Document Document Title
US09049136B2 System and method for packet transmission along shortest-path to multiple destinations
A system, method and apparatus arranged for efficient usage of network resources. Embodiments include nodes linked together, and the links having differing costs, e.g., bandwidth, frequency, and/or monetary cost, or any combination of these. Embodiments may identify neighboring nodes as either next-hop-neighbors or non-next-hop-neighbors. Next-hop-neighbors lie on the shortest path to any node, while non-next-hop-neighbors are nodes linked directly to a node, but the link is more costly than an alternative multi-hop path to the same node. Accordingly, embodiments may suppress packets to the non-next-hop-neighbors.
US09049124B2 Zero-latency network on chip (NoC)
Packet format configurability is extended for packets transported on physical links of an Intellectual Property (IP) core interconnect by using at least two independent parameters: one parameter governing data-width and one parameter governing latency penalty. The at least two independent parameters allow creation of transport protocol packets without additional latency insertion, which is useful for low-latency applications. The at least two independent parameters also allow creation of narrow packets with multi-cycle additional latency, which is useful for latency tolerant, area sensitive applications.
US09049121B2 Exchange and use of globally unique device identifiers for circuit-switched and packet switched integration
According to one aspect, a system and method of exchanging GRUUs (Globally Routed User Agent URI (Uniform Resource Identifier)) between a first telephony-enabled device and a second telephony enabled device using a circuit-switched message is provided. Once exchanged, the telephony enabled devices can exchange SIP (session initiated protocol) communications routed by the GRUUs. Any one of the telephony-enabled devices can add a media component to the SIP communications. According to another aspect, a system and method of generating GRUUs is provided. According to another aspect, a system and method of handing off communications to a packet switched network from a circuit switched network is provided.
US09049120B1 Method and system for operating a communication circuit during a low-power state
A method and system for operating a communication circuit during periods of reduced energy consumption are disclosed. Data may be transmitted over a communication link from a first device to a second device in a low-power state. The data may be used by the second device to update coefficients and/or synchronize the receiver of the second device to a transmitter of the first device, thereby enabling a more efficient or rapid transition from the low-power state to an active state. A transmitter of the first device and a receiver of the second device may be activated before transmission of the data and deactivated after transmission of the data. In this manner, a receiver of the second device may be refreshed to enable a more efficient transition from the low-power state to an active state.
US09049115B2 Enabling virtual workloads using overlay technologies to interoperate with physical network services
A solution is provided to enable cloud service provider customers/users to offer physical network services to virtualized workloads that use overlay technologies, such as a Virtual Extensible Local Area Network (VXLAN). For a virtual workload that uses an overlay technology, an identifier is received of a logical network to which the virtual workload connects and a policy for the logical network. Based on the identifier of the logical network and the policy, a gateway is configured to connect traffic for the virtual workload on the logical network to a particular virtual local area network (VLAN) interface of the physical network service equipment on which the policy is configured.
US09049112B2 Flow control for reliable message passing
A message flow controller limits a process from passing a new message in a reliable message passing layer from a source node to at least one destination node while a total number of in-flight messages for the process meets a first level limit. The message flow controller limits the new message from passing from the source node to a particular destination node from among a plurality of destination nodes while a total number of in-flight messages to the particular destination node meets a second level limit. Responsive to the total number of in-flight messages to the particular destination node not meeting the second level limit, the message flow controller only sends a new packet from among at least one packet for the new message to the particular destination node while a total number of in-flight packets for the new message is less than a third level limit.
US09049110B2 Method and apparatus for coordinating the system robustness
The present invention discloses a method for coordinating system robustness. The method comprises: a system robustness detecting and coordinating module receives the state data of a system, and judges the type of the state-related data received; when the type of the state-related data received is determined as a performance-related data, the system robustness detecting and coordinating module analyzes the performance-related data; when the type of the state-related data received is determined as a fault-related data, the system robustness detecting and coordinating module invokes an automatic repairing module to analyze the fault-related data received; under the circumstance that the analysis result of the system robustness detecting and coordinating module or the automatic repairing module is that an automatic adjustment is needed to be performed, the type of the automatic adjustment which is needed to be performed is judged, and a corresponding module is invoked to perform adjustment. In addition, the present invention also discloses an apparatus for coordinating the system robustness. The level of the automatic management and maintenance of the mobile communication system can be improved effectively and the maintenance cost can be reduced effectively by using the present invention.
US09049108B2 Wireless network fault diagnosis method and device
A wireless network fault diagnosis method and device are provided. The method includes receiving, by a network management server, sampling data of user equipment in at least one area in a wireless network, where the sampling data includes attribute information of the user equipment and probe-collected information of the user equipment; generating, by the network management server according to the sampling data of the user equipment in the at least one area, statistical information that corresponds to each area of the at least one area; and performing, by the network management server, area-based wireless network fault diagnosis according to the statistical information that corresponds to each area of the at least one area. Therefore, area-based wireless network fault diagnosis is performed, a fault trend of the user equipment can be fully perceived, so that corresponding measures are taken against wireless network faults to effectively improve satisfaction on user experience.
US09049104B2 Coordination of M2M device operation by M2M device managers in a LAN
Teachings herein include a first machine-to-machine (M2M) device manager in a local area network (LAN). The first manager receives operating information for a first M2M device managed by the first manager. This operating information may indicate, for example, the operating state (e.g., on or off) of the first device. Responsive to receiving this operating information, the first manager coordinates operation of a second M2M device that is managed by a second M2M device manager in the LAN. The first manager effectively does so by evaluating the received operating information according to a set of policy-based rules, generating control signaling according to that evaluation, and then sending the generated control signaling to the second manager. Because this control signaling is sent horizontally between different M2M device managers, rather than vertically to some centralized server, such operation coordination can occur across M2M devices that would not otherwise be inter-operable.
US09049101B2 Cluster monitor, method for monitoring a cluster, and computer-readable recording medium
A cluster monitor (10) controls activation of a business application program and a monitoring agent in a cluster system (300) that includes a plurality of servers. The cluster monitor (10) includes a business server identifying unit (21) that identifies a server on which the business application program is operating among the servers, and an agent server selecting unit (22) that selects a server for activating the monitoring agent from among the servers based on the identified server.
US09049100B2 Method and apparatus for providing interfacing between content delivery networks
A method and apparatus are described for forwarding content delivery network interconnection (CDNI) signaling. A CDNI router content delivery network (CDN) may establish CDNIs with upstream and downstream CDNs. The CDNI router CDN may receive a CDNI route advertisement message from at least one of the upstream and downstream CDNs. The CDNI router CDN may update at least one end-user-based CDNI routing table based on Internet protocol (IP) address blocks in the CDNI route advertisement message. The CDNI router CDN may transmit an updated CDNI route advertisement message to at least one of the upstream and downstream CDNs. At least one of the upstream and downstream CDNs may update at least one end-user-based CDNI routing table based on the end user IP address blocks in the updated CDNI route advertisement message.
US09049098B2 Discovery of services provided by application nodes in a network
An application node advertises service(s), using a routing protocol, that it offers to other network nodes. For example, the routing protocol used to advertise service(s) in a Service Provider Network is typically an link-state, Interior Gateway Protocol (IGP), such as, but not limited to, Intermediate System to Intermediate System (IS-IS) or Open Shortest Path First (OSPF). Packets are encapsulated and sent from a service node (e.g., packet switching device) using one or more advertised services applied to a packet by an application node (e.g., a packet switching device and/or computing platform such as a Cisco ASR 1000).
US09049081B2 Receiver
According to one embodiment, a receiver, which is configured to receive a radio signal having a preamble including a synchronization pattern and a payload containing data, includes an antenna, a low noise amplifier, a down-conversion module, a variable gain amplifier, an auto gain controller, a synchronization acquisition module, and a demodulator. The antenna is configured to receive the radio signal. The low noise amplifier is configured to amplify an output from the antenna by applying a first variable gain. The down-conversion module is configured to down-convert an output from the low noise amplifier. The variable gain amplifier is configured to amplify an output from the down-conversion module by applying a second variable gain. The auto gain controller is configured to, in accordance with strength of the radio signal, firstly adjust the first variable gain, and after fixing the first variable gain, adjust the second variable gain.
US09049070B2 Dynamic client/server session recovery in a heterogenous computer network
A method and system for establishing and maintaining a connection in a client/server environment is disclosed. A client requests a connection from a server, and the client and server negotiate environment options to establish the connection including a recovery location comprising, in one example, an IP address and port. The server stores the recovery location received from the client in a recovery information file. In response to losing the connection with the server, the client checks the recovery location for a recovery notification sent by the server. When the server is re-started, a recovery notification is sent by the server to the recovery location that was stored in the recovery information file. The client receives this recovery notification, and the connection between the client and the server is re-established without the need for the client to query the server.
