice data is acquired. A pitch shift amount for shifting the acquired pitch to a target pitch having a particular relationship to the pitch of the representative portion is determined. When response voice is to be synthesized on the basis of the response voice data, the pitch of the response voice to be synthesized is shifted in accordance with the pitch shift amount. |
| US10217448B2 |
System for creating, practicing and sharing of musical harmonies
Collaboratively creating musical harmonies includes receiving a user selection of a particular harmony. In response to this selection, there is displayed on a display screen of a computing device a plurality of musical note indicators or notes to specify a first harmony part of a musical piece to be performed. Real-time pitch detection is used to determine a pitch of each note which is voiced by a person, and a graphic indication of the actual pitch which is sung is displayed in conjunction with the musical note indicators. |
| US10217444B2 |
Method and system for fast cloning of virtual machines
A method for network cloud resource generation, including creating a template virtual machine. The method includes creating an instantiation of a virtual machine for an end user by cloning the template, and loading an application executed by the virtual machine. The method includes accessing first information associated with the end user, and loading the first information in an instantiation of the application. |
| US10217443B2 |
Method for displaying image and electronic device thereof
An electronic device and a method for displaying an image transmitted by a robot and remotely controlling a movement of the robot are provided. The electronic device includes a communicator, an inputter, a display, and a controller. The communicator receives, from the robot, an image photographed by the robot and time information. The inputter receives a command to control the robot. The display displays a screen corresponding to the image. The controller calculates a time delay between the electronic device and the robot based on the time information, control the display to display a graphical object to be overlaid on the screen, and control the communicator to transmit the command to the robot. The graphical object represents a field of view of the robot at a current time. The field of view of the robot at the current time may be estimated based on the time delay information. |
| US10217441B2 |
Method for displaying and electronic device thereof
One or more embodiments provide a method for processing and an electronic device. The display method of the electronic device can include the operations of, if a damage of a touchscreen sensing a gesture is sensed, confirming a region in which the damage of the touchscreen does not occur. The display method can also include changing the size of an output screen based on the region in which the damage of the touchscreen does not occur. The display method can also include outputting the size-changed output screen to the region in which the damage of the touchscreen does not occur. Other example embodiments are also possible. |
| US10217440B2 |
In-situ display monitoring and calibration system and methods
Disclosed are embodiments of in-situ display monitoring and calibration systems and methods. An image acquisition system captures images of the viewing plane of the display. Captured images may then be processed to characterize various visual performance characteristics of the display. When not in use capturing images of the display, the image acquisition system can be stored in a manner that protects it from environmental hazards such as dust, dirt, precipitation, direct sunlight, etc. A calibration image in which a plurality of light emitting elements is set to a particular color and intensity may be displayed, an image then captured, and then a difference between what was expected and what was captured may be developed for each light emitting element. Differences between captured images and expected images may be used to create a calibration data set which then may be used to adjust the display of further images upon the display. |
| US10217438B2 |
User interface and method for directly setting display white point
A method and user interface for direct setting of black and white points. Black point is set using a slider and matching of gray shades. White point setting is performed by having a setting object move within a defined region, such as a square or circle, with the area where the setting object moves being adjusted dynamically based on the location of the setting object with respect to the defined region. When the area is the desired white, the setting is complete. Preferably the defined region has a varying color border to allow a reference for the user in moving the setting object. A more detailed setting of gray levels can be accomplished by providing a gray scale with reference points. Each reference point has an associated white point setting area, so that settings are developed for each reference point. Settings at other locations are determined by interpolation or extrapolation. |
| US10217437B2 |
Method and apparatus of color conversion from red-green-blue color space to red-green-blue-white color space on input image
A method of color conversion from a red-green-blue (RGB) color space to a red-green-blue-white (RGBW) color space on an input image includes calculating RGB and white gains with respect to an image block of the input image, calculating RGB and white gain with respect to a pixel of the image block, wherein the white gain with respect to the pixel of the image block is adjusted based on the RGB gain with respect to the pixel of the image block, and performing the RGB to RGBW color conversion based on the RGB and white gain with respect to the pixel of the image block, which improves local color and detail performance of an output image corresponding to the input image. |
| US10217436B2 |
Display panel having a reduced number of data lines and a reduced number of channels for a driver
A display panel includes a plurality of pixels. Each pixel includes a plurality of different-color sub-pixels and a coupling sub-pixel that overlaps at least one color sub-pixel so as to be configured to be capacitively coupled to the at least one color sub-pixel to be thereby driven so as to display a color different from that of the different-color sub-pixels. |
| US10217430B1 |
GOA circuit and liquid crystal panel, display device
A GOA circuit is provided. The GOA circuit includes multiple cascaded GOA unit, each stage of the GOA unit is according to a N-staged GOA unit; the N-staged GOA unit comprises a pull-up control circuit, a pull-up circuit, a transmission circuit, a pull-down circuit, a pull-down holding circuit and a bootstrap capacitor; transmission the first reverse clock signal and the first clock signal of pull-down holding circuit have difference potential at each of the same clock, and the second reverse clock signal and the second clock signal of pull-down holding circuit have difference potential at each of the same clock. It could effective reverse correcting the problem of forward deflection of voltage threshold in the pull-down holding sub-circuit of single-stage GOA unit, such that enhances the reliability and stability of GOA circuit. |
| US10217429B1 |
GOA circuit
The invention provides a GOA circuit, the signal amplification circuit part of the N-th GOA unit of the GOA circuit comprising: first amplification circuit TFT (T1), having gate connected to DC high voltage (VGH), source and drain connected to first amplification circuit node (S(N)) and the DC high voltage (VGH); second amplification circuit TFT, having gate connected to N-th internal signal output end (G(N)_in), source and drain connected to first amplification circuit node (S(N)) and DC low voltage (VSS); third amplification circuit TFT (T3), having gate connected to DC high voltage (VGH), source and drain connected to N-th external signal output end (G(N)_out) and DC high voltage (VGH); fourth amplification circuit TFT (T4), having gate connected to first amplification circuit node (S(N)), source and drain connected to the N-th external signal output end (G(N)_out) and DC low voltage (VSS). The invention improves GOA gate output waveform and reduces power-consumption. |
| US10217428B2 |
Output control unit for shift register, shift register and driving method thereof, and gate driving device
An output control unit of a shift register, a shift register and a driving method thereof, and a gate driving device. The output control unit includes N pull-up units, N pull-down units, and N signal output terminals. The nth pull-up unit is connected with a pull-up node, a high voltage source, an nth clock signal input terminal and an nth pull-down unit, the nth pull-down unit is connected to a pull-down node and a low voltage power source, and a connection point of the nth pull-up unit and the nth pull-down unit is further connected to the nth signal output terminal. The output control unit is configured to: provide clock signals from N clock signal input terminals to the N signal output terminals respectively under the control of a voltage of the pull-up node, and pull down levels of output signals of the N signal output terminals. |
| US10217421B2 |
Display panel, display device and display control method
A display panel, a display device and a display control method are disclosed. The display panel comprises a backlight module and a display substrate, wherein the backlight module comprises a plurality of backlight sources having different colors, the display substrate comprises a plurality of pixels, and each of the pixels comprises a plurality of sub-pixels having different colors; sub-pixels of at least one color and backlight sources having the same color are configured to be turned-on during a same time period. |
| US10217420B2 |
Display apparatus and method of controlling luminance thereof
There is provided a display apparatus including a display panel including a plurality of pixels connected to a plurality of data lines and a plurality of gate lines, a driving circuit configured to control the display panel to display an image on the display panel, and to output a wake signal having a pulse period according to an operating mode, a backlight unit configured to supply light to the display panel, and a light source driving unit configured to supply a light source power voltage to the backlight unit, wherein the light source driving unit is configured to generate the light source power voltage based on the pulse period of the wake signal. |
| US10217418B2 |
Organic light emitting diode display device capable of maintaining high brightness and color temperature
An organic light emitting diode display device is disclosed which adjusts brightnesses and color temperatures of RGBW data signals and matches the brightnesses of organic light emitting diodes and the color temperature of a white organic light emitting diode with the target brightness value and the target color temperature of a white pixel. As such, an overcompensation and the reduction of a lifespan can be prevented. Also, relatively high brightness and color temperature can be maintained. |
| US10217415B2 |
Display device and driving method thereof
A display device includes a plurality of sub-pixels. The display device displays a specific image composed of display lines. A display line of the specific image is supplied to a portion of the sub-pixels through the data lines to form an arrangement of brightness and darkness with a period of Q×M, and a pixel is composed by Q sub-pixels. The plurality of sub-pixels corresponding to the display line have a polarity distribution with a second period of 2N, and 2N sub-pixels in one period are divided into a first region containing first to N-th sub-pixels and a second region containing (N+1)-th to 2N-th sub-pixels. The polarity distribution of the first to N-th sub-pixels is opposite to that of the (N+1)-th to 2N-th sub-pixels. The least common multiple of M and N is an odd multiple of N. |
| US10217414B2 |
Emission control driver and display device having the same
An emission control driver includes a plurality of stages configured to output a plurality of emission control signals, respectively. Each stage includes an input circuit for receiving a previous emission control signal from one of previous stages or a vertical start signal, and configured to control a voltage of a first node and a voltage of a second node in response to a first clock signal; a stabilizing circuit for stabilizing the voltage of the first node in response to the voltage of the second node and a second clock signal; a voltage adjusting circuit connected between the second node and a third node, configured for boosting the voltage of the second node, and controlling the boosted voltage of the second node; and an output circuit configured to control an emission control signal in response to the voltage of the first node and a voltage of the third node. |
| US10217412B2 |
OLED display device drive system and OLED display drive method
Provided are an OLED display device drive system and an OLED display device drive method. The OLED display device drive system introduces the common voltage signal (Vcm) in the threshold voltage detection circuit (2) into the sub pixel driving circuit (1), and in the writing stage, by applying the common voltage signal (Vcm) to the organic light emitting diode (D1), the organic light emitting diode is in the negative voltage and reverse biased, and then in the light emitting stage, the common voltage signal (Vcm) is removed from the organic light emitting diode (D1), and then the trans-voltage of the organic light emitting diode (D1) changes from the negative voltage to the positive voltage and the light is normally emitted. Thus, the organic light emitting diode (D1) has been through the positive and negative alternating current drive, and can delay the aging of the OLED and extend the OLED lifetime. |
| US10217411B2 |
Display driving circuit, driving method thereof and display apparatus
Disclosed are a display driving circuit and a driving method thereof, and a display apparatus. The display driving circuit comprises a control unit (13), a light emitting device (20) and a collection unit (21). The collection unit (21) is connected with one terminal of the light emitting device (20), the control unit (13) and a collection signal input terminal (Fn) respectively, and is configured to collect brightness of the light emitting device (20) according to a signal input from the collection signal input terminal (Fn) and feed a collection result to the control unit (13); the control unit (13) is connected with the one terminal of the light emitting device (20) and the collection unit (21) respectively, and is configured to adjust an actual light emitting brightness value (L) of the light emitting device (20) to a target brightness value (D) according to the collection result; and the other terminal of the light emitting device (20) is connected with a first voltage (VSS), and is configured to emit light under the control of the control unit (13). The display driving circuit can bring uniformity of brightness in light emitted from respective pixel units. |
| US10217410B2 |
Light emission controller for display device, method of driving the same, and organic light-emitting display device including the same
A light emission controller includes: a plurality of stages, including: a first node (n1) controller charging a driving pulse of a gate-on voltage level to a set node (Q) by a reference clock pulse during an active period, a second node controller charging a pull-down voltage having the gate-on voltage level to a reset node during an inactive period, and an output unit controlled by voltage states of the Q and the reset node and outputting an active or inactive state output pulse, the n1 controller including: a first switching transistor supplying the driving pulse of the gate-on voltage level to n1 by the reference clock pulse during the active period, a second switching transistor supplying the driving pulse from n1 to the Q by a turn-on voltage, a first capacitor between the output unit and Q, and a second capacitor between the output unit and n1. |
| US10217406B2 |
Flexible display device and method for fabricating the same
A flexible display device includes a flexible substrate includes first and second portions that overlap each other, and a bending portion connecting the first portion with the second portion. A first display having a first organic light emitting diode is on the first portion, the first display configured to display an image in a first direction, and a second display having a second organic light emitting diode is on the second portion, the second display configured to display an image in a second direction. A gate driver is on the bending portion, and is configured to drive gate lines in each of the first and second displays. |
