| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US10403948B2 |
Adjustable phase shifter including a signal conductor, a movable dielectric plate and a transformer unit, where the transformer unit defines overlapped and non-overlapped portions with respect to the signal conductor
A phase shifter includes a signal conductor constituting a transmission line for a signal transmitted through an antenna element, a dielectric plate including a dielectric material disposed to face to the signal conductor, and a mobile mechanism for moving the dielectric plate. A facing area between the signal conductor and the dielectric plate is changed by a movement of the dielectric plate, to change a phase of the signal transmitted through the signal conductor. The dielectric plate includes a transformer unit for impedance matching between an overlapped portion in which the signal conductor faces to the dielectric plate and a non-overlapped portion in which the signal conductor does not face to the dielectric plate. The signal conductor includes an input-side signal conductor which extends from the non-overlapped portion to the overlapped portion via the transformer unit, and an output-side signal conductor which is electrically connected to an end of the input-side signal conductor on a side of the overlapped portion and extends from the overlapped portion to the non-overlapped portion without any intervention of the transformer unit. |
| US10403943B2 |
Battery system
A battery system that includes a battery cell. The battery cell defines a proximal end and a distal end where the proximal end is a positive terminal and the distal end is a negative terminal. A first busbar couples to the proximal end and a second busbar couples to the distal end to complete an electrical circuit. A first energy transfer conduit carries a fluid that cools and/or heats the battery cell. The first busbar or the second busbar couple to the first cooling conduit. |
| US10403942B2 |
Cooling system for vehicle-mounted secondary battery
A cooling system for cooling a main battery 10 includes a cooling fan 40 and a temperature sensor 61 configured to detect a battery temperature TB. The cooling system performs constant control in which the cooling fan 40 is driven at a constant command value when the battery temperature TB reaches or exceeds a first temperature T0 after startup of the electrically powered vehicle. Additionally, the cooling system detects whether or not a malfunction occurs in the cooling fan 40, based on an actual rpm of the cooling fan 40 obtained during the constant control. The cooling system performs the constant control in a situation in which charging of the main battery 10 is continued for a predetermined period of time or longer after the startup of the vehicle, regardless of whether the battery temperature TB is below the first temperature T0. |
| US10403937B2 |
Method of manufacturing an electrochemical cell
A method of manufacturing an electrochemical cell having a gel electrolyte. An electrochemical cell is provided having a cell casing, and a first electrode, a second electrode, an electrolyte solution and a temperature activated gelling agent disposed within the cell casing. A gel electrolyte comprising the electrolyte solution and the gelling agent is formed by passing a current through the electrochemical cell such that the temperature of the gelling agent exceeds the activation temperature of the gelling agent. |
| US10403934B2 |
Non-aqueous electrolyte solution and lithium secondary battery including the same
The present invention relates to a non-aqueous electrolyte solution including a non-aqueous organic solvent, lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (LiFSI), and a pyridine-based compound represented by Formula 1, and a lithium secondary battery including the same.The lithium secondary battery of the present invention including the non-aqueous electrolyte solution of the present invention may exhibit excellent low-temperature and room-temperature output characteristics, high-temperature and room-temperature cycle characteristics, and capacity characteristics after high-temperature storage. |
| US10403933B2 |
Solid electrolyte material and method for producing the same
In order to improve the stability of an electrolyte, an object of the present disclosure is to develop, among the sulfide solid electrolytes of Li—P—S—O based containing no metal element other than lithium, a new solid electrolyte having a possibility to have high ion conductivity and a method for producing for obtaining the same easily. The present disclosure achieves the object by providing a solid electrolyte material including a sulfide composition represented by a composition formula Li4-4y-xP4+1+y-xP5+xS4-zOz (Li4-4y-xP1+yS4-zOz), wherein 0.6≤x<1, 0≤z≤0.2, and −0.025≤y≤0.1, and a method for producing the same. |
| US10403931B2 |
Garnet materials for Li secondary batteries and methods of making and using garnet materials
Set forth herein are garnet material compositions, e.g., lithium-stuffed garnets and lithium-stuffed garnets doped with alumina, which are suitable for use as electrolytes and catholytes in solid state battery applications. Also set forth herein are lithium-stuffed garnet thin films having fine grains therein. Disclosed herein are novel and inventive methods of making and using lithium-stuffed garnets as catholytes, electrolytes and/or anolytes for all solid state lithium rechargeable batteries. Also disclosed herein are novel electrochemical devices which incorporate these garnet catholytes, electrolytes and/or anolytes. Also set forth herein are methods for preparing novel structures, including dense thin (<50 um) free standing membranes of an ionically conducting material for use as a catholyte, electrolyte, and, or, anolyte, in an electrochemical device, a battery component (positive or negative electrode materials), or a complete solid state electrochemical energy storage device. Also, the methods set forth herein disclose novel sintering techniques, e.g., for heating and/or field assisted (FAST) sintering, for solid state energy storage devices and the components thereof. |
| US10403928B2 |
Secondary battery, electronic device, electric power tool, electrical vehicle, and electric power storage system
A secondary battery includes a cathode, an anode, and an electrolytic solution. The anode or the electrolytic solution, or both contain a metal salt including an unsaturated carbon bond. |
| US10403926B2 |
Nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery
A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes a positive electrode having a positive electrode active material layer provided on a positive electrode collector, a negative electrode having a negative electrode active material layer provided on a negative electrode collector, and a nonaqueous electrolyte. The nonaqueous electrolyte contains at least one member selected from the group consisting of sulfone compounds represented by the following formulae (1) and (2); and an inorganic phosphorus compound represented by the following formula (3) exists on the surface of a positive electrode active material: R1 represents CmH2m-n1Xn2; X represents a halogen; m represents an integer of from 2 to 7; each of n1 and n2 independently represents an integer of from 0 to 2m; R2 represents CjH2j-k1Zk2; Z represents a halogen; j represents an integer of from 2 to 7; each of k1 and k2 independently represents an integer of from 0 to 2j; each of R3, R4 and R5 independently represents H or OH; and a is 0 or 1. |
| US10403920B2 |
Fuel battery cell
Provided is a fuel battery cell capable of suppressing absorption of water discharged from a manifold by a porous body disposed between a membrane electrode assembly and a separator, and so improving drainage performance. This fuel battery cell 1 includes: a porous passage 20c that is disposed to be opposed to a membrane electrode assembly 10m on a cathode side, and a separator 30 sandwiching the membrane electrode assembly 10m and the porous passage 20c, the separator including a cathode off-gas discharging through hole 32b through which cathode off-gas discharged from the porous passage 20c flows. The porous passage 20c has a sticking-out part 201 when viewed in the thickness direction of the separator 30, and the sticking-out part sticks out into the cathode off-gas discharging through hole 32b from a side of the membrane electrode assembly 10m, and a length of the sticking-out part 201 in a longer direction of the separator 30 is shorter than one side of the cathode off-gas discharging through hole 32b on the membrane electrode assembly 10m side. |
| US10403918B2 |
Heated catalytic oxidizer for an enclosed humid environment
A system has a fuel cell. The fuel cell has a source of hydrogen and a source of oxygen containing gas. The hydrogen is connected for passage across the anode. The source of oxygen containing gas is connected to pass across a cathode. The fuel cell produces electricity. A catalytic oxidizer oxidizes hydrogen within the system. A cooling water circuit passes across cooling water passages in the fuel cell and cools the cathode. Cooling water downstream of the cooling water passages passes across the catalytic oxidizer to heat the catalytic oxidizer. An enclosed vehicle is also disclosed. |
| US10403913B2 |
Fuel cell device having a water-transferring anode gas path, and method for operating a fuel cell
A fuel cell device (1) including an anode-gas path (3) and a method for operating a fuel cell device (1). In order to wet an anode of the fuel cell device (1) in a simple manner, an anode-gas drainage section (13) of the fuel cell device (1) is connected to an anode-gas supply section (7) of the fuel cell device (1) in a water-conducting manner and water is added to an anode-gas that is carried to the fuel cell (2). |
| US10403910B2 |
Fuel cell stack
Disclosed herein is a fuel cell stack with improved manufacturing performance. The fuel cell stack includes: a separator that comprises a diffusion part, as being provided with a diffusion channel, configured to distribute reaction gas and cooling water and a reaction part, as being continuously formed from the diffusion part and provided with a reaction channel that has a height greater than that of the diffusion channel, configured to move reaction gas distributed from the diffusion part and generate electrons by a chemical reaction; and a gas diffusion layer configured to contact the separator at the diffusion part and the reaction part. |
| US10403906B2 |
Fuel cell electrode catalyst, method of producing the same, and fuel cell
A fuel cell electrode catalyst includes a carbon support having pores, and catalyst particles supported on the carbon support and containing platinum or a platinum alloy. The pores of the fuel cell electrode catalyst have a mode pore size within a range from 2 nm to 5 nm. In the pores of the fuel cell electrode catalyst, a pore volume of pores having pore sizes within the range from 2 nm to 5 nm is 0.4 cm3/g or larger. The catalyst particles have a crystallite size within the range from 2 nm to 5 nm at a platinum (220) plane. A density of the supported catalyst particles is within a range from 10% by mass to 50% by mass with respect to a total mass of the fuel cell electrode catalyst. |
| US10403904B2 |
Catalyst layer material, method for fabricating the same, and fuel cell
A catalyst layer material, a method for fabricating the same, and a fuel cell are provided. The catalyst layer material utilized for the fuel cell includes a catalyst support and a catalyst distributed on the catalyst support. The catalyst support contains TixM1-xO2, wherein M is selected from the group consisting of a Group IB metal, a Group IIA metal, a Group IIB metal, a Group IIIA, a Group VB metal, a Group VIB metal, a Group VIIB metal and a Group VIIIB metal, and 0 |
| US10403903B2 |
Low-rate battery design
An electrochemical cell comprising a cathode and an anode residing within a casing, the anode being positioned distal of the cathode. The cathode having a cathode current collector having an angled configuration that encourages the cathode active material to move in an axial distal direction during cell discharge. The cathode current collector may be configured having at least one fold thereby dividing the current collector into at least two portions having an angle therebetween. The cathode current collector may comprise a wire having a helical configuration or the cathode current collector may comprise a post with a thread having a helical orientation about the post exterior. A preferred chemistry is a lithium/CFx activated with a nonaqueous electrolyte. |
| US10403902B2 |
High capacity rechargeable batteries
An electrically active electrode material for use with a lithium ion cell, a lithium ion cell, and a method for forming the electrochemically active material electrode material are described. The electrode material is in the form of a sheet or mat formed of a valve metal material formed of filaments of a valve metal not larger than about 10 microns in cross section, and coated with an electrochemically active material such as silicon nanoparticles. |
| US10403900B2 |
Method for producing porous graphite, and porous graphite
A method for producing porous graphite capable of realizing higher durability, output and capacity, and porous graphite. A carbon member having microvoids is obtained by a dealloying step for selectively eluting other non-carbon main components into a metal bath by immersing a carbon-containing material, composed of a compound including carbon or an alloy or non-equilibrium alloy, in the metal bath, wherein the metal bath has a solidifying point lower than the melting point of the carbon-containing material, and is controlled to a temperature lower than the minimum value of a liquidus temperature within a composition fluctuation range extending from the carbon-containing material to carbon by reducing the other non-carbon main components. The carbon member obtained in the dealloying step is graphitized by heating in a graphitization step. The carbon member graphitized in the graphitization step is subjected to activation treatment by an activation step. |
| US10403897B2 |
Conductive polymer binder for a novel silicon/graphene anode in lithium ion batteries
A composite electrode prepared from silicon-graphene material and conductive polymer binder poly (1-pyrenebutyl methacrylate-co-methacrylic acid) for use in lithium-ion batteries. |
| US10403896B2 |
Binder composition for storage device electrode, slurry for storage device electrode, storage device electrode, and storage device
An electrical storage device electrode binder composition exhibits an excellent binding capability, and makes it possible to produce an electrical storage device electrode that exhibits excellent charge-discharge durability characteristics. The electrical storage device electrode binder composition includes a polymer (A) and a liquid medium (B), wherein the polymer (A) is polymer particles, and the ratio (DA/DB) of the average particle size (DA) of the polymer particles measured by using a dynamic light scattering method to the average particle size (DB) of the polymer particles measured by TEM observation is 2 to 10. |
| US10403895B2 |
Organic flow cell batteries and materials for use in same
The present invention relates to an organic flow cell battery having a material comprising an organic molecule that can be used as the electroactive redox material for both electrodes of the battery. By enabling two-electron processes both of the oxidation and reduction to occur in a single molecule, a total of 4-electron transitions is achieved, which allows the organic molecule to be used on both sides of the separator, reducing material costs and allowing the battery to be charge in either direction with equal ease. |
| US10403894B2 |
Vertically aligned carbon nanotube arrays as electrodes
Embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to electrodes that include a plurality of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes and a metal associated with the vertically aligned carbon nanotubes. The vertically aligned carbon nanotubes may be in the form of a graphene-carbon nanotube hybrid material that includes a graphene film covalently linked to the vertically aligned carbon nanotubes. The metal may become reversibly associated with the carbon nanotubes in situ during electrode operation and lack any dendrites or mossy aggregates. The metal may be in the form of a non-dendritic or non-mossy coating on surfaces of the vertically aligned carbon nanotubes. The metal may also be infiltrated within bundles of the vertically aligned carbon nanotubes. Additional embodiments pertain to energy storage devices that contain the electrodes of the present disclosure. Further embodiments pertain to methods of forming said electrodes by applying a metal to a plurality of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes. |
| US10403889B2 |
High-capacity silicon nanowire based anode for lithium-ion batteries
The present invention provides anodes comprising an electrically conductive substrate, comprising at least one non-uniform surface; and a random network of silicon nanowires (Si NWs) chemically grown on said at least one non-uniform surface of the substrate, wherein the Si NWs have at least about 30% amorphous morphology, and methods of manufacturing of the anodes. Further provided are lithium ion batteries comprising said anodes. |
| US10403888B2 |
Negative electrode material of lithium battery and method for manufacturing the same
A method for manufacturing a negative electrode material of a lithium battery is provided. The method includes: covering a metal material and a carbon material on a surface of a silicon material; performing a thermal process for reacting the metal material with the carbon material on the surface of the silicon material thereby forming a silicon composite material and at least one projection on the surface of the silicon material, wherein a free end of the projection is extended to form a head, the silicon composite material is used as the negative electrode material of the lithium battery, the silicon composite material comprises a composite layer forming on the surface of the silicon material, and the composite layer comprises a metal silicide, a metal oxide, a silicon carbide and a silicon oxide. |
| US10403886B2 |
Anode material for secondary battery,secondary battery including the anode material and method for preparing the anode material
Disclosed is an anode material for a sodium secondary battery. The anode material includes a tin fluoride-carbon composite composed of a tin fluoride and a carbonaceous material. The anode material can be used to improve the charge/discharge capacity, charge/discharge efficiency, and electrochemical activity of a sodium secondary battery. Also provided are a method for preparing the anode material and a sodium secondary battery including the anode material. |
| US10403885B2 |
Active material for batteries
A method of producing an active material for batteries comprising providing electrochemically active particles, optionally comminuting the electrochemically active particles, adding an organic carbon compound, optionally in a suitable organic solvent, and mixing, heating the mixture under protective gas to a temperature above the decomposition limit of the organic compound and below the decomposition temperature of the electrochemically active particles, active materials thus obtained and also corresponding applications and uses. |
| US10403882B2 |
Secondary battery-use active material, secondary battery-use electrode, secondary battery, battery pack, electric vehicle, electric power storage system, electric power tool, and electronic apparatus
The present invention provides a secondary battery-use active material that allows for an improvement in thermal stability after charge and discharge are repeated. The secondary battery-use active material of the present invention includes a cathode active material that includes (A) a main phase and a sub-phase, (B) the main phase containing a first lithium compound represented by LiaNibMcAldOe (where M is an element such as cobalt, and 0.8 |
| US10403878B2 |
Method and system for supplying lithium to electrode plate
The present invention provides a method and a system for supplying lithium to an electrode plate. The method includes: compositing a first substrate and a first lithium strip to form a first composite lithium strip, and forming an obstruction using a second substrate between the first lithium strip and a compositing device, compositing the first composite lithium strip and an electrode plate to be supplied with lithium to form a lithium supplied composite electrode plate, during the compositing process, the first substrate in the first composite lithium strip is located at a side away from the electrode plate to be supplied with lithium, peeling and reeling the first substrate from the lithium supplied composite electrode plate, to form a lithium supplied electrode plate. |
| US10403877B2 |
Manufacturing method of electrode and manufacturing apparatus of electrode
A manufacturing method manufactures an electrode by use of a manufacturing apparatus including a B-roll configured to convey granules, a C-roll configured to convey a metal foil, and a cooling portion configured to cool down the metal foil on an upstream side relative to the C-roll in terms of a conveying direction of the metal foil. Further, the manufacturing apparatus cools down the metal foil by use of the cooling portion, supplies the metal foil thus cooled down by the cooling portion to the C-roll, and transfers the granules to the metal foil in a deposition gap between the B-roll and the C-roll. |
| US10403876B2 |
Electrode lead connecting structure, battery module comprising electrode lead connecting structure, and battery pack comprising battery module
Disclosed are an electrode lead connecting structure capable of simplifying an assembly process of busbars by integrating sensing and electrode busbars, and of minimizing worker's mistakes during the assembly process by almost horizontally arranging busbars on a printed circuit board for each level, a battery module including the electrode lead connecting structure, and a battery pack including the battery module. An electrode lead connecting structure according to the present disclosure includes a printed circuit board, first and second electrode-integrated sensing busbars provided at a lowest level of one side edge of the printed circuit board and at a highest level of an opposite side edge of the printed circuit board, respectively, a first sensing busbar group located on the first L-shaped end strip busbar at the one side edge, and a second sensing busbar group located under the second L-shaped end strip busbar at the opposite side edge. |
| US10403869B2 |
Adhesive tape for positioning battery cells in a battery module
The present disclosure includes a battery module that includes a housing having a stack of battery cells. Each battery cell of the stack of battery cells includes a terminal end having at least one cell terminal and a face oriented transverse to the terminal end. The battery module also includes adhesive tape disposed between a first face of a first battery cell of the stack of battery cells and a second face of a second battery cell of the stack of battery cells, and where the adhesive tape fixedly couples the first battery cell to the second battery cell, and where a first terminal end of the first battery cell is substantially aligned with a second terminal end of the second battery cell. |
| US10403868B2 |
Battery
A battery has a housing (4) with battery cells (5) that are temperature-controlled/cooled by a liquid temperature control/liquid cooling system (10) and a gas temperature control/gas cooling system (15). The gas temperature control/gas cooling system (15) has at least one closed circuit (16) in the housing (4). |
| US10403867B2 |
Battery devices
A battery carrier configured to be mounted to a tool body of an electric tool for supplying electric power to the tool body is provided. The battery carrier may include a plurality of battery mount sections disposed at a first surface of the battery carrier and each configured to hold a battery, a tool body mount section disposed at a second surface of the battery carrier opposite to the first surface and configured to be mounted to the tool body, and a marker disposed at the first surface and serving as a target for movement of the tool body mount section relative to the tool body when the tool body mount section is mounted to the tool body. |
| US10403865B2 |
Aluminum film packaging materials used for lithium batteries
A method for lithium aluminum film packaging materials, with water, high temperature and corrosion resistance, the substrate layer, and then layer, aluminum foil layer, anti-corrosion layer, adhesive layer and the inner layer together constitute from the outermost to innermost layer laminate structure in which one side of the aluminum foil layer, or both side surface of the conductive coating material to said coating and curing anticorrosive layer, and the use of fluorine-containing polyurethane resin constituting the laminated rubber layer and the inner layer of corrosion between the adhesive layer, used lithium batteries as plastic film packaging applications, it can promote lithium battery with Merit water resistance, high temperature resistance and corrosion resistance, and enhance the use of lithium batteries in years. |
| US10403860B2 |
Mask frame assembly, a method of manufacturing the same, and a method of manufacturing a display apparatus
A mask frame assembly including a frame and a mask having a first surface that contacts the frame. The mask includes an active area and pattern holes formed in the active area, the pattern holes being configured to allow a deposition material to pass through the mask. The mask also includes a rib portion disposed outside the active area and configured to block the deposition material from passing through the mask and a non-magnetic reinforcing member disposed on a part of the rib portion. |
| US10403859B2 |
Organic light-emitting device with graphene electrode layer and method of manufacturing the same
An organic light-emitting device includes a substrate, a bottom electrode on the substrate, an organic light-emitting layer on the bottom electrode, and a top electrode on the organic light-emitting layer, wherein the top electrode includes a first electrode part, a grid-shaped or plate-shaped second electrode part on the first electrode part, and an adhesive layer on the second electrode part. The organic light-emitting device includes the top electrode that has low sheet resistance. The top electrode includes a graphene layer as the first electrode part. |
| US10403858B2 |
Method for manufacturing organic electronic device and method for manufacturing sealing member
According to a method for manufacturing an organic electronic device, a sealing member (19) that includes a sealing substrate (15), an adhesive part (13) exhibiting adhesiveness and is provided on the sealing substrate (15), and a hygroscopic part (11) being a hygroscopic cured product provided on the adhesive part (13) is bonded to an organic electronic element (17). |
| US10403856B2 |
Organic EL panel having substrate comprising light incident section and light guide section
The present invention provides a novel organic EL panel adapted to be color tunable by a user, for example. An organic EL panel 10 of the present invention includes: a first substrate 11; a second substrate 12; an organic EL element 13; and a sealing layer 14. One surface of the first substrate 11 is a mounting surface on which the organic EL element 13 is disposed. The first substrate 11 and the second substrate 12 are laminated in such a manner that the mounting surface of the first substrate 11 and one surface of the second substrate 12 face each other with the sealing layer 14 interposed therebetween. The sealing layer 14 seals a gap between the first substrate 11 and the second substrate 12 along an entire periphery of a region where the first substrate 11 and the second substrate 12 face each other. The first substrate 11 includes a light incident section 15 on which laser light is incident and a light guide section 16 that directs the incident laser light in an in-plane direction. |
| US10403855B2 |
Display screen and method for manufacturing the same, and display device
The present disclosure provides a display screen including a display panel and a backside concave lens array located on a backside of the display panel, wherein the backside is a side of the display panel away from a display side; the display panel comprises a plurality of transparent regions; the backside concave lens array comprises a plurality of backside concave lenses, and each of the plurality of backside concave lenses is corresponding to one of the transparent regions; each of the plurality of backside concave lenses comprises at least one concave surface, and one of the at least one concave surface is disposed away from the display panel. |
| US10403854B2 |
OLED device having enhancement layer(s)
An OLED is disclosed that includes an enhancement layer having optically active metamaterials, or hyperbolic metamaterials, which transfer radiative energy from the organic emissive material to a non-radiative mode, wherein the enhancement layer is disposed over the organic emissive layer opposite from the first electrode, and is positioned no more than a threshold distance away from the organic emissive layer, wherein the organic emissive material has a total non-radiative decay rate constant and a total radiative decay rate constant due to the presence of the enhancement layer, and the threshold distance is where the total non-radiative decay rate constant is equal to the total radiative decay rate constant; and an outcoupling layer disposed over the enhancement layer, wherein the outcoupling layer scatters radiative energy from the enhancement layer to free space. |
| US10403851B2 |
Organic light emitting diode display
An organic light emitting diode display includes: a substrate; an organic light emitting element on the substrate; and a capping layer on the organic light emitting element and including a high refraction layer formed of an inorganic material having a refractive index which is equal to or greater than about 1.7 and equal to or less than about 6.0, wherein the inorganic material includes at least one selected from CuI, thallium iodide (TlI), AgI, CdI2, HgI2, SnI2, PbI2, BiI3, ZnI2, MnI2, FeI2, CoI2, NiI2, aluminum iodide (AlI3), thorium (IV) iodide (ThI4), uranium triiodide (UI3), MgS, MgSe, MgTe, CaS, CaSe, CaTe, SrS, SrSe, SrTe, BaS, BaSe, BaTe, SnS, PbS, CdS, CaS, ZnS, ZnTe, PbTe, CdTe, SnSe, PbSe, CdSe, CuO, Cu2O, WO3, MoO3, SnO2, Nb2O5, Ag2O, CdO, CoO, Pr2O3, Bi2O3, Fe2O3, AlAs, GaAs, InAs, GaP, InP, AlP, AlSb, GaSb, and InSb. |
| US10403850B2 |
Encapsulation film and method for encapsulating organic electronic device using same
Provided are an encapsulation film, a product for encapsulating an organic electronic device (OED) using the same, and a method of encapsulating an OED. The encapsulation film may effectively block moisture or oxygen permeating into the OED from an external environment, provide high reliability due to increases in a lifespan and durability of the OED, and minimize align errors in a process of attaching the film to a substrate. |
| US10403845B2 |
Top-emissive organic light-emitting diode display
A top-emissive organic light-emitting diode display includes a substrate, an auxiliary line, an insulating film, an auxiliary cathode, a passivation film, a planarization film, an under-cut opening, an under-area, a connecting terminal, an organic emission layer, and a cathode. An under-cut opening exposes one end of the auxiliary cathode. The under-area is formed inside the under-cut opening by removing the insulating film underlying the exposed end of the auxiliary cathode. The connecting terminal on the planarization film extends to the under-cut opening and makes contact with the exposed auxiliary cathode. The organic emission layer is stacked on the surface of the auxiliary cathode, and is not applied to the under-area and exposes the side of the connecting terminal making contact with the auxiliary cathode. The cathode is stacked on the organic emission layer and makes contact with the side of the connecting terminal not covered by the organic emission layer. |
| US10403844B2 |
Organic light-emitting element
The present application describes an organic light emitting device including a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer between a cathode and a light emitting layer or between light emitting units, in which the first layer includes an n-type organic material or metal oxide, the second layer includes a barrier material, and the third layer includes an n-type dopant. |
| US10403842B2 |
Light-emitting component and method for producing a light-emitting component
A light-emitting component is provided including a functional layer stack having at least one light-emitting layer which is set up to generate light during the operation of the component, a first electrode and a second electrode, which are set up to inject charge carriers into the functional layer stack during operation, and an encapsulation arrangement having encapsulation material, which is arranged above at least one of the electrodes and the functional layer stack. At least one of the electrodes is transparent and contains a wavelength conversion substance and/or the encapsulation material is transparent and contains a wavelength conversion substance. |
| US10403840B2 |
Devices for emitting and/or receiving electromagnetic radiation, and method for providing same
The invention describes a device for emitting or detecting electromagnetic radiation. The device has a first and a second electrode which are connected to each other via an electrically conductive nanostructure. The electrically conductive nanostructure is configured to receive electrons and holes from the first and second electrode or transport same to the first and second electrode. In addition, the device has a radiation molecule arranged at a circumferential surface of the electrically conductive nanostructure. The radiation molecule is configured to absorb electrons and holes or electromagnetic radiation and emit the electromagnetic radiation with recombination of electrons absorbed and holes absorbed, or emit electrons and holes based on the electromagnetic radiation absorbed. The electrically conductive nanostructure is, in the region of a circumferential surface, surrounded at least partly by the first or second electrode at an end arranged at the first or second electrode in order to provide electrical contact of the first or second electrode and the electrically conductive nanostructure. |
| US10403839B2 |
Light-emitting element
Provided is a light-emitting element with high external quantum efficiency, or a light-emitting element with a long lifetime. The light-emitting element includes, between a pair of electrodes, a light-emitting layer including a guest material and a host material, in which an emission spectrum of the host material overlaps with an absorption spectrum of the guest material, and phosphorescence is emitted by conversion of an excitation energy of the host material into an excitation energy of the guest material. By using the overlap between the emission spectrum of the host material and the absorption spectrum of the guest material, the energy smoothly transfers from the host material to the guest material, so that the energy transfer efficiency of the light-emitting element is high. Accordingly, a light-emitting element with high external quantum efficiency can be achieved. |
| US10403837B2 |
Organic photoelectric device and image sensor
An organic photoelectronic device includes an anode and a cathode facing each other, a light-absorption layer between the anode and the cathode, and a first auxiliary layer between the cathode and the light-absorption layer, the first auxiliary layer having an energy bandgap of about 3.0 eV to about 4.5 eV, and a difference between a work function of the cathode and a highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) energy level of the first auxiliary layer is about 1.5 eV to about 2.0 eV. |
| US10403834B2 |
Flexible display device, method for fabricating window member of same, and hard coating composition
A flexible display device including a hard coating layer, the hard coating layer containing first hard coating oligomers, second hard coating oligomers having greater molecular weights than the first hard coating oligomers, a cross-linker, and a photoinitiator. The first hard coating oligomers may maintain the hardness of the hard coating layer and the second hard coating oligomers may improve the flexibility of the hard coating layer, such that damage to the hard coating layer may be prevented or reduced even when the flexible display device is bent. |
| US10403832B2 |
Organic electroluminescence device
The present invention relates to an electroluminescence device having high luminous efficiency (for example, external quantum efficiency) and high durability and causing little chromaticity shift after device deterioration. The present invention also relates to an organic electroluminescence device material comprising a substrate having thereon a pair of electrodes and at least one organic layer between the electrodes, the organic layer containing a light emitting layer, wherein the light emitting layer contains a metal complex having a group represented by formula (I). |
| US10403831B2 |
Organic electroluminescent materials and devices
Compounds comprising phosphorescent metal complexes comprising cyclometallated imidazo[1,2-f]phenanthridine and diimidazo[1,2-a:1′,2′-c]quinazoline ligands, or isoelectronic or benzannulated analogs thereof, are described. Organic light emitting diode devices comprising these compounds are also described. |
| US10403828B2 |
Organic compound, and organic thin film and electronic device
An organic compound is represented by Chemical Formula 1, and an organic thin film, an organic thin film transistor, and an electronic device include the organic compound. |
| US10403817B2 |
Memory device with memory cell pillar having resistive memory layer with wedge memory portion and body memory portion, and method of fabricating the same
A memory device may include a first conductive line, a second conductive line extending in a direction intersecting the first conductive line, such that the first conductive line and the second conductive line vertically overlap at a cross-point between the first conductive line and the second conductive line, and a memory cell pillar at the cross-point. The memory cell pillar may include a heating electrode layer and a resistive memory layer contacting the heating electrode layer. The resistive memory layer may include a wedge memory portion having a width that increases continuously in proportion with increasing distance from the heating electrode layer, and a body memory portion connected to the wedge memory portion such that the body memory portion and the wedge memory portion comprise an individual and continuous layer, the body memory portion having a greater width than the wedge memory portion. |
| US10403816B2 |
CEM switching device
Subject matter herein disclosed relates to a method for the manufacture of a switching device comprising a silicon-containing correlated electron material. In embodiments, processes are described for forming the silicon-containing correlated electron material. These processes may use comparatively lower temperatures as compared to those used for forming a correlated electron material comprising a transition metal oxide. |
| US10403806B2 |
Light emitting diode assembly using thermal pyrolytic graphite for thermal management
A light emitting diode assembly comprising such thermal management assembly is shown and described herein. The light emitting diode assembly may comprise a light emitting diode in thermal contact with a heat spreader. The heat spreader may comprise a core and/or fins. The core and/or fins comprise a thermal pyrolytic graphite material. The thermal management assembly comprising the core and/or fins can dissipate heat from the light emitting diode. |
| US10403805B2 |
Light emitting diodes with enhanced thermal sinking and associated methods of operation
Solid state lighting devices and associated methods of thermal sinking are described below. In one embodiment, a light emitting diode (LED) device includes a heat sink, an LED die thermally coupled to the heat sink, and a phosphor spaced apart from the LED die. The LED device also includes a heat conduction path in direct contact with both the phosphor and the heat sink. The heat conduction path is configured to conduct heat from the phosphor to the heat sink. |
| US10403804B2 |
Using MEMS fabrication incorporating into LED device mounting and assembly
LED chip packaging assembly that facilitates an integrated method for mounting LED chips as a group to be pre-wired to be electrically connected to each other through a pattern of extendable metal wiring lines is provided. LED chips which are electrically connected to each other through extendable metal wiring lines, replace pick and place mounting and the wire bonding processes of the LED chips, respectively. Wafer level MEMS technology is utilized to form parallel wiring lines suspended and connected to various contact pads. Bonding wires connecting the LED chips are made into horizontally arranged extendable metal wiring lines which can be in a spring shape, and allowing for expanding and contracting of the distance between the connected LED chips. A tape is further provided to be bonded to the LED chips, and extended in size to enlarge distance between the LED chips to exceed the one or more prearranged distances. |
| US10403800B1 |
Remote wavelength-converting member and related systems
Systems including light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are provided. The systems include one or more wavelength-converting member(s) that is/are remote from the emission surface of one or more LED-based light source(s). The wavelength-converting member may be separated from the emission surface of a first LED and positioned such that light emitted from the first LED is absorbed by the wavelength-converting material. The wavelength-converting material emits secondary light having a different wavelength than the wavelength of the light emitted from the first LED. The systems may include a second light source comprising a second LED configured to emit light having a wavelength from an emission surface and a wavelength-combining element configured to combine the secondary light from the wavelength-converting member and the light emitted from the second light source to form a co-axial light beam. |
| US10403799B1 |
Structure with micro device
A structure with micro device including a substrate, at least one micro device, at least one holding structure, and at least one buffering structure is provided. The micro device is disposed on the substrate and has a top surface away from the substrate, a bottom surface opposite to the top surface, and a circumferential surface connecting the top surface and the bottom surface. The holding structure is disposed on the substrate. From the cross-sectional view, a thickness of the holding structure in a normal direction of the substrate gradually increases from the boundary of the top surface and the circumferential surface to the substrate. The buffering structure is disposed between the holding structure and the substrate. The holding structure is connected to the substrate through the buffering structure. |
| US10403798B2 |
Method for fabricating quantum dot light emitting diodes (LEDs) with suppressed photobrighting
A device and associated method are provided for a light emitting diode device (LED) with suppressed quantum dot (QD) photobrightening. The QD surfaces, with a maximum cross-sectional dimension of 10 nanometers, are treated with a solution including a multi-valent cation salt. In response to heating the solution, multi-valent cations become attached to the surface of the QD nanocrystals, forming treated QDs that are deposited overlying a top surface of an LED. The LED device emits a non-varying intensity of first wavelength light in the visible spectrum from the treated QDs, when subjected to a continuous exposure of a second wavelength of LED light having an intensity of greater than 50 watts per square centimeter. For example, blue, green, or red color light may be emitted when exposed to LED light in the ultraviolet (UV) spectrum, or a green or red color light when exposed to a blue color LED light. |
| US10403794B2 |
Semiconductor device
The semiconductor device includes a first conductivity-type semiconductor structure comprising a first stack and a second stack, wherein the first stack comprises alternate first layers and second layers, the second stack comprises alternate third layers and fourth layers. The semiconductor device includes a second conductivity-type semiconductor structure on the first conductivity-type semiconductor and includes an active structure between the first conductivity-type semiconductor structure and the second conductivity-type semiconductor structure. The first stack is between the active structure and the second stack, and a first difference between a maximum of the first doping concentration of one of the first layers and a minimum of the second doping concentration of one of the second layers is less than a second difference between a maximum of the third doping concentration of one of the third layers and a minimum of the fourth doping concentration of one of the fourth layers. |
| US10403793B2 |
Method of forming nanorods and method of manufacturing semiconductor element
A method of forming semiconductor nanorods includes: placing, in a chamber, a masking material and a base comprising a semiconductor, wherein an etching rate of the masking material in a chemical reaction with a reactant gas during dry etching is lower than an etching rate of a semiconductor in a chemical reaction with the reactant gas during dry etching; and performing dry-etching to form a plurality of dot-masks, each having a form of a dot containing the masking material, on a surface of the semiconductor and to remove a portion of the semiconductor exposed from the dot-masks, wherein the dry-etching is performed under a pressure in the chamber in a predetermined range that allows the masking material scattered by the etching to be adhered to a surface of the semiconductor with a predetermined size of the dots and a predetermined density of the dots. |
| US10403792B2 |
Package for ultraviolet emitting devices
Embodiments of the invention include a light emitting diode (LED) including a semiconductor structure. The semiconductor structure includes an active layer disposed between an n-type region and a p-type region. The active layer emits UV radiation. The LED is disposed on the mount. The mount is disposed on a conductive slug. A support surrounds the conductive slug. The support includes electrically conductive contact pads disposed on a bottom surface, and a thermally conductive pad disposed beneath the conductive slug, wherein the thermally conductive pad is not electrically connected to the LED. |
| US10403788B2 |
Light source module
A light source module includes a substrate, a first covering layer, a second covering layer, a luminous layer and a supporting base. The luminous layer is arranged between the first covering layer and the second covering layer. The luminous layer emits a light beam in response to a first current flowing through the first covering layer and a second current flowing through the second covering layer. The light beam is projected to surroundings through the substrate. The supporting base is electrically connected with the first covering layer and the second covering layer. The supporting base includes a circuit board and a passivation layer. When a portion of the light beam projected to the supporting base is reflected by the passivation layer, the portion of the light beam is projected to the surroundings through the substrate. |
| US10403786B2 |
Optoelectronic system and method for its fabrication
An optoelectronic system comprising a first member and a second member, said first member and said second member comprising a plurality of layers, wherein each member has a profiled mating surface, the first member being connected to the second member such that the growth direction of the layers of the first member are orthogonal to the growth direction of the layers of the second member and the profiled mating surfaces fit together, the first member comprises a waveguide circuit comprising a waveguide and the second member comprises an optoelectronic device with its own optical output which is connected to the waveguide of the first member, the first and second members also being electrically connected. |
| US10403785B2 |
Wavelength converting material deposition methods and associated articles
Systems and methods related to the arrangement of regions containing wavelength-converting materials, and associated articles, are provided. |
| US10403783B2 |
Nanostructured substrates for improved lift-off of III-V thin films
Reusable nanostructured substrates for forming semiconductor thin films, such as those used in solar cells, are configured with nanopillars to permit improved lift-off of thin films. |
| US10403778B2 |
Multijunction solar cell assembly for space applications
A multijunction solar cell assembly and its method of manufacture including first and second discrete and different semiconductor body subassemblies which are electrically interconnected to form a five junction solar cell, each semiconductor body subassembly including first, second, third and fourth lattice matched subcells; wherein the average band gap of all four cells in each subassembly is greater than 1.44 eV. |
| US10403777B2 |
Solar panel with optical light enhancement device