US09049069B2 Sparse equalizer system
A sparse equalizer system is disclosed. One or more multiple tapped delay lines (e.g., equalizers and/or pre-equalizers) are implemented to service one or more respective channels with which a communication device operates to support communications with at least one other communication device. Adaptive selection of which subsets of taps of the one or more multiple tapped delay lines is made to control those particular taps of which contribute to one or more subsequent slicer inputs. Those taps which are not currently operating to contribute to the slicer input may undergo processing, updating, etc. in parallel with or simultaneously with the processing of a signal to generate the outputs to be provided to the one or more subsequent slicers.
US09049068B1 Multipath continuous time linear equalizer with allpass filter
An equalizer includes a first module and a second module. The first module is configured to receive a differential input signal, perform low pass filtering on the differential input signal to generate a low pass differential input signal, and perform high pass filtering on the differential input signal to generate a high pass differential input signal. The second module is configured to receive the low pass differential input signal and the high pass differential input signal and generate a differential output signal based on a combination of the low pass differential input signal and the high pass differential input signal.
US09049059B2 Receiving circuit
A circuit includes: a first adder configured to add a first offset cancellation value to an input signal value; a second adder configured to add a first equalization value to an output signal value from the first adder; a first comparator configured to make a binary decision on an output signal value from the second adder; a third adder configured to add a second offset cancellation value to the input signal value; a fourth adder configured to add a second equalization value to an output signal value from the third adder; a second comparator configured to make a binary decision on an output signal value from the fourth adder; a selector configured to output a determination result of the first comparator or a determination result of the second comparator in accordance with a determination result of preceding one bit of the input signal value.
US09049045B2 Peer-to-peer forwarding for packet-switched traffic
One of the embodiments is directed to establishing peer-to-peer tunnels between clients in a mobility domain. Normally, clients attached to a network having access nodes connected to a central controller transfer all traffic through the central controller via tunnels between the access node and the central controller. A mobility manager operating in the controller tracks access nodes connected to the controller, and clients connected to those access nodes. When the mobility controller recognizes traffic passing between clients in its mobility domain that is eligible for peer-to-peer forwarding, it instructs the access nodes supporting the clients to establish a peer-to-peer tunnel between the nodes, and direct the client traffic through this peer-to-peer tunnel. The peer-to-peer tunnel may be session based, or may be aged. Eligibility of traffic for peer-to-peer tunnels may be controlled by rules, such as limiting peer-to-peer tunnels by source or destination, by port or protocol, and the like.
US09049044B1 Method of management and distribution of device adapters for element management systems
A system and method for managing network elements in a communication network. The system includes a storage unit for storing one or more cartridges, where the one or more cartridges contain network element-specific information. The storage unit also contains a generic framework for managing the one or more network elements via use of the one or more cartridges. Finally, the storage unit includes a processor for using the one or more cartridges and the generic framework to manage the one or more network elements.
US09049039B2 System and method for managing a control device in a universal plug and play home network
A method and system for managing capabilities of a control device in a Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) home network. The method includes advertising a list of capabilities of a control device to a control point in the UPnP home network, updating, by the control device, a capability in the list of capabilities, and advertising an updated list of capabilities to the control point.
US09049035B2 Method and device for reliable broadcast
The invention is embodied in a technique for broadcasting content data from a broadcaster (including a multicaster) to a plurality of clients. After a client receives content data from the broadcaster, a plurality of available proxy servers may be contacted for post-processing after the content data broadcast is determined. The client subsequently randomly selects one of the available proxy servers to contact for post-processing after the content data broadcast. The client may further randomly select a delay time within a contact interval for the selected proxy server, at which time the client contacts the selected proxy server at the delay time to initiate post-processing.
US09049034B2 Multicast flow monitoring
Provided is a method of monitoring a multicast flow. An initial multicast flow is characterized as a baseline flow entity. A subsequent multicast flow is compared against the baseline flow entity to identify anomalies between the baseline flow entity and the subsequent multicast flow.
US09049026B2 Authenticator, authenticatee and authentication method
According to one embodiment, an authenticatee includes, a memory configured to store secret information XYmain, XYsub, and secret information XYmainE, XYsubE, a generation module configured to generate a random number A, a generation module configured to generate a random number D which is composed of at least a part of the generated random number A and a random number B which is received, a generation module configured to generate secret information XY based on the secret information XYmain, XYsub loaded from the memory, a calculating module configured to generate data C by executing a compression calculated operation with respect to at least a part of the random number D and the secret information XY, a generation module configured to generate data ν, and a bit-by-bit addition module configured to calculate an calculated result Z from the data ν and the data C.
US09049017B2 Efficient TCP ACK prioritization in wireless networks
An improved acknowledgement (ACK) prioritization scheme is disclosed that provides ACKs with a lower block error rate (BLER) (as opposed to data) over an air interface, provides a separate radio bearer for ACKs, and successively increases the priority of ACKs for each retransmission required. A lower BLER target for ACKs may be achieved by an increase in transmit (Tx) power, additional coding for the radio bearer, or the use of diversity or hybrid automatic repeat request (ARQ) schemes. After packets are identified as either data or an ACK, they are sent to separate Tx buffers over separate radio bearers. Because the ACKs are transmitted over separate bearers and Tx buffers as compared to the data, ACKs are never queued behind the data, and are effectively prioritized as compared to the data. When retransmissions are required for an ACK packet, the scheduling prioritization is increased successively for each ACK retransmission required.
US09049014B2 Subsea data communication system and method
A subsea data communication system and a method of performing a data communication between a topside control system and a subsea installation are provided. The topside control system includes a topside low frequency modem adapted to perform a data communication in a first frequency range, and the subsea installation includes a subsea low frequency modem adapted to perform a data communication in the first frequency range. The topside low frequency modem is coupled to a subsea low frequency modem by a data transmission line of an umbilical that connects the topside control system to the subsea installation.
US09049011B1 Secure key storage and distribution
This disclosure describes a distributed, fault-tolerant security system that enables the secure storage and distribution of private keys. In one implementation, the security system includes a plurality of computing resources that independently store private keys provided by publishers and encrypted using a single security system public key. To protect against malicious activity, the security system private key necessary to decrypt the publication private keys is not stored at any of the computing resources. Rather portions, or shares of the security system private key are stored at each of the computing resources within the security system and multiple security systems must communicate and share partial decryptions in order to decrypt the stored private key.
US09049009B2 Data transmission system
A cipher key is generated by first information shared in secrete between a data transmitting unit 10 and a data receiving unit 20, second information derived from duplication control information of transmit data and third information which is time change information shared between the data transmitting unit and the data receiving unit to cipher data by a CPU 12 by using the above-mentioned cipher key to transmit, from the data transmitting unit 10 to the data receiving unit 20, transmit data in which the duplication control information and the time change information are added to the ciphered data.
US09048997B2 Apparatus and method using matrix network coding
Provided are a communication apparatus and method using a matrix network coding scheme. The communication apparatus includes a reception unit to receive a corrupted packet including a plurality of corrupted words, and a controller to estimate a first decoded word corresponding to the corrupted words based on the corrupted words and a generator matrix. The controller generates a second decoded word corresponding to the corrupted words based on a codebook and the estimated first decoded word. The codebook is based on the generator matrix. The controller generates a message based on a plurality of second decoded words respectively corresponding to the plurality of corrupted words.
US09048991B2 Method for mapping physical hybrid automatic repeat request indicator channel
A method for mapping a physical hybrid automatic repeat request indicator channel (PHICH) is described. The method for mapping a PHICH includes determining an index of a resource element group transmitting a repetitive pattern of the PHICH, according to a ratio of the number of available resource element groups in a symbol in which the PHICH is transmitted and the number of available resource element groups in a first or second OFDM symbol, and mapping the PHICH to the symbol according to the determined index. In transmitting the PHICH, since efficient mapping is performed considering available resource elements varying with OFDM symbols, repetition of the PHICH does not generate interference between neighbor cell IDs and performance is improved.
US09048983B2 Device-empowered radio resource assignment
A system and method are provided for mitigating interference between wireless access points (APs). A user equipment (UE) device uses a first set of radio resources to wirelessly communicate with a first AP and a second set of radio resources to wirelessly communicate with a second AP. The UE device then uses the first and second radio resources to communicate cooperation data between the first and second access points to mitigate interference thereinbetween.