| US10217405B2 |
Electroluminescent display panel and electronic apparatus
An electroluminescent display panel has pixel circuits for an active matrix driving system. At least one of the pixel circuits has a thin-film transistor in which a portion of a pattern of a metal wiring material above a channel layer of the thin-film transistor is disposed to shield the channel region of the thin-film transistor. |
| US10217402B1 |
Driving circuitry for micro light emitting diode electronic displays
Methods and devices useful in compensating for VDD and VTH variations in a micro light-emitting diode (micro-LED) display are provided. By way of example, an LED driver includes a first transistor having a first source coupled to an upper voltage rail (VDD), a first gate, and a first drain. The LED driver includes a second transistor having a second source coupled to the first drain of the first transistor, a second gate, and a second drain coupled to the LED. The second transistor is configured to receive the drive current signal from the first transistor and supply the drive current signal to the LED. The LED driver includes compensation circuitry configured to adjust the drive current signal such that the drive current signal is independent of the upper voltage rail (VDD) and a threshold voltage (VTH) of the first transistor or the second transistor. |
| US10217398B2 |
Temperature sensing module for display device and related temperature sensing method and display device
A temperature sensing module for a display device includes a temperature sensing routing, configured on a panel of the display device; and a temperature sensing unit, able to sense a resistance of the temperature sensing routing and generate a temperature indicating information according to the resistance; wherein the temperature indicating information indicates an operating temperature of an active area of the panel and is utilized to adjust at least one driving signal that controls the active area to display images. |
| US10217397B2 |
Method of operating a display apparatus and a display apparatus performing the same
In a method of operating a display apparatus, during a first period in which image data is provided to a data driver, a clock embedded data signal having an output differential voltage (“VOD”) set to a first voltage value is applied to the data driver. The VOD of the clock embedded data signal relates to a voltage difference between a high level and a low level of the clock embedded data signal. During a second period in which the image data is not provided to the data driver, the VOD of the clock embedded data signal applied to the data driver is changed to a second voltage value smaller than the first voltage value. |
| US10217396B2 |
Display driver integrated circuit and display system including the same
A display driver integrated circuit (IC) and a display system including the same are provided. The display driver IC includes: a charge pump including a first node and a second node; a flying capacitor connected between the first node and the second node; a voltage regulator; a first switch connected between an output terminal of the voltage regulator and one of the first node and the second node; and a second switch connected between a ground and the other of the first node and the second node. |
| US10217391B2 |
Shift register unit, gate driving circuit and driving method thereof, and display apparatus
Disclosed is a shift register unit, a gate driving circuit and a driving method, as well as a display apparatus. The shift register unit has a working cycle including an input phase, an output phase, a reset phase and a maintaining phase. In the reset phase, a clock signal is transmitted to an output terminal to pull a voltage of the output terminal down to a reference voltage, and the pulled-down voltage of the output terminal is subsequently changed from the reference voltage to a gate-off voltage. In the maintaining phase, the voltage of the output terminal is maintained at the gate-off voltage. The reference voltage is smaller than the gate-off voltage. |
| US10217384B2 |
Linerless labels
Linerless labels are presented. A label includes a specific pattern or set of patterns of adhesive applied to one side of the label. The adhesive pattern(s) reduces contact between a cutter blade of a printer and the adhesive on the one side of the label. Moreover, the adhesive patterns reduce buildup of adhesive on the cutter blade and reduce buildup at specific locations on the cutter blade. That is, the adhesive patterns more evenly distribute adhesive buildup across the cutter blade. Consequently, the cutter blade can be used for a longer period of time before the cutter blade needs to be cleaned of the adhesive. |
| US10217383B2 |
Methods and apparatus for magnetically coupled hanger and placard for motor vehicles
Method and apparatus are disclosed for magnetically connecting a placard to a rearview mirror of a motor vehicle. The apparatus includes a magnetic hanger which connects to the stem of the rearview mirror. A magnetic placard adapter removably receives a hanging portion of a standard placard. The magnetic placard adapter is removably connectable to the magnetic hanger. The magnetic placard adapter is magnetically connected to the magnetic hanger. In other embodiments, the placard itself is formed with a magnetic portion to form a magnetic placard that magnetically couples to the magnetic hanger, directly without the need for the magnetic placard adapter. |
| US10217381B2 |
Secure multi-party device pairing using sensor data
Content is securely shared between communication devices in an ad-hoc manner by employing common sensing context to establish pairing between the communication devices. In one aspect, the communication devices are within a specified distance from each other and sense common signals from their environment over a specified time period. The common signals are analyzed to determine an initialization or session key, which is utilized to secure content transfer between the communication devices. Additionally or alternatively, the key is utilized to provide access to virtual (e.g., digital content) and/or physical (e.g., buildings) resources. |
| US10217378B2 |
Pre-license development tool
Methods, computer-readable media, software, and apparatuses provide a tool for use by drivers and/or coaches throughout the pre-license stage of obtaining a driver's license. A pre-license program may control a computing device to collect drive data while a driver is driving a vehicle. This drive data may be used to detect a drive event. Then, the computing device may present coaching information associated with the detected drive event. The coaching information may provide a passenger, such as a coach or parent, with real-time advice for instructing the driver how to improve his/her driving skills. Moreover, the drive data collected may be used to prepare reports providing feedback to the drivers and coaches. |
| US10217376B2 |
Nutritional value of food
A system, a method, and a computer program product for determining a nutritional value of a food item are disclosed. In response to a query from a user, a calorie value of a food item based on a number of calories contained in the food item is determined. Saturated and/or unsaturated fat values of the food item are determined based on a saturated fat value and/or an unsaturated fat value of the food item. A determination of whether at least one vitamin and/or mineral is contained in the food item is made and at least one vitamin and/or mineral value for the food item is generated. A determination is made of whether at least one controversial ingredient is contained in the food item, and at least one controversial ingredient value for the food item is generated. A nutritional value for the food item is generated. |
| US10217375B2 |
Virtual behavior training using augmented reality user devices
An augmented reality system that includes an augmented reality user device. The augmented reality user device includes display for overlaying virtual objects onto tangible objects in a real scene and a memory storing scenarios for a user. The augmented reality user device includes a processor implementing a virtual assessment engine and a virtual overlay engine. The virtual assessment engine identifies a user identifier for the user and executes a scenario for the user. The virtual assessment engine identifies actions performed by the user related to the scenario. The virtual assessment engine sends a token with the user identifier and user action information to a remote server and receives information for the user from the server. The virtual overlay engine presents the information as virtual objects overlaid with the real scene. |
| US10217374B2 |
Portable in-the-vehicle road simulator
The portable simulation system is a computer-based driving simulator, which uses an actual vehicle as an input device, and a portable display to present a Virtual Driving Environment (VDE) to the driver. Vehicle's steered wheels are placed atop of the turntables permitting free operation of the steering wheel. The vehicle remains immobile while its engine and power steering can be turned off during simulation. External non-invasive sensors can be placed under the gas and brake pedals, permitting any vehicle to be used in the simulator, including the driver's own vehicle. A digital interface to the vehicle's systems, like OBD II, can be used to increase the fidelity of the simulation. A portable computer used for driving simulation and VDE presentation provides a low cost simulation option. A simple configuration of the portable simulator does not require an external power source and can be set-up and operated at any parking space. |
| US10217371B1 |
Method and system for aircraft taxi strike alerting using adaptive field of view
Apparatus and associated methods relate to controlling, based on a mode selector, the field of view of an external object detector during aircraft taxi operations. For example, during high-speed taxi operations, the field of view can be controlled to have a relatively-small solid-angle of detection capability. The relatively-small solid-angle field of view can be aligned so as to detect more distant objects within a narrow corridor extending forward of the aircraft's wingtips. During low-speed taxi operations, for example, the field of view can be controlled to have a relatively-large solid-angle of detection capability. The relatively-large solid-angle field of view can be aligned so as to detect close objects in the vicinity of the aircraft wings and engine nacelle. The object detector projects structured light within the controlled field of view, thereby illuminating the object(s) external to the aircraft that are within the illumination field of view. |
| US10217367B2 |
Unmanned aerial vehicle and system having the same
The present disclosure provides a system including: a control center configured to monitor a movement of an unmanned aerial vehicle through a communication with the unmanned aerial vehicle; and the unmanned aerial vehicle configured to transmit and receive information regarding a movement through the communication with the control center, and configured to land on a vehicle moving in a route corresponding to a driving route of a plurality of driving routes of the unmanned aerial vehicle and move together with the vehicle. |
| US10217366B2 |
Autonomous resort sanitation
A waste management system and associated method are used to control routing of an autonomous waste receptacle in a facility. The autonomous waste receptacle includes a cavity for storing trash, a trash level sensor for sensing a level of trash stored therein, and a motor operative to move the waste receptacle. Position trackers sense positions of the autonomous waste receptacle and of patrons in the facility. Additionally, concession consumption concession consumption data indicative of sales performed by concessions in the facility are stored. A processing subsystem controls the waste receptacle to move autonomously in the facility along a route determined according to correlations between concession consumption data, trash levels monitored by the waste receptacle, and patron positions. |
| US10217357B1 |
Autonomous in-vehicle virtual traffic light system
An autonomous in-vehicle virtual traffic light system that mimics conventional traffic signal systems and neither depends on vehicle to vehicle communication nor vehicle to intersection or road sensors communication nor vehicle to wireless network communication. The system does not depend on external servers nor broadcast stations to forward traffic information to conventional vehicles or driverless vehicles. A virtual traffic controller placed on-board vehicles to provide traffic information including traffic light signals and images of road signs autonomously. |
| US10217354B1 |
Move over slow drivers cell phone technology
A cell phone method and system for logging and reporting on slow drivers in fast and middle lanes is disclosed. The system detects a slow vehicle in front and/or side of an automobile based on speed data from an GPS system, detects passing of the slow vehicle on the left side of the automobile using a camera and stores global position data of the automobile using a GPS system, and transmits the speed data, the images of the rear and/or side of the slow vehicle and the global position data that was taken and stored to the third party via the communications network, using the transmitter. |
| US10217351B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing method and program
There is provided an information processing apparatus including a matter extracting unit extracting a predetermined matter from text information, an action pattern specifying unit specifying one or multiple action patterns associated with the predetermined matter, an action extracting unit extracting each of the action patterns associated with the predetermined matter, from sensor information, and a state analyzing unit generating state information indicating a state related to the matter, based on each of the action patterns extracted from the sensor information, using a contribution level indicating a degree of contribution of each of the action patterns to the predetermined matter, for a combination of the predetermined matter and each of the action patterns associated with the predetermined matter. |
| US10217346B1 |
Presence detection with neural networks
In a disclosed method, a computing device receiver, from a wireless receiver (RX), first data indicative of channel properties of a first communication link between the wireless receiver (RX) in a first device and a wireless transmitter (TX) in a second device. The first device and the second device are located in a building. The computing device further executes a neural network to process the first data to distinguish humans from stationary objects within the building and detect presence of the human in the building. The computing device transmits result data indicative of the presence to at least one of the first device or the second device. |
| US10217345B1 |
Safety headwear status detection system
A safety headwear monitoring system is provided. The safety headwear monitoring system comprising: a sensor configured to detect a status parameter, wherein the status parameter indicates whether an object is located within a selected distance of the sensor; a transmission device in electronic communication with the sensor and configured to receive the status parameter from the sensor; and an application installed on a user device in wireless communication with the transmission device; wherein the transmission device is configured to transmit the status parameter to the application. |
| US10217341B2 |
Smoke detector shields and related methods
Smoke detector shields for blocking or minimizing the transmission of light therethrough and methods for use are provided. According to one embodiment, a method for shielding a smoked detector includes shielding at least a portion of a smoke detector operationally arranged within a room, and subsequently activating a light emission device arranged within the room, while shielding the smoke detector. In order to exclude light emission devices, which are commonly used within a room for lighting and/or communication purposes, the light emission device set forth in the method is configured for generating infrared light at a radiant intensity greater than approximately 1 W/sr, and/or ultraviolet light at a radiant intensity greater than approximately 1 W/sr, and/or visible light at a luminous flux greater than approximately 3000 lumens. Embodiments of smoke detector shields that prevent such light from penetrating the housing of a shielded smoke detector are provided herein. |