A double layered superimposed and parallel solar panels having an optical system comprising cylindrical rods and convex lenses at either end of said rods. Said optical rods are centrally longitudinally and transversely inserted in the upper panel through slits where sunlight rays pass and diffract through said rods and widely diffuse over the entire surface of the lower solar panel. A plurality of optical rods may be used thereby increasing the light transmission to the lower solar panel. The present invention significantly reduces the surface needed to install conventional residential as well as commercial solar panels. |
| US10403775B2 |
Solar cell module
A solar cell module is disclosed. The solar cell module includes a plurality of solar cells, a front transparent substrate located in a front surface of the plurality of solar cells, a back transparent substrate located on a back surface of the plurality of solar cells, a front protection unit located between the front transparent substrate and the plurality of solar cells, and a back protection unit located between the back transparent substrate and the plurality of solar cells. The back transparent substrate includes an anti-reflection layer. |
| US10403770B2 |
Conductive paste composition and semiconductor devices made therewith
A conductive paste composition comprises (i) an inorganic powder comprising at least a conductive powder, (ii) at least one microgel polymer, and (iii) a solvent. The paste composition may be used in a process for manufacturing an electrical device comprising: preparing a substrate; applying the conductive paste onto the substrate in a preselected pattern; and heating the applied conductive paste to form a conductive structure that provides an electrode for connecting the device. The paste composition beneficially permits the formation of narrow, high aspect ratio features in the conductive structure. |
| US10403766B2 |
NAND flash memory with vertical cell stack structure and method for manufacturing same
Disclosed is a method of manufacturing flash memory with a vertical cell stack structure. The method includes forming source lines in a cell area of a substrate having an ion-implanted well and forming an alignment mark relative to the source lines. The alignment mark is formed in the substrate outside the cell area of the substrate. After formation of the source lines, cell stacking layers are formed. After forming the cell stacking layers, cell pillars in the cell stacking layers are formed at locations relative to the previously formed source lines using the alignment mark to correctly locate the cell pillars. |
| US10403764B2 |
Organic light-emitting display apparatus
Provided is a thin film transistor including an active layer including a first silicon active layer, a second silicon active layer, and an oxide active layer in a space between the first silicon active layer and the second silicon active layer, a gate electrode on the active layer with a gate insulating layer disposed therebetween, and a source electrode and a drain electrode with an interlayer insulating layer disposed between the gate electrode and the source and drain electrodes, the source and drain electrodes being in contact with the first silicon active layer and the second silicon active layer, respectively. |
| US10403763B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
It is an object to provide an oxide semiconductor which is suitable for use in a semiconductor device. Alternatively, it is another object to provide a semiconductor device using the oxide semiconductor. Provided is a semiconductor device including an In—Ga—Zn—O based oxide semiconductor layer in a channel formation region of a transistor. In the semiconductor device, the In—Ga—Zn—O based oxide semiconductor layer has a structure in which crystal grains represented by InGaO3(ZnO)m (m=1) are included in an amorphous structure represented by InGaO3(ZnO)m (m>0). |
| US10403760B2 |
Oxide semiconductor film, semiconductor device including the oxide semiconductor film, and display device including the semiconductor device
A novel oxide semiconductor film. An oxide semiconductor film with a small amount of defects. An oxide semiconductor film in which a peak value of the density of shallow defect states at an interface between the oxide semiconductor film and an insulating film is small. The oxide semiconductor film includes In, M (M is Al, Ga, Y, or Sn), Zn, and a region in which a peak value of a density of shallow defect states is less than 1E13 per square cm per volt. |
| US10403759B2 |
Logic circuitry using three dimensionally stacked dual-gate thin-film transistors
Disclosed is a logic circuit using three-dimensionally stacked dual-gate thin-film transistors, including a substrate, a first dual-gate thin-film transistor on the substrate, a second dual-gate thin-film transistor on the first dual-gate thin-film transistor, and a third dual-gate thin-film transistor on the second dual-gate thin-film transistor, wherein the first dual-gate thin-film transistor, the second dual-gate thin-film transistor and the third dual-gate thin-film transistor are electrically connected to each other. The logic circuit of the invention is configured such that dual-gate thin-film transistors are three-dimensionally stacked, whereby the advantages of the dual-gate structure and of thin-film transistors can be exhibited together and the degree of integration can be drastically increased, and a logic gate is made in the area of a single transistor, thereby remarkably simplifying wire and circuit designs. |
| US10403757B2 |
Top-gate self-aligned metal oxide semiconductor TFT and method of making the same
The present disclosure provides a top-gate self-aligned metal oxide semiconductor TFT and a manufacturing method thereof. By providing a light-shielding layer below an active layer to protect the active layer from light irradiation and prevent the TFT from generating a negative threshold voltage drift phenomenon. Further, by connecting the light-shielding layer to the source, a stable voltage is generated on the light-shielding layer to avoid the floating gate effect, so as to improve the working stability of the TFT effectively. The top-gate self-aligned metal oxide semiconductor TFT produced by the method of the present disclosure does not generate negative threshold voltage drift phenomenon and floating gate effect, resulting in good working stability. |
| US10403753B2 |
Controlling structural phase transitions and properties of two-dimensional materials by integrating with multiferroic layers
The invention relates to heterostructures including a layer of a two-dimensional material placed on a multiferroic layer. An ordered array of differing polarization domains and surface charges in the multiferroic layer produces corresponding domains having differing properties in the two-dimensional material. When the multiferroic layer is ferroelectric, the ferroelectric polarization domains in the layer produce local electric fields that penetrate the two-dimensional material. The local electric fields and surface charges can control the structural phase of the two-dimensional material, which in turn determines whether the two-dimensional material layer is insulating or metallic, has a band gap or no band gap, and whether it is magnetic or non-magnetic. Methods for producing the heterostructures are provided. Devices incorporating the heterostructures are also provided. |
| US10403744B2 |
Semiconductor devices comprising 2D-materials and methods of manufacture thereof
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device comprising two-dimensional (2D) materials may include: epitaxially forming a first two-dimensional (2D) material layer over a substrate; calculating a mean thickness of the first 2D material layer; comparing the mean thickness of the first 2D material layer with a reference parameter; determining that the mean thickness of the first 2D material layer is not substantially equal to the reference parameter; and after the determining, epitaxially forming a second 2D material layer over the first 2D material layer. |
| US10403739B2 |
Method for fabricating semiconductor device
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a stacked structure including at least one sacrificial layer and at least one semiconductor layer alternately stacked on a substrate, forming a dummy gate structure on the stacked structure, etching a recess in the stacked structure using the dummy gate structure as a mask, etching portions of the sacrificial layer exposed by the recess to form an etched sacrificial layer, forming a first spacer film on the etched sacrificial layer, forming a second spacer film on the first spacer film, the second spacer film including a material different from a material of the first spacer film, removing a first portion of the second spacer film, such that a second portion of the second spacer film remains, and forming a third spacer film on the second portion of the second spacer film. |
| US10403737B2 |
Method of forming a gate structure of a semiconductor device
A method of forming a gate structure of a semiconductor device including depositing a high-k dielectric layer over a substrate is provided. A dummy metal layer is formed over the high-k dielectric layer. The dummy metal layer includes fluorine. A high temperature process is performed to drive the fluorine from the dummy metal layer into the high-k dielectric layer thereby forming a passivated high-k dielectric layer. Thereafter, the dummy metal layer is removed. At least one work function layer over the passivated high-k dielectric layer is formed. A fill metal layer is formed over the at least one work function layer. |
| US10403736B2 |
Polysilicon design for replacement gate technology
The present disclosure provides an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit includes a semiconductor substrate; and a passive polysilicon device disposed over the semiconductor substrate. The passive polysilicon device further includes a polysilicon feature; and a plurality of electrodes embedded in the polysilicon feature. |
| US10403731B2 |
Memory first process flow and device
A semiconductor device and method of making the same are disclosed. The semiconductor device includes a memory gate on a charge storage structure formed on a substrate, a select gate on a gate dielectric on the substrate proximal to the memory gate, and a dielectric structure between the memory gate and the select gate, and adjacent to sidewalls of the memory gate and the select gate, wherein the memory gate and the select gate are separated by a thickness of the dielectric structure. Generally, the dielectric structure comprises multiple dielectric layers including a first dielectric layer adjacent the sidewall of the memory gate, and a nitride dielectric layer adjacent to the first dielectric layer and between the memory gate and the select gate. Other embodiments are also disclosed. |
| US10403729B2 |
Semiconductor devices and contact plugs
A semiconductor device has a high electric connection reliability and includes a base substrate having a connection target layer, a lower contact plug formed over the base substrate and electrically connected to the connection target layer, and an upper contact plug formed over the lower contact plug, wherein the lower contact plug includes a lower plug layer having a gap portion extending inward from a top portion of the lower plug layer, a gap cover layer filling the gap portion, and an upper cover layer covering a top surface of the lower plug layer. |
| US10403728B2 |
Semiconductor devices having field electrode trenches
A semiconductor device includes needle-shaped trenches in a semiconductor substrate, each of which includes a field electrode electrically insulated from the semiconductor substrate. Source doping regions and body doping regions of a transistor arrangement are formed in the semiconductor substrate between neighboring ones of the needle-shaped trenches. Gate trenches extend through the source doping regions and the body doping regions. The device further includes a first insulation layer above the semiconductor substrate, an etch stop layer on the first insulation layer, a second insulation layer on the etch stop layer, and an electrically conductive material on the second insulation layer and which contacts the field electrodes, source doping regions and body doping regions through openings which extend through the second insulation layer, etch stop layer and first insulation layer. Islands of the electrically conductive material are surrounded by portions of the second insulation layer above the gate trenches. |
| US10403727B2 |
Semiconductor device
To provide a technique for alleviating electric field concentration at an end portion and the vicinity of the end portion of the bottom surface of a trench. In a non-active region, a semiconductor device comprises: an outer trench penetrating a third semiconductor layer and a second semiconductor layer to reach a first semiconductor layer, and surrounding an active region; a second insulating film covering the surface of the outer trench; a conductor formed in the outer trench covered by the second insulating film and electrically insulated from a control electrode and a contact electrode; and an outer electrode located outside the outer trench, contacting the second semiconductor layer, and being electrically connected to the contact electrode. |
| US10403722B2 |
Using a carbon vacancy reduction material to increase average carrier lifetime in a silicon carbide semiconductor device
A semiconductor die and a process for fabricating the semiconductor die are disclosed. The semiconductor die has a substrate and a silicon carbide (SiC) epitaxial structure on the substrate. The SiC epitaxial structure includes at least a first N-type SiC layer, at least a first P-type SiC layer, and carbon vacancy reduction material, which has been implanted into a surface of the SiC epitaxial structure. Further, the SiC epitaxial structure has been annealed to mobilize the carbon vacancy reduction material to diffuse carbon atoms substantially throughout the SiC epitaxial structure, thereby increasing an average carrier lifetime in the SiC epitaxial structure. |
| US10403720B2 |
MOS-based power semiconductor device having increased current carrying area and method of fabricating same
A semiconductor device fabrication method includes forming first and second spaced apart base regions and source regions in a substrate with a portion of a drift region therebetween. The method further includes forming at least a first trench extending laterally through the base region, the drift region and the source region, the first trench extending vertically partially through the source region. The method also includes forming a first oxide layer over the trenched upper surface, and forming a polysilicon layer over the first oxide layer. The polysilicon layer is patterned to form the gate conductor, and a drain contact is formed on a bottom surface of the semiconductor substrate. |
| US10403718B2 |
Semiconductor devices with regrown contacts and methods of fabrication
An embodiment of a semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate that includes a channel, a first dielectric layer disposed over the semiconductor substrate, and a regrown contact formed through a first opening in the first dielectric layer. The regrown contact includes a regrown region formed over the semiconductor substrate, an overhang region coupled to the regrown region and formed over the first dielectric layer, adjacent the first opening, and a conductive cap formed over the regrown region and the overhang region. A method for fabricating the semiconductor device includes forming the first dielectric layer over the semiconductor substrate, forming the first opening in the first dielectric layer, forming a regrown semiconductor layer within the first opening and over the first dielectric layer, forming a conductive cap over the regrown semiconductor layer, and etching the regrown semiconductor layer outside the conductive cap. |
| US10403717B2 |
Semiconductor devices including contact structures that partially overlap silicide layers
Semiconductor devices are provided. A semiconductor device includes a substrate. The semiconductor device includes an isolation layer defining active portions of the substrate that are spaced apart from each other in a direction. The semiconductor device includes an epitaxial layer on the active portions. The semiconductor device includes a metal silicide layer on the epitaxial layer. Moreover, the semiconductor device includes a contact structure that only partially overlaps the metal silicide layer on the epitaxial layer. Related methods of forming semiconductor devices are also provided. |
| US10403715B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device includes a substrate, a semiconductor nanowire, a gate structure, a first metal nanowire and a second metal nanowire. The semiconductor nanowire is disposed vertically on the substrate. The gate structure surrounds a middle portion of the semiconductor nanowire. The first metal nanowire is located on a side of the semiconductor nanowire and is electronically connected to a lower portion of the semiconductor nanowire. The second metal nanowire is located on the other side of the semiconductor nanowire and is electronically connected to the gate structure. |
| US10403710B2 |
3D-capacitor structure
A 3D-capacitor structure that is based on a trench network etched from a top face of a substrate to form an array of separated pillars. The 3D-capacitor structure includes a double capacitor layer stack that extends continuously on top faces of the pillars at the substrate top face, on trench sidewalls and also on a trench bottom. The trench network is modified locally for contacting a second electrode of the double capacitor layer stack while ensuring that no unwanted short-circuit may occur between the second electrode and a third electrode of the double capacitor layer stack. The 3D-capacitor structure provides an improved trade-off between high capacitor density and certainty of no unwanted short-circuit. |
| US10403709B2 |
Method for manufacturing semiconductor device
Roughness is eliminated and planarization is achieved by a metal oxide film on a surface of a lower electrode. Consequently, damage on a capacitive film caused by the roughness of the lower electrode is reduced. Furthermore, physical damage on the capacitive film is reduced by forming a first layer of an upper electrode by, for example, CVD. Consequently, the damage on the capacitive film is suppressed, and the reliability of the capacitive film is improved. Furthermore, not by forming the whole upper electrode by the CVD or the like, but by forming a second layer by PCD or the like on the first layer, an increase in resistance of the upper electrode is suppressed as well. |
| US10403706B2 |
Organic light-emitting diode display
An organic light-emitting diode display is disclosed. In one aspect, the display includes a substrate including a pixel area and a peripheral area surrounding the pixel area and an organic light-emitting element formed in the pixel area and including a first electrode, an organic emission layer, and a second electrode. The display also includes a common voltage line formed in the peripheral area and configured to provide a common voltage to the second electrode, wherein the common voltage line and the first electrode are formed of the same material. |
| US10403705B2 |
Organic light emitting display device and method for manufacturing the same
Disclosed are an organic light emitting display device capable of achieving an intra-pixel integration design with sufficient storage capacitance and a method for manufacturing the same in which the organic light emitting display device includes a first active layer connected to the driving gate electrode and the data line while crossing the gate line, and a second active layer spaced apart from the first active layer while overlapping the driving gate electrode and being connected to the current drive line and storage electrode. |
| US10403703B2 |
Display device and electronic device
A display device having a reduced frame width and a shape that is not significantly different from the shape of a display region is provided even in the case where the display region is non-rectangular. The display device includes a display region and a terminal electrode. The terminal electrode overlaps with the display region and is electrically connected to an external electrode through the non-display side of the display region. |
| US10403701B2 |
Electro-optical device and electronic apparatus
Subpixels of R, G, and B corresponding to a scanning line as a first conductive layer extended in a row direction and a data transfer line as a second conductive layer extended in a column direction are provided. A plurality of transistors in the subpixel of each of the colors is disposed along the column direction, and a reflective layer in the subpixel of at least one color is disposed along the row direction so as to overlap any transistor of subpixels of each display color. A center position of a disposition region of a reflective layer in one pixel unit including the subpixels of R, G, and B is different from a center position of a disposition region of a transistor in one pixel unit. |
| US10403699B2 |
Transparent display device and method of manufacturing a transparent display device
In a method of manufacturing a transparent display device, a substrate including a pixel region and a transmission region may be provided. A first electrode may be formed on the substrate in the pixel region, and a display layer may be formed on the first electrode. A second electrode facing the first electrode may be formed on the display layer, and a capping structure including a first capping layer and a second capping layer may be formed on the second electrode. The first capping layer may be formed on the second electrode in the pixel region and a first region of the transmission region by using a mask that has an opening, the mask may be shifted, and the second capping layer may be formed on the second electrode in the pixel region and a second region of the transmission region by using the shifted mask. |
| US10403689B2 |
Display device
A display device includes: a display panel including a display area and a non-display area adjacent to the display area; a gate driver disposed in the non-display area; and an emission driver disposed in the non-display area. The display panel includes a pad portion to which signals are input, and the pad portion includes a pad group including pads to which signals transmitted to the gate driver and the emission driver are input. In the pad group, a distance between an emission frame signal input pad and a pad adjacent to the emission frame signal input pad is greater than a distance between a scan frame signal input pad and a pad adjacent to scan frame signal input pad. |
| US10403683B2 |
Methods for forming crosspoint arrays of resistive change memory cells
The present disclosure is directed toward carbon based diodes, carbon based resistive change memory elements, resistive change memory having resistive change memory elements and carbon based diodes, methods of making carbon based diodes, methods of making resistive change memory elements having carbon based diodes, and methods of making resistive change memory having resistive change memory elements having carbons based diodes. The carbon based diodes can be any suitable type of diode that can be formed using carbon allotropes, such as semiconducting single wall carbon nanotubes (s-SWCNT), semiconducting Buckminsterfullerenes (such as C60 Buckyballs), or semiconducting graphitic layers (layered graphene). The carbon based diodes can be pn junction diodes, Schottky diodes, other any other type of diode formed using a carbon allotrope. The carbon based diodes can be placed at any level of integration in a three dimensional (3D) electronic device such as integrated with components or wiring layers. |
| US10403678B2 |
Methods and apparatus for improving micro-LED devices
A μLED device comprising: a substrate and an epitaxial layer grown on the substrate and comprising a semiconductor material, wherein at least a portion of the substrate and the epitaxial layer define a mesa; an active layer within the mesa and configured, on application of an electrical current, to generate light for emission through a light emitting surface of the substrate opposite the mesa, wherein the crystal lattice structure of the substrate and the epitaxial layer is arranged such that a c-plane of the crystal lattice structure is misaligned with respect to the light emitting surface. |
| US10403677B2 |
Linear image sensor
An optical detection unit AR is divided so as to have a plurality of pixel regions PX aligned in a column direction. Signals from the plurality of pixel regions PX are integrated for each optical detection unit AR, and output the signal as an electrical signal corresponding to a one-dimensional optical image in time series. Each of the pixel regions PX includes a resistive gate electrode R which promotes transfer of charges in the photoelectric conversion region and a charge accumulation region S2. A drain region ARD is adjacent to the charge accumulation region S2 through a channel region. |
| US10403676B2 |
Semiconductor device manufacturing method
A method includes a first process in which a first wiring is provided on a surface of a semiconductor substrate; a second process in which a light transmitting substrate is attached to the surface; a third process in which the semiconductor substrate is thinned so that the thickness of the semiconductor substrate is smaller than the thickness of the light transmitting substrate; a fourth process in which a through hole is formed in the semiconductor substrate; a fifth process in which a dip coating method is performed using a resin material and thus a resin insulating layer is provided; a sixth process in which a contact hole is formed in the resin insulating layer; and a seventh process in which a second wiring is provided on a surface of the resin insulating layer, and the first wiring and the second wiring are electrically connected via a contact hole. |
| US10403672B2 |
Solid-state imaging device with pixels having first and second photoelectric conversion units, driving method therefor, and electronic apparatus
A pixel in which both phase difference detection and image generation are performed can be implemented with a more simple structure. Each of a plurality of pixels two-dimensionally arranged in a matrix shape includes a first photoelectric conversion unit and a second photoelectric conversion unit both configured to photoelectrically convert light entering via one micro lens. A first reading circuit reads an electric charge generated at the first photoelectric conversion unit and a second reading circuit reads an electric charge generated at the second photoelectric conversion unit. A transistor connects a first electric charge holding unit included in the first reading circuit to a second electric charge holding unit included in the second reading circuit. The present technology is applicable to, for example, a solid-state imaging device that detects a phase difference. |
| US10403671B2 |
Wafer-level optical modules and methods for manufacturing the same
The method for manufacturing a plurality of optical modules each comprising a first (C1) and a second (C2) optical component comprises the steps of a) providing a first substrate wafer (S1) on which a plurality of the first optical components (C1) is present on a top side of the first substrate wafer; b) providing a second substrate wafer (S2) having a material region which is a continuous laterally defined region in which material of the second substrate is present, wherein a plurality of the second optical components (C2) is present in said material region; c) achieving a lateral alignment of the first (S1) and second (S2) substrate wafers such that each of the first optical components (C1) is present in a laterally defined region not overlapping said material region; d) interconnecting the first and second substrate wafers in said lateral alignment such that the top side of the first substrate wafer faces a bottom side of the second substrate wafer with no further wafer in between. This way, first and second optical components may be placed particularly close to each other. |
| US10403670B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same, and electronic apparatus
A semiconductor device is provided as a back-illuminated solid-state imaging device. The device is manufactured by bonding a first semiconductor wafer with a pixel array in a half-finished product state and a second semiconductor wafer with a logic circuit in a half-finished product state together, making the first semiconductor wafer into a thin film, electrically connecting the pixel array and the logic circuit, making the pixel array and the logic circuit into a finished product state, and dividing the first semiconductor wafer and the second semiconductor being bonded together into microchips. |
| US10403669B2 |
Semiconductor device and electronic device having a chip size package (CSP) stack
The present disclosure relates to a semiconductor device, an electronic device, and a manufacturing method that can maintain the mounting reliability of an underfill. A chip is formed by a circuit of an imaging element being produced on a Si substrate that is a first substrate and a second substrate being produced on an adhesive formed on the circuit. In this event, a photosensitive material is formed around the chip after the chip is mounted on a mounting substrate by a solder ball or in the state of the chip, then an underfill is formed, and then only the photosensitive material is dissolved. The present disclosure can be applied to, for example, a CMOS solid-state imaging sensor used for an imaging device such as a camera. |
| US10403668B2 |
Imaging apparatus and image sensor including the same
An image sensor includes a substrate, thin lenses disposed on a first surface of the substrate and configured to concentrate lights incident on the first surface, and light-sensing cells disposed on a second surface of the substrate, the second surface facing the first surface, and the light-sensing cells being configured to sense lights passing through the thin lenses, and generate electrical signals based on the sensed lights. A first thin lens and second thin lens of the thin lenses are configured to concentrate a first light and a second light, respectively, of the incident lights onto the light-sensing cells, the first light having a different wavelength than the second light. |
| US10403666B2 |
Imaging device with color pixels and method of light color tapering and detection inside pixel
Image sensor device includes color pixel array without color filter array. Method of color separation is based on tapering of light selectively depending on wavelength into photodetectors inside pixel. Light is directed into light guide along semiconductor surface with color selective structures and photodetectors in each pixel used to collect each light color component separately. This approach and horizontal geometry of light guide have numerous advantages, for example for the CMOS fabrication process, and allow multiple ways for detail engineering of light color components separation and detection. |
| US10403664B2 |
Photoelectric conversion apparatus and imaging system
A photoelectric conversion apparatus has light receiving elements disposed on an imaging plane. The light receiving element includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion portions arrayed in a first direction parallel to the imaging plane, across an isolation portion, and a light guide portion extending over the plurality of photoelectric conversion portions. In a first plane which is parallel to the imaging plane and which traverses the light guide portion, a greatest width of the light guide portion in the first direction is larger than a greatest width of the light guide portion in a second direction parallel to the imaging plane and orthogonal to the first direction. |
| US10403661B2 |
Image sensing device with cap and related methods
An image sensing device includes an interconnect layer and a number of grid array contacts arranged on a bottom side of the interconnect layer. An image sensor integrated circuit (IC) is carried by the interconnect layer and has an image sensing surface. A number of electrical connections are coupled between the image sensor IC and an upper side of the interconnect layer. A transparent plate overlies the image sensing surface of the image sensor IC. A cap is carried by the interconnect layer and has an opening overlying transparent plate and the image sensing surface. The cap has an upper wall spaced above the interconnect layer and the image sensor IC to define an internal cavity and the cap defines an air vent coupled to the internal cavity. |
| US10403651B2 |
Array substrate, method for fabricating the same and display device
An array substrate, a method for fabricating the same and a display device are disclosed. The array substrate includes: a gate electrode of a TFT and a gate insulation layer sequentially formed on a base substrate; a semiconductor active layer, an etch stop layer and a source electrode and a drain electrode of the TFT sequentially formed on a part of the gate insulation layer that corresponds to the gate electrode of the TFT, the source and drain electrodes of the TFT are respectively in contact with the semiconductor active layer by way of via holes. The array substrate further includes: a first insulation layer formed between the gate electrode of the TFT and the gate insulation layer and the gate electrode is in contact with the gate insulation layer at a channel region of the TFT between the source electrode and the drain electrode of the TFT. |
| US10403650B2 |
Electronic device and manufacturing method thereof
An electronic device and a manufacturing method thereof are disclosed. The manufacturing method of an electronic device includes following steps: forming a flexible substrate on a rigid carrier plate; forming at least a thin-film device on the flexible substrate; forming a conductive line on the flexible substrate, wherein the conductive line is electrically connected with the thin-film device; forming at least an electrical connection pad on the flexible substrate, wherein the electrical connection pad is electrically connected with the conductive line, and the thickness of the electrical connection pad is between 2 and 20 microns; disposing at least a surface-mount device (SMD) on the flexible substrate, wherein the SMD is electrically connected with the thin-film device through the electrical connection pad and the conductive line; and removing the rigid carrier plate. |
| US10403649B2 |
Display device and method of manufacturing the same
A display device includes a common active pattern, a first gate electrode, and a second gate electrode. The common active pattern includes an NMOS area, a PMOS area, and a silicide area in a same layer as the NMOS area and the PMOS area. The silicide area electrically connects the NMOS area to the PMOS area. The NMOS area includes a first channel area and an n-doped area contacting the first channel area. The PMOS area includes a second channel area and a p-doped area contacting the second channel area. The first gate electrode overlaps the first channel area, and the second gate electrode overlaps the second channel area. |
| US10403645B2 |
Flexible display panel
A flexible display panel includes a bending area and a surrounding area adjacent to the bending area. The barrier layer includes first silicon nitride layers and first silicon oxide layers which are overlapped with the bending area. The first silicon nitride layers and the first silicon oxide layers are stacked alternately. Each of the first silicon nitride layers may have a thickness less than or equal to about 400 Å, and each of the first silicon oxide layers may have a thickness less than or equal to about 650 Å. |
| US10403641B2 |
Semiconductor devices
A semiconductor device may include a plurality of conductive patterns and an insulation pattern. The plurality of conductive patterns may be formed on a substrate. The plurality of conductive patterns may be spaced apart from each other in a vertical direction perpendicular to an upper surface of the substrate. Each of the plurality of conductive patterns may have an extension portion and a step portion. The step portion may be disposed at an edge of the corresponding conductive pattern. The insulation pattern may be formed between the plurality of conductive patterns in the vertical direction. A lower surface and an upper surface of the step portion of each of the plurality of conductive patterns may be bent upwardly. |
| US10403640B2 |
Semiconductor devices including insulating capping structures
A semiconductor device including an insulating capping structure is provided. The semiconductor device may include a plurality of gate electrodes vertically stacked on a substrate and an insulating capping structure on the plurality of gate electrodes. The insulating capping structure may include a first upper surface and a second upper surface. A first distance between the first upper surface and the substrate may be greater than a second distance between the second upper surface and the substrate. The first upper surface may not overly the second upper surface. The semiconductor device may include a memory cell vertical structure passing through the first upper surface, the plurality of gate electrodes, and the insulating capping structure. The memory cell vertical structure may be spaced apart from the second upper surface. The semiconductor device may include a bit line electrically connected to the memory cell vertical structure. |
| US10403637B2 |
Discrete charge trapping elements for 3D NAND architecture
A memory device includes a plurality of stacks of conductive strips alternating with insulating strips, the insulating strips having first and second sides, and the conductive strips having first sidewalls recessed relative to the first sides of the insulating strips which define first recessed regions in sides of the stacks. Vertical channel pillars are disposed between the stacks, the vertical channel pillars having first and second channel films disposed on adjacent stacks and a dielectric material between and contacting the first and second channel films. Data storage structures at cross points of the vertical channel pillars and the conductive strips include tunneling layers in contact with the vertical channel pillars, discrete charge trapping elements in the first recessed regions in contact with the tunneling layers and blocking layers between the discrete charge trapping elements and the first sidewalls of the conductive strips. |
| US10403635B2 |
Semiconductor memory device having bonding metal between an array chip and a circuit chip
According to one embodiment, the array chip includes a three-dimensionally disposed plurality of memory cells and a memory-side interconnection layer connected to the memory cells. The circuit chip includes a substrate, a control circuit provided on the substrate, and a circuit-side interconnection layer provided on the control circuit and connected to the control circuit. The circuit chip is stuck to the array chip with the circuit-side interconnection layer facing to the memory-side interconnection layer. The bonding metal is provided between the memory-side interconnection layer and the circuit-side interconnection layer. The bonding metal is bonded to the memory-side interconnection layer and the circuit-side interconnection layer. |
| US10403623B2 |
Gate networks having positive temperature coefficients of resistance (PTC) for semiconductor power conversion devices
A gate network of a silicon-carbide (SiC) power conversion device includes a plurality of gate electrodes of SiC metal-oxide-semiconductor-based (MOS-based) transistor device cells disposed in an active area of the SiC power conversion device, and a gate pad disposed in a gate pad and bus area of the SiC power conversion device. The gate network also includes a gate bus disposed in the gate pad and bus area of the SiC power conversion device, wherein the gate bus extends between and electrically connects the gate pad to at least a portion of the plurality of gate electrodes in the active area of the SiC power conversion device. At least a portion of the gate pad, the gate bus, the plurality of gate electrodes, or a combination thereof, of the gate network have a positive temperature coefficient of resistance greater than approximately 2000 parts-per-million per degree Celsius (ppm/° C.). |
| US10403619B2 |
Semiconductor device having shared power line connections and method of manufacturing the same
Disclosed are a semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the same. The semiconductor device includes first and second logic cells adjacent to each other in a first direction on a substrate, a gate electrode extending in the first direction in each of the first and second logic cells, a power line extending in a second direction at a boundary between the first and second logic cells, and a connection structure electrically connecting the power line to an active pattern of the first logic cell and to an active pattern of the second logic cell. The connection structure lies below the power line and extends from the first logic cell to the second logic cell. A top surface of the connection structure is at a higher level than that of a top surface of the gate electrode. |
| US10403612B2 |
Dual-sided display and method for fabricating the same
A dual-sided display is disclosed, including a substrate, a first active device, a first micro light emitting device, a patterned photoresist layer, a reflective electrode, a second micro light emitting device, a protective layer, and a first conductive electrode. The first micro light emitting device is disposed on the substrate and electrically connected to the first active device. The patterned photoresist layer is disposed on the substrate and covers a portion of the first micro light emitting device. The reflective electrode covers the patterned photoresist layer and a portion of the substrate. The second micro light emitting device is disposed on the reflective electrode. The protective layer covers the reflective electrode and a portion of the second micro light emitting device. The first conductive electrode covers the protective layer and is electrically connected to the second micro light emitting device. |
| US10403606B2 |
Method of fabricating a semiconductor package
A method for fabricating a semiconductor package including mounting a first semiconductor chip on a first substrate, disposing a first connector on the first substrate, placing a molding control film on the first semiconductor chip to horizontally extend over the first substrate, filling a space between the molding control film and the first substrate with a molding compound such that the molding compound contacts side surfaces of the first semiconductor chip and covers the first connector and does not cover a top surface of the first semiconductor chip, detaching the molding control film, forming an opening through the molding compound to expose a portion of the first connector, disposing a second connector and a second semiconductor chip on opposite surfaces of a second substrate, respectively, and placing the second substrate on the first substrate such that the second connector contacts the first connector may be provided. |
| US10403603B2 |
Semiconductor package and fabrication method thereof
A semiconductor package includes a semiconductor chip in which a side step or a side slope formed toward an inactive surface from an active surface is included and a width of the active surface is smaller than a width of the inactive surface, and an underfill which is disposed on the active surface and positioned at an inner side of the edge of the semiconductor chip. |
| US10403601B2 |
Semiconductor package and related methods
Implementations of semiconductor packages may include: a first substrate having a first dielectric layer coupled between a first metal layer and a second metal layer; a second substrate having a second dielectric layer coupled between a third metal layer and a fourth metal layer. A first die may be coupled with a first electrical spacer coupled in a space between and coupled with the first substrate and the second substrate and a second die may be coupled with a second electrical spacer coupled in a space between and coupled with the first substrate and the second substrate. |
| US10403598B2 |
Methods and system for processing semiconductor device structures
Methods of detaching semiconductor device structures from carrier structures may involve directing a laser through a carrier structure comprising a semiconductor material to a barrier material located between the carrier structure and a semiconductor device structure adhere to an opposite side of the barrier material. A bond between the carrier structure and an adhesive material temporarily securing the carrier structure to the semiconductor device structure may be released in response to heating of the barrier material by the laser beam. The carrier structure may be removed from the semiconductor device structure, the barrier material removed, and an adhesive bonding the semiconductor device structure to the barrier material removed. |
| US10403596B2 |
Method of fabricating packaging structure
A package structure includes a dielectric layer having opposing first and second surfaces, a wiring layer formed on the first surface and having a plurality of conducive vias that penetrate the dielectric layer, an electronic component disposed on the first surface of the dielectric layer and electrically connected to the wiring layer, an encapsulant encapsulating the electronic component, and a packaging substrate disposed on the second surface and electrically connected to the conductive vias. With the dielectric layer in replacement of a conventional silicon board and the wiring layer as a signal transmission medium between the electronic component and the packaging substrate, the package structure does not need through-silicon vias. Therefore, the package structure has a simple fabrication process and a low fabrication cost. The present invention further provides a method of fabricating the package structure. |
| US10403595B1 |
Wiresaw removal of microelectronics from printed circuit board
An assembly is provided for mechanically severing ball grid array (BGA) attachment solder between an electronics chip and a printed circuit board. The assembly includes a bridge fixture, a tungsten wire and removable spacers. The bridge fixture extends over the chip. A pair of guide bars flanks the bridge fixture. each guide bar has a wire engagement surface. The tungsten wire is disposed across the chip between the pair of guide bars along their respective surfaces. The removable spacers are disposed between the corresponding guide bars and the printed circuit board for aligning the wire to engage the solder. |
| US10403589B2 |
Interconnect etch with polymer layer edge protection
Various semiconductor workpiece polymer layers and methods of fabricating the same are disclosed. In one aspect, a method of manufacturing is provided that includes applying a polymer layer to a passivation structure of a semiconductor workpiece where the semiconductor workpiece has first and second semiconductor chips separated by a dicing street. A first opening is patterned in the polymer layer with opposing edges pulled back from the dicing street. A mask is applied over the first opening. A first portion of the passivation structure is etched while using the polymer layer as an etch mask. |
| US10403586B2 |
Signal isolation structures for EM communication
Methods, systems, and apparatus for EM isolation structures. One of the apparatus includes a communication module, the communication module including: a printed circuit board; a plurality of integrated circuit packages, each integrated circuit package including at least one transmitter, receiver, or transceiver; and one or more metallic blocking structures configured to at least partially encircle a corresponding one of the plurality of integrated circuit packages, wherein each metallic blocking structure is configured to reduce signal leakage from the corresponding integrated circuit package. |
| US10403582B2 |
Electronic circuit package using composite magnetic sealing material
Disclosed herein is an electronic circuit package includes a substrate having a power supply pattern, an electronic component mounted on a surface of the substrate, and a composite molding member having conductivity that covers the surface of the substrate so as to embed the electronic component and that is connected to the power supply pattern. The composite molding member includes a resin material and a first filler blended in the resin material and containing 32 to 39 wt. % of a metal material composed mainly of Ni in Fe. |
| US10403577B1 |
Dielets on flexible and stretchable packaging for microelectronics
Dielets on flexible and stretchable packaging for microelectronics are provided. Configurations of flexible, stretchable, and twistable microelectronic packages are achieved by rendering chip layouts, including processors and memories, in distributed collections of dielets implemented on flexible and/or stretchable media. High-density communication between the dielets is achieved with various direct-bonding or hybrid bonding techniques that achieve high conductor count and very fine pitch on flexible substrates. An example process uses high-density interconnects direct-bonded or hybrid bonded between standard interfaces of dielets to create a flexible microelectronics package. In another example, a process uses high-density interconnections direct-bonded between native interconnects of the dielets to create the flexible microelectronics packages, without the standard interfaces. |