US09048981B2 Wireless telecommunicatons network
A femtocell including a transceiver and a processor coupled to the transceiver for implementing transmission and reception in a wireless communication network utilizing OFDM/OFDMA, and the processor including modules for collecting information about neighboring base stations and femtocells and utilizing the collected information to select the femtocell's own radio parameters, and a method for radio resource allocation in a wireless communication network implementing OFDM/OFDMA, the method including performing preamble synchronization by a sniffing femtocell on a neighboring femtocell, and determining radio resource parameters of the neighboring femtocell based on the synchronized preamble.
US09048980B2 RF carrier synchronization and phase alignment methods and systems
A method comprising generating a baseband information signal by mixing a received modulated carrier signal with a local oscillator (LO) signal having an LO frequency; obtaining baseband signal samples of the baseband information signal having a baseband signal magnitude and a baseband signal phase; determining a cumulative phase measurement associated with baseband signal samples having a baseband signal magnitude greater than a threshold; and, applying a correction signal to compensate for an LO frequency offset of the LO frequency based on the cumulative phase.
US09048974B2 Methods for expanding cross-connect capacity in a ROADM optical network
A reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer (ROADM) transport network comprising a plurality of optical fan-out devices and a first plurality and a second plurality of demultiplexers for locally dropping selected wavelengths; and first plurality and a second plurality of multiplexers for locally adding selected wavelengths, the first and second plurality disposed in a cascaded relationship to enable selective coupling between network degrees.
US09048973B2 Base station device
A base station device performs switching of its transmission power distribution in accordance with a transmission power distribution switching timing of another base station device. The base station device includes a control unit 22 that controls transmission power distribution in the frequency domain, and a detection unit 23 that detects a switching timing at which another base station device switches transmission power distribution. The control unit 22 changes its transmission power distribution at a power distribution switching timing in the another base station device or a timing near the switching timing. Accordingly, inter-cell interference is prevented.
US09048965B2 Input-controllable dynamic cross-connect
A multiplexer capable of automatically and dynamically selecting a correct or the best input out of a pre-configurable set of alternative inputs, based on the current status of the alternative inputs. An input status-sensitive, dynamic, M-by-M digital cross-connect can be formed out of an arrangement of M (an integer) instances of such input-controllable dynamic M:1 multiplexers. An application is an SDH/SONET cross-connect system that is able to perform a protection-switch for any number, up to all, of its output paths, simultaneously, if necessary, thereby enabling a short and deterministic latency for individual-path-granular protection-switch process for cross-connects of unlimited capacity. Another application is an SDH/SONET path that can be dynamically shared, even at a single time-slot granularity, among multiple path sources. Such a multi-source-bus configuration of an SDH/SONET path enables allocating network resources dynamically based on the real-time capacity demand patterns, thereby maximizing the network throughput for bursty data traffic.
US09048956B2 Coherent optical receiver device and coherent optical receiving method
In a coherent optical receiver device, the dynamic range considerably decreases in the case of selectively receiving the optical multiplexed signals by means of the wavelength of the local oscillator light, therefore, a coherent optical receiver device according to an exemplary aspect of the invention includes a coherent optical receiver receiving optical multiplexed signals in a lump in which signal light is multiplexed; a variable optical attenuator; a local oscillator connected to the coherent optical receiver; and a first controller controlling the variable optical attenuator by means of a first control signal based on an output signal of the coherent optical receiver; wherein the coherent optical receiver includes a 90-degree hybrid circuit, a photoelectric converter, and an impedance conversion amplifier, and selectively detects the signal light interfering with local oscillation light output by the local oscillator out of the optical multiplexed signals; and the variable optical attenuator is disposed in the optical path of the optical multiplexed signals in a stage preceding the photoelectric converter, inputs the optical multiplexed signals, and outputs them to the coherent optical receiver controlling the intensity of the optical multiplexed signals based on the first control signal.
US09048954B2 Optical interconnect using optical transmitter pre-distortion
In one embodiment, the invention provides an optical interconnect comprising a transmitter for generating and transmitting an optical signal, a receiver for receiving the optical signal from the transmitter and for converting the received optical signal to an electrical signal, and a pre-transmitter distort circuit for applying a pre-transmitter distort signal to the transmitter to adjust the shape of the optical signal generated by the transmitter. Distortions are introduced into the optical signal when the optical signal is generated, transmitted to the receiver, and converted to the electrical signal. As a result of the signal applied to the transmitter by the pre-transmitter distort circuit, the optical signal generated by the transmitter has distortions to compensate for the distortions introduced into the optical signal, wherein the electrical signal, into which the optical signal is converted, has a desired shape.
US09048945B2 Antenna training and tracking protocol
A particular communications protocol is used for antenna training to accomplish directional communications in a wireless communications network. In some embodiments, pertinent information for various requests, responses, and status reports, is included in information elements.
US09048916B2 Method for reducing channel length and corresponding filter and signal
A method and apparatus are provided for reducing a channel length. The method implements a channel-length reduction filter that takes into account a pulse response of the channel. The method includes the following steps: cutting the filter into at least one first and one second portion; optimizing said first portion of the filter according to a first criterion in order to output a first set of filtering coefficients; reducing the length of the channel by optimizing said second portion of the filter according to a second criterion different from the first one and based on the first set of filtering coefficients of said first portion of the filter in order to output a second set of filtering coefficients.
US09048913B2 Method and apparatus for adaptive control of transmit diversity to provide operating power reduction
A method and apparatus for selectively enabling or disabling transmit diversity in a mobile communication device. The mobile communication device may switch between diversity and non-diversity operation based on various transmit power considerations.
US09048912B2 Mobile terminal apparatus, radio base station apparatus and communication control method
Provided are a mobile terminal apparatus, a radio base station apparatus and a communication method, capable of orthogonalizing uplink reference signals between plural antennas in MIMO transmission. The mobile terminal apparatus has a reference signal generator (11) for generating DM-RSs using ZC sequences and a cyclic shift section (13) for cyclically shifting the DM-RSs by unit of plural antenna ports (19) to orthogonalize the DM-RSs for the antenna ports (19) between the antenna ports (19), and the cyclically shifted DM-RSs are transmitted via the respective antenna ports (19) to a radio base station apparatus eNB in an uplink.
US09048906B2 Beamforming precoding matrix using non-uniform angles quantization
Beamforming precoding matrix using non-uniform angles quantization. Adaptively generated feedback information is provided between communication devices that communicate using more than one communication path, link, connection, etc. With respect to feeding back different types of information having different respective characteristics (e.g., different respective probability density functions), different and respective quantization may be employed for the different types of information. For example, uniform, Gaussian, or per bit loop optimized quantization may be individually selected and employed for each of the different types of feedback information used in a wired communication system (e.g., one which is implemented or compliant in accordance with PLC/HP (Powerline/HomePlug), and/or at least one version of the IEEE 1901-2010—IEEE Standard for Broadband over Power Line Networks: Medium Access Control and Physical Layer Specifications), signaling may be effectuated between communication devices using more than one communication pathway (e.g., more than one communication link between respective communication devices).
US09048903B2 Method and apparatus for measuring and reporting a rank and a precoding matrix for multiple-input multiple-output communication
A method and apparatus for measuring and reporting a rank and/or a precoding matrix for multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communication are disclosed. A metric indicating a channel condition is measured and a rank is selected based on the metric. The metric may be a signal-to-interference and noise ratio (SINR), throughput, a block error rate (BLER), system capacity, a sum rate, or the like. An SINR for each radio block group (RBG) for each rank is calculated. A data rate is calculated for each RBG based on the SINR for each rank. An overall rate for all RBGs is calculated for each rank. At least one rank is selected based on the overall rate. At least one precoding matrix may be selected jointly with or separately from the at least one rank.
US09048900B2 All digital transmitter noise correction
An all digital model of nonlinear transmitter signal distortion in signals received at a receiver of a transmitter-receiver may be used to estimate distortion. The estimated distortion may then be cancelled from the received signals to improve signal quality of the received signal. The digital nonlinear model may be part of an estimator circuit that estimates nonlinear distortion terms by applying a formula or transformation to a digitized version of the signals transmitter at a transmitter of the transmitter-receiver. A mixer may be used to shift a frequency of the estimated nonlinear terms away from a transmitter frequency so that the nonlinear terms can later be subtracted from the incoming signal received at the receiver at a receiver frequency. Circuits and methods are provided.