| US10217339B1 |
Proximity-based system for object tracking and automatic application initialization
A system and method provides for one or more of tracking of an object and providing automatic access to applications or data. Depending upon the embodiment, the system includes a personal digital key (PDK), a reader, a computing device and one or more of an auto login server and a tracking server. The PDK stores one or more profiles in memory. A reader is configured to wirelessly communicate with the PDK. The computing device is coupled to the reader and one or more of the auto login server and tracking server. The auto login server is configured to communicate with the reader and launches one or more applications associated with a user name identified by a profile received from the PDK. The tracking server is configured to communicate with the reader and to track and log information received from the PDK associated with the object. |
| US10217338B2 |
Display for hand-held electronics
The invention disclosed here is a display system for managing power and security for a plurality of hand-held electronic devices sold to consumers in a retail location. The display includes features that allow power to be supplied to individual devices and security sensors without continuous hard wiring or multi-conductor retractor cables. The display also allows for individual security alarms to be triggered when a theft occurs. Security alarm conditions are preferably triggered via wireless signals. |
| US10217337B1 |
Security device registration
A method of registering a security sensor device with a product device to be protected via the security sensor device includes obtaining sensor identification data for the security sensor device, the sensor identification data being indicative of the security sensor device, obtaining product identification data for the product device, the product identification data being indicative of the product device, and generating registration data for the security sensor device and the product device, the registration data associating the security sensor device and the product device. |
| US10217326B2 |
Processing of a user device game-playing transaction based on location
An exemplary method comprises receiving information associated with a game-playing transaction conducted between a user device and a game-playing terminal, wherein the game-playing transaction is associated with a request for playing a game; determining a location of the user device associated with the game; determining the user device is located in an approved location associated with the game; and processing the game-playing transaction based on determining the user device is located in the approved location associated with the game. The game-playing transaction is conducted on a first communication interface, and the information associated with the game-playing transaction is received on a first or second communication interface. |
| US10217325B2 |
Clearing bets
This disclosure provides a pari-mutuel wagering system that includes a first wagering facility communicably coupled with a network and operable to receive a bet on a wagering event hosted by a second wagering facility. The first wagering facility is further operable to transmit the bet to the second wagering facility via the network. The system further includes a clearinghouse communicably coupled with the network and operable to capture audit information associated with the bet from the network. |
| US10217324B2 |
Game live auction system and method of operation
A method for conducting a raffle comprising reading an item identifier from an identification tag affixed to an item at an equipment management system, prior to an event related to the item. The raffle notification data is then transmitted to users after the event has occurred. A plurality of raffle ticket purchase requests are then received from the plurality of devices and are processed. The raffle tickets are then delivered to the plurality of devices, such as in electronic form. One of the raffle tickets is then selected, and winning notification data is transmitted to the associated device. The winner can authenticate the winning item by reading the identification tag affixed to the item after the event at the equipment management system. |
| US10217323B2 |
Gaming machine, system, and method with multiple reel set control
A gaming machine includes a display system, player input system, and processor programmed or otherwise operable to perform a number of operations through the gaming machine hardware to provide a player-interactive feature. The gaming machine operates in a base game state in which a base set of symbol locations is populated with symbols responsive to a play initiation input from the player input system. The gaming machine is also controlled to activate a bonus input device while the gaming machine is in the base game state, and to place the gaming machine in a bonus state in response to a player actuation of the activated bonus input device. In response to a play initiation input while the gaming machine is in the bonus game state, two or more bonus game sets of symbol locations are populated with game symbols for that respective play initiation input. |
| US10217322B2 |
System for game play in an electronic environment
The inventions herein relate to novel games of chance and apparatus, systems and methods for their play. In certain embodiments, the existing lottery infrastructure is used in conjunction with electronic remote game play. A player receives a ticket identification number (TIN), optionally via lottery game play, and then plays an electronic game based upon the TIN. The remote system contains information associated with the TIN, for example, identification of which game will be played, and in a predetermined context, whether the player is to win or lose, and if they win, the form of the prize. |
| US10217312B1 |
Automatic region of interest detection for casino tables
A method, system, and computer readable storage for identifying regions of interest on a casino gaming table. Regions of interest are locations on an image where relevant actions are typically going to occur. For example, locations of betting area region of interest and card area regions of interest are determined so that these areas can be analyzed on a video camera. The analyzed areas can then be used for things such as determining and tracking player betting amounts, determining if the game is being dealt properly (by analyzing the cards dealt to determine if the proper cards are dealt and/or the proper payouts are made). |
| US10217310B2 |
Vending machine
A vending machine includes a rotary dispensing mechanism and a rotary arm mechanism. A control circuit inside the vending machine drives a rotary base of the rotary dispensing mechanism by a stepper motor device, so that an accommodating space of the rotary base is rotated to above an outlet of a fixed frame to discharge a vending item. At this point, a stepper motor device of the rotary arm mechanism is actuated by the control circuit inside the vending machine, and drives a rotary arm to hook out and convey the vending item discharged by the rotary dispensing mechanism. Meanwhile, a transition module at one side of the rotary arm mechanism covers a gap between an adjacent mechanism and a drawing plate, so that the item hooked out can be conveyed stably onto the drawing plate. |
| US10217305B1 |
Home monitoring system triggered rules
In some implementations, a system can trigger an action to be performed at a property based on satisfaction of criteria related to location information and a connection status of a mobile computing device. Location information of the mobile computing device relative of a pre-defined geographic region including at least a portion of the property is initially obtained. A connection status of the mobile computing device for a short range wireless connection with a communication-enabled device within the property is then obtained. Criteria for an action at the property is then determined to be satisfied by the location information and the connection status of the mobile computing device. The action is finally triggered to be performed at the property in response to determining that criteria for the action is satisfied. |
| US10217303B1 |
System and method for delivery of goods with automatic access code expiration
A method and system for delivering goods to recipients is disclosed. The method and system include a remote input receptor which includes a user interface for receiving one or more user inputs from a user. A cloud-based network stores one or more acceptable inputs and comprising a network device for obtaining said one or more user inputs from the remote input receptor. The network device obtains the one or more user inputs from the remote input receptor while the user is using the user interface. Also, the cloud-based network compares the one or more user inputs to the one or more acceptable inputs, with the acceptable inputs at least partially derived from dynamically changing environmental parameters. A remote device is controlled based on the comparison of the one or more user inputs to the one or more acceptable inputs and generating an access code to enable access to an enclosure, with the user inputs comprising the access code. The delivery status for the of goods intended for deposit in the enclosure is monitored. Finally, the access code is automatically caused to expire in response to detecting fulfillment of the delivery. |
| US10217302B2 |
Secure delivery via unmanned vehicles
Systems and methods are provided for on-demand delivery of a payload by an unmanned vehicle. An unmanned vehicle may comprise a chamber configured to house a payload and adjust a payload state. The payload state may be adjusted based on detection of a tampering event. An unmanned vehicle may also comprise an authentication system configured to allow access to the payload. |
| US10217301B2 |
Automated entry
Automated entry to a property includes providing an application interface of an application running on a computing system to a property manager for a property. Visitor requests to enter the property are received. Automated entry information is provided to visitors that allows the visitors to enter the property during specific times. |
| US10217297B2 |
Control module activation to monitor vehicles in a key-off state
Method and apparatus are disclosed for control module activation to monitor vehicles in a key-off state. An example system includes a vehicle at a location in a key-off state that includes a sensor for collecting damage detection data, a camera module including a camera for collecting damage identification data, and a communication module. The example system also includes a remote processor to receive the damage detection data from the communication module and detect damage to the vehicle based upon the damage detection data. The remote processor also is to send, responsive to detecting the damage, an activation signal to activate the camera. |
| US10217296B2 |
Toll payment collection using no-contract toll tags
Implementations include actions of receiving a first tag identifier based on a first vehicle using the toll road facility, and determining that the first tag identifier is provided in a registration database as indicating a no-contract tag, the registration database associating no-contract tags to respective device identifiers, and in response: determining a first device identifier associated with the first tag identifier from the first database, transmitting a first message to a first device associated with the first device identifier, the first message comprising a request for approval to collect a first toll fee, and receiving a second message from the first device, the second message indicating approval of the first toll fee, and in response initiating payment of the first toll fee from one of a prepaid account associated with the first tag identifier or a first service provider, the first service provider providing data transfer services for the first device. |
| US10217295B2 |
Selective display in a computer generated environment
To better explore a virtual 3d computer generated environment comprised of objects which may be voxels, polygons or any other construct are selectively not displayed so as to better reveal underlying objects. The objects are each associated with a metadata value which contributes to determining their visibility such as a density or opacity value. The manner of selection is somewhat analogous to the projection of a beam of light towards the objects from a virtual projector, where a display threshold is determined for each object within the field of view of said virtual projector on the basis of a display function having an inverse relation to distance from the virtual projector and further varying as a function of the angle defined by the orientation of the virtual projector and a line drawn from said virtual projector to each said object respectively. On this basis, objects having a smaller angular separation from the axis of the virtual projector, and closer to the projector, will be preferentially excluded from display. |
| US10217293B2 |
Depth camera-based human-body model acquisition method and network virtual fitting system
The present invention relates to a human body model acquisition method and a virtual network fitting system based on depth cameras. The method includes the following steps: step S1: generating mark points covering a model body surface and used for determining features of the model body surface on the model body surface, meanwhile collecting depth images of the model body from a plurality of angles by using the depth cameras to acquire a depth image sequence that covers the model body surface and contains the mark points; step S2: carrying target depth information point cloud grid reconstruction on frames of depth images in the depth image sequence; and step S3: mosaicing the reconstructed frames of depth images into a three-dimensional model of the model body according to the mark points in the reconstructed frames of depth images. Compared with the prior art, by adopting the human body model acquisition method and the virtual network fitting system based on the depth cameras provided by the present invention, the accurate three-dimensional human body model and the accurate three-dimensional garment model can be acquired, and virtual fitting is carried out accordingly to acquire a real fitting effect. |
| US10217292B2 |
3D scene reconstruction using shared semantic knowledge
According to various embodiments, devices, methods, and computer-readable media for reconstructing a 3D scene are described. A server device, sensor devices, and client devices may interoperate to reconstruct a 3D scene sensed by the sensor devices. The server device may generate one or more models for objects in the scene, including the identification of dynamic and/or static objects. The sensor devices may, provide model data updates based on these generated models, such that only delta changes in the scene may be provided, in addition to raw sensor data. Models may utilize semantic knowledge, such as knowledge of the venue or identity of one or more persons in the scene, to further facilitate model generation and updating. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed. |
| US10217291B2 |
Designing a modeled volume represented by dexels
It is provided a computer-implemented method for designing a modeled volume. The method comprises providing a set of dexels that represents the modeled volume, each dexel comprising a set of at least one segment representing the intersection between a line and the modeled volume, wherein the set of dexels is partitioned into groups of neighboring dexels, and wherein a memory space depending on the maximum number of segments comprised in each of the dexels of the group is allocated to each group; providing a sculpting operation on the modeled volume; and updating the set of dexels in response to the sculpting operation. Such a method improves the design of a modeled volume represented by a set of dexels. |
| US10217290B2 |
Registration between actual mobile device position and environmental model
A user interface enables a user to calibrate the position of a three dimensional model with a real-world environment represented by that model. Using a device's sensor, the device's location and orientation is determined. A video image of the device's environment is displayed on the device's display. The device overlays a representation of an object from a virtual reality model on the video image. The position of the overlaid representation is determined based on the device's location and orientation. In response to user input, the device adjusts a position of the overlaid representation relative to the video image. |