| US10403573B2 |
Fabrication method of semiconductor substrate
A method for fabricating a semiconductor substrate is disclosed, which includes: forming a first dielectric layer on a substrate body; foil ling a plurality of first vias penetrating the first dielectric layer to expose portions of the substrate body; forming a second dielectric layer on the first dielectric layer and the exposed portions of the substrate body, wherein the second dielectric layer extends on walls of the first vias; etching the second dielectric layer to form a plurality of openings communicating with the first vias and form a plurality of second vias penetrating the second dielectric layer in the first vias so as to expose portions of the substrate body, leaving the second dielectric layer on the walls of the first vias; and forming a circuit layer in the openings, and forming a plurality of conductive vias in the second vias for electrically connecting the circuit layer and the substrate body. |
| US10403569B2 |
Semiconductor device
To improve signal transmission characteristics of a high frequency signal of 80 GHz or higher. A semiconductor device includes a wiring board having a structure in which a signal via structure and a grounding via structure have mutually overlapping portions in plan view. |
| US10403567B2 |
Fabrication method of electronic package
A method for fabricating an electronic package is provided, which includes the steps of: providing an insulating layer having at least an electronic element embedded therein; forming at least a first via hole on one side of the insulating layer; forming a first conductor in the first via hole of the insulating layer; forming on the insulating layer a first circuit structure electrically connected to the electronic element and the first conductor; and forming a second via hole on the other side of the insulating layer, wherein the second via hole communicates with the first via hole. As such, the second via hole and the first via hole constitute a through hole. Since the through hole is fabricated through two steps, the aspect ratio (depth/width) of the through hole can be adjusted according to the practical need so as to improve the process yield. |
| US10403564B2 |
Dual-damascene zero-misalignment-via process for semiconductor packaging
Techniques that can assist with fabricating a package layer that includes a plurality of dual-damascene zero-misalignment-vias (dual-damascene ZMVs) and a trace between the dual-damascene ZMVs are described. The disclosed techniques allow for the dual-damascene ZMVs and their corresponding trace to be plated simultaneously in a single step or operation. As such, there is little or no misalignment between the dual-damascene ZMVs, the trace, and the metal pads connected to the ZMVs. In this way, one or more of the embodiments described herein can assist with reducing manufacturing costs, reducing development time of fabricating a package layer, and with increasing the I/O density in a semiconductor package. |
| US10403560B2 |
Thermal cooling system
Particular embodiments described herein provide for a thermal cooling system that is part of a device that includes a hole-in-motherboard configuration. The device can include a substrate, one or more dies on a top portion of the substrate, one or more printed circuit boards below the substrate, where the printed circuit boards are coupled to the substrate with solder balls, and one or more land side capacitors below the substrate. A thermal conducting plate, phase change material, and one or more sponge walls to help insulate the solder balls from the thermal conductive layer can be located in the hole of the hole-in-motherboard configuration and help transfer heat and thermal energy away from the device. |
| US10403559B2 |
Power semiconductor device
In a power semiconductor device, the thickness dimension of a protective film of a semiconductor element is made smaller than that of an upper electrode, so a protective film is not pressed by being pressurized from upward when bonded by a metal sintered body, and the force of tearing off the upper electrode riding on an inclined surface of the protective film does not act, so that no crack of the upper electrode occurs, thus maintaining the soundness of the semiconductor element. Also, a lead bonded by a solder to the upper electrode of the semiconductor element is made of a copper-Invar clad material, the linear expansion coefficient of which is optimized, and thereby it is possible to realize a durability superior to that of a heretofore known wire-bonded aluminum wiring. |
| US10403548B2 |
Forming single diffusion break and end isolation region after metal gate replacement, and related structure
The disclosure relates to integrated circuit (IC) structures with a single diffusion break (SDB) and end isolation regions, and methods of forming the same after forming a metal gate. A structure may include: a plurality of fins positioned on a substrate; a plurality of metal gates each positioned on the plurality of fins and extending transversely across the plurality of fins; an insulator region positioned on and extending transversely across the plurality of fins between a pair of the plurality of metal gates; at least one single diffusion break (SDB) positioned within the insulator region and one of the plurality of fins; an end isolation region positioned laterally adjacent to a lateral end of one of the plurality of metal gates; and an insulator cap positioned on an upper surface of at least a portion of one of the plurality of metal gates. |
| US10403546B2 |
Method to form hybrid SiGe fin
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes providing a semiconductor structure having a semiconductor substrate, a dielectric layer on the semiconductor substrate, and a hardmask on a second portion of the dielectric layer while exposing a first portion of the dielectric layer; forming a copolymer on the semiconductor structure; performing an annealing treatment such that the copolymer forms a staggered configuration of a first monomer and a second monomer; removing the first monomer; performing a first etching process on the first portion using the second monomer as a mask to form a first trench extending to the semiconductor substrate; removing the second monomer and the first hardmask; and epitaxially growing a first semiconductor fin in the first trench. |
| US10403545B2 |
Power reduction in finFET structures
The present disclosure describes a method to reduce power consumption in a fin structure. For example, the method includes forming a first and a second semiconductor fins on a substrate with different heights. The method also includes forming insulating fins between and adjacent to the first and the second semiconductor fins. Further, the method includes forming a first and second epitaxial stacks with different heights on each of the first and second semiconductor fins. |
| US10403538B2 |
Expansion method, method for manufacturing semiconductor device, and semiconductor device
An embodiment of the present invention relates to an expansion method comprising: a step (I) of preparing a laminate having a semiconductor wafer in which modified sections have been formed along intended cutting lines, a die bonding film and a dicing tape, a step (IIA) of expanding the dicing tape with the laminate in a cooled state, a step (IIB) of loosening the expanded dicing tape, and a step (IIC) of expanding the dicing tape with the laminate in a cooled state, dividing the semiconductor wafer and the die bonding film into chips along the intended cutting lines, and widening the spaces between the chips. |
| US10403532B2 |
Semiconductor apparatus with inner wafer carrier buffer and method
The present disclosure provides one embodiment of a semiconductor processing apparatus. The semiconductor processing apparatus includes a load lock designed to receive a wafer carrier; an inner wafer carrier buffer configured to hold the wafer carrier received from the load lock and to perform a nitrogen purge to the wafer carrier; and a processing module designed to perform a semiconductor process to wafers from the wafer. |
| US10403530B2 |
Substrate conveying robot and substrate processing system
A control device is configured to make a robot arm and a substrate holding device execute a blade member advancing operation for advancing a pair of blade members into a substrate placing structure, a substrate receiving operation for receiving a substrate placed on an upper stage of the substrate placing structure by the blade member in a substrate non-holding state, and a substrate placing operation for placing the substrate on the blade member in a substrate holding state onto a lower stage. A timing of receiving a substrate by the substrate receiving operation is shifted from a timing of placing a substrate by the substrate placing operation. A substrate conveying robot capable of shortening the tact time upon conveying substrates regardless of the kind of substrate fixing method in the substrate holding device can be provided. |
| US10403529B2 |
Carrier transport device and carrier transport method
A carrier transport device capable of delivering a carrier to and from an external transport device which transports the carrier is provided. The carrier transport device includes a housing on which the carrier is mountable, first ports provided in the housing and configured to deliver the carrier to and from the external transport device, second ports provided in the housing and provided with a lid opening/closing mechanism, and a transfer machine provided in the housing and configured to transfer the carrier. The first ports, the transfer machine and the second ports are disposed under a transport path of the external transport device. The first ports and the second ports are disposed on both sides of the transfer machine. The second ports are configured at multiple stages. |
| US10403523B2 |
Substrate processing apparatus
Provided is a substrate processing apparatus including a load-lock chamber; a transfer chamber connected to the load-lock chamber; and one or more processing chambers connected to the transfer chamber. The transfer chamber includes a transfer arm that transfers a substrate between the load-lock chamber and the one or more processing chambers, the load-lock chamber includes a plurality of load-lock stations for accommodating a plurality of substrates as a matrix of m×n. According to the substrate processing apparatus, a time taken to transfer substrates may be reduced greatly, and productivity may be improved. |
| US10403519B2 |
Cutting blade having cutting edge containing photocatalyst particles
A cutting blade for cutting a workpiece includes a base and a cutting edge fixed to a peripheral portion of the base. The cutting edge is formed by bonding a mixture of abrasive grains and photocatalyst particles with a binder. In cutting the workpiece by using the cutting blade, a cutting water is supplied to the cutting blade and light is applied to the cutting blade to excite the photocatalyst particles. The cutting water supplied to the cutting blade comes into contact with the photocatalyst particles excited, so that the cutting water is given an oxidizing power due to hydroxy radicals. |
| US10403518B2 |
Substrate processing method, substrate processing apparatus and recording medium
A plasma processing method includes etching a removing target film by supplying onto a peripheral portion of a substrate being rotated a first processing liquid containing hydrofluoric acid and nitric acid at a first mixing ratio; and etching the removing target film by, after supplying the first processing liquid onto the substrate, supplying onto the peripheral portion of the substrate being rotated a second processing liquid containing the hydrofluoric acid and the nitric acid at a second mixing ratio in which a content ratio of the hydrofluoric acid is lower and a content ratio of the nitric acid is higher than in the first processing liquid. When removing the removing target film made of SiGe, amorphous silicon or polysilicon from the peripheral portion thereof, an underlying film, for example, a film made of SiO2, which exists under the removing target film, can be appropriately left. |
| US10403516B2 |
Etching characteristic estimation method, program, information processing apparatus, processing apparatus, designing method, and production method
Etching characteristics in a case where a workpiece contains a nitrogen compound and an etching gas such as a CHxFy-based gas contains hydrogen are obtained. In a flux calculation step, an information processing apparatus calculates a plurality of fluxes in a surface reaction model, a processed surface of a workpiece including a protection film layer and a reaction layer in the surface reaction model. In a protection film layer calculation step, the information processing apparatus calculates a thickness of the protection film layer by using a calculation equation for calculating a thickness of an etched protection film layer based on the basis of a removal term for describing removal of the protection film layer, the removal term being selected depending on a comparison result of comparing the plurality of fluxes. |
| US10403515B2 |
Loadlock integrated bevel etcher system
Implementations disclosed herein describe a bevel etch apparatus within a loadlock bevel etch chamber and methods of using the same. The bevel etch apparatus has a mask assembly within the loadlock bevel etch chamber. During an etch process, the mask assembly delivers a gas flow to control bevel etch without the use of a shadow frame. As such, the edge exclusion at the bevel edge can be reduced, thus increasing product yield. |
| US10403514B1 |
Substrate transporting system, storage medium and substrate transporting method
Examples of a substrate transporting system include a substrate transporting robot, a module that houses the substrate transporting robot therein and has an EFEM door, a load port for placing a FOUP having a FOUP door thereon, and a controller for opening the EFEM door while the FOUP door is closed when the FOUP is located at a dock position of the load port. |
| US10403511B2 |
Backside redistribution layer patch antenna
A patch antenna system comprising: an integrated circuit die having an active side including an active layer, and a backside; a dielectric layer formed on the backside; and a redistribution layer formed on the dielectric layer wherein the redistribution layer forms an array of patches. The patch antenna further comprises a plurality of through-silicon vias (TSV), wherein the TSVs electrically connect the array of patches to the active layer. |
| US10403510B2 |
Method of fabricating a carrier-less silicon interposer using photo patterned polymer as substrate
A component, e.g., interposer has first and second opposite sides, conductive elements at the first side and terminals at the second side. The terminals can connect with another component, for example. A first element at the first side can comprise a first material having a thermal expansion coefficient less than 10 ppm/° C., and a second element at the second side can comprise a plurality of insulated structures separated from one another by at least one gap. Conductive structure extends through at least one insulated structure and is electrically coupled with the terminals and the conductive elements. The at least one gap can reduce mechanical stress in connections between the terminals and another component. |
| US10403508B2 |
Imprint apparatus, imprinting method, and manufacturing method of article
An imprint apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the imprinting apparatus forming a pattern on a region of a substrate to be processed using a mold, the imprint apparatus including a mount portion on which the substrate is mounted, and a heating unit that heats the region to be processed. On the basis of information related to a difference in shape between a pattern area of the mold and the region to be processed and information related to a contact pressure exerted between the substrate and the mount portion, the heating unit heats the region to be processed such that the difference in shape between the pattern area of the mold and the region to be processed is reduced. |
| US10403507B2 |
Shaped etch profile with oxidation
Processing methods may be performed to form recesses in a semiconductor substrate. The methods may include oxidizing an exposed silicon surface on a semiconductor substrate within a processing region of a semiconductor processing chamber. The methods may include forming an inert plasma within the processing region of the processing chamber. Effluents of the inert plasma may be utilized to modify the oxidized silicon. A remote plasma may be formed from a fluorine-containing precursor to produce plasma effluents. The methods may include flowing the plasma effluents to the processing region of the semiconductor processing chamber. The methods may also include removing the modified oxidized silicon from the semiconductor substrate. The methods may include isotropically etching a silicon-containing material from the semiconductor substrate. |
| US10403505B2 |
Substrate processing method and substrate processing apparatus
A method and an apparatus for processing a peripheral portion of a substrate, such as a wafer, are disclosed. The substrate processing method includes: holding a substrate on a substrate stage; rotating the substrate stage and the substrate about an axis of the substrate stage; directing a laser beam to an edge portion of the rotating substrate to form an annular crack in the substrate; and pressing a polishing tool against the edge portion of the rotating substrate to form a stepped recess in a peripheral portion of the substrate. |
| US10403503B2 |
Wafer cooling system and method
An ion implantation system has a first chamber and a process chamber with a heated chuck. A controller transfers the workpiece between the heated chuck and first chamber and selectively energizes the heated chuck first and second modes. In the first and second modes, the heated chuck is heated to a first and second temperature, respectively. The first temperature is predetermined. The second temperature is variable, whereby the controller determines the second temperature based on a thermal budget, an implant energy, and/or an initial temperature of the workpiece in the first chamber, and generally maintains the second temperature in the second mode. Transferring the workpiece from the heated chuck to the first chamber removes implant energy from the process chamber in the second mode. Heat may be further transferred from the heated chuck to a cooling platen by a transfer of the workpiece therebetween to sequentially cool the heated chuck. |
| US10403502B2 |
Boron doped tungsten carbide for hardmask applications
Implementations of the present disclosure generally relate to the fabrication of integrated circuits. More particularly, the implementations described herein provide techniques for deposition of hardmask films on a substrate. In one implementation, a method of forming a hardmask layer on a substrate is provided. The method comprises forming a seed layer on a substrate by supplying a seed layer gas mixture in a processing chamber. The method further includes forming a transition layer comprising tungsten, boron and carbon on the seed layer by supplying a transition layer gas mixture in the processing chamber. The method further includes forming a bulk hardmask layer comprising tungsten, boron and carbon on the transition layer by supplying a main deposition gas mixture in the processing chamber. |
| US10403496B2 |
Compound semiconductor substrate and method of forming a compound semiconductor substrate
A method of forming a compound semiconductor substrate includes providing a crystalline base substrate having a first semiconductor material and a main surface, and forming a first semiconductor layer on the main surface and having a pair of tracks disposed on either side of active device regions. The first semiconductor layer is formed from a second semiconductor material having a different coefficient of thermal expansion than the first semiconductor material. The pair of tracks have a relatively weaker crystalline structure than the active device regions. The method further includes thermally cycling the base substrate and the first semiconductor layer such that the first semiconductor layer expands and contracts at a different rate than the base substrate. The pair of tracks physically decouple adjacent ones of the active device regions during the thermal cycling. |
| US10403495B2 |
Sn doped ZnS nanowires for white light source material
According to exemplary embodiments, a method of synthesizing tin (Sn)-doped Zinc Sulfide (ZnS) nanostructures for electroluminescent white light source includes coating a substrate, including a silicon oxide layer, with Sn by vacuuming depositing Sn as catalyst nanostructures on the substrate, placing the substrate coated with Sn in a furnace, introducing a carrier flow gas into the furnace, adding a ZnS power to the furnace, growing ZnS nanostructures, and dissolving Sn in the growing ZnS nanostructures. The S vacancies are on a surface of the ZnS nanostructures. The ZnS nanostructures are grown on the substrate having a temperature in a range of 750° C. to 850° C. |
| US10403494B2 |
Si-containing film forming precursors and methods of using the same
Mono-substituted TSA precursor Si-containing film forming compositions are disclosed. The precursors have the formula: (SiH3)2N—SiH2—X, wherein X is selected from a halogen atom; an isocyanato group; an amino group; an N-containing C4-C10 saturated or unsaturated heterocycle; or an alkoxy group. Methods for forming the Si-containing film using the disclosed mono-substituted TSA precursor are also disclosed. |
| US10403493B2 |
Display panel and method for forming micro component support
A display panel and a method for forming a micro component support are provided. The method for forming a micro component support includes the following steps. First, a first sacrificial layer is formed on a carrier substrate, where the first sacrificial layer includes a plurality of first openings, and the first openings expose the carrier substrate. Then, a first support layer is formed on the first sacrificial layer and in the first openings. Next, a second sacrificial layer is formed on the first sacrificial layer and the first support layer, where the second sacrificial layer includes a plurality of second openings, and the second openings expose the first support layer. Then, a second support layer is formed on the second sacrificial layer and in the second openings. Next, at least one micro component is formed on the second support layer. Finally, the first sacrificial layer and the second sacrificial layer are removed. |
| US10403490B2 |
Wafer processing method
A wafer processing method includes a close contact making step of pressing a protective film against the front side of a wafer in a radially outward direction starting from the center of the wafer to thereby bring the protective film into close contact with the front side of the wafer, a protective member fixing step of covering the protective film with a protective member formed by curing a liquid resin to thereby fix the protective member through the protective film to the front side of the wafer, a grinding step of grinding the back side of the wafer to reduce the thickness of the wafer, and a peeling step of peeling the protective film and the protective member from the wafer thinned by the grinding step. |
| US10403489B2 |
Systems and approaches for semiconductor metrology and surface analysis using secondary ion mass spectrometry
Systems and approaches for semiconductor metrology and surface analysis using Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS) are disclosed. In an example, a secondary ion mass, spectrometry (SIMS) system includes a sample stage. A primary ion beam is directed to the sample stage. An extraction lens is directed at the sample stage. The extraction lens is configured to provide a low extraction field for secondary ions emitted from a sample on the sample stage. A magnetic sector spectrograph is coupled to the extraction lens along an optical path of the SIMS system. The magnetic sector spectrograph includes an electrostatic analyzer (ESA) coupled to a magnetic sector analyzer (MSA). |
| US10403484B2 |
Optical modulation of on-chip thermionic emission using resonant cavity coupled electron emitters
A photonic electron emission device includes an emitter, a photonic energy conduit evanescently coupled to the emitter, and an anode. The emitter includes a component selected from the group consisting of a metal, a semimetal, a semiconductor having a bandgap that is less than about 3.5 eV. The anode is positively biased with respect to the emitter, the anode directing electrons emitted from the emitter. |
| US10403483B2 |
Molybdenum containing targets
The invention is directed at sputter targets including 50 atomic % or more molybdenum, a second metal element of titanium, and a third metal element of chromium or tantalum, and deposited films prepared by the sputter targets. In a preferred aspect of the invention, the sputter target includes a phase that is rich in molybdenum, a phase that is rich in titanium, and a phase that is rich in the third metal element. |
| US10403479B1 |
Field emission enhanced handheld atmospheric pressure plasma generator
A field emission enhanced handheld atmospheric pressure plasma generator includes: a main body having a positioning slot, a receiving slot and a gas inlet; a cathode body having a first part positioned in the positioning slot; an anode frame and a positioning member both accommodated within the receiving slot; and a cover having a plasma channel and covering the main body. One or each of two sidewalls of the anode frame and the cathode body facing each other has a nanocarbon material layer. A second part of the cathode body passes through the anode frame, is positioned and fixed by the positioning slot and is separated from the anode frame by a gap. The anode frame and the cathode body receive radio frequency power to make a gas, which enters the receiving slot from the gas inlet and passes through the gap, become plasma outputted from the plasma channel. |
| US10403475B2 |
Tunable multi-zone gas injection system
A tunable multi-zone injection system for a plasma processing system for plasma processing of substrates such as semiconductor wafers. The injector can include an on-axis outlet supplying process gas at a first flow rate to a central zone and off-axis outlets supplying the same process gas at a second flow rate to an annular zone surrounding the central zone. The arrangement permits modification of gas delivery to meet the needs of a particular processing regime by allowing independent adjustment of the gas flow to multiple zones in the chamber. In addition, compared to consumable showerhead arrangements, a removably mounted gas injector can be replaced more easily and economically. |
| US10403473B2 |
Ion beam etching devices
An ion beam etching device comprises: an ion source configured to generate ions; a grid on a side of the ion source, the grid configured to accelerate the generated ions to generate an ion beam; a process chamber configured to have an etching process using the ion beam performed therein; and a variable magnetic field application part adjacent to the process chamber, the variable magnetic field application part configured to apply a variable magnetic field. |
| US10403469B2 |
Method of performing tomographic imaging in a charged-particle microscope
A method is presented for sub-surface imaging of a specimen in a charged particle microscope. A series of images, with individual members In is collected, with a value of a beam parameter P varied for each image, thereby compiling a measurement set M={(In, Pn)}, with P being the focus position along the charged particle axis. The data for the images are recorded using signals from a segmented detector. The signals from segments combined and compiled to yield a vector field. Mathematical processing then deconvolves the vector field, resulting in depth-resolved imagery of the specimen. |
| US10403468B2 |
Energy filter for processing a power semiconductor device
A method of producing an implantation ion energy filter, suitable for processing a power semiconductor device. In one example, the method includes creating a preform having a first structure; providing an energy filter body material; and structuring the energy filter body material by using the preform, thereby establishing an energy filter body having a second structure. |
| US10403467B2 |
Magnetron
To provide a magnetron capable of effectively suppressing a plurality of higher harmonic wave components with a simple configuration.A magnetron 1 is designed so that: a choke part 60 consisting of a first choke 30 and a second choke 32 being a plurality of chokes provided on the inside of a metal sealing body 7 on an output unit 5 are provided to suppress higher harmonic waves; and a plurality of choke grooves 31A, 31B and 31C that correspond to each of higher harmonic wave components larger than the number of the first choke 30 and second choke 32 and different in each frequency are formed by the choke part 60 and the metal sealing body 7. |
| US10403464B2 |
3D printed micro channel plate, method of making and using 3D printed micro channel plate
The invention provides a gain device having a plurality of channels having a polygonal shape with four or more sides. The invention also provides a method for producing microchannel plates (MCPs) having the steps of providing a pre-polymer; and directing a laser over the pre-polymer into a pre-determined pattern. Also provided is method for efficiently 3D printing an object. |
| US10403461B2 |
Electromagnetic relay
An electromagnetic relay includes an electromagnet device, a contactor, and a trip device turning the contactor into an open state in which the contactor opens when an abnormal current flows. The electromagnet device includes a first excitation coil, a fixed element, first and second movable elements, and a permanent magnet. The contactor includes a fixed contact and a movable contact. In the electromagnetic relay, while the permanent magnet causes the first movable element to attractingly contact the second movable element, the fixed element attracts the first movable element due to a magnetic flux generated by the first excitation coil so as to move the second movable element together with the first movable element from a normal position to an attracted position. In the contactor, the movable contact moves, as the second movable element moves, so as to switch between a closed state in which the movable contact contacts the fixed contact and the open state in which the movable contact is removed from the fixed contact. The contactor is turned into the closed state when the second movable element is located at the attracted position. The trip device includes a second excitation coil connected in series to the contactor and a spring for acting a force on the second movable element in a direction away from the first movable element. |
| US10403460B2 |
Electromagnetic relay
An electromagnetic relay includes: a fixed terminal including a fixed terminal main body extending in a first direction, a fixed terminal arm portion, and two fixed contacts; a movable spring including two movable contacts, and extending in a second direction; a backstop; and a fixed terminal retainer. One of the fixed terminal main body and the fixed terminal arm portion is a first side terminal portion facing in the second direction, and the other is a second side terminal portion curving from a first edge of the first side terminal portion in a direction opposite to the second direction. A leg portion of the backstop is provided away from the first side terminal portion in the direction opposite to the second direction, and is provided between the two movable contacts on a projection plane with a perpendicular extending in the second direction when viewed from the first direction. |
| US10403458B2 |
Switching unit for an electrical switch, and electrical switch
A switching unit for an electrical switch is disclosed. In an embodiment, the switching unit includes at least one fixed contact and one moveable contact with a current feed, which in order to close or open the current path are respectively brought into mechanical contact with each other or mechanically or magnetically separated from each other. The switching unit further includes at least one extinguishing plate, which affects an electrical arc created when the electrical contacts are opened. The current feed to the moveable contact is designed such that in the open position it directs the current along the electrical arc in the opposite direction to the current direction of the arc. |
| US10403457B2 |
Actuating element for a switch and device utilize the same
An actuating element for a switch includes a U-shaped actuating section. The actuating section includes two different arms with different lengths. The long arm is configured to transfer force to the push-button of the switch and includes a bracket portion at the free end of the long arm for supporting actuating element. The short arm is configured for the force input and is aligned obliquely to the long arm. |
| US10403452B1 |
Keyboard device
A keyboard device includes a base plate, a butterfly-type connecting element and a keycap assembly. The keycap assembly includes a coupling frame and a keycap. The coupling frame includes a first coupling part. The keycap includes a second coupling part. The butterfly-type connecting element is connected with the base plate and the coupling frame. The coupling frame and the butterfly-type connecting element are combined together through the first coupling part and the second coupling part. When the pressing force is acted on a corner of the keycap, the pressing force can be transferred to the whole keycap through the coupling frame. Consequently, the pressing force can be effectively transferred. |
| US10403451B2 |
Pushbutton switch member
A pushbutton switch member has a dome-shaped movable contact and an operation key facing and separated from a movable contact. Pushing the operation key toward the movable contact causes the movable contact to electrically connect at least two contacts on a substrate. The operation key is provided with: a key; a dome connected with an outer periphery of the key, and deformable by pushing of the key toward the substrate; and a foot connected with an outer periphery of the dome, and fixed on the substrate. The movable contact is provided with: an upper contact spaced apart from a site directly below the key, and which makes contact with a contact when the key is pushed in; and an outer fixing part disposed at the upper contact, or further outside thereof in the radial direction, and fixed outside of the key in the radial direction. |
| US10403449B2 |
Direct-current circuit breaker
A direct-current circuit includes: a breaker that is inserted into the direct-current line and becomes a path for direct current when in a steady state; a resonance circuit connected in parallel with the breaker and superimposing resonance current on the direct current; and a first disconnector and a second disconnector connected to first and second connection points of the breaker and the resonance circuit, respectively, and forming a path for the direct current together with the breaker. The resonance circuit includes a series circuit that includes a capacitor and a reactor and generates the resonance current, a charging resistor for charging the capacitor with a direct-current potential of the direct-current line, a high-speed switch connected in series with the series circuit on the capacitor side and superimposing the resonance current on the direct current, and an arrester connected in parallel with the capacitor and the high-speed switch. |
| US10403448B2 |
Integration of electrical contacts in an electrical switching device
An electrical switching device, including a socket, a holder and electrical contacts housed in the holder. The holder includes a first end and a second end. The device includes a guidance device for guiding the first end of the holder relative to the socket. The device includes a fastener including a head, a tail, a first stem extending from the head to the tail, and a second stem extending from the head. The first stem is configured for passing through the holder and for being inserted at the tail into a first orifice of the socket, in order to retain the first end of the holder relative to the socket. A retaining member is configured for retaining the fastener, in order to rigidly connect the second end of the holder to the socket. |
| US10403447B2 |
Nonaqueous lithium storage element
The disclosure relates to a lithium storage element containing a positive electrode that contains a lithium compound other than an active material, a negative electrode, a separator, and a nonaqueous electrolytic solution containing lithium ions, for which an active material is applied on both surfaces of a nonporous positive electrode power collector, and a negative electrode active material capable of storing and releasing lithium ions is applied on both surfaces of a nonporous negative electrode power collector. |
| US10403441B2 |
Composite electronic component
A composite electronic component includes a multilayer capacitor including a capacitor body, which includes first and second internal electrodes facing each other and a plurality of dielectric layers each interposed therebetween and first and second external electrodes disposed on opposing ends of the capacitor body, a high-rigidity chip including a substrate disposed on a lower side of the multilayer capacitor and first and second discharge electrodes disposed on the substrate and spaced apart from each other, the first and second discharge electrodes being connected to the first and second external electrodes, respectively, and extending to an upper or lower surface of the substrate, and an sealing part covering the first and second discharge electrodes and including a space portion, which is provided between the first and second discharge portions. |
| US10403440B2 |
Capacitive energy storage device
Capacitive energy storage devices (CESDs) are disclosed, along with methods of making and using the CESDs. A CESD includes an array of electrodes with spaces between the electrodes. A dielectric material occupies spaces between the electrodes; regions of the dielectric material located between adjacent electrodes define capacitive elements. The disclosed CESDs are useful as energy storage devices and/or memory storage devices. |
| US10403437B2 |
Multilayer ceramic capacitor
In an exemplary embodiment, a multilayer ceramic capacitor 10 is formed in such a way that a first face f1 of a capacitor body 11 has a concave shape and a first part 12a of a first external electrode 12 contacts the concave-shaped first face f1, and that a second face f2 of the capacitor body 11 has a concave shape and a first part 13a of a second external electrode 13 contacts the concave-shaped second face f2. |
| US10403436B2 |
Acrylic binder and multilayer electronic component using the same
A multilayer electronic component includes a body having a stacked structure in which a plurality of internal electrodes and dielectric layers are alternately stacked; and external electrodes disposed on an outer surface of the body and connected to the internal electrodes. The dielectric layer includes a plurality of grains and a plurality of graphene particles, and the plurality of graphene particles are disposed at boundaries of the plurality of grains. |
| US10403426B2 |
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. |
| US10403425B2 |
Layered Heusler alloys and methods for the fabrication and use thereof
Disclosed herein are layered Heusler alloys. The layered Heusler alloys can comprise a first layer comprising a first Heusler alloy with a face-centered cubic (fcc) crystal structure and a second layer comprising a second Heusler alloy with a fcc crystal structure, the second Heusler alloy being different than the first Heusler alloy, wherein the first layer and the second layer are layered along a layering direction, the layering direction being the [110] or [111] direction of the fcc crystal structure, thereby forming the layered Heusler alloy. |
| US10403422B2 |
Magneto rheological fluid composition for use in vehicle mount applications
The present invention provides a magneto rheological fluid composition for use in a vehicle mount having a flexible body and a diaphragm. The magneto rheological fluid composition consists of a carrier fluid, a plurality of magnetic responsive particles dispersed in the carrier fluid and an anti-settling agent of fumed silica dispersed in the carrier fluid forming a thixotropic network with the carrier fluid suspending the magnetic responsive particles in the thixotropic network for preventing the magnetic responsive particles from settling. The magneto rheological fluid composition of the present invention contains no additional additives providing stability to the thixotropic network and to the magneto rheological fluid and preventing the flexible body and the diaphragm from reacting with the composition to prolong the life of the composition. |
| US10403421B2 |
Thick film resistor and production method for same
A thick film resistor excluding a toxic lead component from a conductive component and glass and having characteristics equivalent to or superior to conventional resistors in terms of, in a wide resistance range, resistance values, TCR characteristics, current noise characteristics, withstand voltage characteristics and the like. The thick film resistor is formed of a fired product of a resistive composition, wherein the thick film resistor contains ruthenium-based conductive particles containing ruthenium dioxide and a glass component essentially free of a lead component and has a resistance value in the range of 100 Ω/□ to 10 MΩ/□ and a temperature coefficient of resistance within ±100 ppm/° C. |
| US10403416B2 |
Conductive polypropylene-based foamed resin particles, method for production thereof, and polypropylene-based foamed molding article
Conductive polypropylene-based foamed resin particles foamed particles includes a resin composition containing 100 parts by weight of a polypropylene-based resin, 17.6 parts by weight to 33.4 parts by weight of conductive carbon black, and 0.1 parts by weight to 3.0 parts by weight of a water-soluble organic substance. The resin composition has a melting point (Tm) of 145° C. to 155° C., as measured by a differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) method, and has a temperature difference (ΔT) of 50° C. or more between the melting point (Tm) and a crystal melting start temperature (Tl) in a DSC differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) curve. |
| US10403415B2 |
Transparent electrode having reduced optical reflectance and transparent electrode manufacturing method using printing process
In a transparent electrode based on a metal material having reduced light reflectance, a light absorbing layer having black characteristic is formed on a lower surface, a partition wall, and/or an upper surface of a metal wire, and thus, light reflectance of transparent electrode is minimized. In a method of manufacturing a transparent electrode, the light absorbing layer can be selectively formed on the upper and lower surfaces and the partition wall of the metal wire having a fine line width by using self-aligning and a spontaneous pattern effect. A conductive wire is implemented by using an imprinting process using an elastic body-based stamp, and thus, conductive wires having a fine line width and an excellent aspect ratio can be formed, so that it is possible to improve electric conductivity and transmittance. |
| US10403413B2 |
Beam filter assembly and beam filter positioning device
In a beam filter assembly, a base filter is employed to modify a beam quality of a radiation beam of a base energy level and a first filter slice is stacked with the base filter to modify a beam quality of a radiation beam of a first energy level higher than the base energy level. In a beam filter positioning device, a base stage carries a base filter and a first stage carries a filter slice. The base stage is provided with a first engagement site and a second engagement site. The first stage is provided with a first engagement site, a second engagement site, and an open port. The first stage and the base stage are each independently movable relative to the beamline. The first stage is engageable with the base stage when at least one of the first and second engagement sites of the first stage is aligned with at least one of the first and second engagement sites of the base stage, and is further movable with the base stage in unison when engaged. |
| US10403411B2 |
Shielding device
The present invention relates to the field of radioactive substances and in particular to a method to facilitate handling of radioactive solutions. Provided by the present invention is a device that enables preparation of capsules filled with radioactivity. More particularly, the radioactivity is suitable for use in certain radiopharmaceutical procedures. The present invention provides improved accuracy and uniformity of patient doses. Furthermore, the potential for spills and needle stick injuries is reduced and the radiation burden is reduced. |
| US10403401B2 |
Medical apparatus with selectively enabled features
A medical system includes a medical apparatus, a computer, a user input device, and at least one feature in communication with and controlled by the computer. The computer is in communication with the user input device, which is configured and arranged to allow a user to purchase the use of the feature. The computer is configured to enable the use of the feature after the user purchases use of the feature. |
| US10403398B2 |
Efficient management of visible light still images and/or video
A visible light imaging system includes acquisition circuitry, an image generator that generates at least one of a visible light image and a visible light video with light sensed by the acquisition circuitry, a memory, and a controller. The controller, in response to executing instructions of the memory: launches a scan application, visually presents a first soft tool that retrieves an identification of a subject of interest to an imaging study based on a user input, obtains at least one of a visible light image and a visible light video, which is generated by the acquisition circuitry and the image generator for the subject, associates the retrieved identification of the subject and the at least one of the image and the video, and transfers the at least one of the image and the video, the identification of the subject, and the association to a data repository. |
| US10403393B2 |
Voice-assisted clinical note creation on a mobile device
Methods, systems, and computer-readable media are provided for facilitating the voice-assisted creation of a shorthand clinical note on a mobile or tablet device. A microphone on the device is used to capture a conversation between a clinician and a patient. Clinically-relevant concepts in the conversation are identified, extracted, and temporarily presented on the device's touch screen interface. The concepts are selectable, and upon selection, the selected concept is populated into a clinical note display area of the touch screen interface. The shorthand clinical note may be used as a memory prompt for the later creation of a more comprehensive clinical note. |
| US10403392B1 |
Data de-identification methodologies
A method includes de-identifying a data table containing protected health information by determining, based on a mappings file, that a first column of the data table is associated with a first data type, accessing each value of the first column, and, for each respective accessed value, automatically generating a de-identified value by applying one or more computer logic instructions associated with de-identification of the first data type to the respective accessed value to result in a respective de-identified value, and saving the respective de-identified value back to the data table in place of the respective accessed value; and utilizing the de-identified data table to test a computer software application. |
| US10403391B2 |
Automated mapping of service codes in healthcare systems
Automatic mapping of semantics in healthcare is provided. Data sets have different semantics (e.g., Gender designated with M and F in one system and Sex designated with 1 or 2 in another system). For semantic interoperability, the semantic links between the semantic systems of different healthcare entities are created (e.g., Gender=Sex and/or 1=F and 2=M) by a processor from statistics of the data itself. The distribution of variables, values, or variables and values, with or without other information and/or logic, is used to create a map from one semantic system to another. Similar distributions of other variable and/or values are likely to be for variables and/or values with the same meaning. |
| US10403389B2 |
Array plate short repair
Methods, systems, techniques, and devices for operating a ferroelectric memory cell or cells are described. Groups of cells may be operated in different ways depending, for example, on a relationship between cell plates of the group of cells, pages of cells, and/or sections of cells. Cells may be selected in pairs or in larger multiples in order to accommodate an electric current relationship (such as a short) between two or more cells within a group, a page, and/or a section. When performing an access based on a smaller page size, a larger page size of cells may be selected to accommodate a short between plates within the smaller page, the larger page, and/or a section of memory that includes the smaller page or the larger page. |
| US10403387B2 |