US09048898B2 Front end module
There is provided a front end module, including an amplification circuit unit amplifying signal, a multistage matching circuit unit connected to an output terminal of the amplification circuit unit, and a switch circuit unit connected to the multistage matching circuit unit, wherein the switch circuit unit includes a series switch circuit and a parallel switch circuit, the parallel switch circuit being connected to a node between a plurality of matching circuits included in the multistage matching circuit unit.
US09048886B2 Signal transmitting method and base station device
The present invention provides a signal transmitting method and a base station device. The signal transmitting method is applied to a base station device including a time domain exchanging module and a baseband processing unit, where the time domain exchanging module is connected to the baseband processing unit. The method includes: receiving, by the time domain exchanging module, a first time domain signal transmitted by a user equipment through a radio frequency channel of a serving cell of the user equipment, and receiving a second time domain signal transmitted by the user equipment through a radio frequency channel of a coordinating cell of the user equipment; and transmitting the first time domain signal and the second time domain signal to the baseband processing unit, which is corresponding to the serving cell of the user equipment. Through the present invention, CoMP data exchange can be implemented in an LTE-A system.
US09048879B1 Error correction system using an iterative product code
An error correction system includes an iterative code that employs an interleaved component code and an embedded parity component code. In some embodiments, on the transmission side, input signals received at an input node are encoded based on the interleaved code, which encodes an interleaved version of the input data to produce a first set of codewords. At least a portion of the first set of codewords preferably is divided into a plurality of symbols which are encoded based on the embedded parity code to provide encoded data. Similarly, in some embodiments, on the receiving side, received data are detected to produce detected information and soft outputs. The detected information is decoded based on the embedded parity code to obtain decoded information. The decoded information preferably is used, together with other soft information, by an interleaved decoder to generate reliability metrics for biasing a subsequent decoding iteration.
US09048878B2 Semiconductor memory device
A CRC code is generated from an original data, a BCH code is generated with respect to the original data and the CRC code, and the original data, the CRC code, and the BCH code are recorded in pages selected from different planes of a plurality of memory chips. An RS code is generated from the original data across pages, a CRC code is generated with respect to the RS code, a BCH code is generated with respect to the RS code and the CRC code, and the RS code, the CRC code, the BCH code are recorded in a memory chip different from a memory chip including the original data. When reading data, error correction is performed on the original data by using the BCH code, and then CRC is calculated. If the number of errors is the number of errors that is correctable by erasure correction using the RS code, the original data is corrected by the erasure correction. If the number of errors exceeds an erasure correction capability of the RS code, normal error correction using the RS code is performed, and further error correction using the BCH code is performed.
US09048854B2 Unicode character conversion using one of two conversion services
Disclosed is a method to convert a Unicode character. The method includes intercepting a service call for a character conversion, determining if a character associated with the service call is a candidate for a first conversion service, if the character is a candidate for the first conversion service, converting the character using the first conversion service, if the character is not a candidate for the first conversion service, converting the character using a second conversion service, and returning the converted character.
US09048853B2 Atom cell module, quantum interference device, electronic apparatus, and atom cell magnetic field control method
An atom cell module includes an atom cell in which atoms are enclosed, a heating unit that heats the atom cell by generating heat when a current flows, and a magnetic field generator that generates a magnetic field inside the atom cell. A magnetic field at a predetermined position inside the atom cell generated by the magnetic field generator includes a magnetic field component in an opposite direction to a magnetic field at the predetermined position generated on the basis of a current flowing through the heating unit.
US09048852B2 Frequency stabilization of an atomic clock against variations of the C-field
The frequency of an atomic clock may be stabilized against C-field variation by applying a rf magnetic field perpendicular to the C-field to cause a coherent population transfer between Zeeman states that compensates for quadratic frequency shift of transitions of the clock. The cancellation, provided by a feed-forward mechanism, is exact. The invention can be implemented in any atomic clock by including an electrode in the clock generating a magnetic field perpendicular to the C-field, and providing an electronic circuit to send rf signals to the electrode.
US09048849B2 Supply regulated voltage controlled oscillator including active loop filter and phase locked loop using the same
The inventive concept relates to a supply regulated voltage controlled oscillator having a function of an active loop filter by sharing one operational amplifier without additional use of active elements in a supply regulated voltage controlled oscillator using an operational amplifier as a supply regulator, and a phase locked loop using the same.
US09048845B2 Semiconductor system
A semiconductor system includes a controller and a semiconductor device that may communicate signals with the controller through a single input/output pad. The semiconductor device includes a self power generation block that may generate a driving voltage in response to a first signal inputted from the controller through the single input/output pad, and generate a start-up signal when the driving voltage is over a set voltage, a state machine block that may detect a pulse width of a second signal inputted from the controller through the single input/output pad, in response to the start-up signal, and may generate commands and data in response to the pulse width, and a data output block that may convert the data into a third signal of a current level corresponding to the data and output the third signal to the controller through the single input/output pad, in response to the commands.
US09048838B2 Switching circuit
In an embodiment, a switching circuit includes input drain, source and gate nodes, a high voltage depletion mode transistor including a current path coupled in series with a current path of a low voltage enhancement mode transistor, and a current sense circuit for sensing the current flowing through a current sense path.
US09048829B2 Power semiconductor device driving circuit
A power semiconductor device driving circuit includes a gate control terminal, which is provided at a position separated from a drain terminal of a power semiconductor device by a predetermined distance so that electric discharge is generated between the drain terminal and the gate control terminal at the time of generation of surge. A surge voltage is applied to the gate control terminal due to this discharge, the gate of the power semiconductor device is charged to turn on and absorb the surge energy. Thus it becomes possible to suppress the surge voltage applied to the drain terminal and prevent breakdown of the power semiconductor device.
US09048811B2 Integration of piezoelectric materials with substrates
Devices having piezoelectric material structures integrated with substrates are described. Fabrication techniques for forming such devices are also described. The fabrication may include bonding a piezoelectric material wafer to a substrate of a differing material. A structure, such as a resonator, may then be formed from the piezoelectric material wafer.
US09048799B2 Method for enhancing low frequences in a digital audio signal
The method comprises the steps of: a) converting the digital audio signal (PCM) into a voltage signal (VE); b) first lowshelf filtering of fixed gain (G2); c) calculating a value of excursion (x) of the loudspeaker; d) comparing the excursion with a maximum value and calculating a first gain of possible attenuation (G3); e) second lowshelf filtering of gain (G4+G3) taking into account the first gain of possible attenuation; g) comparing with the maximum saturation or clipping voltage (vMAX) and calculating a second gain of possible attenuation (G5); h) third lowshelf filtering gain (G6+G3+G5) taking into account the first and/or second gains of possible attenuation; i) comparing with the maximum saturation or clipping voltage (vMAX) and applying a gain of possible overall attenuation (G7); j) optionally compensating for the nonlinearities of the loudspeaker response; and k) reversely converting the signal (Vs) into a digital audio signal (S) without dimension, for later amplification.
US09048792B2 Power amplifier and liquid jet printing apparatus
A power amplifier includes: a modulator pulse-modulating a drive waveform signal serving as a reference of a drive signal applied to an actuator and outputting a plurality of modulated signals; a digital power amplifier having a plurality of digital power amplifier stages each including a pair of push-pull switching elements, amplifying the power of the plurality of modulated signals, and outputting multi-value amplified digital signals; and a low pass filter smoothing the amplified digital signals and outputting the drive signal, wherein the modulator includes a control section switching one of a state where the same modulated signal is connected to two or more of the digital power amplifier stages and a state where different modulated signals are connected to different digital power amplifier stages to the other.
US09048790B1 Method and apparatus for power reduction
Aspects of the disclosure provide an audio amplification system. The audio amplification system includes an amplifier configured to amplify an audio signal, and a power supply module external to the amplifier that is configured to provide to the amplifier a supply voltage having a voltage level that is selected from at least two possible voltage levels based on an output volume level for the audio signal. In an example, the amplifier is a Class AB amplifier.
US09048786B2 Switching system with linearizing circuit
A transistor-based switch is coupled to a replica circuit that includes transistor circuitry similar to that of the switch. The replica circuit biases a switched transistor to promote linear operation of the switch.
US09048785B2 Periodically resetting integration angle demodulation device and method using the same
A periodically resetting integration angle demodulation device and a method using the same is disclosed, which uses a waveform multiplier and a periodically resetting integrator to modulate a continuous-time angle modulation signal into a discrete-time signal. The waveform multiplier multiplies the continuous-time angle modulation signal by a square wave signal whose frequency is integer times a carrier frequency, and then transmits the continuous-time angle modulation signal to a periodically resetting integrated circuit. The periodically resetting integrated circuit performs integration during a carrier period to generate a discrete-time angle modulation output signal. The present invention can greatly reduce the difficulty for designing an optical sensing system in the front end without limiting a modulation depth. Besides, the present invention achieves a small volume, high speed, high sensitivity, high reliability, high performance and high condition-adapting properties.