| US10217285B2 |
HUD object design and method
The invention features a rectangular 3-D modeling grid called a display environment that may be mapped to one or more sensor(s) to provide a heads up display device the ability to generate and view an Augmented Reality first; person view of custom 3-D objects. Location sensors create the positioning and perimeter of the display environment. The Display Environment may be navigated by the combination of the display device's physical movement sensed by motion sensors and the display device's physical location based on its proximity to synchronized location sensors. Sensors on the display device recognize when the device is moving with respect to the Display Environment to initiate re-rendering of its 3-D model being displayed. Movement of the display device enable first person 3-D model illustrative and perspective views which may also be used to design 3-D models with customizable scale, orientation, positioning physics, and artificial intelligence. |
| US10217284B2 |
Augmented virtuality
Techniques for providing a user with an augmented virtuality (AV) experience are described herein. An example of a method of providing an AV experience includes determining a location of a mobile device, determining a context based on the location, obtaining AV object information, displaying the AV object information in relation to the context, detecting an interaction with the context, modifying the AV object information based on the interaction, and displaying the modified AV object information. The context may include weighting information. The weighting information may be based on Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) or Round-Trip Time (RTT) data. The weighting information may be associated with a composition of a physical object in the context. A user gesture may be received, and the AV object information may be modified based on the received gesture information. |
| US10217280B2 |
Identifying primitives in input index system
Techniques for removing reset indices from, and identifying primitives in, an index stream that defines a set of primitives to be rendered, are disclosed. The index stream may be specified by an application program executing on the central processing unit. The technique involves classifying the primitive topology for the index stream as either requiring an offset-based technique or requiring a non-offset-based technique. This classification is done by determining whether, according to the primitive topology, each subsequent index can form a primitive with prior indices (e.g., line strip, triangle strip). If each subsequent index can form a primitive with prior indices, then the technique used is the non-offset-based technique. If each subsequent index does not form a primitive with prior indices, but instead at least two indices are required to form a new primitive (e.g., line list, triangle list), then the technique used is the offset-based technique. |
| US10217272B2 |
Zero-coverage rasterization culling
In accordance with some embodiments, a zero coverage test may determine whether a primitive such as a triangle lies on lanes between rows or columns or lines of samples. If so, the primitive can be culled in a zero coverage culling test. |
| US10217269B1 |
Compressive sensing of light transport matrix
A computer-implemented method for performing compressive sensing of light transport matrix includes receiving a 3D dataset comprising image volume data and randomly selecting a plurality of points on a space curve traversing the 3D dataset. A light transport matrix comprising a plurality of light transmittance values is calculated. Each light transmittance value corresponds to light transmittance between a pair of points included in the plurality of points. An optimization problem is solved to determine a plurality of sparse coefficients which reproduce the light transport matrix when the sparse coefficients are multiplied by a predetermined dictionary of basis vectors. Once determined, the sparse coefficients are stored on a computer-readable medium. |
| US10217268B2 |
System for fast intersection of secondary rays with geometric objects in ray tracing
The present disclosure describes a fast intersection between secondary rays and geometric objects for a global illumination ray tracing. The Acceleration Structures of prior art are replaced by a new and novel device—a Dynamically Aligned Structure (DAS), a means for carrying out the intersection between secondary rays and scene geometry in large groups of rays, gaining high speed and lowering computational complexity. Its reduced power consumption is suitable to consumer level computing devices. |
| US10217267B2 |
Systems and methods for 3-D scene acceleration structure creation and updating
Systems and methods for producing an acceleration structure provide for subdividing a 3-D scene into a plurality of volumetric portions, which have different sizes, each being addressable using a multipart address indicating a location and a relative size of each volumetric portion. A stream of primitives is processed by characterizing each according to one or more criteria, selecting a relative size of volumetric portions for use in bounding the primitive, and finding a set of volumetric portions of that relative size which bound the primitive. A primitive ID is stored in each location of a cache associated with each volumetric portion of the set of volumetric portions. A cache location is selected for eviction, responsive to each cache eviction decision made during the processing. An element of an acceleration structure according to the contents of the evicted cache location is generated, responsive to the evicted cache location. |
| US10217255B2 |
Automatic creation of axis break enhancing chart visualization
Embodiments automatically create an axis break in a bar chart or waterfall chart to promote data visualization. For a bar chart with positive bars, a maximum axis break point is determined relative to a lowest datapoint (D1) in the selected bar(s). A minimum axis break point is found from a value (D2) outside selection which is between D1 and zero, and which is closest to D1. The inclusion of padding on either side of a break prevents the break from lying at zero or a bar end. A different procedure creates axis breaks in a waterfall chart. Certain embodiments store only bar selection metadata with a chart. The location of the axis break then is recalculated each time the chart is rendered (e.g., with updated data). Embodiments may retain axis break data for reference in various stages of a user interaction (e.g., filtering/expanding, drilling-down/up, etc.) with a rendered chart. |
| US10217252B1 |
See-through sensing for image reconstruction of structure of target object
A scanner includes an emitter configured to emit a wave in a direction of propagation to penetrate layers of a structure of a target object and a receiver configured to measure intensities of the wave reflected by the layers of the target object. The scanner also includes a hardware processor configured to partition the intensities of the reflected wave into a set of segments, such that each segment is the reflection from a corresponding layer of the target object, defining a multi-layered structure of the target object; and reconstruct images of the layers of the target object from corresponding segments using a joint-layer hierarchical image recovery that prevents an increase in sparsity of the layers of the target object in the direction of propagation of the wave. An output interface is configured to render the reconstructed images of layers of the target object. |
| US10217251B2 |
Method for image reconstruction
A method for image reconstruction is disclosed, based upon a first plurality of spectral raw data sets. The method includes forming a second plurality of virtual raw data sets; reconstructing an auxiliary image data set on the basis of a virtual raw data set. A first material is selected from a material group which comprises a plurality of materials. Material-specific maps are generated for a number of second materials of the material group. A determination of material line integrals take place, for the second materials with forward projection of the respective material-specific map. Subsequently, synthetic projection data sets are determined for each material. Finally, a reconstruction of at least one image data set takes place on the basis of the synthetic projection data sets for a number of materials of the material group. An image reconstruction device and a computed tomography system are also disclosed. |
| US10217250B2 |
Multi-view tomographic reconstruction
Projection data are acquired for a portion of the body of a patient at multiple views using one or more detectors, the projection data including multiple two dimensional (2D) projections. A 3D image is initialized. For each view among the plurality of views, the 3D image is transformed using a view transformation corresponding to said view to generate an initial transformed image corresponding to said view, and multiple iterations of an MLEM process are performed based on at least the initial transformed image and the projection data. The MLEM process is initialized with the initial transformed image. The 3D image is updated based on an output of the MLEM process. |
| US10217248B2 |
Method for removing streak from detector cell with performance difference
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method for removing streaks from detector cells with performance difference, specifically a method for removing streaks from detector cells with performance difference and streaks caused by other reasons. The method comprises: estimating a projection on a detector cell with performance difference for each of one or more views; reconstructing one or more initial images with the estimated projection on the detector cell with performance difference for each view; estimating a projection error on the detector cell with performance difference for each view from the reconstructed one or more initial images having streaks; and reconstructing one or more output images with the estimated projection error on the detector cell with performance difference for each view to remove the streaks from the reconstructed one or more output images, improving quality of CT reconstructed images. |
| US10217246B2 |
X-ray computed tomography apparatus and control method
An X-ray computed tomography (CT) apparatus includes a detector, and processing circuitry. The detector is configured to output, at each incidence of an X-ray photon, a signal enabling measurement of an energy value of the X-ray photon. Processing circuitry is configured to estimate an energy range to be used for imaging based on an imaging condition and to reconstruct X-ray CT image data using counting information to which an energy value within the energy range is associated among pieces of counting information that are collected from individual signals output by the detector at each incidence of an X-ray photon that has been irradiated from an X-ray tube and has passed through a subject, and in which a counting value and an energy value of X-ray photons incident to the detector are associated with each other. |
| US10217242B1 |
System for visualization of a building material
A system for visualization of a building material on a building, the system adapted to provide a rendered image having a ΔE, as measured according to a Color Test, of less than 10, less than 8, less than 6, less than 5, less than 4, less than 3, less than 2, or even less than 1. |
| US10217241B2 |
System and method for compressing graphs via cliques
Embodiments of the present invention provide a system for fast parallel graph compression based on identifying a set of large cliques, which is used to encode the graph. The system provides both permanently-stored and in-memory graph encoding and reduces the space needed to represent and store a graph, the I/O traffic to use the graph, and the computation needed to perform algorithms involving the graph. The system thereby improves computing technology and graph computation. During operation, the system obtains data indicating vertices and edges of a graph. The system executes a clique-finding method to identify a maximum clique in the graph. The system then removes the clique from the graph, adds the clique to a set of found cliques, and generates a compressed representation of the graph based on the set of found cliques. |
| US10217240B2 |
Method and system to determine distance to an object in an image
A controller/application analyzes image data from a camera to determine the distance to an object in an image based on the size of the object in the image and based on a known focal length of a camera that captured the image and based on a known dimension of the actual object. The known dimension of the object may be retrieved from a database that is indexed according to outline shape, color, markings, contour, or other similar features or characteristics. The distance determined from analysis of the image and objects therein may be used to calibrate, or to verify the calibration of, complex distance determining systems that may include LIDAR. Object distance determinations in different image frames, whether to the same or different object, taken a known time apart may be used to determine speed of the camera that took the images, or speed of a vehicle associated with camera. |
| US10217237B1 |
Systems and methods for forming a desired bend angle in an orthodontic appliance
A method for forming a desired bend angle in an orthodontic appliance comprising: obtaining desired bend angle; determining initial bend angle to be applied in gripped state; causing forming of a bend with initial bend angle; monitoring bending; in response to initial bend angle in the appliance in the gripped state being reached, causing the release of at least a portion of the appliance so that appliance is in the free state, measuring resultant angle of the bend in free state; selectively executing: in response to resultant angle being within a predefined tolerance of the desired bend angle, determining that desired bend angle has been reached; and in response to the resultant angle being outside the predefined tolerance level of the desired bend angle, iteratively applying an adjusted bend angle to the appliance in the gripped state until the desired bend angle is achieved as determined in the free state. |
| US10217232B2 |
Systems and methods for locally aligning map data
System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to locally aligning features within a map. In one embodiment, a method includes segmenting map data that forms the map using a first grid to divide the map into a first set of tiles and a second grid to divide the map into a second set of tiles that are offset and overlap the first set of tiles. The method includes analyzing neighbor tiles in relation to a patch tile based, at least in part, on shared features between the patch tile and the neighbor tiles to identify external misalignments between one or more of the neighbor tiles and the patch tile. The neighbor tiles are from a different one of the first grid and the second grid. The method includes adjusting alignment of the neighbor tiles within the map according to the external misalignments for the neighbor tiles. |
| US10217231B2 |
Systems and methods for utilizing anchor graphs in mixed reality environments
Mixed-reality systems are provided for using anchor graphs within a mixed-reality environment. These systems utilize anchor vertexes that comprise at least one first key frame, a first mixed-reality element, and at least one first transform connecting the at least one first key frame to the first mixed-reality element. Anchor edges comprising transformations connect the anchor vertexes. |
| US10217227B2 |
Feature trackability ranking, systems and methods
Image feature trackability ranking systems and methods are disclosed. A method of establishing a trackability ranking order from tracked image features within a training video sequence at a tracking analysis device includes establishing a tracking region within the training video sequence using a feature detection algorithm. Trajectories of tracked image features within the tracking region are compiled using a feature tracking algorithm. Saliency metrics are assigned to each one of the trajectories of tracked image features based on one or more feature property measurements within the tracking region, and a trackability ranking algorithm that is a function of the saliency metrics and a defined feature trajectory ranking associated with the training video sequence is determined, the trackability ranking algorithm being usable for ranking, based on trackability, tracked image features within another video sequence. |
| US10217222B2 |