Repair circuit used in a memory device for performing error correction code operation and redundancy repair operation
Disclosed is a memory device including a plurality of memory cell arrays each of which includes a normal cell array and a redundant cell array, a first fuse unit including a plurality of first fuse sets corresponding to first memory cell arrays among the memory cell arrays, a second fuse unit including a plurality of second fuse sets corresponding to second memory cell arrays among the memory cell arrays, the first fuse sets corresponding to the second fuse sets, respectively, and a repair unit selecting a pair of fuse sets that correspond to each other from the first fuse sets and the second fuse sets based on information that represents whether each of the first fuse sets and the second fuse sets failed or is usable and programming a repair target column address of the memory cell arrays in the selected fuse set pair. |
| US10403385B2 |
Apparatus for memory device testing and field applications
A memory test system is disclosed that includes a memory integrated circuit (IC) and a memory functional tester. The memory IC includes a plurality of memory banks, where each memory bank includes a plurality of memory cells. The memory functional tester includes an adjustable voltage generator circuit, a read current measurement circuit, and a controller. The memory functional tester performs a write/read functional test on the memory bank over a number of write control voltages to determine a preferred write control voltage, where the preferred write control voltage is designated for use during subsequent write operations to the memory bank during an operational mode. |
| US10403378B1 |
Performing an operation on a memory cell of a memory system at a frequency based on temperature
A temperature associated with the memory component is determined. A frequency to perform an operation on a memory cell associated with the memory component is determined based on the temperature associated with the memory component. The operation is performed on the memory cell at the determined frequency to transition the memory cell from a state associated with an increased error rate for data stored at the memory cell to another state associated with a decreased error rate for the data stored at the memory cell. |
| US10403371B2 |
Methods of operating memory
Methods of operating memory include generating a data value indicative of a level of a property sensed from a data line while applying potentials to control gates of memory cells of more than one string of series-connected memory cells connected to that data line. Methods of operating memory further include generating data values indicative of levels of a property sensed from data lines while applying potentials to control gates of memory cells of strings of series-connected memory cells connected to those data lines, performing a logical operation on a set of data values comprising those data values, and determining a potential to be applied to control gates of different memory cells of those strings of series-connected memory cells in response to an output of the logical operation on the set of data values. |
| US10403368B2 |
Compact non-volatile memory device
A non-volatile memory device includes a matrix memory plane with columns of memory words respectively formed on each row of the memory plane by groups of memory cells and control elements respectively associated with the memory words of each row. At least some of the control elements associated with the memory words of the corresponding row form at least one control block of B control elements disposed next to one another, adjacent to a memory block containing the B memory words disposed next to one another and associated with these B control elements, a first electrically-conducting link connecting one of the B control elements to all the control electrodes of the state transistors of the corresponding group of memory cells and B-1 second electrically-conducting link(s) respectively connecting the B-1 control element(s) to all the control electrodes of the state transistors of the B-1 corresponding group(s) of memory cells. |
| US10403361B2 |
Memory cells, memory cell arrays, methods of using and methods of making
A semiconductor memory cell and arrays of memory cells are provided In at least one embodiment, a memory cell includes a substrate having a top surface, the substrate having a first conductivity type selected from a p-type conductivity type and an n-type conductivity type; a first region having a second conductivity type selected from the p-type and n-type conductivity types, the second conductivity type being different from the first conductivity type, the first region being formed in the substrate and exposed at the top surface; a second region having the second conductivity type, the second region being formed in the substrate, spaced apart from the first region and exposed at the top surface; a buried layer in the substrate below the first and second regions, spaced apart from the first and second regions and having the second conductivity type; a body region formed between the first and second regions and the buried layer, the body region having the first conductivity type; a gate positioned between the first and second regions and above the top surface; and a nonvolatile memory configured to store data upon transfer from the body region. |
| US10403358B2 |
Semiconductor memory device
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes a nonvolatile memory comprising a plurality of memory cells, and a controller configured to perform, a preliminary write process of writing reverse data into a first memory cell, and a main write process of writing correct data in the first memory cell, when the first memory cell is in a weak bit state, wherein a condition of the preliminary write process is different from a condition of the main write process. |
| US10403355B2 |
Phase change memory device capable of decreasing a disturbance
A phase change memory device may include a plurality of word lines, a plurality of bit lines, a phase change memory cell, and a discharging circuit. The word lines and the bit lines may intersect each other. The phase change memory cell may be positioned at an intersection point between the word lines and the bit lines. The discharging circuit may be configured to apply a ground voltage to a non-selected word line adjacent to a selected word line or a non-selected bit line adjacent to a selected bit line. |
| US10403352B2 |
Apparatuses and methods for compute in data path
The present disclosure includes apparatuses and methods for compute in data path. An example apparatus includes an array of memory cells. Sensing circuitry is coupled to the array of memory cells. A shared input/output (I/O) line provides a data path associated with the array. The shared I/O line couples the sensing circuitry to a compute component in the data path of the shared I/O line. |
| US10403351B1 |
Save and restore scoreboard
Systems, apparatuses, and methods for using a scoreboard to track updates to configuration state registers are disclosed. A system includes one or more processing nodes, one or more memory devices, a plurality of configuration state registers, and a communication fabric coupled to the processing unit(s) and memory device(s). The system uses a scoreboard to track updates to the configuration state registers during run-time. Prior to a node going into a power-gated state, the system stores only those configuration state registers that have changed. This reduces the amount of data written to memory on each transition into power-gated state, and increases the amount of time the node can spend in the power-gated state. Also, configuration state registers are grouped together to match the memory access granularity, and each group of configuration state registers has a corresponding scoreboard entry. |
| US10403349B2 |
Ferroelectric memory cell apparatuses and methods of operating ferroelectric memory cells
Methods, systems, and devices for operating a ferroelectric memory cell or cells are described. Prior to writing a logic value to a ferroelectric memory cell, a digit line of a ferroelectric memory cell may be biased to a first voltage, and a cell plate of the ferroelectric memory cell may be biased to a second voltage. A magnitude of a difference between the first voltage and the second voltage may be greater than a magnitude of a write voltage for the first ferroelectric memory cell. The magnitude of the difference between the first voltage and the second voltage may decrease the time to reach a write voltage for the ferroelectric memory cell. Several example cell plate drivers are also disclosed. |
| US10403347B2 |
Apparatuses and methods for accessing ferroelectric memory including providing reference voltage level
Apparatuses and methods are disclosed that include ferroelectric memory and for refreshing ferroelectric memory. An example apparatus includes: a word line; a first memory cell coupled to a first digit line and stores a first data on the first digit line responsive to the word line in an active state; a second memory cell coupled to a second digit line and stores a second data on the second digit line responsive to the word line in the active state. The first digit line is coupled to a first power potential and the second digit line is coupled to a second power potential in a refresh operation. |
| US10403341B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit and semiconductor device
A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a register, a detection circuit, and a generation circuit. The register stores a detection start timing of a reference delay amount based on a first clock during a first period. The first period is a period in which the first clock starts to be input. The detection circuit has a plurality of delay stages. The detection circuit detects the reference delay amount at the start timing during the first period and obtains the number of delay stages corresponding to the reference delay amount. The generation circuit adjusts a duty ratio of the first clock based on the number of delay stages obtained by the detection circuit and generates a second clock during a second period. The second period is a period continuing from the first period. |
| US10403340B2 |
Techniques for command synchronization in a memory device
An apparatus, such as a memory device, that includes circuits and techniques to synchronize various internal signals with an internal clock signal to ensure proper functionality of the memory device through various modes of operation. A clock enable control circuit is provided to control the input of a delay locked loop circuit to provide a locked condition based on a particular type of command input and the state of various control signals to allow for multiple locking conditions and adjustments based on a length of a clock cycle of the internal clock signal. |
| US10403338B2 |
Low power memory device with column and row line switches for specific memory cells
A memory device includes a plurality of word lines elongated along a first direction, and at least one memory unit. The at least one memory unit includes a plurality of memory cells, at least one bit line, and at least one column word line. The plurality of memory cells are arranged along a second direction different from the first direction. The at least one bit line is elongated along the second direction, and configured to transmit data of a selected memory cell. The at least one column word line is elongated along the second direction, and configured to control electrical connections between the memory cells and the at least one bit line, wherein the selected memory cell is selected by a corresponding word line and the at least one column word line. |
| US10403334B2 |
Semiconductor devices
A semiconductor device includes a read mode signal generation circuit and a read alignment circuit. The read mode signal generation circuit compares a read command with at least one of internal clock signal to generate a read mode signal. The read alignment circuit is synchronized with the at least one internal clock signal to generate read data in response to internal data. The read alignment circuit controls an alignment sequence of the internal data in response to the read mode signal. |
| US10403333B2 |
Memory controller with flexible address decoding
A memory controller includes a host interface for receiving memory access requests including access addresses, a memory interface for providing memory accesses to a memory system, and an address decoder coupled to the host interface for programmably mapping the access addresses to selected ones of a plurality of regions. The address decoder is programmable to map the access addresses to a first region having a non-power-of-two size using a primary decoder and a secondary decoder each having power-of-two sizes, and providing a first region mapping signal in response. A command queue stores the memory access requests and region mapping signals. An arbiter picks the memory access requests from the command queue based on a plurality of criteria, which are evaluated based in part on the region mapping signals, and provides corresponding memory accesses to the memory interface in response. |
| US10403331B2 |
Semiconductor device having a floating option pad, and a method for manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device includes a memory cell array, pad groups, a first option pad, a second option pad and a data input multiplexer block configured to transmit data, input through all or part of the pad groups, to the memory cell array based on whether the first option pad and a ground are connected to each other, wherein the data input multiplexer block is configured to select first pad groups among the pad groups or second pad groups among the pad groups as the part of the pad groups based on whether the second option pad and the ground are connected to each other. |
| US10403328B2 |
Acoustic attenuation in data storage enclosures
To provide enhanced operation of data storage devices and systems, various systems and apparatuses are provided herein. In a first example, a data storage assembly includes an enclosure configured to house at least one data storage device and a fan assembly configured to provide airflow within the enclosure to ventilate the at least one data storage device. A plurality of acoustic waves emanate into the data storage device from one or more fans of the fan assembly during operation. An acoustic attenuation device is positioned within the enclosure and configured to deflect at least a first portion of the plurality of acoustic waves away from the at least one data storage device and absorb a portion of acoustic wave energy of at least a second portion of the plurality of acoustic waves. |
| US10403326B1 |
Systems and methods for detecting moments within videos
Video information defining video content may be obtained. The video content may include video frames and may have a progress length. The video frames may be encoded into video packets, with the video packets being of particular sizes. One or more size criteria for detecting a given moment within the video content may be obtained. The sizes of the video packets may be compared with the one or more size criteria. One or more sets of the video packets that satisfy the one or more size criteria may be identified. One or more portions of the video content having video frames defined by the set(s) of video packets that satisfy the one or more size criteria may be identified as the given moment within the video content. Storage of the identification of the given moment within the video content in a storage medium may be effectuated. |
| US10403320B2 |
Magnetic tape device with TMR head and specific logarithmic decrement and magnetic reproducing method
The magnetic tape device includes: a magnetic tape; and a reproducing head, in which the reproducing head is a magnetic head including a tunnel magnetoresistance effect type element as a reproducing element, the magnetic tape includes a non-magnetic support, and a magnetic layer including ferromagnetic powder and a binding agent on the non-magnetic support, and logarithmic decrement acquired by a pendulum viscoelasticity test performed regarding the surface of the magnetic layer is equal to or smaller than 0.050. |
| US10403319B2 |
Magnetic tape having characterized magnetic layer, tape cartridge, and recording and reproducing device
The magnetic tape includes a nonmagnetic layer containing nonmagnetic powder and binder on a nonmagnetic support, and a magnetic layer containing ferromagnetic powder, abrasive, and binder on the nonmagnetic layer, wherein a thickness of the nonmagnetic layer is less than or equal to 0.50 μm, a coefficient of friction as measured on a base portion of a surface of the magnetic layer is less than or equal to 0.35, and ΔSFD in a longitudinal direction of the magnetic tape as calculated with Equation 1, ΔSFD=SFD25° C.−SFD−190° C., is greater than or equal to 0.50, wherein, in Equation 1, SFD25° C. denotes a SFD as measured in the longitudinal direction of the magnetic tape in an environment with a temperature of 25° C., and SFD−190° C. denotes a SFD as measured in the longitudinal direction of the magnetic tape in an environment with a temperature of −190° C. |
| US10403318B2 |
Magnetic tape having characterized back coating layer
A magnetic tape in which a thickness of a back coating layer is equal to or smaller than 0.20 μm. A C—H derived C concentration calculated from a C—H peak area ratio of C1s spectra obtained by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic analysis performed on the surface of the back coating layer at a photoelectron take-off angle of 10 degrees is equal to or greater than 35 atom %. The full widths at half maximum of spacing distribution measured by optical interferometry regarding the surface of the back coating layer before and after performing a vacuum heating with respect to the magnetic tape are respectively greater than 0 nm and equal to or smaller than 10.0 nm. The difference between the spacing measured after performing the vacuum heating and a spacing measured before performing the vacuum heating is greater than 0 nm and equal to or smaller than 8.0 nm. |
| US10403314B2 |
Magnetic tape device employing TMR head and magnetic tape with characterized magnetic layer, and head tracking servo method
A magnetic tape device includes a TMR head as a servo head; and a magnetic tape which includes a magnetic layer including ferromagnetic hexagonal ferrite powder and a binding agent, and including a servo pattern. The XRD intensity ratio (Int(110)/Int(114)) of the hexagonal ferrite crystal structure obtained by an X-ray diffraction analysis of the magnetic layer using an In-Plane method is 0.5 to 4.0. The vertical direction squareness ratio of the magnetic tape is 0.65 to 1.00. The center line average surface roughness Ra measured regarding the surface of the magnetic layer is less than or equal to 2.0 nm, and the logarithmic decrement acquired by a pendulum viscoelasticity test performed regarding the surface of the magnetic layer is less than or equal to 0.050. |
| US10403310B1 |
Hyperbolic metamaterial-based near-field transducer for heat assisted magnetic recording head
An apparatus comprises a slider configured for heat-assisted magnetic recording. A near-field transducer comprising a peg is situated at or near an air bearing surface of the slider, and an optical waveguide of the slider is configured to couple light from a light source to the near-field transducer. The peg comprises a hyperbolic metamaterial, and the near-field transducer may further include an enlarged portion from which the peg extends, where the enlarged portion may also comprise a hyperbolic metamaterial. |
| US10403306B2 |
Method and apparatus for fast recognition of a hearing device user's own voice, and hearing aid
A method for fast recognition of a hearing aid wearer's own voice, and a corresponding apparatus for carrying out the method. The hearing aid receives audio signals from at least two acoustoelectric transducers. The hearing aid has an apparatus with a first filter and a second filter for spatial separation. First filter parameters of the first filter are ascertained and used to attenuate the own voice of the hearing aid wearer of the hearing aid. In addition, second filter parameters of the second filter are ascertained. The second filter parameters are used to attenuate an external audio source. The apparatus is then operated with the first and second parameters, and the wearer's own voice is recognized on the basis of an output signal from the first filter and the second filter. |
| US10403303B1 |
Systems and methods for identifying speech based on cepstral coefficients and support vector machines
Audio content may have a duration. The audio content may be segmented into audio segments. Individual audio segments may correspond to a portion of the duration. Mel frequency spectral power features, Mel frequency cepstral coefficient features, and energy features of the audio segments may be determined. Feature vectors of the audio segments may be determined based on the Mel frequency spectral power features, the Mel frequency cepstral coefficient features, and the energy features. The feature vectors may be processed through a support vector machine. The support vector machine may output predictions on whether the audio segments contain speech. One or more of the audio segments may be identified as containing speech based on filtering the predictions and comparing the filtered predictions to a threshold. Storage of the identification of the one or more of the audio segments as containing speech in one or more storage media may be effectuated. |
| US10403300B2 |
Spectral estimation of room acoustic parameters
A system and associated method for estimating one or more reverberation parameters includes an adaptive, parametric, linear prediction filter having one or more power spectral density (PSD) estimates of signals of one or more channels as inputs. The prediction filter estimates at least one parameter related to reverberation time, such as T60, and can further estimate an additional parameter, such as Direct-to-Reverberant Ratio (DRR). The prediction filter may be adapted during a period of reverberation by minimizing a cost function. Adaptation can include using a gradient descent approach, which can operate according to a step size provided by an adaptation controller configured to determine the period of reverberation. One or more microphones can provide the signals. The reverberation parameters estimated can be applied to a reverberation suppressor, with an estimator that does not require a training phase and without relying on assumptions of the user's position relative to the microphones. |
| US10403297B2 |
Methods and apparatus for adjusting a level of an audio signal
A method performed in an audio decoder for decoding M encoded audio channels representing N audio channels is disclosed. The method includes receiving a bitstream containing the M encoded audio channels and a set of spatial parameters, decoding the M encoded audio channels, and extracting the set of spatial parameters from the bitstream. The method also includes analyzing the M audio channels to detect a location of a transient, decorrelating the M audio channels, and deriving N audio channels from the M audio channels and the set of spatial parameters. A first decorrelation technique is applied to a first subset of each audio channel and a second decorrelation technique is applied to a second subset of each audio channel. The first decorrelation technique represents a first mode of operation of a decorrelator, and the second decorrelation technique represents a second mode of operation of the decorrelator. |
| US10403295B2 |
Methods for improving high frequency reconstruction
The present invention proposes a new method and a new apparatus for enhancement of audio source coding systems utilizing high frequency reconstruction (HFR). It utilizes a detection mechanism on the encoder side to assess what parts of the spectrum will not be correctly reproduced by the HFR method in the decoder. Information on this is efficiently coded and sent to the decoder, where it is combined with the output of the HFR unit. |
| US10403293B2 |
Apparatus for encoding and decoding of integrated speech and audio
Provided is an encoding apparatus for integrally encoding and decoding a speech signal and a audio signal, and may include: an input signal analyzer to analyze a characteristic of an input signal; a stereo encoder to down mix the input signal to a mono signal when the input signal is a stereo signal, and to extract stereo sound image information; a frequency band expander to expand a frequency band of the input signal; a sampling rate converter to convert a sampling rate; a speech signal encoder to encode the input signal using a speech encoding module when the input signal is a speech characteristics signal; a audio signal encoder to encode the input signal using a audio encoding module when the input signal is a audio characteristic signal; and a bitstream generator to generate a bitstream. |
| US10403288B2 |
Speaker diarization
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for speaker diarization are disclosed. In one aspect, a method includes the actions of receiving audio data corresponding to an utterance. The actions further include determining that the audio data includes an utterance of a predefined hotword spoken by a first speaker. The actions further include identifying a first portion of the audio data that includes speech from the first speaker. The actions further include identifying a second portion of the audio data that includes speech from a second, different speaker. The actions further include transmitting the first portion of the audio data that includes speech from the first speaker and suppressing transmission of the second portion of the audio data that includes speech from the second, different speaker. |
| US10403284B2 |
Adversarial learning and generation of dialogue responses
Systems and methods for generating responses to user input such as dialogs, and images are discussed. The system may generate, by a response generation module of at least one server, an optimal generated response to the user communication by applying an generative adversarial network. In some embodiments, the generative adversarial network may include a hierarchical recurrent encoder decoder generative adversarial network including a generator and a discriminator component. |
| US10403282B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing voice service
The present disclosure discloses a method and apparatus for providing a voice service. A specific implementation of the method for providing a voice service comprises: acquiring a voice input signal; analyzing the time-domain waveform of the voice input signal to determine current speed information of the voice input signal; comparing the current speed information with an acquired standard speed information set of a user outputting the voice input signal, and determining first demand information from a preset demand information set according to the comparison result, wherein the standard speed information set comprises at least one piece of standard speed information, and the preset demand information set comprises demand information corresponding to each piece of standard speed information in the standard speed information set; and generating a voice response signal based on the first demand information and the second demand information acquired by analyzing the voice input signal. |
| US10403279B2 |
Low-power, always-listening, voice command detection and capture
A system for detecting and capturing voice commands, the system comprising a voice-activity detector (VAD) configured to receive a VAD-received digital-audio signal; determine the amplitude of the VAD-received digital-audio signal; compare the amplitude of the VAD-received digital-audio signal to a first threshold and to a second threshold; withhold a VAD interrupt signal when the amplitude of the VAD-received digital-audio signal does not exceed the first threshold or the second threshold; generate the VAD interrupt signal when the amplitude of the VAD-received digital-audio signal exceeds the first threshold and the second threshold; and perform spectral analysis of the VAD-received digital-audio signal when the amplitude of the VAD-received digital-audio signal is between the first threshold and the second threshold. |
| US10403278B2 |
Methods and systems for phonetic matching in digital assistant services
Systems and processes for operating an intelligent automated assistant to provide media items based on phonetic matching techniques are provided. An example method includes receiving a speech input from a user and determining whether the speech input includes a user request for a media item. The method further includes, in accordance with a determination that the speech input includes a user request for obtaining a media item, determining a candidate media item from a plurality of media items. The method further includes determining, based on a difference between a phonetic representation of the candidate media item and a phonetic representation of the speech input, whether the candidate media item is to be provided to the user. The method further includes, in accordance with a determination that the candidate media item is to be provided to the user, providing the candidate media item to the user. |
| US10403275B1 |
Speech control for complex commands
Audio content associated with a verbal utterance is received. An operational meaning of a received verbal utterance comprising a compound input is recognized and determined, at least in part by: determining that a first subset of the received verbal utterance is associated with a first recognized input; determining whether a meaning of a remaining portion of the received verbal utterance other than the first subset is recognized as being associated with a second recognized input; and based at least in part on a determination that the meaning of the remaining portion of the received verbal utterance is recognized as being associated with said second recognized input, concluding that the verbal utterance comprises a compound input comprising the first and second recognized inputs. |
| US10403273B2 |
Method and system for facilitating a guided dialog between a user and a conversational agent
The present teaching relates to facilitating a guided dialog with a user. In one example, an input utterance is obtained from the user. One or more task sets are estimated based on the input utterance. Each of the one or more task sets includes a plurality of tasks estimated to be requested by the user via the input utterance and is associated with a confidence score computed based on statistics with respect to the plurality of tasks in the task set. At least one of the one or more task sets is selected based on their respective confidence scores. A response is generated based on the tasks in the selected at least one task set. The response is provided to the user. |
| US10403270B1 |
Automatic distribution of validated user safety alerts from networked computing devices
Techniques are described for automatically distributing validated user safety alerts from a networked computing device. The networked computing device may be configured to operate as an autonomous agent to perform actions on behalf of a user without receiving direct instructions from the user. For example, the autonomous agent computing device may be configured to make certain purchases, send alerts or reminders, or perform other functions in accordance with preprogrammed rules. According to the disclosed techniques, the autonomous agent computing device is configured to automatically generate and send an alert to one or more computing devices associated with the user upon detecting a safety concern for the user. The autonomous agent also uses a signing key associated with its digital certificate, which verifies the identity of the autonomous agent, to sign the alert such that a third-party server may validate the alert prior to distribution to the destination computing devices. |
| US10403268B2 |
Method and system of automatic speech recognition using posterior confidence scores
A system, article, and method include techniques of automatic speech recognition using posterior confidence scores. |
| US10403264B2 |
Method and device for outputting voice information based on a geographical location having a maximum number of historical records
A method for outputting voice information is disclosed. The method includes determining, when it is determined that to-be-processed information needs to be output in voice mode, geographical location information corresponding to the to-be-processed information according to user location information. The method also includes converting the to-be-processed information into voice information corresponding to the geographical location information according to the geographical information. The method further includes outputting the voice information in the user equipment. The solution according to the present invention is capable of automatically adjusting the dialect used by the voice information according to user needs, without manual adjustment by the user. User operations are largely simplified, a better user experience may be provided to users, and it is especially suitable for those users accustomed to using dialects. |
| US10403263B1 |
Systems and method for noise-cancellation
A noise-cancellation system, including: a plurality of sensors, each sensor outputting a sensor signal; a controller configured to receive each sensor signal, and, for each sensor signal, to: determine a power of the sensor signal at a plurality of frequencies; determine a measure of association between the power of the sensor signal at the plurality of frequencies and frequency; and determine whether the measure of association exceeds a predetermined threshold, wherein the processor is further configured to compute a noise-cancellation signal using the sensor signals, wherein the noise-cancellation signal is computed excluding sensor signals that were determined to exceed the predetermined threshold; and at least one actuator receiving the noise-cancellation signal and producing a noise-cancellation audio signal. |
| US10403261B1 |
Noise reduction apparatus
According to one embodiment, a noise reduction apparatus includes a first control sound source, a first current detection unit, a second control sound source, a second current detection unit, and an adjustment unit. The first control sound source generates a first control sound for reducing noise from a noise source. The first current detection unit detects a first current flowing from the first control sound source upon receiving the noise from the noise source. The second control sound source is provided at a position different from a position of the first control sound source and generates a second control sound for reducing the noise from the noise source. The second current detection unit detects a second current flowing from the second control sound source upon receiving the noise from the noise source. The adjustment unit adjusts the first control sound and the second control sound so as to make the first current and the second current satisfy a predetermined condition. |
| US10403253B2 |
Portable recording/reproducing apparatus with wireless LAN function and recording/reproduction system with wireless LAN function
There are provided portable recording/reproducing apparatus and a recording/reproducing system that have a wireless LAN function capable of setting sound record parameters and playback parameters by remote operation.The recording/reproducing apparatus has a Wi-Fi module and establishes Wi-Fi connection with a smartphone, and the like. Having established the Wi-Fi connection with the smartphone, the recording/reproducing apparatus receives setting values of the sound record parameters and those of the playback parameters from the smartphone, and reproduces the audio signal by use of the setting values. The smartphone acquires the setting values of the sound record parameters and the playback parameters by way of the Internet, and transmits the setting values to the recording/reproducing apparatus. |
| US10403251B1 |
System and method of collectively producing music
A system and a method of collectively producing music requires a set of user account that are managed by at least one remote server acting as a hub to exchange ideas and information about a music project. An originator of the music project is able to select other users to specifically collaborate on the music project. The originator and the collaborative users each need to have a user account. A communication platform provides the originator and the collaborative users with a medium to share constructive feedback in real-time about the music project. In addition, the originator and the collaborative users are provided with a set of digital tools that can be found in a modern audio workstation. This allows the originator and the collaborative users to share constructive feedback with each other and then to audibly edit the music project with any tool from the set of digital tools. |
| US10403250B2 |
Interactive performance direction for a simultaneous multi-tone instrument
A musical instrument performance solution is described. Labels with visual indicators provide a reference to performers such that a proper combination of instrument inputs may be selected at the appropriate time. The visual indicators include colors and/or shapes. The visual indicators may be presented using differently-colored lyrical text, where each color corresponds to a set of notes. Each set of notes may for a chordal group such as a triad. The visual indicators may be associated with labels that are able to be adhered to various instrument inputs such as keys of a keyboard or piano. |
| US10403247B2 |
Sensor and controller for wind instruments
This invention involves the field of tactile control of electronic devices using a sensor that transduces both air pressure and device positional orientation into a set of digitally encoded commands. The invention involves using as input the physical action taken on a musical instrument and generating control information using that input. |
| US10403246B2 |
Hand actuated tremolo system for guitars
A tremolo device with a movable bridge, an adjustment device, and a support frame is implemented on an acoustic guitar, with features that can also be employed on an electric guitar or other stringed instruments. The movable bridge holds strings of the musical instrument in tension. The adjustment device, such as a tremolo bar, moves the bridge to change the tension of the strings. The support frame engages the bridge at a first area and engages the musical instrument at a larger second area. When the tremolo device is used, the support frame receives a force over the first area and transmits a corresponding force to the musical instrument over the larger second area, reducing the pressure that would be experienced by the musical instrument. The support frame also transmits string vibration received through the bridge to the instrument body to produce proper acoustic tones. |
| US10403244B2 |
Apparatus and methods for an adjustable bass bridge for a stringed musical instrument
An improved adjustable bridge is described for a stringed musical instrument. The adjustable bridge has a pair of feet attached to the bridge body. A pair of legs is attached for the bridge body using adjustable rod pegs. These rod pegs are adjustable so that the bridge may be moved upwards and downwards to achieve the desired bridge height. |
| US10403232B2 |
Method of controlling display screen states, and apparatus
In a method of controlling display screen states and an apparatus, the method includes following actions. A signal emitter emits a detection signal outward. A second signal receiver receives a reflection signal of the detection signal formed by an external object. Based on intensity of the reflection signal received by the second signal receiver, distance states between terminals and the object are determined. The method controls the display screen states based on the distance states. Since the signal receiver away from the signal emitter precisely detects the distance states between terminals and the object, the method controls the display screen states of the terminals. |
| US10403230B2 |
Systems and methods of reduced memory bandwidth compensation
What is disclosed are systems and methods of compensation of images produced by active matrix light emitting diode device (AMOLED) and other emissive displays. Sub-sampling of pixel measurement data utilized in compensation of the display is utilized to reduce the data bandwidth between memory and a compensation module where the data is locally interpolated. |
| US10403229B2 |
System and method for reproducing color image with supposed reproduced color gamuts
A color reproduction method comprises: inputting a first color gamut and a second color gamut; applying, to the first color gamut, a first color correction in which color adaptation is taken into consideration on a basis of reference white in the first color gamut and the second color gamut and a second color correction for matching basic colors in the first color gamut and the second color gamut with each other; applying, to a first color gamut to which the first color correction and the second color correction are applied, a third color correction for correcting a color that is present in colors outside of the second color gamut to colors on a surface or inside of the second color gamut; and generating color conversion information for converting the first color gamut into the second color gamut. |
| US10403226B2 |
Source driver and display device including the same
A source driver is disclosed, including a data exchanger configured to receive a predetermined number of units of data and store the data corresponding to a predetermined number of channels, and a latch unit configured to store the data output from the data exchanger. The data exchanger mutually exchanges data corresponding to two channels included in each of a plurality of groups, and independently exchanges data for each of the plurality of groups, in which each of the plurality of groups includes two adjacent channels. |
| US10403225B2 |
Display apparatus and driving method thereof
A display apparatus and a driving method for the display apparatus are provided. The display apparatus includes a display panel and a first source driver. The display panel has a pixel array. The first source driver sequentially supplies a first overdrive voltage and a driving voltage to a pixel in the pixel array. The first overdrive voltage has a plurality of voltage levels according to positions of pixels in the pixel array. |
| US10403224B2 |
Control method and control device for charging time sharing
A control method for charging time sharing in a display apparatus, which includes receiving image data including a plurality of pixel data signals corresponding to a plurality of display driving periods, each display driving period associated with pixel data signals of a respective row of the display apparatus, calculating a plurality of gray variations corresponding to the plurality of display driving periods according to the plurality of pixel data signals, adjusting the plurality of display driving periods to generate a plurality of adjusted display driving periods according to the plurality of gray variations, and generating a gate clock signal according to the plurality of adjusted display driving periods. |
| US10403223B2 |
Display apparatus and driving method thereof
A display apparatus and a driving method thereof are provided. A data driving chip provides a plurality of data voltages to a plurality of multiplexers through a plurality of output lines. When the display apparatus displays a pure gray pattern, the data voltages are alternately provided to a first data line group and a second data line group during a scan line driving period of each of the scan lines to make two adjacent pixels have different polarities. During a blank period, a plurality of data lines corresponding to a plurality of pixels having the same color and the same polarity on two adjacent scan lines are electrically coupled to each other through the data driving chip to share charges. |
| US10403218B2 |
Mura compensation circuit and method, driving circuit and display device
A Mura compensation circuit and method, a driving circuit and a display device are provided. The Mura compensation circuit comprises: a vertical Mura compensation unit, for providing a corresponding gamma voltage to a vertical block Mura region and a vertical non-Mura region of a display panel respectively, to compensate for a vertical Mura phenomenon; and/or a horizontal Mura compensation unit, for providing a corresponding gate drive signal and/or a corresponding charging/discharging control signal to a horizontal block Mura region and a horizontal non-Mura region of a display panel respectively, to compensate for a horizontal Mura phenomenon. The Mura compensation circuit can make the different regions of the display panel have the same display effect, and improve reduction of display quality caused by impedance difference at different positions of the display panel, thereby raising the quality of a picture, and can be promoted and applied widely. |
| US10403216B2 |
Method for reducing electromagnetic interference of LCD data signal
Disclosed is a method for reducing electromagnetic interference of LCD data signal. The method, while ensuring that decoding frequency bandwidth of a receiving terminal of a timer control register remains unchanged, correctly decodes high-speed transmission signals which use a spread spectrum function, which can effectively reduce electromagnetic interference, avoid noise, quickly and correctly decode high-speed transmission signals which use a spread spectrum function, and enable an image to be displayed normally. |
| US10403215B2 |
Passive e-paper imaging
An imaging device for a passive e-paper display includes an erasing head to emit ions in a first polarity followed by an opposite second polarity after a first time period. The passive e-paper display is mountable on a support in a spaced apart relationship relative to the erasing head and by which the emitted ions are receivable onto substantially the entire surface of the passive e-paper display. Relative movement occurs between the support and the erasing head at least some of the time during the emission of ions from the erasing head. |
| US10403214B2 |
Electronic devices with tone mapping to accommodate simultaneous display of standard dynamic range and high dynamic range content
An electronic device may be provided with a display. Standard and high dynamic range content may be produced by content generators operating on control circuitry. In a first mode of operation, standard dynamic range content is displayed. In a second mode of operation, high dynamic range content is displayed. In a third mode of operation, standard dynamic range content and high dynamic range content are simultaneously displayed. Tone mapping parameters may be produced by a tone mapping engine for use in displaying the standard and high dynamic range content. The tone mapping parameters may be selected based on factors such as ambient light level, user brightness setting, content statistics, and display characteristics. Tone mapping parameters may be selected to accommodate simultaneous display of standard and high dynamic range content and to accommodate transitions between standard and high dynamic range content. |
| US10403200B2 |
Transparent display panel and display device
In accordance with various embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, a transparent display panel and a related display device are provided. In some embodiments, a transparent display panel is provided, the transparent display panel comprises: a first region and a second region, wherein the first region comprises a plurality of first display units, the second region comprises a plurality of second display units, a transmission rate of the one of the plurality of first display units is higher than a transmission rate of the one of the plurality of second display units, and a luminance rate of the one of the plurality of first display units is lower than a luminance rate of the one of the plurality of second display units. |
| US10403199B2 |
System and method of compensation of a curved display
In one or more embodiments, one or more systems, methods, and/or processes may determine first brightness settings of pixels of a display; may determine curve determinations from strain gauges associated with the display; may determine, from the curve determinations, vectors, where each of the vectors is orthogonal to the display at a respective position of the display; may determine second brightness settings of the pixels of the display based at least on the first brightness settings and the vectors; and may display, via the display, an image utilizing the second plurality of brightness settings. |
| US10403198B2 |
Display apparatus
A display apparatus includes a plurality of pixels, and a plurality of scan lines, a plurality of data lines, and a plurality of light emission lines connected to the pixels. Scan signals are applied to the pixels through the scan lines, each of the scan signals has a first level and a second level higher than the first level, an amplitude of each of the scan signals is a difference between the first level and the second level, and the amplitude of a scan signal applied to an (h+1)th scan line is larger than the amplitude of a scan signal applied to an hth scan line. |
| US10403197B2 |
Gate driver IC, chip-on-film substrate, and display apparatus