US09048775B2 H-bridge for combined solenoid and piezo injection control
An engine system may include a specified number of individual injectors, and an engine control unit (ECU) having a specified number of pins coupling to the individual injectors. The ECU may include a controller capable of dynamically switching between different multiplexing configurations, with each multiplexing configuration coupling individual injectors across corresponding pairs of pins. Each pin may internally couple to one half of an H-bridge structure, with an injector coupled across two pins thereby completing a full H-bridge structure, providing the flexibility to achieve combined solenoid and Piezo injection control. Specifically, each pin may be internally coupled to a low-side switch and a set of high-side switches, and the switches may be operated according to the dynamically selected multiplexing configuration and the type of injection control to perform any one or more of unipolar solenoid, unipolar Piezo, bipolar solenoid, and bipolar Piezo injection control, depending on the injector type used.
US09048771B2 Inverter
An inverter includes a warm-up control section and a switching control section. In a state in which an electric motor is not operating, the warm-up control section controls switching elements of an inverter circuit to perform warm-up control, in which direct currents are supplied to the coils of the respective phases of the electric motor, when the temperature of the capacitor is lower than a prescribed temperature. When a warm-up control is switched to a normal operation control, the switching control section sets initial phases of alternating currents such that the relationship between the values of the alternating currents supplied to the coils of the electric motor in the normal operation control matches with the relationship between the values of the direct currents that have been supplied to the corresponding coils of the electric motor in the warm-up control.
US09048768B2 Stationary energy generation plant having a control device and method for controlling the same
A stationary energy generation plant includes a control device that serves to control current and energy flow. The energy generation plant includes at least one mechanically driven rotor and a generator mechanically coupled to the rotor. To this end, power electronics operationally connected to the generator enable variable energy flow from the rotor through the generator and the power electronics to a load. In order to compensate for vibrational loads on the generator side, at least one current control is made possible by means of a first intermediate circuit storage of the power electronics. In order to compensate for mechanical vibrational loads and transients of a drivetrain, an energy flow control is provided by means of at least one additional second intermediate circuit storage disposed in the power electronics and having a multiple of the storage capacity of the first intermediate circuit storage.
US09048765B2 Engine powered generator
An electric power generation system including an engine, an electrical generator, and a system controller. The engine is configured to produce mechanical power and includes an engine controller and a turbocharger for raising air pressure to a boost pressure. The turbocharger is controlled by the engine controller during steady state operation of the system. The electrical generator is mechanically connected to the engine and converts mechanical power into electrical power. The system controller is configured to receive a signal indicative of an electrical load on the generator. During a transient condition during which the electrical load increases, the system controller is configured to directly control the turbocharger in order to change the configuration of the turbocharger in order to increase boost pressure.
US09048759B2 Multistage force amplification of piezoelectric stacks
Embodiments of the disclosure include an apparatus and methods for using a piezoelectric device, that includes an outer flextensional casing, a first cell and a last cell serially coupled to each other and coupled to the outer flextensional casing such that each cell having a flextensional cell structure and each cell receives an input force and provides an output force that is amplified based on the input force. The apparatus further includes a piezoelectric stack coupled to each cell such that the piezoelectric stack of each cell provides piezoelectric energy based on the output force for each cell. Further, the last cell receives an input force that is the output force from the first cell and the last cell provides an output apparatus force In addition, the piezoelectric energy harvested is based on the output apparatus force. Moreover, the apparatus provides displacement based on the output apparatus force.
US09048754B2 System and method for offsetting the input voltage unbalance in multilevel inverters or the like
The system for offsetting the input voltage unbalance in multilevel inverters or the like comprises a control unit operatively associated with a multilevel inverter for converting direct current into alternate current, the control unit being suitable for piloting the multilevel inverter for generating an output current depending on a reference current, and an equalization unit for equalizing the input voltages of the multilevel inverter having first generation means of a harmonic component of order equal to the reference current, out of phase with respect to the fundamental component of the reference current, detection means of the unbalance of the input voltages to the multilevel inverter, regulation means of the amplitude of the harmonic component depending on the detected unbalance, for offsetting the unbalance. The method for offsetting the unbalance of the input voltages in multilevel inverters or the like comprises a control phase of a multilevel inverter for converting direct current into alternate current, in which the multilevel inverter is piloted for generating an output current depending on a reference current, a generation phase of a harmonic component of order equal to the reference current, out of phase with respect to the fundamental component of the reference current, a detection phase of the unbalance of the input voltages to the multilevel inverter and a regulation phase of the amplitude of the harmonic component depending on the detected unbalance, for offsetting the unbalance.
US09048740B2 Variable duty cycle switching with imposed delay
Power conversion methods, systems, articles of manufacture, and devices are provided. The power conversion may include converting between direct current and alternating current wherein switching losses associated with latent electrical charges are reduced. Current sensing may be low-side bus reference. Solid-state implementations, code implementations, and mixed implementations are provided.
US09048739B2 Power supply device and image forming apparatus
The power supply device includes a transformer, a switching unit for driving a primary side of the transformer, a detection unit for detecting an output corresponding to a current flowing on the primary side, a transmission unit for transmitting an output voltage from a secondary side to the primary side, and a control unit for controlling an operation of the switching unit in accordance with an output from the transmission unit, in which, when a switching frequency for driving the switching unit falls within a predetermined frequency range including a resonant frequency of the transformer, the control unit controls the switching unit so as to shorten a turn-ON time of the switching unit in accordance with an output from the detection unit.
US09048710B2 Electric machine module cooling system and method
Embodiments of the invention provide an electric machine module. The module can include a housing, which can define a machine cavity. In some embodiments, an electric machine can be positioned within the machine cavity. In some embodiments, the electric machine can include a stator assembly including potted stator end turns. An end turn member can be positioned within the machine cavity and can include a radially inward flange and a radially outward flange axially extending from a central region. The end turn member is configured and arranged so that the flanges are substantially adjacent the stator end turns. The end turn member can include at least one second member aperture disposed through a portion of the central region.
US09048709B2 Motor heat dissipation structure with inbuilt electronic board
A motor heat dissipation structure with an inbuilt electronic board includes a motor casing made of an aluminum material. The electronic board is disposed in the motor casing. Electronic components provided on one side of the electronic board are attached to the inner wall of one end of the motor casing. A heat dissipation metallic member is provided on electronic components on the other side of the electronic board. The heat dissipation metallic member extends to the circumferential side of the motor casing and is attached to the motor casing. Thus, the heat generated from the electronic components is conducted to the outside through the motor casing to enhance heat dissipation efficiency of the electronic board so as to protect the electronic board, preventing the electronic board from being overheated.
US09048701B2 Passive magnetic bearings for rotating equipment including induction machines
Permanent magnet bearings are incorporated into rotating equipment, such as induction machines, in addition to active magnetic or lubricated primary shaft support bearings. The passive magnetic bearings incorporate permanent magnets that generate directionally oriented magnetic fields of selective intensity. The magnetic field directions are aligned with a desired shaft support bearing preload direction and intensity, for example to exert axial thrust or radial preloads on the support bearings. A plurality of magnetic bearings may be oriented in opposed relationship with neutral or offsetting resultant forces. The passive magnetic force preload may be utilized to offset rotor vertical weight during induction startup or stopping cycles. Passive magnetic force preload may be applied to lubricated bearings to assure their operational stability. The passive magnetic bearings can also absorb radial or axial thrust forces imparted on the rotor shaft during induction machine operation, that may reduce machine operational noise, and energy consumption.
US09048700B2 Motor assembly with integrated cooling means and enclosed compartment for electronic circuitry
A motor assembly includes a structural unit for mounting a motor, for mounting and enclosing electronic circuitry, and for providing a corridor for air to flow and cool the motor and/or the electronic circuitry. The motor assembly includes a substantially water-resistant motor that rotationally drives a fan for cooling the motor and/or rotationally drives a propeller for providing propulsion to watercraft. The electronic circuitry of the motor assembly receives and transmits instructions to a command post by way of electronic signals and distributes power to the motor. The structural unit seals the circuitry from the surrounding environment.