Image cache for replacing portions of images
Implementations relate to an image cache used for replacing portions of images. In some implementations, a method includes examining a received image and detecting a subject depicted in a subject portion of the received image. The method determines a likelihood that the subject portion will be used as a replacement to be inserted in place of one or more corresponding subject portions in future images examined at a later time. The subject portion, or a reference thereto, is stored in an image cache in response to the determined likelihood being greater than a predetermined threshold. The image cache is available to be searched for the subject portion and other portions of images to replace corresponding portions of future images. |
| US10217220B2 |
Methods for the determination of transit time in circulatory systems and applications of the same
Methods for the determination of transit time in circulatory systems and applications of the same. In at least one embodiment, the method includes the steps of obtaining a biological tree image showing a vasculature of at least part of a mammalian biological tree including at least a vessel segment, determining a transit time in the vessel segment, determining a blood volume in the vessel segment, determining a blood volume in a first vascular tree comprising the vessel segment, and calculating a transit time in the first vascular tree based upon the transit time through the vessel segment, the blood volume in the vessel segment, and the blood volume in the first vascular tree. |
| US10217219B2 |
Systems and methods for automated analysis of cells and tissues
Systems and methods for rapidly analyzing cell containing samples, for example to identify morphology or to localize and quantitate biomarkers are disclosed. |
| US10217217B2 |
Systems and methods for obtaining 3-D images from X-ray information
Methods, hardware, and software transform 2D anatomical X-ray images into 3D renderings for surgical preparation. X-ray images of a body part are identified by camera model. A contour is extracted from the X-ray. Each anatomical region of the contour is assigned 2D anatomical values. A separate 3D template for the body part is modified to match the X-ray image by extracting silhouette vertices from the template and their projections. The template is aligned with the x-ray image and projected on an image plane to obtain a 2D projection model. The template is modified to match the anatomical values by comparing the projection with the corresponding anatomical values. Best matching points on the contour for extracted silhouette vertex projections are identified and used to back-project corresponding silhouette vertices. The 3D template is deformed so that its silhouette vertices match the target positions, resulting in a 3D reconstruction for the X-ray image. |
| US10217216B2 |
Kind of x-ray chest image rib suppression method based on poisson model
A X-ray chest image rib suppression method based on Poisson model. It conducts contourlet transformation on the image and utilizes transformation coefficient correlation between different scales to conduct texture enhancement on the image; it designs strip-type detection filter in accordance with the Hessian matrix eigenvalue to the image and detects the area where the rib locates in; it combines enhanced texture and rib area information, establishes and solves rib suppression Poisson model, realizing the rib suppression in the image. Anisotropy and contourlet transformation multi-direction feature is utilized, scale and coefficients direction information are combined and distinction degree between texture and noise improves, enhancing texture while restraining noise; it realizes ribs suppression through solving the Poisson model, which does not need to conduct accurate segmentation on the rib, prevents unnatural transition problem of edges resulted from explicit ribs suppression and effectively suppress the ribs, improving observation effect of X-ray chest image. |
| US10217211B2 |
Method and device for the placement of electronic components
A method for placing electronic components onto a circuit board, comprising the following steps: Placing a component to be placed of a first component type into a starting position; creating a component image of the component to be placed in the starting position; creating a circuit board region image of a circuit board of a first circuit board region type; calculating a travel path for moving the component to be placed into a final position on the circuit board based upon an image overlay of the component image and a previously saved reference component image of a reference component of the first component type, and based upon a previously saved reference travel path of the reference component from a reference starting position into a reference final position on a reference circuit board of the first circuit board region type, and based upon an image overlay of the circuit board region image and a previously saved reference circuit board region image of the reference circuit board; moving the component to be placed along the travel path into the final position. |
| US10217208B2 |
Apparatus and a method of inspecting a turbomachine
An apparatus for inspecting a turbomachine includes a plurality of boroscopes, a device to rotate the rotor of the turbomachine and a processor having reference measurements of the rotor blades and/or reference measurements between the rotor blades and the boroscopes. A boroscope is inserted in a casing aperture upstream of the blades to view the leading edge and a portion of one of the surfaces of each blade as the rotor is rotated. A boroscope is inserted in a casing aperture downstream of the blades to view the trailing edge and a portion of one of the surfaces of each blade as the rotor is rotated. The boroscopes supply the images of each of the blades to the processor. The processor analyses the images of the blades and uses the reference measurements to determine the position and size of any defect on any of the rotor blades. |
| US10217205B2 |
Grain analyzing method and system using HRTEM image
Provided are a method and system for analyzing grains using a high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) image. The method relates to analyzing nanometer grains, and includes receiving an HRTEM image, setting local windows each having a predetermined size for the HRTEM image, performing at least one Fast Fourier transformation on pixel data determined by the local windows to calculate local transformation data; and analyzing grains based on the local transformation data. |
| US10217204B2 |
Imaging system and method of evaluating an image quality for the imaging system
A method of evaluating an image quality for an imaging system and the imaging system are provided. The method in some examples includes: acquiring an image to be evaluated which is generated by the imaging system; extracting a number of sub-images from the image; obtaining a coefficient vector indicating a degree of sparsity by applying a sparse decomposition on the sub-images based on a pre-set redundant sparse representation dictionary; and performing a linear transformation on the coefficient vector so as to obtain an evaluation value for the image quality. The sparse dictionary is learned by only using a few high quality perspective images, and then the image quality is evaluated based on the sparse degree of the image obtained by using the sparse dictionary. A convenient and rapid no-reference image quality evaluation is achieved. |
| US10217199B2 |
System, method and storage medium for dynamic range expansion of digital image
A system for dynamic range expansion of digital images includes: an optimizing device configured to calculate and store the output histogram of the previous frame of image data, calculate and obtain the mapping function according to the output histogram of the previous frame of image data and obtain the mapping table of the previous frame of image data according to the mapping function; and a mapping device configured to receive a next frame of image data and process the next frame of image data with the mapping table of the previous frame of image data to generate the enhanced image data. The present system enables processing ultrahigh definition images with very low requirements on hardware requirement. There is further provided a method and a non-volatile storage medium for dynamic range expansion of digital images. |
| US10217195B1 |
Generation of semantic depth of field effect
Devices and techniques are generally described for image editing. In various examples, color image data and segmentation image data may be identified. In some examples, the segmentation image data may identify a first portion of the color image data as a foreground region and a second portion of the color image data as a background region. A segmentation boundary may be identified between the foreground region and the background region. A first area of the second portion may be identified, where the first area extends from the segmentation boundary to a first area outer boundary. A second area of the second portion may be identified, where the second area extends from the first area outer boundary to a second area outer boundary. A blended and blurred representation of the first area and the second area may be generated. |
| US10217192B1 |
Using boundary maps to refine imagery
Various approaches to image enhancement are disclosed. In one approach, a boundary map and an image are received. The boundary map is used to determine that brightness values for a set of pixels included in the image should be regularized. An output image is generated by storing, at both a first and second pixel position in the output image, a set of regularized values. In another approach, an image to be enhanced and an edge map are received. Edge-masked derivative matrices are constructed and used to iteratively solve a series of linear equations, wherein solutions to the linear equations minimize an increasingly accurate quadratic approximation of a penalty function that measures a total amount of variation in a function, and a derivation of the function from the image. A vector result of the iterative solution is transformed into a raster image. |
| US10217191B1 |
Filtering of real-time visual data transmitted to a remote recipient
A remote visual experience application which transmits real-time video remotely includes a filter which obscures one or more previously identified regions in space when the regions come within the camera's field of vision. The application may be a shared visual experience application, in which the camera is mounted to a wearable appliance of a local user. The application may include a function for mapping regions of a space in which the application will be used, and defining different levels of remote access for different regions of the space. A space map may be generated before or during transmission of video to a remote user. Exemplary embodiments include a virtual vendor house call application or a game. The application may further include an audio filter for filtering an audio signal. |
| US10217189B2 |
General spherical capture methods
Systems and methods are described for capturing spherical content. The systems and methods can include determining a region within a plurality of images captured with a plurality of cameras in which to transform two-dimensional data into three-dimensional data, calculating a depth value for a portion of pixels in the region, generating a spherical image, the spherical image including image data for the portion of pixels in the region, constructing, using the image data, a three-dimensional surface in three-dimensional space of a computer graphics object generated by an image processing system, generating, using the image data, a texture mapping to a surface of the computer graphics object, and transmitting the spherical image and the texture mapping for display in a head-mounted display device. |
| US10217188B2 |
Systems and methods for aggregating and facilitating the display of spatially variable geographic data acquired by airborne vehicles
Spatially variable data associated with a geographical region such as a map or image from multiple samples acquired by one or more airborne vehicles taken across sub-regions of the geographical region may be aggregating and displayed. High-resolution image data of a geographical region acquired by one or more airborne vehicles may be obtained. The image data may comprise images corresponding to sub-regions of the geographical region. The images may be acquired at an image resolution corresponding to a first spatial frequency. Individual images may be analyzed to determine statistical information corresponding to the sub-regions of the geographical region. The statistical information corresponding to the sub-regions of the geographical region may be provided, for presentation to a user, by resampling the statistical information based on a second spatial frequency. The second spatial frequency may be equal to or less than the first spatial frequency. |
| US10217185B1 |
Customizing client experiences within a media universe
Methods and apparatus for providing interactive and customized experiences to clients of a media universe (MU) system. The MU system may leverage network-based computation resources and services, for example a streaming service, and a digital asset repository or repository service to dynamically provide customized and customizable experiences to clients. Clients may create or modify digital assets (e.g., 3D models of characters, objects, etc.), which may be stored to the asset repository. The MU system may dynamically render digital media content of the media universe (e.g., movies, games, etc.) that includes the clients' custom digital assets (characters, objects, backgrounds, etc.) inserted into appropriate locations, and stream the dynamically customized content to respective client devices. Effectively, a client layer of content is overlaid on a base or canonical layer of content within digital media of the media universe. |
| US10217180B2 |
System and method for unmanned aerial vehicle navigation for inventory management
This disclosure relates generally to inventory management, and more particularly to system and method for airborne shelf inspection and inventor management. When a UAV has to be navigated based on navigation information embedded in visual markers on different items in the inventory, and if one or more of the visual markers are not completely visible due to occlusion, then the UAV automatically recovers data that is missing due to the occlusion, and accordingly navigates the UAV. |
| US10217171B2 |
System to administer insurance knowledge management tool
According to some embodiments, a communication may be received from a customer in connection with an insurance policy. A system may then transmit, to a service representative device, data associated with an insurance knowledge management enterprise portal displaying information to facilitate interaction with the customer. A type of insurance event associated with the communication from the customer may be determined, and customized data associated with the insurance knowledge management enterprise portal may be transmitted to the service representative device, the customized data being based at least in part on the type of insurance event associated with the communication from the customer. |
| US10217168B2 |
Mobile computing device for real-time accident documentation and claim submission
A mobile computing device that facilitates efficient and convenient processing of an insurance claim. The mobile computing device can receive text, image, and audio data associated with the insurance claim. Using the received data, a model of the user's vehicle and the scene of the accident are generated and displayed on the mobile computing device. Damaged portions of the user's vehicle can be identified automatically or by the user. Damage can be tagged using the mobile computing device and additional data can be provided by the user and associated with each tag. The mobile computing device can be used to provide a preliminary claim assessment, submit a completed insurance claim application to an insurance provider, and/or process the insurance claim. |
| US10217164B2 |
System and method for implementing push technology in a wireless financial transaction
A method for executing a trade is provided that includes communicating financial information to a handheld device via a network, the financial information being associated with a trade that can be initiated by the handheld device. The handheld device is connected to the network via a Push to Trade™ protocol. The method also includes executing the trade on behalf of the end user. |
| US10217163B2 |