A gate driver IC includes: N shift registers which generate a gate signal to be supplied to a display panel substrate, N being a natural number; (N+k) power supply terminals (PA1 to PD1, Pa1, and Pc1) for power supply from outside, k being a natural number; and (N+k) internal lines connected to the (N+k) power supply terminals, wherein N internal lines among the (N+k) internal lines connect, one-to-one, N power supply terminals among the (N+k) power supply terminals and the N shift registers, and k internal lines other than the N internal lines among the (N+k) internal lines connect, one-to-one, k power supply terminals other than the N power supply terminals among the (N+k) power supply terminals and k internal lines selected from among the N internal lines. |
| US10403196B2 |
Source driver including sensing circuit and display device using the same
Disclosed is a source driver including a sensing circuit capable of sensing whether a short occurred between a data output line and a power line. The source driver may include: an output circuit configured to output a preset voltage to a display panel in a checking mode; and a sensing circuit configured to sense whether data output lines connecting the output circuit and the display panel are shorted, using the preset voltage, and output a sensing result signal. |
| US10403191B2 |
LED display device and method for improving image quality using a scheme of row line resetting
An LED display device and a method for driving the same are disclosed. The LED display device includes a plurality of pixel units being coupled to the row and column lines. In each of the row periods, the method comprises: displaying a display data in a manner of packet-by-packet; and pre-charging the parasitic capacitors between the row and column line by use of a reset voltage to implement a reset between the successive groups. According to the disclosure, a reset is performed between the packets in each row period to reduce the interference to the low grayscale image by the high grayscale image, such that the dynamic display quality of the image is improved. |
| US10403190B2 |
Method for color complementation on WOLED display device, and display device
Disclosed are a method for color complementation on a white organic light emitting diode (WOLED) display device, and a display device. The method comprises: (a) acquiring respective first chromaticity coordinates of each of red (R), green (G), blue (B), and white (W) sub-pixel units for a brightness outputted by the WOLED display device; (b) calculating a first complementary color ratio among the R, G, B, and W sub-pixel units; (c) determining a desired brightness of the W sub-pixel unit, and obtaining respective first complementary color brightnesses of each of the R, G, B, and W sub-pixel units, and in turn determining respective second chromaticity coordinates of each of the R, G, B, and W sub-pixel units corresponding to the respective first complementary color brightness of each of the R, G, B, W sub-pixel units; and (d) implementing in iterations steps (a), (b) and (c), so as to obtain a second complementary color ratio among the R, G, B, W sub-pixel units corresponding to the desired brightness of the W sub-pixel unit. Color complementation of the WOLED display device is carried out depending on the second complementary color ratio among the R, G, B, and W sub-pixel units when the brightness outputted by the WOLED display device reaches the desired brightness of W sub-pixel unit. |
| US10403186B2 |
Display device and method of testing the same
A display device and a method of testing the same are disclosed. In one aspect, the display device includes a first substrate including a display area and a non-display area arranged outside the display area. The display device also includes a bending area arranged in the non-display area, first and second signal lines arranged in the non-display area, and a first test pattern arranged between the first and second signal lines. |
| US10403185B2 |
Signage support for vehicle tires
A signage support for vehicle tires for attaching objects such as signage to the sidewall area of unmounted vehicle tires. The signage support for vehicle tires generally includes a cross member having a first end and a second end, a first connector attached to the first end and a second connector attached to the second end. The first connector and second connector are configured to connect to the inner edge of the side opening of a vehicle tire. The cross member is configured to extend or retract to allow for connection to various sizes and types of vehicle tires. Signage or other objects are attached to the cross member or extended members extending from the connectors. |
| US10403182B2 |
Systems and methods for providing solar-powered advertising kiosks
A solar-powered advertising kiosk can include a frame configured to divide the solar-powered advertising kiosk into one or more sections. The solar-powered advertising kiosk can also include a roof configured to convert sunlight to electricity to power one or more advertising displays, wherein the roof includes a first portion of the frame, and wherein the roof includes one or more solar tents each including one or more solar modules. The solar-powered advertising kiosk can further include a body configured to display one or more images on the one or more advertising displays, wherein the body includes a second portion of the frame. |
| US10403180B2 |
Apparatus with isolated display and lighting portions and optical passages for backlit illumination
The examples relate to implementations of an apparatus and a luminaire that use isolated display and lighting portions and optical passages for backlit general illumination through the display. The apparatus includes a general illumination light source, an optical coupling, and an optical array. A luminaire includes the apparatus and a display light board. The display light board may include display light emitters and transparent regions. The transparent regions enable general illumination light to pass through the display light board. The general illumination light source outputs general illumination light that is directed by the optical coupling toward the optical array. The optical array has optical passages and optical array supports. The optical array supports frame the display light emitters and the optical passages channel the directed general illumination light from the optical coupling around display light emitters framed near the optical array supports. Near-field shadow regions are formed under the display light emitters. |
| US10403177B2 |
Flexible display device of which end portion is perturbable by using elastic force of flexible display device during hinge operation
Disclosed herein is a flexible display apparatus including: a fixing body of which a hinge is applied to one or two edges; flexible display means whose one end portion is fixed to the fixing body and whose the other end portion which is not fixed is capable of being folded and unfolded in a state where the unfixed portion is supported at the outer circumferential surface of the hinge; and a cover plate which is assembled to a hinge shape of the fixing body in a rotatable state and has a sliding space part and a sliding guide jaw for allowing sliding of the unfixed portion of the flexible display means and supporting the unfixed portion of the flexible display means. A sliding plate which surrounds the unfixed end portion of the flexible display means and slides on the cover plate is additionally provided. |
| US10403176B1 |
BlueflagProtection automatic LED display dampened foot released sign pole systems
The sign pole system disclosed simplifies the FRA requirement by incorporating many features into the sign pole system. The worker operating the pole can quickly raise the pole just by stepping on the lift bar. To lower the pole ‘remove the required safety’ is done by stepping on the release footstep. The built in LED features will activate only when it is nighttime and when the pole is in the vertical position. The sensitivity to actuate the LED's is adjustable to compensate for night yard overhead lighting. A solar panel keeps the battery charged. When required a pad lock (lock out device) can be inserted into the foot step base to secure the sign pole system in the up position until deemed safe by the worker to remove the sign protection. Manually attaching a night time blue light is no longer required because the LED light is now built into the sign pole and is automatically actuated. |
| US10403173B2 |
NADO cryptography using one-way functions
NADO Cryptography Using One-way Functions is a symmetric cryptography for encrypting and decrypting information. The NADO process introduces some novel concepts and methods to cryptography: (1) The notion of a key generator is presented that eliminates the dependence of the cryptographic security on a single, static cryptography key. (2) A key generator updating method built with one-way functions exhibiting the avalanche effect that generates an unpredictable sequence of keys as the encryption or decryption algorithm executes; (3) An sequence of unpredictable permutations that diffuse the informations across the whole block. (4) An sequence of unpredictable permutations that act as substitution boxes. (4) The use of key generator updating and one-way functions that exploit the avalanche effect to update the permutations in (3) and (4). NADO using one-way functions can be implemented efficiently in hardware or in software. |
| US10403170B2 |
Methods of treating overweight and obesity
The present disclosure relates to compositions, kits, uses, systems and methods for treating overweight and obesity using naltrexone plus bupropion, preferably in combination with a comprehensive web-based and/or telephone-based weight management program, and preferably in subjects at increased risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes. |
| US10403169B1 |
Relationship performance system and method
An apparatus for negotiating a work role relationship between two participants, comprising a Dialog and Agreement Board with multiple in-dialog areas where participants place one or more cards representing elements or parts of the work role relationship or personal characteristics related to the work role, and with a commitment area upon which cards can be taken from the in-dialog areas and placed to represent agreed-upon commitments by the participants. An agreement between the participants may be documented manually or automatically, in whole or in part. Components marked with bar codes can be read for entry into a computer program for documenting agreements. |
| US10403158B2 |
Vertical landing vehicle, situational awareness system, and method thereof
A vertical landing vehicle including an airframe forming a hull and having at least one wing coupled to the airframe, at least one proximity sensor coupled to the airframe, and a flight control system including a control processor and an operator interface, the at least one proximity sensor being coupled to the control processor, the control processor being configured to receive proximity signals from the at least one proximity sensor and present, through the operator interface and based on the proximity signals, situational awareness information of obstacles within a predetermined distance of the vertical landing vehicle relative to the hull and/or the at least one wing. |
| US10403157B2 |
Method and system for displaying information relating to an aircraft, device for producing said information and related computer program product
This method for displaying information relative to an aircraft is carried out by computer and includes the acquisition of a message from among a meteorological message and an aeronautical information message, each message including at least one mission object identifier; searching, among the mission object identifier(s) contained in each acquired message, for at least one mission object identifier verifying at least one criterion from among first, second and third predefined criteria, the first criterion depending on a received mission plan, the second criterion depending on the current position of the aircraft, and the third criterion depending on both the current position of the aircraft and the received mission plan; and if at least one mission object identifier is detected verifying at least one of the first, second and third predefined criteria, displaying each detected identifier. |
| US10403156B2 |
Automated package delivery to a delivery receptacle
Improving automated package delivery to mobile delivery receptacles to allow accurate and reliable package deliveries comprises a delivery receptacle for an automated package delivery via an unmanned aerial delivery device. The delivery receptacle is notified of a pending delivery and travels to a receiving location. The delivery receptacle emits infrared (“IR”) beacons from one or more IR beacon transmitters. An aerial delivery device detects the IR beacon and uses the beacons to navigate to the delivery receptacle. The delivery receptacle receives IR beacon responses from the aerial delivery device and continually or periodically directs the IR beacons in the direction of the aerial delivery device. The aerial delivery device deposits the package in the delivery receptacle. After receiving the package, the delivery receptacle transports the package to a secure location, such as into a garage. |
| US10403155B2 |
Aerial vehicle delivery of items available through an E-commerce shopping site
This disclosure describes an unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”) configured to autonomously deliver items of inventory to various destinations. The UAV may receive inventory information and a destination location and autonomously retrieve the inventory from a location within a materials handling facility, compute a route from the materials handling facility to a destination and travel to the destination to deliver the inventory. |
| US10403154B1 |
Reducing status notifications using a hierarchal reference system
Disclosed are systems and methods for reducing the amount of messaging between aerial vehicles and between controllers of aerial vehicles and simplifying aerial vehicle traffic management. In one implementation, a large service area, such as the United States, may be separated into a series of hierarchal regions. Rather than sending notifications to all agents (e.g., aerial vehicles, controllers) in the service area, each agent may subscribe to one or more regions of the hierarchal regions and only receive messages intended for the subscribed regions. In one example, as discussed below, messages for a particular region are only sent to agents subscribed to that region. Other agents within the larger service area do not receive the messages as they may not be relevant to those agents. |
| US10403152B2 |
Computing system and method for identifying similar maps of a port of interest
A computing system, method and computer program product are provided to present additional information regarding a map of a port of interest, such as an airport. In the context of a computing system, the computing system includes processing circuitry configured to receive an indication of a map of a port of interest and to compare attributes representative of the map of the port of interest to attributes representative of one or more maps of other ports. The processing circuitry is also configured to identify at least one of the one or more maps of other ports to satisfy a similarity threshold based upon a comparison of the attributes. The computing system also includes a user interface responsive to the processing circuitry and configured to provide information regarding the at least one of the one or more maps of other ports along with the map of the port of interest. |
| US10403150B1 |
System for identifying high risk parking lots
Systems and methods are disclosed for identifying high risk parking lots. High risk parking lots may be, for example, parking lots that pose a higher than average risk of collisions and/or theft. Auto insurance claim data may be analyzed to identify hazardous areas. A virtual navigation of roads within the hazardous area may be identified. Public parking lots within the virtual navigation map may be defined, with each public parking lot determined as either in a hazardous area or not. A vehicle may be determined to be approaching or parking in a parking lot in a hazardous area, and a nearby public parking lot not associated with the hazardous area may be selected instead. A route from a current position to the nearby public parking lot may be generated, and the vehicle may be routed to the nearby public parking lot. As a result, collisions and thefts may be reduced. |
| US10403149B2 |
Parking assisting device
Systems, methods, and devices of parking assisting devices. Two variations are disclosed: one that is floor-based and one that is suspended from a support structure. Devices of the inventive subject matter are configured to detect a tilt condition, a contact condition, or both, indicating that a vehicle has contacted the device and is positioned be parked safely. Upon detecting a tilt condition, a contact condition, or both, the device generates an alert to inform the driver that the vehicle should be stopped and parked. These devices can be wirelessly enabled, for example, to be accessed to determine whether a car is in a garage. |
| US10403147B2 |
Systems and methods for automatically documenting an accident
A system for documenting an accident includes a vehicle that includes a transceiver device and a processing circuit. The processing circuit is configured to receive data from a collision detection device of the vehicle, determine, based on the received data, that an accident is impending or occurring involving the vehicle, generate a request for a nearby vehicle, and transmit, via the transceiver device, the request to the nearby vehicle. The request is for the nearby vehicle to illuminate a region associated with the accident, actively acquire data related to the accident, and record actively acquired data related to the accident. |
| US10403146B2 |
Driving assistance apparatus
A driving assistance apparatus includes a plurality of sensor devices mounted in a host vehicle, an attention calling device configured to call attention of a driver of the host vehicle, and at least one electronic control unit. The at least one electronic control unit acquires host vehicle information, acquires object information, estimates an expected path through which the host vehicle passes, determines whether or not a target object is present, determines whether or not there is a front space in front of the host vehicle based on the object information, generates a request signal so as to call attention of the driver of the host vehicle, forbids generation of the request signal when the electronic control unit determines that the target object is present, and that there is no front space, and controls the attention calling device to call attention of the driver. |
| US10403145B2 |
Collison mitigation and avoidance
A distance offset is determined based on a determined time to collision, a relative lateral distance, and a relative longitudinal distance between the target and a host vehicle. A threat estimation is determined based on the distance offset and a distance threshold. A component of the host vehicle are actuated based on the threat estimation. |
| US10403144B1 |
Mobile device transport parking notification and movement tracking
Tracking movements of mobile devices may provide insight into parking space availability for transports deemed to be associated with those mobile devices. One example method of operation may include tracking movements of mobile devices within a predefined geographical area, identifying a first movement of a first mobile device as being limited to a predetermined threshold distance, identifying a second movement of the first mobile device as having a movement speed that is greater than a movement speed of the first movement, and designating the mobile device as being inside a transport leaving a parking spot. |
| US10403142B1 |
Adaptive stop sign and intersection traffic control system
An adaptive stop sign including a stop sign plate and at least one light indicator. The stop sign plate is divided into a plurality of sections. The adaptive stop sign is connected to a traffic signal control system (TSCS). In an active mode, the adaptive stop sign works as a traffic control signal and the TSCS switches on the at least one light indicator according to a traffic control signal. In an inactive mode, the adaptive stop sign works as a normal sign and the TSCS switches off the at least one light indicator. |
| US10403141B2 |
System and method for processing traffic sound data to provide driver assistance
Various aspects of a system and method to process traffic sound data to provide in-vehicle driver assistance are disclosed herein. The system includes one or more circuits in an electronic control unit (ECU) of a first vehicle. The one or more circuits in the ECU are configured to receive sound data captured by two or more audio-input devices associated with the first vehicle. The sound data corresponds to sound emanated from one or more other vehicles. Thereafter, a relative position (distance and/or angle) of the first vehicle from a second vehicle of the one or more other vehicles is determined based on the received sound data. Further, an in-vehicle alert is generated for the first vehicle based on the determined relative position. The in-vehicle alert comprises a virtual sound representative of sound emanated from the second vehicle. |
| US10403137B1 |
Generating emergency vehicle warnings
The present disclosure generally relates to generating emergency vehicle warnings, alternate vehicle routing recommendations and/or insurance-related data based upon emergency vehicle warning data. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to generating data representative of emergency vehicle warnings and/or alternate routing based upon real-time information related to an emergency vehicle. The information related to the emergency vehicle may include emergency vehicle origination location data, emergency vehicle current location data, emergency vehicle route data, and/or emergency vehicle destination location data. An emergency vehicle warning and/or alternate vehicle routing for non-emergency response vehicles may be generated based further on information related to a non-emergency vehicle. In one aspect, an emergency vehicle may wirelessly communicate with the non-emergency vehicle and/or an insurance provider remote server. The insurance provider may adjust auto insurance for insureds having vehicles with the vehicle safety functionality discussed herein to reflect lower risk and provide insurance savings to customers. |
| US10403136B1 |
Generating emergency vehicle warnings
The present disclosure generally relates to generating emergency vehicle warnings, alternate vehicle routing recommendations and/or insurance-related data based upon emergency vehicle warning data. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to generating data representative of emergency vehicle warnings and/or alternate routing based upon real-time information related to an emergency vehicle. The information related to the emergency vehicle may include emergency vehicle origination location data, emergency vehicle current location data, emergency vehicle route data, and/or emergency vehicle destination location data. An emergency vehicle warning and/or alternate vehicle routing for non-emergency response vehicles may be generated based further on information related to a non-emergency vehicle. In one aspect, an emergency vehicle may wirelessly communicate with the non-emergency vehicle and/or an insurance provider remote server. The insurance provider may adjust auto insurance for insureds having vehicles with the vehicle safety functionality discussed herein to reflect lower risk and provide insurance savings to customers. |
| US10403134B2 |
Charging station for motor vehicles and method for operating a charging station
A charging station for motor vehicles, including a primary coil for inductive transmission of energy to a battery of a motor vehicle and a metal detector. The metal detector is designed to detect a motor vehicle arranged above a charging station surface of the charging station. The charging station is provided with a transmitting device which is designed to transmit an occupancy signal if it is detected by the metal detector that a motor vehicle is arranged above the charging station surface. |
| US10403132B2 |
Driving assistance device and a driving assistance method
A driving assistance device that alerts about a state of surrounding vehicles based on other vehicle information, which is information on other vehicles, is provided. The device includes a reception unit that receives the other vehicle information, an identification unit that identifies that one of other vehicles is a disabled vehicle if it is determined, using each piece of the other vehicle information received from a plurality of other vehicles, that a state where a distance between the other vehicles is equal to or less than a predetermined distance has continued for a predetermined time or more, and a driving assistance change unit that, if it is determined that one of the other vehicles is a disabled vehicle, changes at least one of a driving assistance providing condition and a driving assistance providing method both of which are based on the other vehicle information received from the disabled vehicle. |
| US10403127B2 |
Smart-home device providing follow up communications to condition detection events
Hazardous or dangerous conditions may be monitored. A mode may be set to a state indicative of the condition being present. It may then be determined that the hazardous or dangerous condition has eased. An indication of the hazardous or dangerous condition easing may be output in response to the determination. Such an indication may be output as synthesized speech. |
| US10403123B2 |
Augmented reality system for guards of controlled environment residents
The present disclosure provides details of a system and method for a communication device for guards in a controlled environment. The communication device is established based on a wireless infrastructure in the controlled environment, receiving wireless positioning signals to calculate and determine the real-time location of personnel carrying the device. The indoor wireless positioning can be combined with other available positioning methods to provide highly accurate positioning information of the personnel. The communication device detects and records activities of the personnel during a period of time, and is controlled by the control center. The status of personnel is monitored by control center. Meanwhile, the communication device has AR functions that allow physical objects and augmented reality element to be displayed to the personnel at the same time. The personnel can thus have improved awareness of the surrounding environment and can respond to various potential dangers more effectively. |
| US10403121B2 |
System and method for detecting hand hygiene compliance
A system and method for detecting hand hygiene compliance is disclosed. Hand hygiene is important in various contexts, including hospital settings, home settings, work settings, and school settings. For example, a healthcare provider may wear a wristband, which may interact with a stationary controller that is integrated with or proximate to a hand cleaning agent dispenser. The interaction may be used to determine whether the healthcare provider has complied with hand hygiene protocols. Further, the wristband may be used to train healthcare providers or others (such as children) in proper hand hygiene. Further, the wristband may be used in other contexts, such as integrating hand hygiene monitoring and access control. Also, monitoring people when performing tasks, such as hygiene tasks, cooking, and moving about, may be beneficial to those with cognitive difficulties, such as dementia. A device for detecting the tasks being performed and providing reminders to the people regarding the tasks may help those with dementia. |
| US10403120B2 |
Preprogrammed electronic reminder device
A preprogrammed electronic reminding device is provided with color coded light indicators that correspond to a color associated with a particular task. The device comprises of a housing, PCB and preprogrammed micro-controller. The face of device is customizable for the display of information in the way of but not limited to logos, advertising or other messages. The reminder device has a means for fastening the housing to another surface. |
| US10403116B2 |
Electrical signature analysis of electrical rotating machines
This disclosure relates to systems and methods for electrical signature analysis of electrical rotating machines. In one embodiment of the disclosure, a method includes ascertaining initial information associated with an electrical rotating machine, assigning a plurality of operational conditions associated with the machine to a plurality of buckets, and recording the electrical data to obtain a pre-defined number of sets of learning data. The method further includes determining, based at least on the initial information and the learning data, that the machine is in a healthy condition, obtaining, based on the learning data, baseline data associated with at the at least one bucket, and generating, based on the baseline data, a threshold associated with the bucket and at least one fault frequency associated with the machine. The method further includes generating, based on the threshold and the baseline data, alarms concerning a state of the electrical rotating machine. |
| US10403115B2 |
Geo-location services
A method for geo-location services is described. In one embodiment, the method includes tracking incidents that occur within a predetermined geographic area in relation to a subscription service, upon receiving a request for a list of incidents in relation to the predetermined geographic area, generating a notification comprising the requested list of incidents, and sending the notification to one or more subscribers within the predetermined geographic area. |
| US10403113B1 |
Methods for warning of electromagnetic fields produced by wireless electric vehicle charging systems
Techniques for detecting the presence of a magnetic field associated with a wireless electric vehicle charging (WEVC) system are disclosed. An example of an apparatus for alerting a user of the presence of a magnetic field according to the disclosure includes a mobile device and at least one magnetic flux sensor integrated as part of the mobile device or operably coupled to the mobile device, the at least one magnetic flux sensor configured to detect the presence of the magnetic field associated with a wireless electric vehicle charging system, the mobile device configured to generate an alert based on the presence of the magnetic field detected by the at least one magnetic flux sensor. |
| US10403111B2 |
System and method to identify obscuration fault in a flame detector
Embodiments relate generally to systems and methods for detecting obscuration of a window of a flame detector. A flame detector may comprise a housing; a window attached to the housing, wherein the window allows radiation to pass through to the interior of the housing; a transmitter configured to emit electromagnetic radiation; a receiver configured to receive electromagnetic radiation emitted by the transmitter; and a plurality of angled surfaces configured to direct the electromagnetic radiation from the transmitter through at least a portion of the window and toward the receiver. |
| US10403109B2 |
System and a method for detecting information of assets stored in communication tags
Disclosed is a system for detecting information of assets stored in communication tags and communicating assets information over a communication network. The system includes a bi-directional communication reader and a server. The bi-directional communication reader has at least one antenna with associated signal strength and antenna number. The bi-directional communication reader processes the received assets information from the communication tags. The server includes a database for storing asset information and further the server communicates with the bi-directional communication reader. The server stores asset information using a software application. The software application includes a front end application module for configuration, an event module, a back end application module and a communication module. The front end application module configured to receive at least one operational mode from a user. The operational mode relates to setting of operation of the bi-directional communication reader. The event module reads the asset information from the database and alerts the user if a certain event occurs. The event module sets a specific rule that triggers an event. Further the back end application module configures the bi-directional communication reader as per the selected operational mode to process the required information from the communication tags read by the bi-directional communication reader. The communication module receives processed assets information from the communication tags via the bi-directional communication reader from the specific antenna. Further, the communication module communicates the processed assets information over the communication network via a proprietary protocol. |
| US10403106B2 |
Merchandise security system with optical communication
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to security systems and methods for securing an item of merchandise from theft or unauthorized removal. For example, the security system may include a sensor configured to be coupled to the item of merchandise and a charging circuit for providing power to the sensor and/or the item of merchandise. The security system may also include a cable connected to the sensor and at least one optical transceiver for defining a sense loop between the cable and the sensor. |
| US10403102B2 |
Sensor for barrier
Methods and systems are described for determining operation of an openable barrier into a building. A method for determining a state of a barrier includes identifying, based at least in part on a barrier sensor, a first position of the barrier. In one embodiment, the barrier sensor may be positioned at a first side of the barrier, and a magnet may be positioned adjacent to the barrier sensor at the first side of the barrier. The magnet may be positioned at an angle with respect to the barrier sensor. The method may further include determining, based at least in part on the barrier sensor and the magnet, when the barrier changes position from the first position to a second position; and wirelessly transmitting data concerning the change in position of the barrier. |
| US10403099B1 |
Security flaps for use with cash trays and cash trays including such security flaps
Security flaps for use with cash trays and cash trays including such security flaps are disclosed. An apparatus including a security flap, including: a first panel; a second panel; and a hinge, the first panel coupled to the second panel via the hinge, the second panel to be coupled to a cash tray, a spring to move the first panel between a first position where the first panel extends over and covers compartments of the cash tray and a second position where the first panel is spaced from the compartments of the cash tray, in either of the first position or the second position, the security flap is structured to deter a criminal act from occurring associated with an unauthorized individual accessing the compartments of the cash tray. |
| US10403098B2 |
Slot machine
A slot machine device providing a unique operation, payout scheme, and structure. This slot machine provides optional, unique game play features. These features may include a Notice feature which informs a player if the next cycle will be a win or a loss; a Flush feature allowing a player to discard a losing cycle; a Do-Over feature, allowing a player to replay a cycle if they do not like the results of the prior cycle; a skill-based feature that requires the player to display an element of skill; and a social feature that requires the player to perform a social task. These features may be turned on and off, and the slot machine may be configured to automatically adjust a payout option depending on what features are activated. |
| US10403097B2 |
Gaming machine, method for providing a game, and a program
To provide a gaming machine that can provide a novel game in which the game progression is varied, a method, and a program for providing a game. In the gaming machine 1, the symbol blocks B1 and B2 displayed in the block display region 66 move in the directions D1 and D2, which intersect in the direction of reel rotation, when moving in the symbol display region 60. That is, the symbol blocks B1 and B2 are added to the movement in the direction of reel rotation, and also move in a direction orthogonal to the direction of reel rotation. Therefore, compared to a case in which a symbol block moves in the direction of reel rotation, prediction by a player of the positions where the symbol blocks B1 and B2 are finally disposed is difficult. |
| US10403093B1 |
Gaming system and method including symbol conversions based on symbol stacks
Various implementations of a gaming system and method include generating and displaying a plurality of symbols, where at least some generated symbols are converted into different symbols when sandwiched between at least two columns containing the same or similar symbols. The gaming system may convert the sandwiched symbols into symbols that are the same or similar to the symbols in the at least two columns. The gaming system may evaluate the displayed symbols, including the converted sandwiched symbols, for winning symbol combinations and payout any determined awards. |
| US10403092B2 |
Gaming system and method providing a wagering game having a multi-mode bonus game with multiple triggerable award generators
The gaming systems and methods of the present disclosure improve gaming technology by providing a wagering game having a multi-mode bonus game with multiple triggerable award generators. Generally, when a bonus triggering event occurs in various embodiments, the gaming system randomly determines whether to provide a play of the bonus game in one of multiple different modes, such as a first mode and a second mode. In the first mode, the play of the bonus game includes only one activation of only one award generator, such as the most lucrative one. In the second mode, the play of the bonus game includes an initial activation of a different award generator, such as the least lucrative one, and may include additional activations of additional award generators depending on the result(s) of the activation(s) of the award generator(s). |
| US10403088B2 |
Method and system for determining and displaying information on the prize value of instant lottery tickets offered for sale in multi-bin arrays
A system and associated method are provided for dispensing lottery tickets at a retail establishment. Lottery tickets are provided for purchase from a dispenser array in the retail establishment, the dispenser array including a plurality of separate bins having a pack of different respective lottery tickets stored therein. The dispenser array is in communication with a central lottery server. Upon loading of a ticket pack into the bins, a code associated with the ticket pack is scanned and transmitted to the central lottery server. With the central lottery server, a total minimum winning prize amount of the lottery tickets in the pack associated with each bin is determined, and a message is generated and transmitted as a function of this minimum total prize amount of the lottery tickets in all of the bins in the array, with the message being displayed to consumers at the retail establishment. |
| US10403087B2 |
Dynamic wager updating gambling hybrid game
A gambling hybrid game with dynamic wager updating is disclosed. The gambling hybrid game includes an entertainment system engine that provides an entertainment game to a user, a real world engine that provides gambling games to one or more users, and a game world engine that monitors the entertainment game and provides gambling games when appropriate. The gambling hybrid game during the course of game play may dynamically update a wager amount to be placed on a gambling event in the gambling game. |
| US10403086B2 |
Gaming system and a method of gaming
A method of gaming comprising: generating a game outcome by selecting a plurality of symbols, and displaying the selected symbols on a display at respective ones of a plurality of display positions arranged in a three-dimensional array; and determining whether the game outcome includes one or more winning outcomes. The method may include expanding the size of the three-dimensional array in response to occurrence of at least one trigger condition. The method may also include migrating symbols from one position to another within the three-dimensional array prior to determining whether the game outcome includes any winning outcomes. |
| US10403084B2 |
Contactless tactile feedback on gaming terminal with 3D display
In one aspect, there is described a method for a game to a player. The method includes: determining that a game screen provided by a game includes an interface element associated with a contactless feedback effect; identifying a location of one or more player features based on an electrical signal from a locating sensor; determining a mid-air location to be associated with the interface element associated with the contactless feedback effect based on the identified location of the one or more player features; and providing an ultrasonic field at the mid-air location. |
| US10403082B2 |
Systems and methods for providing private sound from a wagering gaming machine via modulated ultrasound
An electronic wagering gaming machine system includes a display, one or more input controls, one or more ultrasound emitters and a sensor that detects the location of a person in proximity to the display. Control circuitry executes wagering game software that receives input commands entered via the input control(s), to display graphics output from the wagering game software responsive to the input commands, and to generate public and private sound signals in an audible frequency range. The private sound signals may be directed to the detected person's location by modulating one or more ultrasound carrier waves with the private sound signals and outputting the modulated ultrasound waves toward the detected person's location via the ultrasound emitter(s). The public sound signals may be played in the audible frequency range via the audio speaker(s). |
| US10403081B2 |
Serving patrons in a wagering game environment
Systems and methods for serving patrons in a wagering game environment are described herein. In some embodiments, a method includes receiving patron service information, wherein the patron service information indicates activities of a patron in a casino. The method can also include selecting, based on the patron service information, a service for the patron, wherein the patron has not requested the service. Additionally, the method can include presenting a service order instructing a service attendant to deliver the service. |
| US10403079B2 |
Dispenser functionality evaluation
One or more techniques and/or systems are provided for evaluating dispenser functionality of a dispenser for dispensing a material. In an example, a non-loaded electrical characteristic and/or a loaded electrical characteristic of the dispenser may be measured and evaluated to determine whether to perform a dispense event. In another example, current measurements, such as peak current, may be measured during a dispense event. The current measurements may be evaluated to determine whether a problem exists, such as a mechanical stall, a gear train problem, an actuator problem, a pump problem (e.g., a clogged pump), a mechanical impedance, and/or other issue. Such information may be collected, stored as historical data, and/or used to determine whether to perform subsequent dispense events. |
| US10403076B2 |
Method for securing and verifying a document
The invention relates to a method for securing a document including a visual element, carried out by a processing unit comprising processing means, the method comprising generation, from the visual element, of a reference security datum, and storage of the reference security datum,wherein the reference security datum is generated by means of an algorithm configured so as to generate: for any image acquired from the visual element, a security datum whereof the differences relative to the reference security datum are less than a determined threshold, and for any image acquired on a different visual element, a security datum whereof the differences relative to the reference security datum are greater than said threshold. |
| US10403075B2 |
System and method for priority actuation
A system and method for priority actuation is provided. The system and method comprise a priority button. An access to the priority button is provided to an authorized user. The authorized user is enabled to initiate a priority actuation trigger for a priority service in at least one automated access system using the priority button. The automated access system is operably coupled to at least one server via a communication gateway. The server comprises a database of all authorized users of a priority service. Triggering the priority button results in initiating the priority actuation trigger for sending an authentication information of the authorized user to the server. The server authenticates the user as the authorized user enabled to access the priority service and provides the user with the priority service for the at least one automated access system. |
| US10403072B2 |
Wireless credential proximity control
Embodiments of the present application generally relate to controlling ingress/egress through entryway devices. More particularly, but not exclusively, embodiments of the present invention relate to attaining confirmation of intent relating to access to a controlled opening. According to certain embodiments, the credential device and/or the user of the credential device is prompted to provide a response, or otherwise is to perform certain actions, that can demonstrate a confirmation of intent to gain access to the controlled opening. Such responses and/or actions can be evaluated to determine authority to gain access to the controlled opening. Further, such intent confirmation events may, depending on the embodiment, be performed before or after credential information is communicated from the credential device and/or before or after pairing of the access control device and the credential device. According to other embodiments, intent may be confirmed, at least in part, based on changes in the characteristics of signals communicated from the credential device. |
| US10403071B2 |
Control system, in-vehicle device and electronic key
A control system includes: an in-vehicle device; and electronic key, wherein the in-vehicle device includes a transmission device, a first operation detection device, and a first control device programmed to determine whether the electronic key is a control target electronic key, the electronic key used to perform a locking operation, and transmit a second signal from the transmission device toward the electronic key when it is determined that the electronic key used to perform the locking operation is the control target electronic key, and the electronic key includes a reception device, and a second control device programmed to set a first mode until the reception device receives the second signal, and set a second mode when the reception device receives the second signal. |
| US10403069B2 |
Real estate wireless lockbox
A system and method are described regarding a wireless lockbox and smart key that can be used to manage real estate tours. The key can detect its location and report its location to a remote device. If the key is moved outside a predetermined boundary set by an owner, then the key can send an alert to the remote device. |
| US10403058B2 |
Wheeled vehicle event data recorder forensic recovery and preservation system
A system and method to preserve the integrity of data being extracted from an electronic data recorder (“EDR”) of an electronic control module (“ECM”) makes use of a forensic link adapter (20) and, optionally, a sensor simulator (10) (when the ECM is out of the vehicle). The forensic link adapter (20) has one or more first microprocessors (23) and associated first software which prevent any message being sent by an external network from corrupting the previously recorded data measurements. The data measurements are then extracted, verified, and stored in a separate file. The sensor simulator (10) has one or more second microprocessors (23), associated second software, and a bank of resistors (21) that mimic sensors normally in communication with the ECM. The simulator “tricks” the ECM into thinking it is still in the vehicle by using the replicating vehicle system values the ECM normally sees when in the vehicle. |
| US10403057B1 |
System and method for analyzing telematics data
A vehicle data collection and evaluation system. A vehicle data collection device is configured to collect the data associated with the operation of the vehicle. A transmitter is configured to transmit the collected data. An analytics server is configured to receive the collected data transmitted by the transmitter and to process the collected data. A rate processing server configured to determine a driver safety rating. The collected data comprises vehicle speed measured at a predetermined time interval and the analytics server (i) determines a change in speed value over the predetermined time interval and raises the change in speed value to an exponential power to determine an exponentiated change in speed value; (ii) determines a maximum speed of the vehicle during the predetermined time interval; and (iii) determines the driver safety rating based on the maximum speed and a magnitude of the exponentiated change in speed value relative to a distance traveled over the predetermined time interval. |