US09048685B2 Emergency lighting with charging indicator circuitry
Emergency lighting with a charging indicator circuitry comprises a power source module, a lighting circuit, a battery circuit, and an emergency switch circuit. The battery circuit includes charging indicator circuitry and a battery module; the power source module is connected with the battery module via the charging indicator circuitry. When the utility power is interrupted or a test switch is pressed, the light of the charging indicator circuitry goes out to indicate that the emergency lighting is in discharging status. When the utility power is supplied normally, if a battery within the battery module is in disconnected state, the light of the indicating circuitry goes out to indicate that the emergency lighting is in disconnected state. The charging indicator circuitry may be a simple light-emitting indicating circuit, has no need for much modification to the original circuit during manufacture and design, and may be simple and quickly-responsive.
US09048682B2 Wireless power multi-charging method and power transmitter
A wireless multi-charging method of a power transmitter that wirelessly transmits power includes sensing a first power receiver, increasing a transmission power required for charging the first power receiver, sensing a second power receiver, decreasing the transmission power required for suspending charging of the first power receiver, and increasing the transmission power required for simultaneously charging both the first power receiver and the second power receiver.
US09048681B2 Wireless power and data apparatus, system and method
Wireless charging and data communication are effected. In accordance with various example embodiments, a transceiver-type circuit wirelessly charges portable devices, such as hand-held telephones via wireless signals, and also wirelessly communicates data with remote transponders. The data communication is carried out to facilitate authentication of the remote transponders and may, for example, be limited relative to a power-carrying capability of the transponders. Such aspects may be implemented, for example, in a transceiver for both transponder-based operation and (high-power) wireless charging applications in vehicle-based circuits.
US09048677B2 Semiconductor device for protecting secondary battery, battery pack, and electronic device using same
A battery pack includes a secondary battery, a discharge-control transistor, a charge-control transistor connected in series with the discharge-control transistor between a negative power source terminal of the secondary battery and a terminal of a load or a negative power source terminal of a charger, and a battery protection semiconductor device including a detection circuit that detects at least one of excessively charged, excessive discharging, overcurrent, short-circuit, and overheating states of the secondary battery, a control circuit that turns on and off the discharge-control transistor and the charge-control transistor, and a charge prevention circuit that prevents the secondary battery from being charged by turning off the charge-control transistor when a voltage of the secondary battery is not greater than a predetermined low-voltage criterial voltage variable by trimming a portion of the charge prevention circuit. The charge prevention circuit includes first and second inverter circuits.
US09048673B2 Connector with embedded charging integrated circuits
A connector with embedded charging integrated circuits mainly has an insulating housing, an insulating base, a plurality of connecting terminals, a PCB, a charging IC, and a plurality of forwarding terminals. A tongue portion extends outward from one side of the insulating housing, a plurality of terminal slots are disposed in the tongue portion. The connecting terminals, the forwarding terminals and the charging IC electrically connect with the PCB. The insulating base is to carry the PCB, and the connecting terminals are accommodated in the terminal slots while the insulating base assembles with the insulating housing. While the connector receives electrical energy provided by the motherboard of an external device, the charging current provided by the motherboard is transmitted to the charging IC through the forwarding terminals, the charging current processed and improved by the charging IC is output via the connecting terminals to speed up the charging.
US09048667B2 Cell controller, battery module and power supply system
A suppressed noise cell controller includes, corresponding to a number of cell packs, a plurality of ICs each having a voltage detecting circuit detecting voltages of respective cells of a cell pack in which four cells are connected in series, a switch control circuit controlling conduction and a blocking operation of a plurality of switch elements connected in parallel to the respective cells via capacity adjusting resistors, terminal LIN1 for inputting control information, terminal LIN2 for outputting control information, terminal Vcc and GND terminal, and terminal LIN2 of a higher-order IC and terminal LIN1 of a lower-order IC are daisy chain connected. The Vcc terminal of each IC is connected to a positive electrode of a higher-order cell among cells constituting a corresponding cell pack via a noise eliminating inductor, and the GND terminal is coupled directly to Vcc of the lower-order IC. Noise isn't superposed on LIN1 or LIN2.
US09048666B2 USB charging circuit
A USB charging circuit includes a mating hub module including a USB input port for the connection of an external computer and a USB main hub control circuit electrically connected to the USB input port, a power supply module including a power supply device and a synchronization/charge mode switching circuit for detecting the power signal output of the USB input port and outputting a corresponding mode judgment signal, and one or multiple output control units each including a USB charging control circuit electrically connected to the USB main hub control circuit, the power supply device and the synchronization/charge mode switching circuit to receive the outputted data signal, power supply and mode judgment signal and a USB output port for receiving the outputted data signal and power supply from the USB charging control circuit so that connected portable electronic devices can be charged or receive data synchronously.
US09048655B2 ESD protection scheme using I/O pads
Some embodiments relate to an IC that includes an ESD-susceptible circuit. The IC includes a number of IC pads that are electrically coupled to respective nodes on the ESD-susceptible circuit. The IC pads are electrically accessible from external to the IC, and include one or more power supply pads and one or more I/O pads. The IC also includes a number of ESD protection devices coupled to the plurality of IC pads, respectively. A trigger circuit on the IC is configured to detect an ESD event impingent on a power supply pad and, in response to the detection, to trigger concurrent shunting of energy of the ESD event over both an ESD clamp element of an I/O pad and an ESD clamp element of the power supply pad. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
US09048646B2 Gangable electrical box extender
An electrical box extender includes a rectangular tube having a first pair of opposing sides and a second pair of opposing sides. The first pair of opposing sides and the second pair of opposing sides form a perimeter configured to fit within a single-gang electrical box. The electrical box extender also includes a set of flanges extending laterally from a front edge of the first pair of opposing sides. The set of flanges includes a male interlocking flange and a female interlocking flange. The male interlocking flange is configured to attach to another female interlocking flange of a substantially identical electrical box extender.
US09048637B2 Gas-insulated switchgear
A gas-insulated switchgear includes: a circuit breaker; a connection bus bar; a first disconnect switch; a second disconnect switch; a line bus bar; a main bus bar; and an abutment. The circuit breaker includes first and second branch outlets provided on a side surface of a cylindrical circuit breaker tank. The connection bus bar has one end connected to the first branch outlet. The first disconnect switch is connected to the other end of the connection bus bar. The second disconnect switch is connected to the second branch outlet. The line bus bar is led out from the second disconnect switch in a horizontal direction. The main bus bar is arranged above the second disconnect switch coaxially with the second branch outlet. The abutment is fixed to a top portion of the second disconnect switch and supports the main bus bar from below.
US09048635B2 Spark plug with laser keyhole weld attaching ground electrode to shell
A spark plug has a metal shell, an insulator, a center electrode, and a ground electrode. One or more firing tips can be attached to the center electrode, to the ground electrode, or to both electrodes. The metal shell and ground electrode are attached together by way of one or more laser keyhole welds at an interface of the shell and electrode. Before the laser keyhole welds, resistance welding can be executed for a temporary attachment.
US09048632B1 Ultrafast laser apparatus
A laser apparatus includes a fiber oscillator. In another aspect, an Ytterbium (Yb) doped fiber is employed. Another aspect provides an unamplified laser pulse emitted from an Yb fiber oscillator having a repetition rate less than 5 MHz and a pulse energy greater than 100 nJ. In still an additional aspect, a flexible Yb fiber has a length greater than 1 m which is capable of being looped with an outside loop diameter less than 150 mm. Another aspect provides for a fiber oscillator with passive optical fiber lengths of at least 10 meters, and more preferably more than 100 meters while having repetition rates less than 4 MHz.
US09048631B2 Laser light source
A laser light source having a ridge waveguide structure includes a semi-conductor layer sequence having a number of functional layers and an active region that is suitable for generating laser light during operation. At least one of the functional layers is designed as a ridge of the ridge waveguide structure. The semiconductor layer sequence has a mode filter structure that is formed as part of the ridge and/or along a main extension plane of the functional layers next to the ridge and/or perpendicular to the main extension plane of the functional layers below the ridge.
US09048628B2 Solid-state dye laser medium and process for production thereof
The challenge of providing a long-life solid-state dye laser medium is tackled. This challenge is solved by a solid-state dye laser medium comprising a polydimethylsiloxane, and a dye dissolved in the polydimethylsiloxane. The dye is preferably a pyrromethene dye.
US09048614B2 Method and system for avoiding package induced failure in swept semiconductor source
Dry oxygen, dry air, or other gases such as ozone are hermetically sealed within the package of the external cavity laser or ASE swept source to avoid packaging-induced failure or PLF. PIF due to hydrocarbon breakdown at optical interfaces with high power densities is believed to occur at the SLED and/or SOA facets as well as the tunable Fabry-Perot reflector/filter elements and/or output fiber. Because the laser is an external cavity tunable laser and the configuration of the ASE swept sources, the power output can be low while the internal power at surfaces can be high leading to PIF at output powers much lower than the 50 mW.