Systems and methods for increasing efficiency in the detection of identity-based fraud indicators
Certain embodiments of the disclosed technology include systems and methods for increasing efficiency in the detection of identity-based fraud indicators. A method is provided that includes: receiving entity-supplied information comprising at least a name, a social security number (SSN), and a street address associated with a request for a payment or a benefit; querying one or more databases with the entity-supplied information; receiving a plurality of information in response to the querying; determining a validity indication of the entity supplied information; creating disambiguated entity records; determining relationships among the disambiguated records; scoring, based at least in part on determining the relationships among the disambiguated entity records, at least one parameter of the entity-supplied information; determining one or more indicators of fraud based on the scoring; and outputting, for display, one or more indicators of fraud. |
| US10217162B2 |
Methods and apparatus for promoting financial behavioral change
Some embodiments of the invention provide tools for promoting a user's financial well-being by encouraging positive financial behavior through timely feedback, counseling and instruction. For example, some embodiments of the invention may provide real-time (e.g., in response to a transaction being performed, or in response to the user indicating he/she is contemplating a transaction) useful analysis and advice designed to encourage the type of ongoing financial behavior that leads over time to financial well-being. |
| US10217161B2 |
Dynamically determining bid increments for online auctions
Bidding activity is analyzed over a duration in which multiple bids are received in the auction. A bid increment is dynamically determined for the auction in response to auction activity. An online auction system can utilize the bid increment to determine or suggest the next bid that can be received in the auction for purpose of supplanting the current bid. |
| US10217159B2 |
Shared transactions
Various embodiments herein each include at least one of systems, devices, methods, and software for shared transactions. One method embodiment includes determining whether there are open orders with regard to a location included in first order input received via a network. When there is an open order with regard to the location, the method then transmits a request for second order input indicating whether to add the order input to the at least one open order or to open a new order. When the received second order input specifies that a new order is to be opened, the method opens a new order with regard to the location. When the received second order input specifies that the received first order input is to be added an open order, the method includes adding the first order input to an open order. |
| US10217158B2 |
Multi-factor routing system for exchanging business transactions
A system of routing a purchase order may include a purchase order identification unit configured to identifying a purchase order format associated with a client. The system may also include a routing control unit. The routing control unit may be configured to determine purchase order data based on the purchase order and the purchase order format. The routing control unit may be configured to generate a processed purchase order based on the purchase order data. The routing control unit may be configured to supplement the processed purchase order with additional purchase order data associated with the client. The routing control unit may be configured to apply purchase order security. The routing control unit may be configured to communicate, to a vendor, the processed purchase order. |
| US10217156B2 |
Methods and systems for using a cloud computing environment to share biological related data
The present disclosure provides a novel approach for shifting or distributing various information (e.g., protocols, analysis methods, sample preparation data, sequencing data, etc.) to a cloud-based network. For example, the techniques relate to a cloud computing environment configured to receive this information from one or more individual sample preparation devices, sequencing devices, and/or computing systems. In turn, the cloud computing environment may generate information for use in the cloud computing environment and/or to provide the generated information to the devices to guide a genomic analysis workflow. Further, the cloud computing environment may be used to facilitate the sharing of sample preparation protocols for use with generic sample preparation cartridges and/or monitoring the popularity of the sample preparation protocols. |
| US10217155B2 |
Product cross-selling method and system
Disclosed herein is a product cross-selling method and system for providing first product information provided by a product provider to a retailer, respectively providing a product cost and a sales commission to the first product provider and the retailer when a first product mapped to the first product information is sold via the retailer, providing second product information provided by the retailer to the first product provider and respectively providing product cost and sales commission to the retailer and the first product provider when a second product mapped to the second product information is sold via the first product provider. |
| US10217154B2 |
Clothing measurement prediction system and method
Disclosed in one embodiment is a method implemented in a computer system in which a customer reports physical characteristics, in which the customer is instructed how to perform measurements of the customer or in which a device measures the customer, in which the reported customer measurements are evaluated through use of a measurement model, in which a full set of measurements may not be required based on measurements already provided, and in which the reported customer measurements are evaluated for reliability. The method also scales the customer's measurements to a pattern, obtains the fulfilled pattern from vendors, and then fulfills the customer order. |
| US10217149B2 |
Method and system for effectuating an electronic purchase transaction between a consumer device and a merchant
The system and methods thereof provide for a delayed display of content on a consumer device. A user log-on from a consumer device to an electronic commerce (e-commerce) server is acknowledged. One or more parameters related to the user as extracted from the consumer device is identified. Respective thereto a threshold value for timing a display of motivational content on the consumer device is adjusted, thereby encouraging purchases of goods or services using the e-commerce server. The motivational content is selected respective of the parameters collected from the consumer device. The displayed content may provide a web link through which a counter offer may be sent from the consumer device to the e-commerce server. |
| US10217146B2 |
System and method for managing numerous facets of a work relationship
A system for managing time related work activities of one or more workers for one or more clients including a computer system having a management component configured to track and manage procurement of labor resources for one or more clients. The management component further is configured to allow a first person access to the computer system to approve or reject a job requisition or a time sheet stored in the computer system by entering first identifying indicia known to the computer system and unique to the first person. The management component includes a communication module for transmitting to the first person an electronic message notifying the first person that either a job requisition or time sheet needs to be acted upon by either rejecting or approving the job requisition or the time sheet. The electronic message includes bypass means for allowing the first person to access the computer system to approve or reject either a job requisition or time sheet that needs to be acted upon without entering the first identifying indicia. The bypass means preferably includes a hotlink unique to the job requisition or the time sheet that needs to be acted upon. |
| US10217144B1 |
Methods, systems and program products for aggregating and presenting service data from multiple sources over a network
An example computer-implemented search method. A location of a user communication device over a network is determined. A search request from the user communication device is received via an interactive application. A database is queried based on the location and the search request. The database stores data representing a plurality of menu items from a plurality of food or beverage delivery services for a plurality of restaurants, and includes data associated with the plurality of restaurants. If restaurants within a predetermined range of the determined location are associated with the received search request, the restaurants are linked to food or beverage delivery services. Data representing the food or beverage delivery services is combined onto a rendered page of the interactive application. Selection of at least one menu item is received. For each delivery service, cost for delivering the selected menu item to the determined location is estimated. The cost for each delivery service is visually associated with the respective delivery service on the page. The page is transmitted to the user communication device. |
| US10217141B2 |
Account contribution management
An ability to expose and display a current billing amount associated with a billing account in a billing system to one or more third parties, and to link one or more payments from the one or more third parties to the billing account in an account receivable system is provided. A user may create, publish, and share a fundraising webpage, which when accessed by a third party, allows the third party to send a payment in the form of a contribution or donation. An intermediary system allows for secure communication of billing account data from the accounts receivable system to the third party, allowing the third party to interact with the accounts receivable system as if the third party is in direct communication with the accounts receivable system. |
| US10217139B2 |
On-page configuration of page analytics and campaign creation
A system for creating and using a universal tag to gather consumer data from a web site for the purposes of targeted advertising is provided. The universal tag system has two main subsystems. The first subsystem is a configuration system that is used to define the consumer data to be collected from the website and to define taxonomy and transformation rules to be applied to the collected consumer data. The second subsystem is a runtime system that runs a universal tag client-side script, which is triggered when a consumer lands on a webpage of the website, for collecting the defined consumer data. The runtime system then applies the transformation rules to the collected data and updates a user profile corresponding to the consumer with the transformed data. As well, the runtime system applies the taxonomy rules to the collected data and categorizes the consumer for the purposes of subsequent targeted advertising. |
| US10217131B2 |
System for resource service provider
In one embodiment, a system, is provided to take not just a person's time and location into consideration, but also has knowledge of and takes into account their availability, their preferences, their schedule, their purpose for being at their current location, and/or their next goal or stop. One embodiment is able to take into account a real-time view of supplier inventory and deduce and make available much better-adapted offerings and support for that person's travels and endeavors. In one embodiment, having an understanding of a rate of conversion and its relation to traffic and weather patterns allows service providers to make more accurate predictions about various items, including but not limited to, conversion rates, offer types, offer upgrades, traffic etc. In yet another aspect of the invention, the information collected from many travelers, and also information collected from airlines and weather observers, etc., can be used to forecast inventory requirements, such as obtaining and preparing fresh food and pulling from storage chilled or frozen food, as well as man power or staffing level requirements, to meet projected demands. |
| US10217125B2 |
Method and system for displaying discount information
A system and method for using a discount display system are provided in which a plurality of purchase option screens are displayed to a user. For each discount-eligible item identifier selected by the user, the price of the item is added to the user's total, the current discount available to the user is recalculated and the updated discount is displayed to the user. |
| US10217123B2 |
System and method for aggregation, analysis, presentation and monetization of pricing data for vehicles and other commodities
Embodiments of systems and methods for the aggregation, analysis, display and monetization of pricing data for commodities in general, and which may be particularly useful applied to vehicles are disclosed. Specifically, in certain embodiments, historical transaction data associated with a particular vehicle configuration may be obtained and processed to determine pricing data associated with the vehicle configuration. The historical transaction data or determined pricing data may then be presented in an intuitive manner. |
| US10217121B2 |
Advising management system with sensor input
Systems and methods to facilitate advising management are provided. A communication connection between an advisor and an advisee may be facilitated. First data captured via an end-user communication device may correspond to one or more sensor inputs. A set of qualification rules that includes a set of criteria for qualifying advisees based at least in part on captured data relating to advisees may be accessed. A first set of information for the first advisee may be derived based at least in part on the first data and the set of qualification rules. The first set of information may include a first characterization of the first advisee. Indication, to a computing device of the advisor, of the first characterization of the first advisee may be caused at a time corresponding to the communication connection between the advisor and the first advisee. |
| US10217116B1 |
Generating offers for the purchase of products
Various systems, methods and other embodiments are provided for generating offers for the purchase of products. In one embodiment, transaction data is stored in a data store. The transaction data comprises a record of a plurality of transactions for the purchase of products through a plurality of channels of commerce. Requests are received in a server from clients for an offer in association with an interaction involving a product. Each request includes a tag indicating at least one of the channels of commerce associated with the interaction. For each request, an offer is generated in response to the request, the offer being specific to the at least one of the channels of commerce. |
| US10217114B1 |
Methods and systems for providing labels to prevent counterfeiting of products
Embodiments provide methods and systems for providing labels to prevent counterfeiting of products. In an embodiment, the method includes accessing, by a processor, one or more biometric data associated with a manufacturer. The one or more biometric data include fingerprint data, iris pattern, facial pattern, heart rate, electrical activity of skeletal muscles and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) data that are encrypted using a first encryption method for generating a first encrypted data. From the first encrypted data, a biometric pattern is extracted. The biometric pattern is appended with one or more product identification codes for generating a product encoded data. The product encoded data is encrypted using a second encryption method. An error checksum data is appended to the second encrypted data and a unique identifier is prefixed to the second encrypted data. The second encrypted data is added to product labels of the products for securing the products from counterfeiting. |
| US10217101B2 |
Link of mobile devices to facilitate mobile commerce transactions