| US10403056B2 |
Aging profiling engine for physical systems
Systems and methods for managing components of physical systems, including decomposing raw time series by extracting an aging trend and a fluctuation term from the time series using an objective function of an optimization problem, the objective function minimizing reconstruction error and ensuring flatness of the fluctuation term over time. The optimization problem is transformed into a Quadratic Programming (QP) formulation including a monotonicity constraint and a non-negativity constraint, the constraints being merged together to reduce computational costs. An aging score and a confidence score are generated for the extracted aging trend to determine a severeness of aging for one or more components of the physical system, and the aging score and confidence score are fused to provide a fused ranking for the extracted aging trend for predicting future failures of the components. |
| US10403052B2 |
Mixing virtual image data and physical image data
Methods, computer program products, and systems are presented. The method computer program products, and systems can include, for instance: obtaining virtual image data representing a virtual object; and encoding the virtual image data with physical image data to provide a formatted image file, wherein the encoding includes for a plurality of spatial image elements providing one or more data field that specifies physical image information and one or more data field that specifies virtual image information based on the virtual image data so the formatted image file for each of the plurality of spatial image elements provides physical image information and virtual image information, and wherein the encoding includes providing indexing data that associates an identifier for the virtual object to spatial image elements for the virtual object. |
| US10403051B2 |
Interference based augmented reality hosting platforms
Interference-based augmented reality hosting platforms are presented. Hosting platforms can include networking nodes capable of analyzing a digital representation of scene to derive interference among elements of the scene. The hosting platform utilizes the interference to adjust the presence of augmented reality objects within an augmented reality experience. Elements of a scene can constructively interfere, enhancing presence of augmented reality objects; or destructively interfere, suppressing presence of augmented reality objects. |
| US10403044B2 |
Telelocation: location sharing for users in augmented and virtual reality environments
Provided herein are exemplary embodiments for generating a telelocation, including capturing visual content representing a real world location by a device associated with a user, automatically associating a geographic location with the captured visual content, automatically associating orientation data with the captured visual content, transmitting a data bundle comprising the captured visual content, the geographic location and the orientation data to a server, notifying a remote user about the data bundle on the server, in response to receiving an acceptance from the remote user, transmitting the data bundle from the server to a device associated with the remote user to create a virtual rendering of the real world location. |
| US10403043B2 |
System and method for generating a progressive representation associated with surjectively mapped virtual and physical reality image data
A system of generating a progressive representation associated with virtual and physical reality image data is disclosed. The system receives virtual image data associated with a virtual scene map of a virtual scene, and receives physical image data from the image capturing device, associated with a physical environment of a real scene. Perimeter information of the physical environment is determined. Boundary information of an obstacle associated with the physical environment is determined. A real scene map associated with the physical environment including an obstacle and one or more free space areas is generated. A corresponding virtual barrier is generated in the real scene map, the virtual barrier associated with the boundary information of the obstacle in the real scene map. A folding of the virtual scene map into the one or more free space areas of the real scene map is implemented, the free space areas surround or are adjacent the generated virtual barrier. A progressive representation to the wearable communication device is generated that is associated with virtual scene pixels of the virtual map corresponding to real scene points of the real scene map in a time interval.A corresponding method and computer-readable device are also disclosed. |
| US10403040B2 |
Vector graphics rendering techniques
Vector graphics rendering techniques are described. Graphics processing units (GPUs) can render vector graphics images according to graphic trees having graphic leafs, each representing a graphics object (e.g., a shape) depicted in a vector graphics image. The described techniques involve generating groups of graphics objects depicted in an image such that graphics objects of a group have a same object type, e.g., shape. Transformations are determined that describe how to transform a first graphics object of a group to obtain other graphics objects of the group. The first graphics object is tessellated and a metadata buffer generated for the group having information indicative of the transformations. The metadata buffer is attached to a graphic leaf representing the first graphics object and graphic leafs representing the other graphics objects are removed from the graphic tree. The GPU renders objects by group based on the tessellated object and the metadata buffer's information. |
| US10403037B1 |
Verifying object measurements determined from mobile device images
Techniques are described for analyzing images acquired via mobile devices in various ways, including to estimate measurements for one or more attributes of one or more objects in the images and/or to perform automated verification of such attribute measurements. For example, the described techniques may be used to measure the volume of a stockpile of material or other large object, based on images acquired via a mobile device that is moved around some or all of the object. The calculation of object volume and/or other determined object information may include generating and manipulating one or more computer models of the object from selected images. In addition, further automated verification activities may be performed for such computer model(s) and resulting object attribute measurements, such as based on analyzing one or more types of information that reflect accuracy and/or completeness of the computer model(s). |
| US10403033B2 |
Preserving scene lighting effects across viewing perspectives
A scene may be rendered as objects that are lit by various light sources. A scene designer may arrange the scene to create particular lighting effects when viewed from an initial perspective, such as gloss, translucency, and iridescence, and may choose lighting effects to create a desired aesthetic tone and/or highlighting within the scene. However, rendering the scene from a different perspective may alter the lighting effects (e.g., losing or misplacing desired lighting effects, and/or creating new and undesirable lighting effects, such as glare). Instead, when the scene is rendered from the initial perspective, the lighting effects created therein may be stored with the scene representation of the scene. A second rendering of the scene from a different perspective may reapply the stored lighting effects to the lit objects, thereby maintaining the lighting effects and the intent of the designer in the presentation of the scene from a different perspective. |
| US10403023B2 |
Three-dimensional character rendering system using general purpose graphic processing unit, and processing method thereof
The present invention relates to a system for rendering a three dimensional character and a method for processing thereof. The system for rendering a three dimensional character renders a three dimensional character model, for example, a skin having a multilayered structure such as a face of the person to enable realistic skin expressions according to reflection and scattering of light using a GPGPU. To this end, the system for rendering a three dimensional character includes a plurality of GPGPU modules corresponding to a render pass. According to the present invention, an irradiance texture of an image for each layer of the skin is created and processed using the GPGPU without passing through a render pass of a rendering library, thereby reducing a load of the system for rendering and enabling realistic skin expressions in real time. |
| US10403021B2 |
Media play device and method for accelerating animation processing
A media playing device detects an event for an object included in a web document is detected before the event occurs, and groups objects for each event if it was to actually occur, and the event is applied to other objects temporarily replacing the grouped objects. Thus, the amount of resources required for image rendering can be significantly reduced. |
| US10403019B2 |
Multi-channel tracking pattern
A multi-channel tracking pattern is provided along with techniques and systems for performing motion capture using the multi-channel tracking pattern. The multi-channel tracking pattern includes a plurality of shapes having different colors on different portions of the pattern. The portions with the unique shapes and colors allow a motion capture system to track motion of an object bearing the pattern across a plurality of video frames. |
| US10403018B1 |
Swarm crowd rendering system
Embodiments of systems and methods described herein are configured to render a group of virtual entities during runtime of a game application with varied appearances and animations. The virtual entities may be composed of multiple elements. The systems and methods may provide a toolbox which can configure the characteristics of the elements and/or the background characters, such as appearances, locations, and animations. During runtime of the game application, the systems and methods can automatically select and vary the characteristics based on the configurations provided by the toolbox. The systems and methods can further render elements of the background characters in batches based on similarities of the elements. |
| US10403017B2 |
Efficient image synthesis using source image materials
A request is received for an image to be presented on a client computing device, where the image is synthesized by shared images and dedicated images dedicated to the client computing device. A first one or more source files are identified for generating the shared images that are used by the client computing device and one or more other client computing devices. The shared images are generated based on the first one or more source files. A second one or more source files are identified for generating the dedicated images. A configuration file is generated that includes instructions for the client computing device to synthesize the shared images and the second one or more source files to the requested image. The shared images, the second one or more source files, and the configuration file are sent to the client computing device. |
| US10403014B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method
An image processing apparatus includes a setting unit setting the number of pieces of image data to be selected, an identifying unit identifying, based on a photographing date and time of each piece of image data of an image data group, a photographing period of the image data group, a dividing unit dividing the identified photographing period into a plurality of photographing sections, a selection unit selecting image data from an image data group corresponding to a target photographing section based on predetermined criteria, and a generation unit generating a layout image by arranging an image based on the selected image data, wherein selection of image data is repeated by setting an unselected photographing section as a next target photographing section to select a number of pieces of image data corresponding to the set number, and wherein the number of photographing sections is determined according to the set number. |
| US10403013B2 |
Image processing method for increasing contrast between user interface layers and electronic device for supporting the same
A method for use in an electronic device including selecting, by the electronic device, a filtering region in a first layer of a user interface based on a position of a content item in a second layer of the user interface; applying, by the electronic device, a graphical effect to the filtering region; displaying, on a display of the electronic device, a screen that is produced by merging the first layer with the second layer after the graphical effect is applied to the filtering region. |
| US10403011B1 |
Passing system with an interactive user interface
Systems and methods for generating an interactive user interface for displaying and/or processing passing information data. An interactive user interface can be generated displaying a first portion including an interactive bubble chart configured to display a first set of passing information related to instances of a first individual passing a first plurality of markers. The interactive user interface can also include a second portion including a selectable user interface element for providing one or more search criteria for identifying other individuals in search for other individuals with passings related to passing of the first individual. One or more other individuals that satisfy the search criteria can be displayed to the user. As the user selects a second individual, the interactive user interface can be updated to display a second set of passing information related to one or more instances of the second individual passing the first plurality of markers. |
| US10403009B2 |
System and method for generating partial surface from volumetric data for registration to surface topology image data
The present disclosure relates to the generation of partial surface models from volumetric datasets for subsequent registration of such partial surface models to surface topology datasets. Specifically, given an object that is imaged using surface topology imaging and another volumetric modality, the volumetric dataset is processed in combination with an approach viewpoint to generate one or more partial surfaces of the object that will be visible to the surface topology imaging system. This procedure can eliminate internal structures from the surfaces generated from volumetric datasets, thus increases the similarity of the dataset between the two different modalities, enabling improved and quicker registration. |
| US10403007B2 |
Registration-based motion tracking for motion-robust imaging
System and method for processing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data of an object to perform motion correction. The method comprises estimating, for each slice of the MRI data, parameters for a state space model using a filter that predicts the location of the object for temporally adjacent slices, wherein the state space model represents motion dynamics of the object throughout acquisition of a three-dimensional volume, registering the slices to a reference image based, at least in part, on the estimated parameters, reconstructing an image based, at least in part, on the registered two-dimensional slices, and outputting the reconstructed image. |
| US10403005B2 |
Using signed distance fields in multicolored vector approximation
Techniques and systems are described in which signed distance fields (SDFs) can be used to approximate multicolored vector art. A source image, represented as multicolored vector art is received and processed to provide a multicolored planar graph. The graph is processed to provide a SDF mask for each of the colors in the graph. For each of the colors in the graph, a color plane is generated, paired with the corresponding mask and represents the source image's color underneath the mask. Each color plane can be dilated and then one or more of the color planes or masks can be down sampled and then used to synthesize a source image which provides an approximated source image which retains the hard edges of the original image. |
| US10403004B2 |
Compressing blocks of data values by performing spatial decorrelation on reorganized blocks
Data compression (and corresponding decompression) is used to compress blocks of data values involving processes including one or more of color decorrelation, spatial decorrelation, entropy encoding and packing. The entropy encoding generates encoded data values which have variable sizes (in terms of the number of bits). The entropy encoding uses size indications for respective sets of data values to indicate the number of bits used for the encoded data values of the set. The size indications allow the encoded data values to be parsed quickly (e.g. in parallel). |
| US10403003B2 |
Compression mechanism
An apparatus to facilitate compute compression is disclosed. The apparatus includes a graphics processing unit including mapping logic to map a first block of integer pixel data to a compression block and compression logic to compress the compression block. |
| US10403001B2 |
Producing three-dimensional representation based on images of an object
An example method of generating three-dimensional objects based on two-dimensional images of at least part of the object may include: receiving, from a mobile computing device, a notification indicating that a plurality of images depicting an object have been uploaded to a first storage location; transmitting, to a rendering application, a rendering request specifying the first storage location; receiving, from the rendering application, a rendering response indicating that a polygonal mesh representing the images of the object has been stored at a second storage location; transmitting, to an interactive video gaming device, a notification of comprising an identifier of the third second storage location; and making a file comprising the polygonal mesh available for download by the interactive video gaming device. |
| US10402997B2 |
Displacement detecting apparatus, displacement detecting method and substrate processing apparatus
This invention is to provide a technique capable of detecting a displacement of a positioning object with respect to a reference position in an actual space with high accuracy. A position of an imaging object detected in an imaged image is converted into a displacement of the positioning object with respect to the reference position in the actual space based on conversion information representing a correlative relationship between the position of the imaging object in the image and the displacement of the positioning object from the reference position. The conversion information is determined in advance based on positions of the imaging object detected from a plurality of images respectively imaged with the positioning object positioned at each of a plurality of imaging positions. |
| US10402993B2 |
Structured light generator and object recognition apparatus including the same
A structured light generator includes a light source configured to emit light, and a first meta optical device including a first metasurface including nanostructures having sub-wavelength dimensions that are less than a wavelength of the light emitted from the light source, the first metasurface being configured to form a distribution of light rays from the light emitted from the light source to thereby radiate structured light. |
| US10402988B2 |
Image processing apparatuses and methods
Embodiments of the disclosure provide an image processing apparatus and an image processing method for positioning and identifying signals sources. The image processing apparatus includes an imaging device to capture an image containing a set of pixels, wherein the set of pixels comprises a first subset of pixels representing a plurality of stripes associated with the multiple signal sources; a memory to store the image; a positioning device to determine positions of the multiple signal sources according to the stripes; and an identity determining device to determine identities of the multiple signal sources. |
| US10402987B2 |
Methods and systems of determining object status for false positive removal in object tracking for video analytics
Techniques and systems are provided for maintaining blob trackers for one or more video frames. For example, a blob tracker can be identified for a current video frame. The blob tracker is associated with a blob detected for the current video frame, and the blob includes pixels of at least a portion of one or more objects in the current video frame. One or more characteristics of the blob tracker are determined. The one or more characteristics are based on a bounding region history of the blob tracker. A confidence value is determined for the blob tracker based on the determined one or more characteristics, and a status of the blob tracker is determined based on the determined confidence value. The status of the blob tracker indicates whether to maintain the blob tracker for the one or more video frames. For example, the determined status can include a first type of blob tracker that is output as an identified blob tracker-blob pair, a second type of blob tracker that is maintained for further analysis, or a third type of blob tracker that is removed from a plurality of blob trackers maintained for the one or more video frames. |
| US10402982B2 |
Verification of medication administration adherence
A system and method of confirming administration of medication is provided. The method comprises the steps of receiving information identifying a particular medication prescription regimen, determining one or more procedures for administering such prescription regimen and identifying one or more activity sequences associated with such procedures. Activity sequences of actual administration of such prescription regimen are captured and then compared to the identified activity sequences to determine differences therebetween. A notice is provided if differences are determined. |
| US10402981B2 |
Image segmentation via multi-atlas fusion with context learning
Systems and methods are provided for segmenting tissue within a computed tomography (CT) scan of a region of interest into one of a plurality of tissue classes. A plurality of atlases are registered to the CT scan to produce a plurality of registered atlases. A context model representing respective likelihoods that each voxel of the CT scan is a member of each of the plurality of tissue classes is determined from the CT scan and a set of associated training data. A proper subset of the plurality of registered atlases is selected according to the context model and the registered atlases. The selected proper subset of registered atlases are fused to produce a combined segmentation. |
| US10402972B2 |
Methods and systems for radiation dose estimation
Example methods and systems are provided to perform radiation dose estimation for a target object. In one example, radiation dose estimation may include obtaining projection image data acquired using an imaging system, generating partially reconstructed volume image data based on the projection image data, and generating a partition of the projection image data. The partially reconstructed volume image data may be associated with a first region of a total radiation field. The partition may be associated with a second region of the total radiation field that is located before the first region from a direction of a radiation source. Radiation dose data may be estimated for the target object based on the partially reconstructed volume image data associated with the first region and the partition associated with the second region. |
| US10402966B2 |
Systems and methods for identifying optimized ablation targets for treating and preventing arrhythmias sustained by reentrant circuits
Methods and systems for identifying optimized ablation targets for treating and preventing arrhythmias sustained by reentrant circuits are described. The methods comprise receiving at least one mesh generated from one or more images of a patient's heart, receiving activation data generated from one or more simulations of electrical-signal propagation over the at least one mesh, generating at least one flow graph based on the activation data and the at least one mesh, and applying a max-flow min-cut algorithm to the at least one flow graph to determine at least one of a number, one or more dimensions, and one or more locations of one or more ablation targets. Non-transitory computer-readable media storing a set of instructions for treating and preventing arrhythmias sustained by reentrant circuits are also described. |
| US10402965B1 |
Systems and methods for reducing artifacts in OCT angiography images
Various methods for reducing artifacts in OCT images of an eye are described. In one exemplary method, three dimensional OCT image data of the eye is collected. Motion contrast information is calculated in the OCT image data. A first image and a second image are created from the motion contrast information. The first and the second images depict vasculature information regarding one or more upper portions and one or more deeper portions, respectively. The second image contains artifacts. Using an inverse calculation, a third image is determined that can be mixed with the first image to generate the second image. The third image depicts vasculature regarding the same one or more deeper portions as the second image but has reduced artifacts. A depth dependent correction method is also described that can be used in combination with the inverse problem based method to further reduce artifacts in OCT angiography images. |
| US10402962B2 |
Automated bead detection and detection training
A system and method for training a bead detection system can include identifying a starting region on a bead based on a starting indicator. The bead can be analyzed at the starting region to identify bead characteristics. The bead can then be analyzed away from the starting region, based on the identified bead characteristics, to identify a bead profile for use during non-training bead inspection. |
| US10402960B2 |
Drug verification device, drug verification system and drug verification method
A drug collation device 10 includes a registered image acquisition unit 12 that acquires an image of a drug as a registered image on the basis of prescription information 22, a collation image acquisition unit 14 that acquires an image of a drug to be collated as a collation image, a similarity calculation unit 16 that calculates similarities between partial images in each corresponding divided region among a plurality of divided regions of the registered image acquired by the registered image acquisition unit 12 and a plurality of divided regions of the collation image acquired by the collation image acquisition unit 14, and a determination unit 18 that determines whether the drug indicated by the registered image and the drug indicated by the collation image are the same type, on the basis of the lowest similarity among a plurality of similarities calculated by the similarity calculation unit 16. |
| US10402958B2 |
Systems and methods for window contamination detection
A system includes an imaging system having a housing with a window, an imaging device within the housing having a field-of-view containing at least a portion of the window, a dark-field illuminator source within the housing directed at that portion of the window within the field-of-view, a control processor in communication with the imaging device and configured to execute instructions that cause the imaging device to acquire a first series of images with the dark-field illuminator source not activated, the control processor configured to control activation of the dark-field illuminator source, the imaging device configured to capture additional images during acquisition of the first series of images, the additional images captured during periods when the dark-field illuminator source is activated. In some implementations, dark-field illuminator can be synched with frame acquisition rate of the first series of images. A method and a non-transitory computer readable medium are also disclosed. |
| US10402957B2 |
Examining defects
A method of analyzing a defect comprising analyzing a digital image of the defect on a portable device using software contained in the device or an associated processor by virtue of a downloaded app. The method can be used for glass, for example, windscreen defects, in automobiles, for bodywork defects and for alloy wheel scuffs. The app can send details to a repair facility to get a quote for repair. |
| US10402956B2 |
Image-stitching for dimensioning
Dimensioning systems may automate or assist with determining the physical dimensions of an object without the need for a manual measurement. A dimensioning system may project a light pattern onto the object, capture an image of the reflected pattern, and observe changes in the imaged pattern to obtain a range image, which contains 3D information corresponding to the object. Then, using the range image, the dimensioning system may calculate the dimensions of the object. In some cases, a single range image does not contain 3D data sufficient for dimensioning the object. To mitigate or solve this problem, the present invention embraces capturing a plurality of range images from different perspectives, and then combining the range images (e.g., using image-stitching) to form a composite range-image, which can be used to determine the object's dimensions. |
| US10402954B2 |
Histogram-based shape mapping for propagating changes across similar shapes in multiple artboards
Disclosed systems and methods perform histogram-based shape mapping for propagating changes across similar shapes in multiple artboards. An image processing application executed by one or more processing devices accesses a first shape to be displayed in a master artboard and a second shape to be displayed in a child artboard. The image processing application computes a first histogram for the first shape and a second histogram for the second shape. The image processing application maps the first shape to the second shape based on a level of similarity between the first and second histograms. The image processing application detects a change to the first shape in the master artboard. The image processing application propagates the change to the second shape in the child artboard based on the first shape being mapped to the second shape. |
| US10402952B2 |
Perceptual tone mapping of SDR images for an HDR display
Systems, methods, and computer readable media to improve the operation of electronic display systems. Techniques for inverse tone mapping operations for selected standard dynamic range (SDR) images are described. The converted images may be presented on high dynamic range (HDR) displays so as to increase a user's viewing experience (through an expanded dynamic range) while preserving the artistic content of the displayed information. Techniques disclosed herein selectively transform SDR images to HDR images by determining if the SDR images were created from HDR images (e.g., through the fusion of multiple SDR images) and if their quality is such as to permit the conversion without introducing unwanted visual artifacts. The proposed techniques apply a sigmoidal inverse tone mapping function configured to provide a perceptual-based tone mapping. Values for the function's tuning parameters may be set based on what may be determined about the original HDR-to-SDR mapping operation. |
| US10402941B2 |
Guided image upsampling using bitmap tracing
A method of increasing resolution of an image includes generating vector contours associated with a first image and scaling the vector contours to a second resolution. The first image has a first resolution, and the second resolution is greater than the first resolution. The vector contours are rendered to generate a guiding image at the second resolution, and a second image is generated from the first image based on the guiding image, by using joint upsampling. The second image is generated at the second resolution. The vector contours can be generated by bitmap tracing binary images at different quantization levels. An apparatus and computer readable device implementing the method of increasing the resolution of an image are also provided. |
| US10402940B2 |
Method and system for accelerating video preview digital camera
A method for processing images in an imaging device includes the steps of using real time scalar software (RTSS) for: receiving scalar input data (SID) from video preview application software (VPAS) within a host computer; and performing scaling and cropping operations within the imaging device on raw image frame data to create a scaled down frame (SDF) within the imaging device. As a result, images of high resolution can be transmitted efficiently with significantly reduced amounts of data over the data links, and achieve a high number of frames per second. |
| US10402934B2 |
System for optimizing graphics operations
Disclosed is a system for producing images including techniques for reducing the memory and processing power required for such operations. The system provides techniques for programmatically representing a graphics problem. The system further provides techniques for reducing and optimizing graphics problems for rendering with consideration of the system resources, such as the availability of a compatible GPU. |
| US10402931B2 |
Systrace visualization tool
Tracking GPU tasks includes receiving a GPU command buffer, executing the command buffer, and generating events in response to execution of the command buffer, each event generated at a different portion of a GPU pipeline. Generating events includes tagging each event with a unique event-type identifier, tagging each event so as to identify the command buffer, and storing each tagged event is in a memory. Displaying GPU tasks, including obtaining, from a kernel portion of an operating system, event records of a first type, partitioning the events into two or more collections of event records, and displaying two or more of the event records of the first collection in a first temporally ordered sequence. |
| US10402930B2 |
Management of graphics processing units in a cloud platform
A graphics rendering system is provided for controlling the rendering of images to manage expected errors. The graphics rendering system receives a specification of a render task to be performed to render an image of a graphics scene and then identifies computing devices that each have a graphics processing unit. The graphics rendering system directs each of the identified computing devices to render the image specified by the render task such that each identified computing device renders the same image. When the graphics rendering system detects that a computing device has completed the render task successfully, it provides the image rendered by that computing device as the rendered image of the render task such that any other image rendered by another of the computing devices is not needed. |
| US10402924B2 |
System and method for remote management and detection of client complications
A system and method are presented for relationship management workflow processes. At least one embodiment may apply to process automation to health care. More specifically, the system and method may be applied to patient management of healthcare, such as the management of Diabetes or other medical conditions. Other embodiments may apply to process automation in other areas utilizing management workflow software. |
| US10402922B2 |
Photovoltaic system installation
The present invention is directed to a photovoltaic installation process. A process may include determining a method of interconnection to couple a photovoltaic system to an electrical system of a structure. The process may further include determining, via an electronic device, an ideal usage offset ratio for the photovoltaic system based on a known utility rate associated with the structure. Moreover, the process may include estimating a number of modules required to meet the determined ideal usage offset ratio. In addition, the process may include generating, via the electronic device, installation information including required installation materials, estimated costs, point-load, and electrical information for the photovoltaic system. |
| US10402917B2 |
Color-related social networking recommendations using affiliated colors
Systems and methods are provided for generating social networking recommendations. A color preference of a first user may be determined from a color palette of a first image associated with the user and/or a color palette of an item associated with the user. Other users may be identified that have a similar color preference as the first user based at least in part on the determined color preference of the first user. Interactions between the first user and one or more other users having similar color preferences with respect to the first user may be facilitated. A social networking recommendation may be generated with respect to the one or more other users having similar color preferences with respect to the first user. |
| US10402910B1 |
Systems and methods for projecting and managing cash flow for financial accounts
Systems and methods are disclosed for managing cash flow, including incoming and outgoing transactions, and mitigating unconfirmed cash shortfalls for an entity's accounts. In an embodiment, a system comprises a processor configured to render an interactive graphical user interface (“GUI”) for the cash flow timeline on a display device. The cash flow timeline displays past and unconfirmed Cash In and Cash Out transactions and any cash shortfalls, which can be mitigated by selecting automatically displayed options. The GUI has a plurality of selectable, actionable user interface (“UI”) elements. In an embodiment, the GUI comprises a UI element selectable to display bar graphs for selected time periods of the cash flow timeline. The GUI also comprises Cash In and Cash Out centers. In embodiments, methods employ the Cash In/Out centers to add, edit, schedule and delete Cash In and Cash Out transactions such as transfers, expenses, bills, receivables, and payables. |
| US10402908B1 |
Computer method and system for creating a personalized bundle of computer records
System and method for providing personalized, time-varying layered bundles of computer records to users. The system includes personalized servers, a communications network, user interfaces, and client devices employed by users. The personalized server includes a needs analysis module, a bundle building module, and an bundle generating module. A method of providing personalized bundle of computer records includes receiving a request for a personalized bundle of computer records, and requesting user needs data associated with the client. The method further includes converting the user data into determined needs data, and building a bundle of computer records personalized to the user using the determined needs data, which may include a determined needs timeline. The personalized, time varying bundle of computer records includes a plurality of computer records and plurality of types of bundles of computer records represented in the determined needs data. Following user approval of the personalized, time-varying layered bundle of computer records, the method generates the bundle of computer records based upon bundle generating criteria. |
| US10402907B2 |
Methods to determine a vehicle insurance premium based on vehicle operation data collected via a mobile device
A method for determining a vehicle insurance premium for a period of time based at least in part on collected vehicle operation data, wherein a remote computer receives the collected vehicle operation data from a mobile device and calculates an insurance premium based at least in part on the collected vehicle operation data. A method for determining a vehicle insurance premium for a period of time based at least in part on collected vehicle operation data, wherein a server receives collected vehicle operation data, a database stores the collected vehicle operation data, and a rating engine determines a vehicle insurance premium based at least in part on collected vehicle operation data. |
| US10402905B2 |
System for trading commodities and the like
The present invention provides a system for trading commodities and the like. A computer, a communications link between the computer and the Internet, and a database, accessible by the computer are provided. The database includes a plurality of user files. Each of the user files corresponds to a specified user of the system. Each of the user files contains exchange permissions corresponding to exchanges to which the specified user may access. At least one computerized exchange transacts specified commodities executing on the computer accessible by selected users having proper exchange permissions for each exchange. A display is provided for pooling liquidity that permits users to post and view bids and offers and negotiate and consummate transactions on common commodities from one or more groups or exchanges. By such liquidity pooling, the liquidity of transactions of commodities between various exchanges and users is improved. |
| US10402904B2 |
Generating market information based on causally linked events
Certain embodiments provide systems, apparatus, and methods to analyze incoming data messages and create market information constructs. An example method includes receiving a data message including an instruction to initiate a market event. The example method includes evaluating the instruction to determine whether it is associated with two or more causally linked market events. The example method also includes classifying the instruction based on the evaluating as part of a sequence of causally linked market events or as a single market event. The example method includes queuing the sequence of causally linked market events. The example method further includes detecting an end of the sequence of causally linked market events. The example method includes constructing a logically reduced market data message construct descriptive of the one or more market events represented by the queued sequence of causally linked events. |
| US10402902B1 |
Financial exchange system and method for processing retail price improvement orders
An exchange order fulfillment method includes receiving, by at least one processor, a plurality of orders for trading an underlying security, at least one of the orders comprising a retail price improvement (RPI) order having an interest value that is more aggressive than one of a protected NBB and a protected NBO of the underlying security. The method further includes fulfilling, by the at least one processor, the orders based upon an aggressiveness of a respective interest value for each of the plurality of orders relative to the one of the protected NBB and the protected NBO of the underlying security. |
| US10402900B2 |
Systems and methods for providing a separate interest rate for an individual transaction
Systems and methods for providing a separate interest rate for an individual transaction are disclosed. A system may provide a service associated with a account having an account balance and an associated first interest rate. The system may include a service device having one or more memory devices storing instructions and one or more processors configured to execute the instructions to perform a separate interest rate service process. The process may include providing a separate interest rate service offer to a client device and receiving a separate interest rate selection from the client device. The process may also include determining a selected portion of the account balance corresponding to an amount to which a second interest rate, different from the first interest rate, is to be applied based on the separate interest rate selection. |
| US10402899B2 |
Shared expensive management
Systems and methods are provided for managing shared expenses. The systems and methods may include a financial service provider identifying shared expenses in a customer's transaction history with software application executed on a server or personal computing device. The financial service provider may identify other individuals with whom the customer shares the expense, and send requests for reimbursement on the customer's behalf. The financial service provider may monitor the status of reimbursement payments, and send reminders as necessary until the shared expense has been reimbursed. |
| US10402896B1 |
Systems and methods for interactive financial categorization and budgeting
A computer-implemented method of managing personal financial accounts includes retrieving account information associated with a financial account of a user. The account information includes a plurality of transactions and no more than three budget categories. The method also includes providing a user interface to display graphical representations of at least a portion of the plurality of transactions and at least a portion of the budget categories. In addition, the method includes receiving a first input from the user categorizing one of the transactions into one or more of the plurality of budget categories. Further, the method includes updating the user interface to reflect the categorization of the transaction. |
| US10402895B2 |
Computer-assisted shopping and product location
In general, techniques are described that enable crowdsourcing of product-related information. Product-related information may include availability and intra-store locations of various products at particular stores. An example system includes an interface, a memory, and one or more programmable processors configured to receive, at the interface an intra-store product location from a first client device, the intra-store product location indicating a location of a product within a store. The programmable processor(s) are further configured to store, to at least one storage device coupled to the system and in association with the product, the received intra-store product location, receive, at the interface, a request associated with the product from a second client device, and send, from the interface, the intra-store product location to the second client device in response to receiving the request associated with the product. |
| US10402894B2 |
Automated service request system
A computer-implemented method includes: monitoring, by a user device, a location of the user device; determining, by the user device and based on the monitoring, that the user is within a threshold distance or a threshold arrival time of the service provider location; and outputting, by the user device, user information to the service provider based on the determining that the user is within the threshold distance or the threshold arrival time of the service provider location. The user information indicates services to provide to the user by the service provider upon the user's arrival to the service provider location. The outputting causes the service provider to receive the user information for serving the user upon the user's arrival to the service provider location. |
| US10402890B2 |
Box-last packaging system, method, and computer program product
Implementations of the present invention relate to systems and methods for receiving an order that has been gathered and is ready for packaging. After the order is received, a tracking code can be scanned. The tracking code may be associated with packaging information relating to the order's packaging attributes. A request can then be send to a packaging system to generate a packaging template. The packaging system can then generate the requested packaging template. |
| US10402888B2 |
System and method for virtual reality content rating using biometric data
Systems, methods, and computer readable media are provided for automatically personalizing virtual reality content ratings using biometric data on a head-mountable display (HMD) device. A server includes a transceiver configured to transmit and receive data to and from a first electronic device, a memory, and at least one processor operably connected to the memory and the transceiver. The processor(s) is configured to receive application data and biometric data, wherein the biometric data corresponds to the application data from the first electronic device, generate a rating for an application related to the application data, wherein the generated rating is based on the biometric data, and store the generated rating to a database corresponding to the application in an online store. |
| US10402886B2 |
Information processing device, information processing method, program, and storage medium
A tag database stores tag information corresponded to respective user identification information, shop identification information, and merchandise identification information. A tag management unit execute a tag mutual assignment process on a tag database that realizes a state where tag information is mutually assigned between user identification information and either shop identification information or merchandise identification information related to a mutual assignment target action. A tag processing unit, in response to a tag process target action in the user terminal, searches the tag database for tag information corresponded to user identification information, shop identification information, or merchandise identification information regarding the tag process target action, and acquires, based on extracted tag information, tag information or identification information used for generating presentation information to be transmitted to the user terminal. A presentation information generating unit, using the tag information or identification information acquired by the tag processing unit, generates the presentation information. |