US09048609B2 Laser emitter module and laser detecting system to which the laser emitter module is applied
A laser emitter module may include a first laser emitter configured to output first laser beam having a first radiation angle by receiving first input laser beam and a second laser emitter configured to output second laser beam having a radiation angle different from the first radiation angle by receiving second input laser beam having a width different from that of the first input laser beam. The first and second laser emitters output the first and second laser beam together.
US09048605B2 Hand operated crimping tool
A hand operated crimping tool comprising a body arranged between a distal end and a proximal end of the crimping tool, a tool head arranged distally on the crimping tool, and handles arranged proximally on the crimping tool, which handles are movably arranged in relation to each other, where at least one handle is movably arranged in relation to the body, where two crimping dies between which at least one workpiece is to be crimped form a die pair, and where the relative movement of the tool handles is connected to the relative movement of crimping dies forming at least one die pair. The crimping tool comprises at least three crimping dies, the crimping dies forming at least two die pairs, where the distances between the respective crimping dies in at least two die pairs are further arranged adjustable independently of each other.
US09048589B2 Shielding shell for a connector
A Shielding shell for a connector is disclosed which includes a first wall, a second wall and a third wall. The first wall, the second wall and the third wall are arranged mutually at an angle to each other. At least the first wall and the second wall are connected to each other by a first folded edge. The shielding shell further includes a first contact portion connected with the second wall by a second folded edge, the first contact portion being arranged substantially parallel to the third wall and including a plurality of contact segments contacting said third wall.
US09048581B2 Electrical connectors and receptacle assemblies having retention inserts
An electrical connector includes a housing extending from a mating face to an opposite face, and first and second side walls that extend between the mating face and the opposite face. The housing has a contact cavity that includes opposing sides. The first side wall includes a side opening that extends through the first side wall into communication with the contact cavity. The contact cavity is accessible through the mating face for receiving a mating connector therein. Electrical contacts are held by the housing and arranged in opposing rows that extend along the opposing sides of the contact cavity. A retention insert is received within the side opening. The retention insert includes fingers that extend into the contact cavity and engage in physical contact with corresponding electrical contacts of one of the rows of the electrical contacts to hold the corresponding electrical contacts within the contact cavity.
US09048580B2 Easy-pull male network connector and tool combination
An easy-pull male network connector includes a male connector body providing a resilient clip lockable to a mating female network connector, a protective jacket surrounding the male connector body, a bracket located at one end of the male connector body remote from the resilient clip, a pivotable hook pivotally mounted at the bracket and hooked on the resilient clip and biasable to release or press the resilient clip when the protective jacket is moved forwards or backwards relative to the male connector body, and a tool attachable to the protective jacket and operable to move the protective jacket backwards relative to the male connector body. Thus, when the user pulls the protective jacket backwards, either with the hand or by means of the tool, to press the resilient clip, the easy-pull male network connector is disengaged from the mating female network connector.
US09048567B2 Connector having a regulating portion received in a regulated portion along a predetermined direction
A connector capable of being fitted to a partner connector is provided with a lock member, a solenoid having a plunger, a restriction member having a restricting part, and a restricted part. In a fitted state in which the connector and the partner connector are fitted to each other, the lock member engages the partner connector and locks the two connectors into a fitted state. The solenoid drives the plunger between a restriction position and a release position. The restriction member is movably supported by the plunger. The restricted part receives the restricting part when the plunger is driven into the restriction position. When the plunger is in the restriction position, movement of the restricted part is restricted by the restricting part, and thereby the restricted part directly or indirectly prevents release of the fitted state.
US09048565B2 Adapter apparatus with deflectable element socket contacts
An adapter apparatus includes a substrate having a plurality of openings defined therethrough. Further, a deflectable element socket contact is provided in each of the openings. When a conductive male pin is positioned in contact between first and second deflectable elements of the deflectable element socket contact, at least a portion of the first and second deflectable elements are caused to deflect within first and second deflection regions, respectively, of the defined opening.
US09048564B2 Insulating sheath for retaining contacts in an electrical connector and related assembly method
An electrically insulating sheath for retaining electrical contacts in an electrical connector, the insulating sheath including an electrically non-conductive housing with a chamber defined therein. The chamber includes a pair of contact-receiving channels extending in an axial direction, each of the contact-receiving channels including a collar pocket for retaining the electrical contacts when inserted in the sheath. A dividing wall separates the contact-receiving channels from one another to reduce interference and crosstalk among the wires of the electrical contacts. The sheath includes a cover connected to the housing, the cover extending over at least a portion of the chamber.
US09048547B2 Air loop antenna for shared AM/FM
Systems and methods are disclosed for shared AM/FM air loop antennas that may be advantageously implemented to provide a AM/FM receiver system with a single common air loop antenna for receiving both AM and FM channels, thus eliminating the need for additional materials and electronics associated with provision of a separate FM pigtail antenna and FM antenna jack for connection of same. The shared AM/FM air loop antennas may be connected to a radio device having antenna connections.
US09048542B2 Side-face radiation antenna and wireless communication module
Disclosed herein are a side-face radiation antenna and a wireless communication module. According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided the side-face radiation antenna including a via patch part formed at a side portion of a module substrate including laminated substrates to perform a side-face radiation, and formed by metal filled in a plurality of vias arranged at a predetermined interval in the side portion and connected, and a feed line part inserted between intermediate layers of the module substrate, and connected to the via at a center portion of the via patch part. In addition, there is provided the wireless communication module including the side-face radiation antenna.
US09048541B2 Inverted E antenna with capacitance loading for use with an implantable medical device
The device includes radio frequency (RF) communication components installed within a case of the device and an antenna with an inverted E shape mounted within a header of the device. The antenna has three branches extending from a main horizontal arm: a capacitive branch connecting one end of the main arm to the case via a capacitive load; an RF signal feed branch connecting a middle portion of the main arm to the internal RF components of the device via a feedthrough; and an inductive branch connecting the opposing (far) end of the main arm to the case to provide a shunt to ground. The E-shaped configuration and the provision of capacitive loading allows for cancellation of inductance to bring the antenna into resonance and to provide optimal radiation efficiency as well as to provide for impedance with no reactive component.
US09048540B2 Multiple-antenna system for cellular communication and broadcasting
A reception method and apparatus for use in a multi-cell orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) wireless system. In a unicast receive mode during a first receive time period, a first group of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols is received by a mobile device from multiple of a plurality of antennas at a serving base station. In a single-frequency-network (SFN) receive mode during a second receive time period, a second group of OFDM symbols is received by the mobile device from one of a plurality of antennas at the serving base station. The transition between the first receive time period and the second receive time period occurs during a cyclic prefix or a cyclic postfix between OFDM symbols, and the plurality of antennas produce a first beam pattern during the unicast receive mode and a second beam pattern during the SFN receive mode.
US09048534B2 Wide-band feeder circuit and antenna having the same
It is possible to obtain a wide-band feeder circuit a lower conductive plate provided substantially in parallel to an upper conductive plate, a short-circuit portion provided in a concave manner at a central portion of the lower conductive plate, and a countersunk portion provided in a convex manner at a central portion of a short-circuit plate forming a bottom of the short-circuit portion. It is also possible to obtain an antenna including such a wide-band feeder circuit.
US09048530B2 Deployable flat panel array
The deployable flat panel array technology includes panel arrays and/or methods for multi-axial deployment of a panel array. The panel array can include a first row of panels, a second row of panels, and at least two respective panels of each of the first and the second rows coupled together via a carpenter tape hinge and allowing for multi-axial deployment to form the panel array.
US09048516B2 Safety device of battery temperature control system
To provide a safety device of a battery temperature control system for an EV or an HEV capable of preventing an electric shock due to the electrical conduction across terminals of batteries in the event of a vehicle collision.A safety device used in a temperature control system of a battery for a vehicle, including a first heat exchange unit (1) which includes a first heat exchange section (2) filled with a liquid-state heat medium into a pipe (3) and exchanging heat with a battery (B) by the heat medium, and a second heat exchange unit (20) which includes a second heat exchange section (21) heating or cooling the heat medium subjected to heat exchange in the first heat exchange section (2), wherein the heat medium existing in the first heat exchange section is discharged to the outside of the first heat exchange section, for example, under a predetermined condition such as a vehicle collision.