In linking mobile devices to facilitate a mobile commerce transaction, a primary mobile device creates an invitation to link to a mobile commerce account of the primary mobile device with a mobile commerce payment system and sends the invitation to a secondary mobile device. The secondary mobile device receives the invitation from the primary mobile device and sends an agreement to link to the mobile commerce account to the primary mobile device. The primary mobile device receives the agreement from the secondary mobile device and sends credentials for linking to the mobile commerce account to the secondary mobile device. The secondary mobile device receives the credentials from the primary mobile device and acquires information for enabling the link to the mobile commerce account using the credentials. The secondary mobile device links to the mobile commerce account using the information. |
| US10217098B2 |
Reprinting a paper receipt where an electronic receipt was originally issued
A method is disclosed for reprinting a receipt. Where a customer has elected to receive electronic receipts, an electronic receipt may be received on a mobile electronic device following a customer purchase or other transaction at a brick and mortar retail store. Where a customer requests that the receipt be reprinted at the time of the transaction, the election to receive electronic receipts is overridden and a paper copy of the receipt is printed at the register or terminal where the transaction was completed. |
| US10217097B2 |
Electronic payment terminal and coupling device
An electronic payment terminal has a magnetic stripe payment card reader including a card passage reinforced in its lower part by a metal rail and a radio module integrated with at least one printed circuit board of the electronic payment terminal. The electronic payment terminal has a coupling device connected to the radio module via a metal part assembled with a plastic part. The coupling device is adapted to forming, with the metal rail, an antenna associated with the radio module. |
| US10217094B2 |
Methods and systems for node-based website design
Aspects of the present invention relate to systems and methods for design and use of web-based applications for account management. Some aspects relate to design tools that enable the use of a virtual agent or avatar as part of an account collection or management web application. Some aspects relate to applications, utilities and tools for node-based web resource design. |
| US10217093B2 |
System and method of social cash withdrawal
Systems and methods for locating a cash provider using location-based technologies and transfer funds include receiving a request for cash that includes location data obtained from a location-based technology from a withdrawing party device, searching a network of active providing parties for an available providing party based on withdrawing party preferences and the location data, transmitting an alert to an available providing party device, transmitting available providing party data to withdrawing party if the providing party has confirmed availability, receiving a request to transfer a withdrawal amount from an account associated with the withdrawing party device to an account associated with a selected providing party device, receiving confirmation from the withdrawing party device that the withdrawing party has received cash, transferring the withdrawal amount from the withdrawing party to the selected providing party, and transmitting an alert to the selected providing party device that the withdrawal amount has been transferred. |
| US10217092B1 |
Interactive digital platform
A technique is disclosed for generating an interactive digital receipt on a user device, where the receipt offers an engagement platform for merchants and customers to interact on a continuous basis. The interactive digital receipt is generated in response to an occurrence of a particular financial transaction. The receipt includes a plurality of time-based interactive components to enable the merchant and the customer to interact with one another. The plurality of time-based interactive components includes a promotion component, a tipping component, a feedback component, and a loyalty rewards component. Each component is associated with a timeframe which defines a time period for which the customer may interact with the component. Content presented via each component changes corresponding to the time period. The time period can range from a limited time period to an unlimited time period. |
| US10217073B2 |
Monitoring transactions from distributed applications and using selective metrics
Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with monitoring business transactions are described. In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method comprises tracking calls made from a first component to other components in a distributed application wherein the calls are part of processing a business transaction. Aggregate metrics are collected and instance metrics are collected for each of the calls made and a time spent for processing the calls. The method identifies and selects N calls that consumed the most time based on the time spent for processing each call. The instance metrics for the selected N calls and the aggregate metrics are reported to a monitoring server, while the instance metrics from unselected calls are discarded. |
| US10217070B2 |
System and method for processing information and mentoring people
A method for processing information for mentoring service to at-risk people is described. Also describes is a system for implementing the method and a tangible computer readable medium for storing instructions that, when executed by computer processor, causes the computer processor to process information according to the method of the present application. |
| US10217066B1 |
Methods and apparatus to monitor work vehicles and to generate worklists to order the repair of such work vehicles should a machine failure be identified
Methods and apparatus to monitor work vehicles and to generate worklists to order the repair of such work vehicles should a machine failure be identified are disclosed. An apparatus includes an interface to access a first and second alerts from first and second work vehicle; an alert scorer to generate first and second scores for the respective first and second alerts; a machine health score determiner to determine first and second machine health score for the respective first and second work vehicles based on the first score and the first weighting factor and the second score and the second weighting factor; and a worklist generator to generate a worklist indicating that the second work vehicle is to be repaired prior to the first work vehicle based on at least one of the first and second machine health scores or an associated first and second classifications. |
| US10217064B2 |
Intelligent home screen for mobile and desktop operating systems
An operating system executing on a computing device can move an application's icon to a prominent position within an operating system user interface in response to determining that specified conditions related to that application are currently satisfied. Alternatively, the operating system can automatically create an alias icon for the application in such a prominent position in response to determining that the specified conditions are currently satisfied, thereby leaving the original application icon in its expected position for later use. A set of rules stored on the computing device can specify, for each application, the set of conditions that are to be satisfied in order to make that application's icon or alias icon prominent. The set of conditions can involve a current location, current settings, the current date, the current day of the week, the current time of day, information pertaining to contacts, information pertaining to a calendar, etc. |
| US10217060B2 |
Capacity augmentation of 3G cellular networks: a deep learning approach
Optimal enhancement of 3G cellular network capacity utilizes two components of learning and optimization. First, a pair of learning approaches are used to model cellular network capacity measured in terms of total number of users carried and predict breakpoints of cellular towers as a function of network traffic loading. Then, an optimization problem is formulated to maximize network capacity subject to constraints of user quality and predicted breakpoints. Among a number of alternatives, a variant of simulated annealing referred to as Block Coordinated Descent Simulated Annealing (BCDSA) is presented to solve the problem. Performance measurements show that BCDSA algorithm offers dramatically improved algorithmic success rate and the best characteristics in utility, runtime, and confidence range measures compared to other solution alternatives. Accordingly, integrated iterative method, program, and system are described aiming at maximizing the capacity of 3G cellular networks by redistributing traffic from congested cellular towers to non-congested cellular towers. |
| US10217058B2 |
Predicting interesting things and concepts in content
An “Engagement Predictor” provides various techniques for predicting whether things and concepts (i.e., “nuggets”) in content will be engaging or interesting to a user in arbitrary content being consumed by the user. More specifically, the Engagement Predictor provides a notion of interestingness, i.e., an interestingness score, of a nugget on a page that is grounded in observable behavior during content consumption. This interestingness score is determined by evaluating arbitrary documents using a learned transition model. Training of the transition model combines web browsing log data and latent semantic features in training data (i.e., source and destination documents) automatically derived by a Joint Topic Transition (JTT) Model. The interestingness scores are then used for highlighting one or more nuggets, inserting one or more hyperlinks relating to one or more nuggets, importing content relating to one or more nuggets, predicting user clicks, etc. |
| US10217057B2 |
Removing leakage in a quantum bit
Apparatus and methods for removing leakage from a qubit. In one aspect, an apparatus includes one or more qubits, wherein each qubit facilitates occupation of at least one of a plurality of qubit levels, the qubit levels including two computational levels and one or more non-computational levels that are each higher than the computational levels, wherein the qubit facilitates transitions between qubit levels associated with a corresponding transition frequency; a cavity, wherein the cavity defines a cavity frequency; one or more couplers coupling each qubit to the cavity; one or more couplers coupling the cavity to an environment external to the one or more qubits and the cavity; a frequency controller that controls the frequency of each qubit such that, for each qubit, the frequency of the qubit is adjusted relative to the cavity frequency such that a population of a non-computational level is transferred to the cavity. |
| US10217055B2 |
Methods and systems for sensor-based driving data collection
A system for collecting vehicle data includes a mobile device comprising a plurality of sensors, a memory, and a processor coupled to the memory. The processor is configured to perform operations including obtaining a plurality of movement measurements from at least one of the plurality of sensors in the mobile device, determining a plurality of transportation modes using the plurality of movement measurements, and determining a mode transition using the plurality of transportation modes. The operations also include determining a transition probability using the mode transition. The operations further include creating a transition model using the transition probabilities, determining that the transition model indicates that a probability that the second transportation mode comprises driving is above a threshold, obtaining a plurality of driving movement measurements from at least one of the plurality of sensors, and determining the vehicle data using the driving movement measurements. |
| US10217050B2 |
Systems and methods for determining social perception
A system for evaluating communicative acts, between a plurality of communicative pairs, to determine a social network perception representation. Each communicative pair includes two entities participating in a corresponding one or more of the communicative acts. The system includes a patterns database, a scoring processor, and a communications network aggregation processor. The patterns database stores behavior recognition patterns defining particular behaviors that may be used in the communicative acts and a social perception score associated with each of the particular behaviors. The communicative acts include non-verbal communicative acts. The scoring processor is configured to determine a pairwise social perception score for each communicative pair based on the particular behaviors identified in the communicative acts. The scoring processor is configured to determine a different pairwise social perception score for each of the communicative pairs. The communications network aggregation processor combines the pairwise social perception scores into a social perception network representation. |
| US10217049B2 |
Systems and methods for determining social perception
A system for evaluating communicative acts to determine a social network perception representation based on communicative acts between a plurality of communicative pairs where each communicative pair includes a first group and an individual or a second group participating in corresponding communicative acts. The system includes a patterns database, a scoring processor, and a communications network aggregation processor. The patterns database stores behavior recognition patterns defining particular behaviors and a score associated with each of the particular behaviors. The scoring processor is configured to determine a pairwise social perception score for each of the communicative pairs based on the particular behaviors identified in the communicative acts. The scoring processor is configured to determine a different pairwise social perception score for each of the communicative pairs. The communications network aggregation processor combines the pairwise social perception scores for each of the plurality of communicative pairs into a social perception network representation. |
| US10217041B2 |
Radio-frequency identification device for a tubular element to be identified in a constrained environment
A radio-frequency identification device for identifying a tubular element is provided that includes a radio-frequency identification chip connected to at least one antenna having two conductive strands and a flexible envelope enveloping the radio-frequency identification chip and strands. The envelope is a silicone material and includes a central portion overmolding the radio-frequency identification chip, and two strips extend on either side of the central portion and each strip overmolds at least one strand. Each of the two strips has a free end with a pierced boss capable of cooperating with a hose clamp. The two strips are thermoformed in a twisted configuration around a common twisting axis. |
| US10217039B2 |
Visual RFID tags and interactive visual RFID networks
RFID driven display system components such as wireless displays (visual RFID tags) and multi-antenna wireless RFID readers that monitor/control the RFID driven displays in order to provide visual real-time information to display viewers and/or provide useful information to a central processing station that monitors the status of and/or updates the RFID driven displays, networks including one or more of the components, and methods for using the RFID driven display system components to monitor assets in applications such as inventory control and manufacturing. |
| US10217038B2 |
Suspending and resuming transactions through wireless beacon communications
There are provided systems and methods for suspending and resuming transactions through wireless beacon communications. A merchant may set up a wireless beacon with employee devices. The beacons may connect to a user's device and assist the employee with determining and suspending a transaction for the user. Based on the connections between the user's device and a wireless beacon attached to an employee device, the employee device may receive an identifier for the user. The identifier may also be received from a previous check-in by the user. The employee or a user may scan one or more items that the user may wish to purchase. A transaction may be generated using the scan and may be associated with the user's identifier. Later the transaction may be recalled using the user's identifier or a transaction code identifying the transaction. Payment information for the user may also be associated with the transaction. |
| US10217036B2 |
Printing apparatus, printing method, and medium
An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus capable of combining a group element so that a color intended by a user is output ultimately even in the case where flattening is performed on the way of the processing performed on the group. |
| US10217035B2 |