| US10402884B2 |
Methods and systems for facilitating comparison shopping with geographically-specific, real-time product inventory information
Consistent with some embodiments of the invention, a web-based comparison shopping and marketplace service enables a user to search for and/or browse products of interest, and then obtain geographically-relevant, real-time product availability and pricing information for a product of interest that is offered by one or more physical retail stores. Additionally, with some embodiments, the service enables a user to conclude a purchase transaction for a product that is located at a retail store, and then provides the user with driving directions from the user's location to the retail store. |
| US10402883B2 |
System and method for community aided research and shopping
A system and method for providing product research help to a consumer doing internet shopping. A consumer helper application for internet commerce has been designed to integrate the techniques that are currently used by many internet consumers into a single application program. For example, the consumer helper application allows a user to take notes, store web site links, store web site annotations, obtain collaborative input, and perform other tasks commonly used by web site consumers. The consumer helper application stores all of the information gathered in a single place. Information provided by other consumers may be shared using the consumer helper application. The consumer helper application will suggest specific items for a consumer to purchase based up on the information gathered by the consumer into the consumer helper application. |
| US10402875B2 |
Method and system for improved management of a purchase order by intercepting order submission messages
A method for improved management of a purchase order comprises searching online for at least one product or group of products similar to each other to be ordered from a generic supplier and obtaining a confirmation of availability. The step of searching for the product to be ordered from the generic supplier can be extended to search for the product or the group of products or alternative products available at least one alternative supplier. The product or group of products or the alternative products found at the alternative supplier are inserted into a shopping cart of the alternative supplier and compared with the product or the group of products of the generic supplier. The extension of the search is started automatically by a search and compare software application authorized by the user and provided by the alternative supplier. |
| US10402869B2 |
System and methods for automatic verification of advertiser identifier in advertisements
Systems and methods for automatically verifying an identifier of a content provider are provided. A first identifier, a content item, and a uniform resource locator are received from a content provider. The domain of the uniform resource locator is determined. A plurality of second resources under the domain are accessed and stored in memory. From the plurality of second resources, a plurality of second identifiers are detected. A map of domain and a plurality of second identifiers is created. Using the map, the first identifier is compared to each of the plurality of second identifiers. If there is a match, the first identifier is approved to be used with the content item. The first identifier may be displayed on a user device with the content item. |
| US10402863B2 |
Usability of supplemental application functions through dynamic modification of user-presented options
A function intelligence engine receives input regarding application program content, including functions or capabilities of the application program that can be separately purchasable, and can further receive information regarding advertisements that can be displayed to users within the context of the application program. User-specific information is also received, including a user's current status and context within the application program, as well as a user's history, both within the application program, as well as in other application programs. Based on such information, the function intelligence engine determines and compares the probability of a user purchasing, versus the probability of the user consuming advertising, to acquire the separately purchasable function. The function intelligence engine then generates, and presents to the user, options that increase the chances of the user obtaining the separately purchasable function and maximize the benefit received by an application program author for providing the separately purchasable function. |
| US10402861B1 |
Online allocation of content items with smooth delivery
This specification describes technologies relating to displaying online content. In general, one aspect of the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods that include determining a timing penalty for a content item, the timing penalty based in part on weights of previous impressions the content item has been allocated during a plurality of intervals within a delivery period. The methods may further include determining a weight associated with a pairing of the content item and an impression, the weight based in part on characteristics of the impression. The methods may further include determining a score for the content item, based in part on the weight and the timing penalty. The methods may further include selecting one of a set of matching content items, based in part on the score for the content item, and allocating the selected content item in response to a request. |
| US10402859B2 |
Combining content with a search result
Methods, systems, and apparatus include computer programs encoded on a computer-readable storage medium, including a method for providing content. A search query is received. Search results responsive to the query are identified, including identifying a first search result in a top set of search results that is associated with a brand. Based at least in part on the query, one or more eligible content items are identified for delivery along with the search results responsive to the query. A determination is made as to when at least one of the eligible content items is associated with a same brand as the brand associated with the first search result. The first search result and one of the determined at least one eligible content items are combined into a combined content item and providing the combined content item as a search result responsive to the request. |
| US10402857B2 |
Information distribution system, information distribution apparatus, and information distribution method
An information distribution system includes an electronic device and an information distribution apparatus which are connected via a network. The electronic device includes a display unit that displays a primary advertisement information, stored beforehand in the electronic device, on the electronic device in response to a user operation. An advertisement viewing history management unit stores into a device information storage unit of the information distribution apparatus an advertisement viewing history information including identification information for identifying the displayed primary advertisement information, and display date information. The information distribution apparatus includes an advertisement viewing history collection unit that collects the advertisement viewing history information from the electronic device. A distribution information generation unit generates a secondary advertisement distribution information based on the advertisement viewing history information. A distribution unit distributes the secondary advertisement distribution information to the electronic device. |
| US10402856B2 |
Interaction-based content configuration
Interaction-based content configuration is described. In one or more implementations, interactions of an online store customer with an online store are tracked. When a shopping session is ended and an item viewed during the shopping session is not purchased, personalized marketing content is generated for the customer. To do so, the tracked interactions are analyzed to ascertain which content corresponding to the unpurchased item the customer focused on during the shopping session. The tracked interactions track a gaze of the customer relative to displayed content of the online store, for instance. Further, the content the customer focused on is determined as that which held the customer's gaze for a period of time or which the customer gazed at a greater number of times than other content. The personalized marketing content is configured to include a portion of the focused-on content. |
| US10402852B2 |
Content item slot location suggestions
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for distributing content items. In one aspect, a method includes receiving user interaction data specifying user interactions with a publisher resource. A heat map specifying levels of user interaction with various portions of the publisher resource is created. Content item slot performance information specifying one or more performance measures for content items presented in various candidate content item slot locations are identified. One of the candidate content item slot locations is selected based on the heat map and the one or more performance measures. Data that cause presentation of suggestion information that identify the one candidate content item slot location as a suggested content item slot location are generated and output. |
| US10402848B2 |
System and method for generating an electronic catalog for online computer users
A system and method for generating an electronic catalog for online computer users is disclosed. Item information from a seller site is retrieved based on a webpage template that corresponds to a structure of the seller site. Item information is stored in a database of item listings. Display of an item listing from the database of item listings is caused. A drag and drop selection of the displayed item listing is detected. The item listing is arranged on a page of a computer-generated electronic catalog based on the drag and drop selection of the item listing. |
| US10402840B2 |
Systems and methods for setting product prices
A dynamic pricing algorithm is used to price a large set of items so that their aggregate margin is above a pre-specified level even under uncertain demand. The algorithm automatically hedges the profit loss associated to low-margin items with profit gains associated to higher-margin items, and does so even when the realized demand is different than the expected one. The algorithm leverages the separability of a re-formulation of the robust counterpart of the nominal revenue maximization problem. This separability results into a nested bisection algorithm where each iteration in the procedure requires only computation of a number of independent, one-dimensional optimization problems, one for each product to price. The algorithm is easily implemented in a parallel architecture such a multi-core computer or a cluster of computers, where each core handles an independent one-dimensional problem corresponding to an item and its data is stored locally. |
| US10402837B2 |
Method and system for predicting behavioral characteristics of customers in physical stores
The disclosed embodiments illustrate methods and systems for processing customer data to predict behavioral characteristics of a customer in a physical store. The method includes receiving customer data, pertaining to a shopping episode, of the customer from one or more sensing devices. The method further includes segmenting the shopping episode into one or more segments of time durations. The method further includes categorizing each of the one or more segments of time durations into one of an in-aisle category and a non-aisle category. The method further includes identifying hand-related actions of the customer based on the received customer data. The method further includes determining a likelihood of occurrence of an action-related category based on at least the identified one or more hand-related actions. The method further includes predicting the behavioral characteristics of the customer based on at least the determined likelihood of occurrence of the action-related category. |
| US10402833B2 |
Method and apparatus for social network qualification systems
There is provided a method and system for qualification testing in a social network service. Qualification testing provides access control into a social network, wherein qualification is based on answers to questions related to a topic. In one example, members admitted to the network provide guidance, notes and research assistance to another member. The social network members access the social network from an external networked computing service, such as another social network, to facilitate easy connection to potential members. The social network may be implemented as an application overlay to the external service, or may access connections in the external network. |
| US10402830B2 |
Token-based determination of transaction processing resources
The method comprises receiving a transaction request, including a token, from a first system for using the token for a transaction, the token associated with a user account at a second system. The method includes accessing preferences for the token, the preferences indicating association between the token and an initial resource for transactions, the preferences including transaction rules for altering transaction processing, the preferences created during generation of the token. The method includes determining, based on the preferences and the transaction request, whether to revise use of the initial resource to another resource during transaction processing. The method includes processing the first using the token and based on the user account and the preferences, the processing the transaction including using the another resource. |
| US10402829B1 |
Systems and methods for using shared databases for managing supplemental payment sources
Systems and methods are disclosed for managing a plurality of supplemental payment sources of a user. One method includes: receiving a primary payment source account of a user for a purchase transaction originating at the merchant, the primary payment source account having an identifier associated with one or more supplemental payment source accounts; receiving supplemental payment source accounts of a user for applying to a payment transaction originating at the merchant; receiving, from a user device, preference settings to apply one or more of the supplemental payment source accounts to a payment transaction; receiving a transaction authorization request from the merchant or merchant acquirer for a transaction amount; and determining a combination of payment source accounts to use in the payment transaction, from a group comprising one or more supplemental payment source accounts and the primary payment source account, and any of one or more preference settings. |
| US10402828B2 |
System and methods for dynamic digital threat mitigation
Systems and methods include: implementing a first machine learning model to generate an output of a global digital threat score for an online activity based on an input of the collected digital event data; implementing a second machine learning model that generates a category inference of a category of digital fraud or a category of digital abuse from a plurality of digital fraud or digital abuse categories; selecting a third machine learning model from an ensemble of digital fraud or digital abuse machine learning models based on the category inference generated by the second machine learning model, wherein the ensemble of digital fraud or digital abuse machine learning models comprise a plurality of disparate digital fraud or digital abuse category-specific machine learning models; and implementing the selected third machine learning model to generate a digital fraud or digital abuse category-specific threat score based on the digital event data. |
| US10402827B2 |
Biometrics transaction processing
Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems and methods for biometrics transaction processing. A location of a device associated with a user may be determined. A reference to a biometric data model associated with the user stored within a database may be retrieved, based at least in part on the location. Biometric data may be received from the user. Using the reference, the biometric data may be compared to the biometric data model stored within the database. A determination may be made whether the user is authenticated for the transaction based on the comparing step. |
| US10402826B2 |
Signal detection and blocking for voice processing equipment
A telephone call processor for processing telephone calls comprising voice signals and data signals, the call processor comprising a first telephone interface and a second telephone interface, the call processor being operable in a first mode and in a second mode. In the first mode, the call processor is adapted to receive voice signals and data signals at the first telephone interface and to transmit voice signals and data signals via the second telephone interface. In the second mode, the call processor is adapted to receive voice signals and data signals at the first telephone interface, to block data signals from being transmitted via the second telephone interface and optionally to transmit voice signals via the second telephone interface. |
| US10402823B1 |
System for exchanging private keys for mutual settlements between users of a cryptocurrency outside blockchains
System for cryptocurrency transactions, includes a server configured to mediate exchange of data between user devices; an internal currency derivable from any cryptocurrency; each user device configured to issue, transfer rights, redemption and restoration of an internal currency unit. Issue includes creation of new addresses in blockchain, protected by splitting the private key PrivKey into first part (PrivKey1) and second part (PrivKey2), and requires connection to the blockchain only once, to generate PrivKey and to split PrivKey into PrivKey1 and PrivKey2, based on PrivKey*G=(PrivKey1*PrivKey2)*G. PrivKey1 is generated and stored in the server, PrivKey2 is generated on the user's device. The server stores all PrivKey1's device IDs of the user's device. Redemption requires both PrivKey1 and PrivKey2; public key PublicKey of each internal currencies unit is PrivKey1*(PrivKey2*G)=PrivKey2*(PrivKey1*G)=PublicKey; user with PublicKey can check balance for the corresponding private key PrivKey but needs PrivKey to redeem/transfer. |
| US10402821B2 |
Redirecting to a trusted device for secured data transmission
In various example embodiments, a machine is configured to redirect completion of a transaction to a trusted device. For example, the machine determines that a page involving the transaction is being displayed in a user interface of a first device. The page may be associated with the product or service. The machine identifies an interruption of the displaying of the page in the user interface of the first device. The machine identifies a second device that is trusted by the user. The machine transmits a communication including a notification to the second device. The notification indicates the transaction. |
| US10402820B2 |
System and method for providing emergency prepaid card
Systems and methods are provided for providing and funding an emergency prepaid card. According to one aspect, a request for emergency funds is received by a payment network from a customer. The customer's identity is verified, a transaction to fund an emergency account is authorized, an issue code is generated, and the issue code is provided to the customer. The issue code and an emergency prepaid card number are provided to an activator of the prepaid card, and the issue code is validated. The emergency account is funded and associated with the card number, and the emergency prepaid card number is activated. |
| US10402818B2 |
System, method, and apparatus for a dynamic transaction card
A dynamic transaction card that includes a transaction card having a number of layers, each of which may be interconnected to one another. For example, a dynamic transaction card may include an outer layer, a potting layer, a touch sensor layer, a display layer (including, for example, LEDs, a dot matrix display, and the like), a microcontroller storing firmware, Java applets, Java applet integration, and the like, an EMV chip, an energy storage component, one or more antenna (e.g., Bluetooth antenna, NFC antenna, and the like), a power management component, a flexible printed circuit board (PCB), a chassis, and/or a card backing layer. |
| US10402817B1 |
Relaxed fraud detection for transactions using virtual transaction cards
A device may receive an authorization request, associated with a transaction made by a user device as part of a checkout procedure of a website, that includes a virtual transaction card identifier of a virtual transaction card that is being used for the transaction, and a first merchant identifier for a merchant associated with the website. The device may perform a first authorization procedure to determine whether the first merchant identifier, included in the authorization request, satisfies a threshold level of similarity with a second merchant identifier associated with a request to generate the virtual transaction card that occurred prior to receiving the authorization request. The device may determine whether to forego a second authorization procedure based on a result of the first authorization procedure, and cause an authorization response, that includes an indication of whether the transaction is approved, to be provided to another device associated with the merchant. |
| US10402813B2 |
System and method for enabling a mobile communication device to operate as a financial presentation device
A provisioning system for enabling a mobile communication device to operate as a financial presentation device (FPD) presentable to providers of goods or service is provided. The provisioning system relies on a transaction processing system that normally routes authorization requests from merchants to issuers of FPDs for purposes of authorizing FPD transactions. The transaction processing system stores security keys of all issuers in order to validate transaction data sent from the merchants. The provisioning system monitors authorization requests routed through the transaction processing system and retrieves an authorization request of a financial transaction initiated with a particular FPD. The provisioning system then transmits the FPD data contained in the retrieved authorization request and the security key stored in the transaction processing system to a secure memory element of the mobile communication device to enable the mobile communication device to operate as a FPD. |
| US10402812B2 |
Method and system for geofencing
A method for initiating a time- and geographic-based electronic transaction includes: storing, in a mobile computing device, payment details associated with a transaction account; receiving a payment zone notification upon entry of the mobile computing device into a predefined geographic area, the notification including payment terms; registering a first timestamp upon receipt of the notification; displaying the payment terms; receiving an indication of approval of the payment terms; receiving an exit notification upon exit of the mobile computing device from the predefined geographic area; registering a second timestamp upon receipt of the exit notification; calculating a transaction amount based on an elapsed amount of time between the first timestamp and the second timestamp and a payment rate; and transmitting the calculated transaction amount and payment details. |
| US10402806B2 |
Method and system for POS enabled installments with eligibility check requirements
A method for processing a transaction with installment checks include: receiving a first transaction message from an acquiring institution, the first transaction message including a primary account number, an installment indicator, and transaction data; determining eligibility for payment via installment based on a comparison of the transaction data to eligibility rules associated with the primary account number; transmitting the first transaction message to a financial institution associated with the primary account number; receiving a second transaction message from the financial institution, the second transaction message including a response code indicative of approval and an eligibility indicator indicating eligibility for payment via installment; and transmitting the second transaction message to the acquiring institution for display to a consumer involved in the related payment transaction on a point of sale system. |
| US10402801B1 |
Multi-slot automated teller machine
Embodiments disclosed herein generally related to an automated teller machine (ATM) and a method of operating the same. In one embodiment, an apparatus is disclosed herein. The apparatus includes a body, a display, two or more currency dispensing components, two or more currency cartridges, two or more tracks, and a controller. Each currency dispensing component is dedicated to a specific currency denomination. The two or more currency cartridges are configured to store currency. Each currency cartridge dedicated to a specific currency denomination. Each track extends between a currency dispensing component and a currency cartridge. The two or more tracks are configured to transmit currency from the two or more currency cartridges to the two or more currency dispensing components. The controller is in communication with the display, the two or more currency dispensing components, the two or more currency cartridges, and the two or more tracks. |
| US10402799B1 |
Systems and methods for distributed currency management
A method of utilizing a processing device to manage a currency-management system. A characteristic of a user is identified by utilization of a first sensor which is associated with the user. A state of a first currency dispenser is identified through utilization of a second sensor which is associated with the currency dispenser. Based on at least one of the characteristic and the state, information is identified to send to the user. Information is caused to be output from a user device. |
| US10402798B1 |
Open tab transactions
Methods, computer program products, and apparatus for open tab transactions. A customer device, e.g., a smart phone, can generate an order for purchasing one or more goods or services from a merchant. A list of the items can be stored in a data structure designated as a tab. The list is routed to a merchant device, e.g., a tablet computer. The customer device can be carried by a user to the merchant. When the user reaches the merchant, the customer device or merchant device can receive a request to add an additional item to the list. The tab remains open and modifiable until the customer device or merchant device receives an input to close it. Payment for the goods or services listed in the modified tab is processed upon closing of the tab. |
| US10402796B2 |
Application life-cycle transition record recreation system
Embodiments of the invention are directed to a system, method, or computer program product for utilizing a block chain distributed network for generation of blocks with searchable metadata code embedded therein for recreating a historic record of how a transaction is processed from a client origination to external clearing. The invention provides a process by which a distributed ledger technology is utilized to store complete payment structures and their events across application life-cycles to recreate a historic record of event processing. The record allows for complex tracking and tracing across complex event processing where data points are received, spliced, and processed across multiple applications in a high quantity high velocity environment. |
| US10402794B2 |
Money transfer in a forum using a payment proxy
Described is a technology for executing financial transactions, e.g., payment transfers, by enabling a sender to trigger a money transfer by specifying, in any communication message, a payment proxy having a particular syntax, the syntax including a currency indicator preceding one or more alphanumeric characters. The payment proxy having the syntax indicates an intent of the sender to transfer money to a recipient associated with that payment proxy. The technology can include systems and methods of transferring money by use of a payment proxy within the context of a forum (e.g., social networking platform, microblog, blog, application, etc.). Messages of users in the forum can be monitored to detect for any user's intent to transfer money to a recipient. For example, forum messages can be parsed to identify the syntax carried by a user input in a forum message. |
| US10402793B2 |
Systems and method for tracking subdivided ownership of connected devices using block-chain ledgers
The disclosed embodiments include computerized systems and methods for generating secured block-chain-based ledger data structures that track subdivide ownership and usage of one or more assets, such as Internet-connected devices. In one instance, an apparatus associated with a rules authority of the secured block-chain-based ledger may detect an occurrence of a triggering event related to at least one of partial ownership interests in the assets, and may access and decrypt a set of rules hashed into the secured block-chain-based ledger using a confidentially-held master cryptographic key. The apparatus may identify a rule associated with the detected event, and perform one or more operations consistent with the rule, including a generation of additional data blocks reflecting a change in at least one of the partial ownership interests, and additionally or alternatively, processes that adaptively monitor a compliance of one or more partial owners with an Imposed usage restriction. |
| US10402792B2 |
Systems and method for tracking enterprise events using hybrid public-private blockchain ledgers
The disclosed embodiments include computerized systems and methods for generating secured blockchain-based ledger data structures that track occurrences of events across fragmented and geographically dispersed lines-of-business of an enterprise. In one instance, an apparatus associated with a rules authority of the secured blockchain-based ledger may detect an occurrence of a triggering event, and may access and decrypt a set of rules hashed into the secured blockchain-based ledger using a confidentially-held master cryptographic key. The apparatus may identify a rule associated with the detected event, and perform one or more operations consistent with the rule, including a disbursement of various rewards to employees in response to customer-specific interactions with the enterprise. The disclosed embodiments provide a rules process for aggregating mutually incompatible enterprise data that specifies the events, and for tracking the events in uniform data structures accessible across the enterprise. |
| US10402790B1 |
Composing a focused document image from multiple image captures or portions of multiple image captures
Systems and methods are provided herein that can include capturing a plurality of images of a document, analyzing the plurality of images to identify a plurality of acceptable portions within the plurality of images, combining the plurality of acceptable portions to generate a composite image of the document, and transmitting the composite image to a depository. Additionally or alternatively, the systems and methods can include capturing an image of a document, identifying a designated portion of the captured image of the document that fails to satisfy a predetermined image quality criteria, recapturing an image of only the designated portion of the document, generating a composite image from the captured image of the document and the recaptured image of only a portion of the document, and transmitting the composite image of the document to a depository via a communication pathway. |
| US10402789B2 |
Attendance tracking via device presence
Attendance tracking via mobile devices may be provided. Once a meeting begins, a plurality of mobile devices present at the meeting may be identified. An attendance report for a plurality of attendees at the meeting may be provided based on the presence of each of the identified plurality of mobile devices. |
| US10402788B2 |
Dashboard interface, platform, and environment for intelligent subscription product selection
In an illustrative embodiment, an automated system provides for generating product recommendations for clients. The system may include computing systems and devices for receiving a client intake information with product preferences, member demographic information, and current product information, and in response, generating product offerings including at least a portion representing variations of the current product. The member demographic information may be consolidated into census divisions that are each associated with a category of the member demographic information, and probabilities of selecting the product offerings may be calculated for each of the census divisions. The product offerings may be presented in a user interface with optimization scores that are a function of the probability of selecting the product offerings as well as provider financial goals, employee perception goals, and market competitiveness goals. Responsive to receiving filter adjustments, the optimization scores for the product offerings may be modified. |
| US10402787B2 |
Resource sharing platform
A system and method for providing a resource sharing platform, including storing in a talent registry talents of a user and conditions under which the user may share the talents; storing in an organization registry needs of an organization and conditions pertaining to a fulfillment of the needs by a potential resource sharing match involving the user and the organization; generating a talent interface on a client device of the user that enables the user to discover the needs and the conditions of the organization; generating an organization interface on a client device of the organization that enables the organization to discover the talents and the conditions of the user; and obtaining an approval of the potential resource sharing match involving the user and the organization in response to match conditions specified by a home organization of the user. |
| US10402778B2 |
System and method for vending vendible media products
A system and method for vending digital video discs is provided. A request is received from a user to complete a rental transaction for a first digital video disc. A database is queried to determine whether a quantity of a set of second digital video discs in a vending inventory exceeds a predetermined threshold. A discount offer notification is presented to the user to rent one of the set of second digital video discs, upon determining that the quantity of the set of second digital video discs exceeds the predetermined threshold. A second request from the user to rent one of the second set of digital video discs is received, and one of the set of second digital video discs is vended to the user. |
| US10402772B2 |
Cargo geofencing using a vehicle gateway
Electronic components may be integrated in objects used by the trucking industry, such as truck, tractor trailer, cargo, and loading bay. These objects may then communicate with each other and with a gateway device to transmit or receive data or commands. The gateway may be configured to attach to the truck, such as by securing to the truck frame or securing to an interior of the truck cab. The gateway may couple to one or more input devices, and receive sensor data through the one or more input devices. The gateway may execute steps that allow the gateway to perform geofencing to prevent conflict between cargo in the vehicle and cargo in another vehicle or in areas of a loading bay. |
| US10402767B2 |
Systems and methods for monetizing and prioritizing building faults
A fault parameter of an energy consumption model is modulated. The energy consumption model is used to estimate an amount of energy consumption at various values of the fault parameter. A first set of variables is generated including differences between a target value of the fault parameter and the various values of the fault parameter. A second set of variables is generated including differences between an estimated amount of energy consumption with the fault parameter at the target value and the estimated amounts of energy consumption with the fault parameter at the various values. The first set of variables and second set of variables are used to develop a regression model for the fault parameter. The regression model estimates a change in energy consumption based on a change in the fault parameter. Regression models are developed for multiple fault parameters and used to prioritize faults. |
| US10402763B2 |
Total manufacturing planning management control system
Managing a manufacturer's business plan in real-time, a computer receives real-time quality data associated with a measure of component quality from supplier of the component incorporated in a manufacturer product. The computer receives real-time quality data associated with a measure of product quality from the manufacturer. The computer determines a statistical trend in the received supplier real-time quality data. If supplier real-time quality data exceeds a quality target metric for the supplier, exceeds a quality target metric for the component, or the statistical trend exceeds a threshold value, the computer analyzes financial impact to the manufacturer using supplier real-time quality data, manufacturer real-time quality data, historical quality data of supplier and manufacturer, and manufacturer's business plan. Based on analysis results indicating financial impact exceeding a threshold, the computer externalizes a warning, externalizes recommended changes to manufacturer's business plan, and changes manufacturer's business plan with analysis recommended changes. |
| US10402761B2 |
Method of assembling orders, and payment terminal
Method of order assembly, including the following steps: a plurality of orders each including a plurality of articles are displayed successively or simultaneously on an assembly screen; team member from among a plurality of team members says the order on which he will work (“prepare orange order”), reads article identifications on the assembly screen, will pick the physical article or articles corresponding to these identifications and verbally designates these articles by means of voice commands; the designation of orders and of articles indicated by the team member as well as various commands said by the team member during the method of assembly are recognized by means of a voice recognition system; the order concerned is updated on the assembly screen so as to indicate that the article or articles has or have been picked. |
| US10402759B2 |
Systems and methods of adding and reconciling dimension members
A method includes generating a workforce plan including forecasted headcount values associated with a plurality of dimension members of a plurality of dimensions and receiving input to create a first dimension member of a particular dimension of the plurality of dimensions. The particular dimension has an associated dimension level in a hierarchy corresponding to the particular dimension. The method includes storing data associated with the first dimension member to a data store associated with the workforce plan and receiving headcount values associated with a second dimension member that differs from the first dimension member. The method includes generating a graphical user interface (GUI) indicating that the first dimension member is determined to be a potential match for the second dimension member based on the first dimension member being a member of the particular dimension and having the same dimension level as the second dimension member. |
| US10402755B2 |
Transportation service information providing apparatus, and transportation service information providing method
A transportation service information providing system for providing information on transportation from a departure point to a destination point by a transportation facility, includes: a transportation facility specification unit specifying a transportation facility that performs transportation from the departure point to the destination point; a special transportation facility extraction unit extracting a special transportation facility which is a different transportation facility from the specified transportation facility and performs transportation for a partial section in the transportation from the departure point to the destination point; a special transportation facility specification unit specifying the special transportation facility as the transportation facility to be used for transportation from the departure point to the destination point, in a case where the extracted special transportation facility satisfies predetermined conditions relating to the transportation for the partial section; and a special transportation facility information output unit outputting information on the specified special transportation facility. |
| US10402754B1 |
System and method for testing airline revenue optimization and related tools or products for travel
Systems and methods are provided for testing and measuring user interactions with respect to one or more changes introduced into a travel distribution platform. A testing module associated with the travel distribution platform can receive client request data and transmit to one or more engines or services of travel distribution platform, instructions and/or code such that the travel distribution platform provides a modified response to the client request data. The testing module can measure the effect and impact of the modified response across a plurality of variables by monitoring subsequent interactions with respect to the travel distribution platform. |
| US10402751B2 |
Document analysis system that uses machine learning to predict subject matter evolution of document content
A method includes performing, by a processor: receiving a document containing subject matter related to a course of action, the document comprising a plurality of sub-documents that are related to one another in a time sequence, converting the document to a vector format to generate a vectorized document that encodes a probability distribution of words in the document and transition probabilities between words, applying a machine learning algorithm to the vectorized document to generate an estimated vectorized document, associating the estimated vectorized document with a reference document; predicting future subject matter contained in a future sub-document of the document based on the reference document, and adjusting the course of action responsive to predicting the future subject matter. |
| US10402750B2 |
Identifying entities using a deep-learning model
In one embodiment, a method includes accessing a first set of entities, with which a user has interacted, and a second set of entities in a social-networking system. A first set of vector representations of the first set of entities are determined using a deep-learning model. A target entity is selected from the first set of entities, and the vector representation of the target entity is removed from the first set. The remaining vector representations in the first set are combined to determine a vector representation of the user. A second set of vector representations of the second set of entities are determined using the deep-learning model. Similarity scores are computed between the user and each of the target entity and the entities in the second set of entities. Vector representations of entities in the second set of entities are updated based on the similarity scores using the deep-learning model. |
| US10402746B2 |
Computing instance launch time
A technology is described for predicting a launch time for a computing instance. An example method may include receiving a request for a predicted launch time to launch a computing instance on a physical host within a computing service environment. Data associated with launch features of a computing instance may then be obtained, where the launch features may be determined to have an impact on a launch time of the computing instance on a physical host within a computing service environment. The launch features of the computing instance may then be input to a machine learning model that outputs the predicted launch time for launching the computing instance within the computing service environment. |
| US10402743B1 |
Operating a quantum processor in a heterogeneous computing architecture
In some aspects, a heterogeneous computing system includes a quantum processor unit and a classical processor unit. In some instances, variables defined by a computer program are stored in a classical memory in the heterogeneous computing system. The computer program is executed in the heterogeneous computing system by operation of the quantum processor unit and the classical processor unit. Instructions are generated for the quantum processor by a host processor unit based on values of the variables stored in the classical memory. The instructions are configured to cause the quantum processor unit to perform a data processing task defined by the computer program. The values of the variables are updated in the classical memory based on output values generated by the quantum processor unit. The classical processor unit processes the updated values of the variables. |
| US10402740B2 |
Natural interactive user interface using artificial intelligence and freeform input
In an example embodiment, first user input including handwriting input and non-alphanumeric symbolic input is detected. The non-alphanumeric symbolic input is input into a first machine learning model trained to output a set of possible actions corresponding to the non-alphanumeric symbolic input and a probability score assigned to each action in the set of possible actions. A combination of the action having the highest probability score and textual input from the handwriting input is input into a second machine learning model trained to select a service from a plurality of services based on the textual input and the selected action by referencing a service model corresponding to each service in the plurality of services. The combination of the textual input and the selected action is transformed into a native request for the selected service based on the service model for the selected service. |
| US10402739B2 |
Method and device for determining a data-based functional model
A method for creating a Gaussian process model as a data-based functional model for an output quantity that is to be modeled, based on training data in an input data space, including providing training data having training data points and output values, assigned to the training data points, of one or more output quantities; ascertaining a point density that is a function of the position of the training data points in the input data space; ascertaining a length scale function for each input quantity of the training data as a function of the point density; and generating a Gaussian process model from the training data and the output data of the output quantity to be modeled, based on the ascertained length scale functions. |
| US10402730B2 |
Method and system for determining whether, when, and how an unmanned agent interrupts a human
A method and system for determining whether, when, and how an unmanned agent interrupts a human is provided. The provided method and system uses a two-step multivariate analysis to (i) process a request for human interaction to determine whether to interrupt a human, and (ii) determine when and how to interrupt the human. The provided method and system interrupts the human in a manner that reflects analysis of variables such as mission criticality, whether a delay in the mission is acceptable, and the propriety of interrupting the human. |
| US10402729B2 |
Path determination using robust optimization
A technology for path determination using robust optimization is provided. In accordance with one aspect, a network graph of a network is generated. The network graph comprises nodes corresponding to points in the network, and edges which connect the nodes. Costs for each edge of the network are determined and modeled using reference point, upper bound and lower bound parameters. A user input which includes a source node, destination node, and cost target may be received from a client device. A resultant path connecting the source node and destination node are determined by solving a target-oriented robust optimization problem, which optimizes a cost of the resultant path based on the modeled costs of the edges. The resultant path is displayed on a user interface of the client device. |
| US10402728B2 |
Systems and methods for multi-objective heuristics with conditional genes
Systems and methods are provided to engage in multi-objective optimization where there may be potential solutions for evaluation (e.g., chromosomes) that each have one or more conditional genes. The value of each of the conditional genes in each of the chromosomes may be equivalent to one of a plurality of hidden genes in each of the chromosomes. The value of each of the conditional genes may be evaluated prior to determining objective values of each of the chromosomes. The objective values of each of the chromosomes may be used to evaluate the potential solutions embodied in the chromosomes and further drive to more optimized solutions. The use of the conditional genes in the chromosomes may reduce the amount of constraint violation checks that may need to be performed. |