IC tag issuing apparatus
A first conveyance unit and a second conveyance unit functioning as pre-processing conveyance units provided in a pre-processing device and conveying the IC tag continuous body by suctioning it to conveyance belts, a second tractor feeder unit functioning as a print-processing tractor feeder unit provided in a printing device and conveying the IC tag continuous body by engaging and disengaging feed pins in sprocket holes formed in the IC tag continuous body, and a fourth conveyance unit functioning as a post-processing conveyance unit provided in a post-processing device and conveying the IC tag continuous body by suctioning it to a conveyance belt are provided. |
| US10217032B2 |
Method for choosing a compression algorithm depending on the image type
A method for compressing an image, includes: calculating a level of hues of the image over at least all of one layer of the image; depending on the type of hues of the representative layer, classifying the image in one of the following three classes: a first class if the image is of a graphics type; a second class if the image is of a highly contrasted type; a third class if the image is of a low-contrasted type; and, choosing a compression processing type depending on the class of the image: difference processing, if the image is of the first class; frequency processing, if the image is of the third class; and, if the image is of the second class: for lossless or low-loss compression, preferably using difference processing, and, in the other cases preferably using frequency processing. |
| US10217029B1 |
Systems and methods for automatically generating headshots from a plurality of still images
The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for generating headshots from a plurality of still images. In one implementation, the system may include a memory storing instructions and a processor configured to execute the instructions. The instructions may include instructions to receive a plurality of still images from one or more video feeds, score the plurality of images along a plurality of dimensions based on a scale, rank the plurality of images using at least one of a composite score or at least one of the dimensions, select a subset of the plurality of images using the ranking, and construct at least one headshot of the user from the subset of the plurality of images. |
| US10217028B1 |
System and method for distributive training and weight distribution in a neural network
A system for distributive training and weight distribution in a neural network. The system includes a training facility having a training neural network that detects and classifies objects in training images so as to train weights of nodes in the training neural network, and a plurality of object detection and classification units each including an image source that provides image frames, and at least one classification and prediction neural network that identifies, classifies and indicates relative velocity of objects in the image frames. Each unit transmits its image frames to the training facility so that the training neural network further trains the weights of the nodes in the training neural network, and the trained neural network weights are transmitted from the training facility to each of the object detection and classification units so as to train weights of nodes in the at least one classification and prediction neural network. |
| US10217027B2 |
Recognition training apparatus, recognition training method, and storage medium
A recognition training apparatus according to the present invention includes a generation unit configured to generate relevance between a specific domain and a candidate of a recognition target based on ontology information expressing a concept structure of the specific domain, a selection unit configured to select the recognition target from the candidate of the recognition target based on the relevance generated by the generation unit, and a training unit configured to train a recognizer using training data regarding the recognition target selected by the selection unit. |
| US10217024B2 |
Object detection apparatus
In an object detection apparatus, a first trajectory estimation unit estimates a trajectory of a first object detected by an electromagnetic wave sensor. An optical flow acquisition unit image-processes a captured image acquired from a camera to acquire movement directions based on optical flows of feature points in the captured image. A movement direction match determination unit determines whether or not a match occurs between a movement direction based on the optical flows and a movement direction based on the trajectory of the first object. If a match occurs between the movement direction based on the optical flows of the plurality of feature points and the movement direction based on the trajectory of the first object, a sameness determination unit determines that a second object identified by the plurality of feature points and the first object are a same object. |
| US10217023B1 |
Image recognition system using a programmable photonic neural network
A system uses arrays of spatial light modulators (SLMs) connected to a processor and an image capture device. An image is input into a first array of SLMs. The processor determines if the output of the first array matches an image stored within a database. If a match is found, the processor outputs a stored image to an image processing system. If a match is not found the processor directs the output from the first array into an input of an array of SLMs adjacent to the first array. The determination step is iteratively performed for the remaining arrays of SLMs until a match is found or no arrays remain. If no arrays remain, the processor selects a stored image from the database and obtains user feedback from a user input system. The feedback is then stored in the database and associated with the n−1 array of SLMs. |
| US10217021B2 |
Method for determining the position of a portable device
An augmented reality method for displaying information comprises: capturing a sequence of image frames by a camera of a portable device, obtaining movement data by using an inertial sensor of the portable device, determining a sampling frame rate according to the movement data, selecting a tracking image from the captured image frames according to the sampling frame rate, determining a position of the portable device by comparing the tracking image with a point cloud, and displaying information on a display of the device based on the determined position. |
| US10217017B2 |
Systems and methods for containerizing multilayer image segmentation
The present disclosure relates to a cascade thresholding system to find an optimal threshold for binarization of a gray scale image. The cascade system can perform different levels of quantization on an input image. The cascade system can process each quantized image across multiple threshold levels. SSIM scores can be calculated for the quantized images to determine a best image for binarization. A best binary image can be generated. |
| US10217016B2 |
Method and device for automatically identifying a point of interest in a depth measurement on a viewed object
A method and device for automatically identifying a point of interest in a depth measurement on a viewed object using a video inspection device is disclosed. The video inspect device determines the three-dimensional coordinates in a region of interest on the viewed object and analyzes those surface points to determine the desired measurement application (e.g., determining the deepest point, the highest point, or the clearance between two surfaces). Based on the desired measurement application, the video inspection device automatically identifies the point of interest on the viewed object and places a cursor at that location. |
| US10217006B2 |
Method and device for detecting objects in the dark using a vehicle camera and a vehicle lighting system
A method and device for detecting objects in the dark using a vehicle camera and a vehicle lighting system. The method comprising: a) taking a first image with the vehicle lighting switched off; b) taking a second image with the vehicle lighting switched on; c) generating a differential image of the second and first images; and d) detecting reflective objects using the differential image. |
| US10217005B2 |
Method, apparatus and device for generating target detection information
Provided is a method for generating target detection information, including detecting target objects around the vehicle by multiple different types of sensors, and determining the detection targets representing a same target object, detected by the different types of sensors, by spatial position and time tracing. With taking the target object as the detection result, the target detection information generated for the detection result includes a spatial matching confidence of the detection result in the current detection period, a time matching confidence of the detection result, and target detection information on each of the detection targets representing the detection result, collected by the sensor detecting the detection target in a dimension corresponding to the sensor. |
| US10217004B2 |
Patient video monitoring systems and methods for thermal detection of liquids
A system for monitoring a patient in a patient area having one or more detection zones, the system comprising one or more cameras, a user interface, and a computing system configured to receive a chronological series of frames from the one or more cameras, identify liquid candidates by comparing a current frame with a plurality of previous frames of the chronological series, determine locations of the liquid candidates, identify thermal signatures of the liquid candidates, determine types of liquids of the liquid candidates based on the locations and thermal signatures of the liquid candidates, and generate an alert with the user interface corresponding to the determined types of liquids. |
| US10217001B2 |
Video object data storage and processing system
A video object data storage and display system comprising a video object data selection and viewing portion and a video object data storage portion. The system comprises a video object having a: scale/size, pose/tilt, location, and frame/time. The system further comprises a database. |
| US10216999B2 |
Display system, electronic device, and display method
A display system is provided. The display system includes an imaging device, a processing device, and a display device that includes first and second display elements. The imaging device has a function of supplying imaging data based on a captured image. The processing device has a function of receiving the imaging data, supplying first image data containing at least part of the captured image, performing determination processing for determining whether the captured image contains a predetermined object, performing image processing based on the result of the determination processing, and supplying second image data based on the image processing. The display device has a function of receiving the first and second image data. The first display element has a function of displaying an image based on the first image data, and the second display element has a function of displaying an image based on the second image data. |
| US10216998B2 |
Methods and systems for visual pairing of external devices with a wearable apparatus
A wearable apparatus is provided for capturing and processing images from an environment of a user. In one implementation, a wearable apparatus includes a transmitter, a memory, an image sensor configured to capture a stream of images from an environment of a user of the wearable apparatus, and a processing device. The processing device is programmed to receive the stream of images from the image sensor, analyze the stream of images to detect the external device in the environment of the user, and cause the transmitter to transmit an interrogation signal that is configured to cause a change in an aspect of the external device. The processing device is further programmed to analyze the stream of images to detect the change in the aspect of the external device and, after detection of the change, store in the memory information relating to the external device. |
| US10216997B2 |
Augmented reality information system
In various example embodiments, a system and method for providing information in an augmented reality display are provided. In example embodiments, an initial continuous stream of image data captured by a client device is received. An object within the continuous stream of image data is initially identified. The continuous stream of image data is further received and comprises additional image data regarding the object. The additional image data provides more visual details and features of the object than the initially received image data. Using the additional visual data, the identification of the object is refined to indicate a specific type of object. Based on the refined identification of the object, a search for information pertaining to the specific type of object is performed. A result is formatted to be displayed with a real-time image of the object on the client device. |
| US10216994B2 |
Systems and methods for panning a display of a wearable device
A method for panning content on a display of a wearable device is disclosed. The method may include determining, via an eye tracking device, a gaze direction of a user. The method may also include determining, via a movement detection system, a head direction of the user. The method may further include, based at least in part on the gaze direction and the head direction both being consistent with a particular direction, causing content displayed on a display of the wearable device to be panned in the particular direction. The method may additionally include determining during panning of the content, via the eye tracking device, that the gaze direction of the user has returned to a neutral position. The method may moreover include, based at least in part on the gaze direction of the user returning to the neutral position, causing content displayed on the display to stop panning. |
| US10216993B2 |
Intelligent document elements harvest and presentation system and method
A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program causing a computer to execute a parsing process including extracting one or more figure descriptions from a first entity of document in a sequential order and calculating the number of figure descriptions from the first entity of the document having figure descriptions; extracting one or more drawing pages from a second entity of document in a sequential order and calculating the number of drawing pages from the second entity of the document having drawing pages; computing a varying list of figure descriptions; and combining the varying list of figure descriptions with one of the one or more drawing pages to produce the single output, whereby a user of the single output can readily identify a figure number of the one of the one or more drawing pages and associate the figure number with a description from the varying list of figure descriptions. |
| US10216991B2 |
Automatically editing print job based on state of the document to be printed
A method and related apparatus for processing print jobs, which automatically edits both the document to be printed and the job ticket based on a state or content of the document itself, without user intervention, to achieve certain printing effects such as inserting tab sheets of slip sheets, removing pages, inserting annotations, changing finishing settings, etc. In one specific example, the state or content of the document is a specific key phrase or is associated with a specific bookmark. A program is also provided to emulate the result of the automatic editing of the print job and original document. When the print job is processed by a server and the emulation is performed by a client, the server checks whether the client program modules used for the emulation are consistent with the server program modules used for print job processing. |
| US10216989B1 |
Providing additional information for text in an image
Disclosed are techniques for providing additional information for text in an image. In some implementations, a computing device receives an image including text. Optical character recognition (OCR) is performed on the image to produce recognized text. A word or a phrase is selected from the recognized text for providing additional information. One or more potential meanings of the selected word or phrase are determined. One of the potential meanings is selected based on other text in the image. A source of additional information corresponding to the selected meaning is selected for providing the additional information to a user's device. |