| US10402727B2 |
Methods for evaluating and simulating data
New methods of data processing include a suite of tools which may be used for, among other purposes, history matching of hydrocarbon reservoir models. The suite of tools includes asynchronous techniques for solving optimization problems, visualization tools for providing an audit trail of users' work, and a low cost grouping technique for efficient processing and displaying of scatter plot and other graphical data. |
| US10402726B1 |
Model building for simulation of one or more target features
A method includes receiving an input data set, each entry including multiple features. The method includes receiving a user input identifying a target feature of the multiple features and a target value of the target feature. The method includes determining, one or more correlated features of the multiple features. The method includes providing the input data set to multiple neural networks (including multiple VAEs) to train the multiple neural networks. The method includes generating a simulated data set based on the input data set, each entry including at least the target feature and the one or more correlated features. Values of the one or more correlated features are randomized or pseudorandomized and the target feature is fixed at the target value. The method includes providing the simulated data set to the multiple neural networks to generate output data and displaying a GUI based on the output data. |
| US10402722B2 |
Adaptive compression based on content
A compression system trains a machine-learned encoder and decoder. The encoder can be deployed by a sender system to encode content for transmission to a receiver system, and the decoder can be deployed by the receiver system to decode the encoded content and reconstruct the original content. The encoder receives content and generates a tensor as a compact representation of the content. The content may be, for example, images, videos, or text. The decoder receives a tensor and generates a reconstructed version of the content. In one embodiment, the compression system trains one or more encoding components such that the encoder can adaptively encode different degrees of information for regions in the content that are associated with characteristic objects, such as human faces, texts, or buildings. |
| US10402719B1 |
Generating output sequences from input sequences using neural networks
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for generating output sequences from input sequences. One of the methods includes obtaining an input sequence having a first number of inputs arranged according to an input order; processing each input in the input sequence using an encoder recurrent neural network to generate a respective encoder hidden state for each input in the input sequence; and generating an output sequence having a second number of outputs arranged according to an output order, each output in the output sequence being selected from the inputs in the input sequence, comprising, for each position in the output order: generating a softmax output for the position using the encoder hidden states that is a pointer into the input sequence; and selecting an input from the input sequence as the output at the position using the softmax output. |
| US10402718B2 |
Assignation of emotional states to computer-implemented entities
Described herein are various technologies pertaining to assigning an emotional state to a computer-implemented entity. The emotional state is a function of data values in a data stream output by a data source, such as a sensor or a web service. The data values in the data stream are processed over time to generate a measure value. Values that are indicative of a dynamic state of a measure relative to an optimal measure state are computed and assigned to the measure based upon the measure value. A reaction of the computer-implemented entity is determined based upon these values. A customized personality for the computer-implemented entity maps reactions to respective emotional states, and an emotional state that is mapped to the reaction is assigned to the computer-implemented entity. |
| US10402714B2 |
Two-piece transaction card construction
The disclosed embodiments generally relate to transaction card constructions, and particularly, to a two-piece transaction card construction. Disclosed embodiments include a generally planar first card component including a first surface and a generally planar second card component including a second surface wherein the first card component is separate from the second card component. In disclosed embodiments, for example, the generally planar first card component and the generally planar second card component may be configured such that one forms a cavity and the other forms an inlay component configured to be seated within the cavity. In other embodiments the generally planar first card component and the generally planar second card component may be configured such that one forms a container and the other forms a lid configured to close the container. |
| US10402712B1 |
Fingerprint recognition smart card
A fingerprint recognition smart card has a card body, a transaction processing unit, a switch unit, and a fingerprint recognition unit. The transaction processing unit is disposed at the card body. The switch unit is disposed at the card body and circuit-connected to the transaction processing unit. The fingerprint recognition unit is disposed at the card body and circuit-connected to the transaction processing unit and the switch unit. Therefore, after the transaction processing unit has received external power, the fingerprint recognition unit receives and analyzes a cardholder's fingerprint data such that, depending on an analysis result of the fingerprint data, the switch unit starts the transaction processing unit for conducting a transaction with a reading apparatus or shuts down the transaction processing unit to preclude any transaction. Therefore, the fingerprint recognition smart card enhances transaction safety and convenience. |
| US10402710B1 |
RFID tags with public and private inventory states
RFID tags capable of transitioning between a private state and one or more public states are provided. In the private state, tags may participate in an inventory round without restriction. In a public state, tags may be prevented from participating in an inventory round, allowed to participate without providing actual identifying information, or allowed to participate providing an alternate identifier. Whether and how the tag responds in a public state may depend on certain conditions including if one or more of the tag's flags are asserted or deasserted. A reader may select a public tag for inventorying by verifying itself, and the tag then asserting or deasserting one or more of its flags accordingly. The asserted or deasserted flag(s) may be used to determine whether and how a tag in a public state participates in an inventory round. |
| US10402708B2 |
Configuring a set of applets on a battery-less transaction card
A transaction card may power on the transaction card using electric current induced from an interaction of the transaction card with an electromagnetic field. The transaction card may establish a communication with a device. The communication may indicate that the transaction card has powered. The transaction card may receive, from the device, a set of instructions to configure a set of applets on the transaction card after notifying the device that the transaction card has powered on. The set of applets to be configured may be related to completing one or more different transactions. The set of applets to be configured may be different than another set of applets already configured on the transaction card. The transaction card may configure the set of applets on the transaction card according to the set of instructions after receiving the set of instructions. |
| US10402707B2 |
Interactive optical code creation
An optical code interface is provided for interactively creating one or more optical codes, the optical code interface including a control object for configuring a desired optical code aesthetic of the one or more optical codes. Content is obtained in response to user input received through the optical code interface. A first portion of a continuous input is received through the optical code interface in response to a first manipulation of the control object. An optical code is generated based on the first portion of the continuous input and the content. The optical code is presented through the optical code interface. A second portion of the continuous input is received through the optical code interface in response to a second manipulation of the control object. The optical code is based on the second portion of the continuous input. The updated optical code is presented through the optical code interface. |
| US10402702B2 |
Face recognition in big data ecosystem using multiple recognition models
A system trains a facial recognition modeling system using an extremely large data set of facial images, by distributing a plurality of facial recognition models across a plurality of nodes within the facial recognition modeling system. The system optimizes a facial matching accuracy of the facial recognition modeling system by increasing a facial image set variance among the plurality of facial recognition models. The system selectively matches each facial image within the extremely large data set of facial images with at least one of the plurality of facial recognition models. The system reduces the time associated with training the facial recognition modeling system by load balancing the extremely large data set of facial images across the plurality of facial recognition models while improving the facial matching accuracy associated with each of the plurality of facial recognition models. |
| US10402700B2 |
Generating images using neural networks
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for generating images using neural networks. One of the methods includes generating the output image pixel by pixel from a sequence of pixels taken from the output image, comprising, for each pixel in the output image, generating a respective score distribution over a discrete set of possible color values for each of the plurality of color channels. |
| US10402697B2 |
Fusing multilayer and multimodal deep neural networks for video classification
A method, computer readable medium, and system are disclosed for classifying video image data. The method includes the steps of processing training video image data by at least a first layer of a convolutional neural network (CNN) to extract a first set of feature maps and generate classification output data for the training video image data. Spatial classification accuracy data is computed based on the classification output data and target classification output data and spatial discrimination factors for the first layer are computed based on the spatial classification accuracies and the first set of feature maps. |
| US10402695B1 |
Learning method and learning device for convolutional neural network using 1×H convolution for image recognition to be used for hardware optimization, and testing method and testing device using the same
A method for learning parameters of a CNN for image recognition is provided to be used for hardware optimization which satisfies KPI. The method includes steps of: a learning device (a) instructing a first transposing layer or a pooling layer to generate an integrated feature map by concatenating pixels, per each ROI, on pooled ROI feature maps; (b) instructing a 1×H1 convolutional layer to generate a first adjusted feature map using a first reshaped feature map, generated by concatenating features in H1 channels of the integrated feature map, and instructing a 1×H2 convolutional layer to generate a second adjusted feature map using a second reshaped feature map, generated by concatenating features in H2 channels of the first adjusted feature map; and (c) instructing a second transposing layer or a classifying layer to divide the second adjusted feature map by each pixel, to thereby generate pixel-wise feature maps. |
| US10402693B2 |
Apparatus and method for classifying pattern in image
A configuration of a pattern classification apparatus capable of implementing pattern classification is provided. The apparatus generates feature data base on an image and classifies a predetermined pattern by referring to the feature data. |
| US10402691B1 |
Adjusting training set combination based on classification accuracy
Various embodiments are generally directed to techniques of adjusting the combination of the samples in a training batch or training set. Embodiments include techniques to determine an accuracy for each class of a classification model, for example. Based on the determined accuracies, the combination of the samples in the training batch may be adjusted or modified to improve the training of the classification model. |
| US10402688B2 |
Data augmentation for convolutional neural network-based defect inspection
Systems and methods for providing an augmented input data to a convolutional neural network (CNN) are disclosed. Wafer images are received at a processor. The wafer image is divided into a plurality of references images each associated with a die in the wafer image. Test images are received. A plurality of difference images are created by differences the test images with the reference images. The reference images and difference images are assembled into the augmented input data for the CNN and provided to the CNN. |
| US10402687B2 |
System and method of predicting human interaction with vehicles
Systems and methods for predicting user interaction with vehicles. A computing device receives an image and a video segment of a road scene, the first at least one of an image and a video segment being taken from a perspective of a participant in the road scene and then generates stimulus data based on the image and the video segment. Stimulus data is transmitted to a user interface and response data is received, which includes at least one of an action and a likelihood of the action corresponding to another participant in the road scene. The computing device aggregates a subset of the plurality of response data to form statistical data and a model is created based on the statistical data. The model is applied to another image or video segment and a prediction of user behavior in the another image or video segment is generated. |
| US10402681B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method
To display images by suitably superimposing a graphics image on a high-dynamic-range image in an easily visible manner. GOEA dynamic range converter (311) converts a SDR graphics image to an HDR graphics image based on metadata. An image combiner (312) combines the graphics image of which the dynamic range has been converted to HDR with HDR content. A dynamic range converter (313) performs display mapping on the HDR content combined with the graphics image based on metadata. |
| US10402678B2 |
Method and a device for estimating a quality index for a 3D image of a composite material part
The method of estimating a quality index of a gray-scale encoded three-dimensional image of a composite material part includes an obtaining step for obtaining a histogram from the image, the histogram representing for each class of a plurality of classes each including at least one gray-scale level, the number of voxels of the image having a gray-scale level belonging to the class; an extraction step for extracting a predetermined number of Gaussian functions present in the histogram; and an estimation step for estimating at least one quality index of the image from parameters characterizing the Gaussian functions extracted from the histogram. |
| US10402668B2 |
Interactive method, interactive apparatus, and user equipment
Embodiments of the present invention disclose interactive methods, interactive apparatus, and user equipment. An interactive method disclosed herein comprises: acquiring a piece of user input information, wherein the piece of user input information comprises at least two pieces of biometric feature information and at least one piece of input action information corresponding to the at least two pieces of biometric feature information; determining at least two pieces of content respectively corresponding to the at least two pieces of biometric feature information; determining inter-content operation information corresponding to the at least one piece of input action information; and performing an interactive operation corresponding to the inter-content operation information, wherein the interactive operation is associated with the at least two pieces of content. In the embodiments of the present application, at least two pieces of content that are to be operated on are determined by using at least two pieces of biometric feature information of a user, and an interaction between the at least two pieces of content is determined by using input action information corresponding to the at least two pieces of biometric feature information, which can be implemented quickly and easily, and thereby improving user experience. |
| US10402666B2 |
Vehicle monitoring of infrastructure lighting
A method and apparatus for vehicle monitoring of infrastructure lighting, an example of which includes a vehicle having a camera, an inter-vehicle communication module and a controller. The controller is to identify a stationary infrastructure object within an image captured by the camera and identify, in response to determining that the stationary infrastructure object includes a lamp, whether the lamp is inoperable. The controller also is to send, via vehicle-to-infrastructure communication utilizing the inter-vehicle communication module, an alert to an infrastructure communication node indicating that the lamp is inoperable. |
| US10402664B2 |
Processing apparatus, processing system, processing program, and processing method
A processing apparatus includes a distance image acquirer, a moving-object detector, a background recognizer. The distance image acquirer acquires a distance image containing distance information of each pixel. The moving-object detector detects a moving object from the distance image. The background recognizer generates a background model in which a stationary object recognized as background of the moving object is modeled, from the distance image acquired by the distance image acquirer. The moving-object detector changes a method for detecting the moving object, based on a relative positional relation between the moving object and the background model. |
| US10402662B2 |
Computer vision collision avoidance in drilling operations
A system and method for automatically preventing a collision between objects is described. One or more images of a working space may be collected, and a first object may be identified based on the one or more images. Three-dimensional coordinates of the first object may be determined, and a virtual boundary enclosing the identified first object in a three-dimensional coordinate system may be generated based on the three-dimensional coordinates of the first object, wherein the virtual boundary specifies a volume in the working space that a second object in the working space should not occupy. The coordinates in the three-dimensional coordinate system corresponding to the generated virtual boundary may be transmitted to a second processor, and the second processor may control the second object to perform an operation in the working space that includes the first object without contacting the virtual boundary of the first object. |
| US10402660B2 |
Local caching for object recognition
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for identifying people depicted in images. In one aspect, a process includes receiving an image from a camera. A face of a person is detected in the image. The image is compared to a set of images stored in a local cache. A determination is made whether the face of the person matches a face of a person depicted by at least one image of the set of images. In response to determining that the face of the person does not match a face of a person depicted by at least one image of the set of images, a selection is made of a highest quality image of the face of the person. A server system compares the highest quality image to images from data for the multiple people to identify the person. |
| US10402650B1 |
User created augmented reality moment file content tagged to location and/or object viewable by future spatially colocated readers via an augmented reality icon
An augmented reality moment file which is represented by an augmented reality icon recordable and readable by a device having a processor in proximity to the locus of a recorded moment file configured to receive an augmented reality moment file. The content of the augmented reality moment file is preferably assessable via a user selectable icon either representative of a user, location, and/or theme. The icon assessable user created content moment file, in addition to content and a position, preferably also includes recorder identification, a recorded time, an expiration, and media such as text, an image, a video, a sound recording, a game play instruction, a game play move, and/or a setup menu. |
| US10402646B2 |
Object detection and avoidance for aerial vehicles
Aerial vehicles that are equipped with one or more imaging devices may detect obstacles that are small in size, or obstacles that feature colors or textures that are consistent with colors or textures of a landing area, using pairs of images captured by the imaging devices. Disparities between pixels corresponding to points of the landing area that appear within each of a pair of the images may be determined and used to generate a reconstruction of the landing area and a difference image. If either the reconstruction or the difference image indicates the presence of one or more obstacles, a landing operation at the landing area may be aborted or an alternate landing area for the aerial vehicle may be identified accordingly. |
| US10402644B1 |
System and apparatus for improved eye tracking using a mobile device
Embodiments are disclosed for using an apparatus to perform pupil identification. An example method includes measuring, by a light sensor of the apparatus, an ambient infrared light level. The example method further includes determining whether the measured ambient infrared light level exceeds a threshold level. The example method further includes performing pupil identification on a user based on the determination of whether the measured ambient infrared light level exceeds the threshold level. In this regard, the example method involves performing bright pupil identification in an instance in which the measured ambient infrared light level exceeds the threshold level, and performing dark pupil identification if not. Corresponding apparatuses and non-transitory computer readable storage media are also provided. |
| US10402643B2 |
Object rejection system and method
A system and method for detecting human intruders while rejecting/ignoring an occupant's registered pet. An object detection system is configured to detect an object that is present in a monitored area and generate a signal output relative to the type of object. A signature processor is configured to receive the generated signal output and produce an object signature, and compare a threshold signature to the object signature, wherein the threshold signature is generated using a photograph of a reserved object, and wherein the object detection system rejects the detected object when the object signature is determined to be similar to the threshold signatures. |
| US10402638B1 |
Digital camera processing system
A digital camera processing system with software to manage taking photos with a digital camera. Camera software controls the digital camera. A downloaded software component controls the digital camera software and causes a handheld mobile device to perform operations. The operations may include instructing a user to have the digital camera take photos of a check; displaying an instruction on a display of the handheld mobile device to assist the user in having the digital camera take the photos; or assisting the user as to an orientation for taking the photos with the digital camera. The digital camera processing system may generate a log file including a bi-tonal image formatted as a TIFF image. |
| US10402635B2 |
Electronic device having supporting component
An electronic device includes a base, a pivoting component, a display and a supporting component. The base has an upper side and a lower side and is suitable to be placed on a surface. The pivoting component is pivotally connected to a rear end of the base. The display is connected to the pivoting component and suitable to be unfolded or closed at the upper side of the base by the pivoting of the pivoting component. The supporting component is pivotally connected to the lower side of the base and suitable to be unfolded or closed at the lower side of the base. When the display is unfolded on the base, an end of the display slides along the supporting component, and the supporting component is unfolded on the base and supports the pivoting component and the rear end of the base away from the surface. |
| US10402625B2 |
Intelligent electronic device and method of operating the same
An electronic device and a method of operating the same are provided. The electronic device includes a base, a fixed head disposed on an upper portion of the base, a drive unit that is disposed in an inner space of the fixed head, a movable head that surrounds at least a portion of the fixed head and is arranged to be movable by being fixed to at least a portion of the drive unit, at least one sensor module that is disposed in at least a portion of the movable head, and at least one processor that detects an input by the sensor module and controls the drive unit to cause the movable head to move in a determined direction according to an input detection parameter. Other various embodiments may be made. |
| US10402621B2 |
Finger print state integration with non-application processor functions for power savings in an electronic device
A system includes a fingerprint sensor, an application processor, and an auxiliary processor. The application processor is operable to arm the fingerprint sensor prior to the application processor entering a low power or sleep mode. The auxiliary processor is to receive a state output from the fingerprint sensor. The state output is to cause activation of one or more functions of the auxiliary processor upon fingerprint authentication while leaving the application processor in the low power or sleep mode. |
| US10402620B2 |
Fan-out semiconductor package
A fan-out semiconductor package includes: a core member including a support layer, a first wiring layer, a second wiring layer, and through-vias and having a through-hole; a semiconductor chip disposed in the through-hole; an encapsulant covering the core member and the semiconductor chip and filling at least portions of the through-hole; a connection member including an insulating layer disposed on the first wiring layer and the semiconductor chip, a redistribution layer disposed on the insulating layer, first vias electrically connecting the redistribution layer and the connection pads to each other, and second vias electrically connecting the redistribution layer and the first wiring layer to each other; and a passivation layer disposed on the insulating layer and covering the redistribution layer, wherein a thickness of the passivation layer is within half a distance from an inactive surface of the semiconductor chip to a lower surface of the encapsulant. |
| US10402618B2 |
Fingerprint identification apparatus and manufacturing method thereof, display device
The present disclosure provides a fingerprint identification apparatus and a manufacturing method thereof, as well as a display device comprising the fingerprint identification apparatus. The fingerprint identification apparatus comprises a plurality of identification elements, each comprising a first identification unit. The first identification unit comprises a first temperature sensitive hydrophilic/hydrophobic conversion layer, a lower electrode, a sealing layer, an electrically conductive droplet sandwiched between the first temperature sensitive hydrophilic-hydrophobic conversion layer and the lower electrode and enclosed by the sealing layer, and an upper electrode that is at least partially immersed in the electrically conductive droplet and is not in direct contact with the lower electrode. |
| US10402616B2 |
Fingerprint sensor with proximity detection, and corresponding devices, systems, and methods
An electronic device includes a housing and a user interface. One or more processors are operable with the user interface. The user interface includes a touch sensor that includes a fingerprint sensor and at least one proximity sensor component. The proximity sensor component can be collocated with a thermally conductive band circumscribing the fingerprint sensor, or can be concentrically located with the fingerprint sensor. The proximity sensor component can actuate the fingerprint sensor upon receiving an infrared emission from an object external to the housing. The fingerprint sensor or proximity sensor component can then be optionally used to control the electronic device. |
| US10402615B2 |
User interface facilitating specification of a desired data format for an indicia reading apparatus
Aspects describe herein facilitate specification of a desired data format for bar code data to be presented by an indicia reading apparatus. Bar code data decoded from an image of a bar code is obtained and displayed. A user input field is provided and, based on input by the user to the user input field, the user input field is populated with a representation of the desired data format for the bar code data. Based on the representation of the desired data format populated in the user input field, configuration settings are determined for configuring the indicia reading apparatus to present bar code data in the desired data format. |
| US10402612B2 |
Wearable group communication device linking
Systems, methods, software and apparatus enable linking of a wearable end user communication device (EUD) to an intermediate communication device (ICD) utilizing optical symbol sequence matching. Optical symbol reference data corresponding to an optical symbol sequence displayed on the EUD is obtained from the EUD by the ICD. Optical symbol input data is also acquired by the ICD (e.g., via user inputs, EUD device proximity data, image acquisition). The devices are linked if the optical symbol reference data and optical symbol input data match. The optical symbol reference data can be displayed, allowing user confirmation of a match with the optical symbol sequence displayed on the EUD. An ICD user interface touchscreen can present users with selectable color inputs to replicate the optical symbol sequence displayed on the EUD, for example using an LED array. Communications between the devices before and after linking can utilize Bluetooth low energy. |
| US10402609B2 |
Barcode-reading system
This patent specification describes a barcode-reading enhancement accessory for a mobile device having a barcode-reading capability. The accessory may include an outer case and an inner carriage. A mobile device is encased in the inner carriage, and the combination of the inner carriage and the mobile device may be accommodated in the outer case. The inner carriage is configured to accommodate a mobile device of a particular size such that a mobile device of a different size may be accommodated in the outer case using a different inner carriage. The accessory may also include an optic system to fold an optical path of a field of illumination of a light source of the mobile device and/or a field of view of a camera of the mobile device. |
| US10402608B2 |
Radio frequency identification card monitor
An example radio frequency identification card monitor is disclosed herein. An example radio frequency identification card monitor includes an example detector to identify radio frequency identification cards, a card tracker to track the radio frequency identification card with a proximity of the apparatus, and an interface to provide alerts when the radio frequency identification cards are not within the proximity. |
| US10402601B2 |
Antenna
An antenna for a communication device, and also an RFID reader incorporating the antenna, are disclosed. The antenna has a structure including a ground portion and a radiating component. The radiating component has a first side, and a second side that is spaced apart from the first side. The first side has a ground edge portion which is in contact with the ground portion, and the first side extends, from its ground edge portion, away from a surface on one side of the ground portion. The second side also has a ground edge portion which is in contact with the ground portion, and the second side also extends, from its ground edge portion, away from a surface on said one side of the ground portion. |
| US10402597B2 |
Magnetic field generator, control method for magnetic field generator, and magnetic recording medium processing device
A magnetic field generator may include a magnetic field generation part including a resonance part including an inductor and a capacitor connected with each other, and which is structured so that an AC current is flowed between the inductor and the capacitor by charging electric charge to the capacitor and discharging the electric charge to generate a magnetic field by a resonance; a current direction monitoring section structured to monitor a direction of a current flowing through the inductor of the magnetic field generation part; and a judging section structured to control a timing for charging in the magnetic field generation part depending on the direction of the current flowing through the inductor which is obtained by monitoring of the current direction monitoring section. |
| US10402596B2 |
Security element for data input device and method the same
A security element for a data input device and a method for detecting intrusion in the data input device. The security element has a shape suited to closing contacts via each of two extremities respectively on first and second printed-circuit boards of the data input device when the data input device is in the closed position. The extremities are not electrically connected to each other. |
| US10402595B2 |
Computing system with non-orthogonal data protection mechanism and method of operation thereof
A computing system includes: an interface circuit configured to provide access to a data block including an arrangement of multiple individual data; and a processing circuit, coupled to the interface circuit, configured to generate a non-orthogonal protection data corresponding to instances of the individual data along a non-orthogonal direction within the data block for correcting the one or more of the corresponding instances of the individual data. |
| US10402583B2 |
Method of privacy preserving during an access to a restricted service
The present invention relates to a method of privacy-preserving during an access to a restricted e-service requiring user private data from a smart card. The invention relates more particularly to the field of methods implemented so that the user has the guarantee that only the private data needed to access to the e-service are extracted from the smart card. It is to guarantee that the user has a perfect knowledge of his private data provided by his smart card to a requester. With the invention a message notifying to the user the very nature of the identity assertion is displayed on the screen of the smart card. By doing so, the card ensure 100% security with regard to user consent: the data read out of his card cannot differ comparing to the data requested by the service provider through the terminal. |
| US10402577B2 |
Apparatus and method for device whitelisting and blacklisting to override protections for allowed media at nodes of a protected system
A method includes detecting a peripheral device at a protected node. The method also includes determining whether the peripheral device has been checked-in for use with at least the protected node and determining whether the peripheral device or a device type has been whitelisted or blacklisted. The method further includes granting access to the peripheral device in response to (i) determining that the peripheral device has been checked-in and has not been blacklisted or (ii) determining that the peripheral device or the device type has been whitelisted, even if the peripheral device has not been checked-in. In addition, the method includes blocking access to the peripheral device in response to (i) determining that the peripheral device has not been checked-in and has not been whitelisted or (ii) determining that the peripheral device or the device type has been blacklisted, even if the peripheral device has been checked-in. |
| US10402576B2 |
Safe physical function passthrough using virtual machine functions
A system and method for safe physical function passthrough using virtual machine functions includes sending, by a guest on a virtual machine, an access request for a host device to a virtual machine function on the virtual machine. The method also includes determining, by the virtual machine function, whether the access request is valid responsive to receiving the access request. Responsive to determining that the access request is valid, the virtual machine function sends the access request to a virtual device on the virtual machine. The method further includes preventing, by a hypervisor executing on one or more processors, the guest from accessing the virtual device when not executing the virtual machine function. |
| US10402575B1 |
Regulating blockchain confidential transactions
Implementations of the present disclosure include obtaining, by a client node of a blockchain network, a public key of a regulator node; generating, by the client node, one or more commitment values of a confidential transaction of the client node by applying a cryptographic commitment scheme to transaction data of the confidential transaction; generating, by the client node, encrypted regulatory information of the confidential transaction by encrypting the transaction data using the public key of the regulator node; and transmitting, by the client node to a consensus node of the blockchain network, a content of the confidential transaction for execution, wherein the content of the confidential transaction includes: the one or more commitment values; the encrypted regulatory information; and one or more zero-knowledge proofs of the transaction data. |
| US10402572B2 |
Method and apparatus for selecting mode of terminal
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method and an apparatus for selecting a terminal mode, and the method includes: reading configuration information when a screen wakeup instruction is obtained, where the configuration information includes information about a wearable device that is paired with the terminal; querying to determine whether a wearable device is connected to a terminal; and selecting a mode corresponding to the wearable device as the terminal model if the wearable device that is connected to the terminal as determined by the querying is the same as the paired wearable device. In this solution, a corresponding mode can be selected according to a connection status between a terminal and a wearable device, thereby enhancing an automation degree of the terminal and improving a user experience effect. |
| US10402570B2 |
Method and device for software risk management within information technology (IT) infrastructure
This disclosure relates to a method and device for software risk management within an IT infrastructure. The method includes computing security risk factors for a plurality of software components based on available executables for the plurality of software components. A set of software components are identified from the plurality of components, such that, a security risk factor for each of the set of software components is greater than a predefined threshold. Thereafter, a compensating control is activated for at least one of the set of software components, when a compensating control mechanism is available for each of the at least one software component and the compensating control mechanism satisfies control criteria. The method includes dynamically deploying at least one continuous monitoring tool satisfying monitoring criteria, to monitor each of at least one remaining software component, for which compensating control mechanism is not available, for a predefined duration. |
| US10402569B2 |
Code package processing
A method and associated system. A dataset is generated according to a code package. The code package includes an image file associated with a container for a tenant in a cloud environment. The dataset includes general information related to security aspects of the image file. A security level of the image file is determined according to the generated dataset. A vulnerability corresponding to the code package is identified based on the security level. In response to the vulnerability having been identified, the code package is updated with a patch associated with the identified vulnerability. |
| US10402565B2 |
In-system provisioning of firmware for a hardware platform
A hardware platform includes a nonvolatile storage device that can store system firmware as well as code for the primary operating system for the hardware platform. The hardware platform includes a controller that determines the hardware platform lacks functional firmware to boot the primary operating system from the storage device. The controller accesses a firmware image from an external interface that interfaces a device external to the hardware platform, where the external device is a firmware image source. The controller provisions the firmware from the external device to the storage device and initiates a boot sequence from the provisioned firmware. |
| US10402564B2 |
Fine-grained analysis and prevention of invalid privilege transitions
A computer-implemented method for analyzing operations of privilege changes is presented. The computer-implemented method includes inputting a program and performing source code analysis on the program by generating a privilege control flow graph (PCFG), generating a privilege data flow graph (PDFG), and generating a privilege call context graph (PCCG). The computer-implemented method further includes, based on the source code analysis results, instrumenting the program to perform inspections on execution states at privilege change operations, and performing runtime inspection and anomaly prevention. |
| US10402559B2 |
System and method supporting secure data transfer into and out of protected systems using removable media
A system includes one or more protected nodes within a protected system, where each protected node is configured to be coupled to a storage device. The system also includes a server configured to perform a check-in process so that one or more files on the storage device are (i) accessible by the one or more protected nodes within the protected system and (ii) not accessible by nodes outside of the protected system while the storage device is checked-in. The server is also configured to perform a check-out process so that the one or more files on the storage device are (i) accessible by the nodes outside of the protected system and (ii) not accessible by the one or more protected nodes within the protected system while the storage device is checked-out. The server could be configured to modify a file system of the storage device during the check-in process. |
| US10402555B2 |
Browser attestation challenge and response system
Systems and methods for screening unauthorized devices are provided. More particularly, a challenge that includes a first set of data can be generated. The challenge can require a browser of a requesting device to perform a browser task with respect to the first set of data to generate a second set of data. The challenge can be provided to the requesting device and a response to the challenge can be received. The response can include the second set of data generated by the browser of the requesting device through performance of the browser task. It can be determined whether the browser of the requesting device is an authorized browser based, at least in part, on the second set of data. Whether or not the requesting device is authorized to access a resource can be based, at least in part, on whether the browser is an authorized browser. |
| US10402554B2 |
Technologies for depth-based user authentication
Technologies for depth-based user authentication include a mobile computing device to display a login image including a depth channel on a display of the mobile computing device. The mobile computing device determines a selection of a plurality of objects of the login image made by a user of the mobile computing device, generates a user-selected password based on a relative depth of each object of the plurality of objects selected by the user, and permits access to the mobile computing device in response to a determination that the user-selected password matches a device login password. |
| US10402550B2 |
Authenticating apparatus for executing user authentication
Provided is an authenticating apparatus that by a simple method improves security when entering a password. The authentication-processing unit executes user authentication by comparing an entered password that is entered with a preset set password. The input-receiving unit receives dummy keys while the entered password is entered that are not compared with the set password. The dummy-input-notification unit notifies using vibration of dummy key input timing and the number of times input is required. The authentication-processing unit, together with comparing the entered password with the set password, compares the number of times dummy keys are inputted with the number of times input is required. When the entered password and the set password match, and the number of times dummy keys are inputted and the number of times input is required match, authentication is determined to be successful. |
| US10402549B1 |
Systems and methods for creating validated identities for dependent users
The disclosed computer-implemented method for creating validated identities for dependent users may include (1) identifying both a validated user of an identity validation service who has a previously validated identity and a dependent user who cannot create a new validated identity via the identity validation service, (2) enabling, via a graphical user interface displayed on the computing device, the validated user to create the new validated identity for the dependent user in response to determining that the validated user has the previously validated identity, (3) linking the new validated identity for the dependent user to the previously validated identity of the validated user, and (4) generating a token that represents the new validated identity for the dependent user and that comprises a link to the previously validated identity of the validated user. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed. |
| US10402547B2 |
System and method of interlocking to protect software-mediated program and device behaviours
A method for rendering a software program resistant to reverse engineering analysis. At least one first expression in a computational expression or statement of the software program is replaced with a second expression. The first expression being simpler than said second expression and the second expression being based on a value or variables found in said first expression. The second expression produces a value which preserves the value of said first expression. The conversion of the first expression is performed according to a mathematical identity of the form Σi=1k ai ei=E, where ai, are coefficients, ei, are bitwise expressions, whether simple or complex, and E is said first expression. |
| US10402546B1 |
Secure execution of enterprise applications on mobile devices
A system is disclosed that includes components and features for enabling enterprise users to securely access enterprise resources (documents, data, application servers, etc.) using their mobile devices. An enterprise can use some or all components of the system to, for example, securely but flexibly implement a BYOD (bring your own device) policy in which users can run both personal applications and secure enterprise applications on their mobile devices. The system may, for example, implement policies for controlling mobile device accesses to enterprise resources based on device attributes (e.g., what mobile applications are installed), user attributes (e.g., the user's position or department), behavioral attributes, and other criteria. Client-side code installed on the mobile devices may further enhance security by, for example, creating a secure container for locally storing enterprise data, creating a secure execution environment for running enterprise applications, and/or creating secure application tunnels for communicating with the enterprise system. |
| US10402544B2 |
Generating a software license knowledge base for verifying software license compliance in cloud computing environments
A monitoring system can monitor computing processes in clouds. The monitoring system can verify software license compliance in the computing processes instantiated in the clouds. The monitoring system can generate and maintain a software license knowledge base. The software license knowledge base can include the software license requirements for various software programs. To generate the software license knowledge base, the monitoring system can communicate with various sources (software vendors, clouds, publicly available sources, etc.) to determine license requirements for the various software programs. |