US09048511B2 Air electrode for metal-air battery and metal-air battery provided with same
An air electrode for a metal-air battery includes an air electrode catalyst and an electrically conductive material, and the air electrode catalyst contains a layered double hydroxide. Discharge capacity can be improved by incorporating the air electrode of this invention in a metal-air battery.
US09048507B2 High ionic conductivity electrolytes from poly(siloxanes-co-ethylene oxide)
Polymer electrolytes offer increased safety and stability as compared to liquid electrolytes, yet there are a number of new challenges that polymer electrolytes introduce. A novel polymer electrolyte, as disclosed herein, is an ionically-conductive polymer with a backbone that is both highly flexible and highly conductive with high conductivity pendant chains attached, thus increasing the concentration of lithium coordination sites and improving ionic conductivity. Previous strategies for comb-type conductive polymers have focused on attaching either conductive pendant chains to a flexible non-conductive backbone or conductive pendant groups to a marginally flexible conductive backbone.
US09048500B2 Fuel cell system with controlled standby power
A fuel cell system includes an IG switch disposed between a 14V battery and a controller. The fuel cell system also includes a start switch disposed independently of the IG switch. Upon detection of the ON state of the start switch, the controller outputs an FC start instruction to an FC auxiliary device. Moreover, an FC inverter switch is disposed between the 14V battery and the FC auxiliary device. Through the function of the controller, power supply from the 14V battery to the FC auxiliary device is suspended for a period from when a wait time, which is predeterminedly set from the moment when the IG switch is turned ON, has elapsed to the moment when the start switch is turned ON, during a wait period between the moment when the IG switch is turned ON and the moment when the start switch is turned ON.
US09048482B2 Battery tray
A battery tray includes a bottom plate and opposing end walls extending upward from the bottom plate. Each end wall includes a plurality of inward spaced battery connectors. A retainer is releasably secured to the bottom plate and is configured to retain batteries disposed on the bottom plate and abutting the end walls. At least one printed circuit board in an end wall includes circuitry connecting the battery connectors to the electrical output.
US09048474B2 Fuel cell system and method for controlling same
Disclosed is a fuel cell system which comprises a power generation means that includes a plurality of fuel cells that are connectable to one another in series or in parallel through connecting terminals, a fuel gas supply conduit through which fuel electrodes of all or part of the fuel cells are connected in series and an oxidant gas supply conduit through which air electrodes of all or part of the fuel cells are connected in series; a switching means that switches an electric connection condition between the connecting terminals and connecting means of an external load device; a fuel gas supply means that supplies the fuel gas supply conduit with a fuel gas and an oxidant gas supply means that supplies the oxidant gas supply conduit with an oxidant gas; a load detecting means that detects a load of the external load device; and a control means that selects, based on an already derived relation between overall electric power output curves corresponding to the number of the fuel cells that are mutually connected and an operation temperature zone, one of the power output curves in accordance with an input from the load detecting means and selects the number of mutually connected fuel cells that brings about the highest voltage of the fuel cells thereby to control the switching means, the fuel gas supply means and the oxidant gas supply means.
US09048469B2 Hollow-fiber membrane module for moisture exchange
A hollow-fiber membrane module for moisture exchange including a tubular outer case, a tubular inner case, plural hollow-fiber membranes, sealing portions, an inlet, an outlet, a first flow path, a second flow path, and a tubular porous member. The inner case is coaxially contained in the outer case so as to have a space therebetween. The hollow-fiber membranes are filled in the space and extend in the axial direction. The sealing portions are provided to both ends of the space so as to fix the plural hollow-fiber membranes and to seal the space. The first flow path extends from one end side of the hollow-fiber membranes to the other end side via insides of the hollow-fiber membranes. The second flow path extends from the inlet to the outlet via outsides of the hollow-fiber membranes in the space. The tubular porous member is inserted between the hollow-fiber membranes.
US09048465B2 Bipolar plate for a fuel cell comprising a by-passed serpentine flow path for oxidant gas; a cooling plate for a fuel cell comprising a by-passed serpentine flow path for coolant fluid; fuel cell comprising such plates and uses thereof
A bipolar plate for a fuel cell is provided. The bipolar plate having flow channels for oxidant gas; said flow channels for oxidant gas comprising one or more grooves each representing a serpentine path; wherein each said serpentine path independently comprises N consecutive legs L1, L2, . . . LN; connected to each other by N−1 consecutive turn sections, T1, T2, . . . TN-1; wherein each leg L1, L2, . . . LN-1 being lengthwise separated from its consecutive leg L2, L3, . . . LN by a wall section, W1, W2, . . . WN-1; wherein each turn section representing a 180° change of flow direction of oxidant gas; wherein N is an odd integer of 3 or more; and wherein one or more of the wall sections W1, W2, . . . WN-1 independently comprise one or more by-pass channels for allowing oxidant gas to flow via a short cut from one leg Lx to its consecutive leg Lx+1; 1≦x≦N−1; thereby by passing a part of the leg Lx and a part of the leg Lx+1. Furthermore, a cooling plate having a similar design is provided. The bipolar plate as well as the cooling plate provide for more efficient supply of fluids over the surface of the plate.
US09048453B2 Light-emitting device
To provide a light-emitting device which can emit bright light without increasing the projected area of a light-emitting element and be manufactured with high yield. A light-emitting device of one embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of projections; a first electrode formed along the plurality of projections; a layer containing a light-emitting organic compound formed along the plurality of projections and over the first electrode; and a second electrode formed along the plurality of projections and over the layer containing a light-emitting organic compound. Further, the plurality of projections each have a bottom surface having a side in contact with a bottom surface of an adjacent projection; a plurality of side surfaces each having a certain angle greater than 0° and less than or equal to 80° with respect to the bottom surface; and a vertex having a first continuously curved surface.
US09048446B2 Organic light emitting device
An organic light emitting device is described. The organic light emitting device includes: a substrate; a first electrode on the substrate; an emission layer on the first electrode; a second electrode on the emission layer; and an exciton blocking layer between the first electrode and the emission layer, in which a LUMO energy level of the exciton blocking layer is higher than a LUMO energy level of the emission layer.
US09048443B2 Display device and method of manufacturing the same
A display device includes a bottom member, a display panel, a top member and a groove region. The display panel is disposed on the bottom member, and includes an organic layer. The top member is disposed on the display panel. The groove region is formed by removing at least one of the top member or the bottom member at a bending region of the display device.
US09048441B2 Organometallic complex, and light-emitting element and light-emitting device using the same
It is an object of the present invention to provide an organometallic complex that can emit phosphorescence. In the following general formula (G1), X represents —O— or —N(R10)—. R1 to R9 each represent any of hydrogen, an alkyl group or a cycloalkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, an alkoxycarbonyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, an acyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, an acyloxy group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, a halogen group, a haloalkyl group, and an aryl group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms. In addition, R10 represents any of an alkyl group or a cycloalkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, an acyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, an aryl group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms, and a heteroaryl group having 4 to 10 carbon atoms. Moreover, M represents an element belonging to Group 9 or 10.
US09048422B2 Three dimensional non-volatile storage with asymmetrical vertical select devices
A three-dimensional array adapted for memory elements that reversibly change a level of electrical conductance in response to a voltage difference being applied across them. Memory elements are formed across a plurality of planes positioned different distances above a semiconductor substrate. Bit lines to which the memory elements of all planes are connected are oriented vertically from the substrate and through the plurality of planes.
US09048415B2 Memory cells including top electrodes comprising metal silicide, apparatuses including such cells, and related methods
Memory cells (e.g., CBRAM cells) include an ion source material over an active material and an electrode comprising metal silicide over the ion source material. The ion source material may include at least one of a chalcogenide material and a metal. Apparatuses, such as systems and devices, include a plurality of such memory cells. Memory cells include an adhesion material of metal silicide between a ion source material and an electrode of elemental metal. Methods of forming a memory cell include forming a first electrode, forming an active material, forming an ion source material, and forming a second electrode including metal silicide over the metal ion source material. Methods of adhering a material including copper and a material including tungsten include forming a tungsten silicide material over a material including copper and treating the materials.
US09048410B2 Memory devices comprising magnetic tracks individually comprising a plurality of magnetic domains having domain walls and methods of forming a memory device comprising magnetic tracks individually comprising a plurality of magnetic domains having domain walls
A method of forming a memory device having magnetic tracks individually comprising a plurality of magnetic domains having domain walls, includes forming an elevationally outer substrate material of uniform chemical composition. The uniform composition material is partially etched into to form alternating regions of elevational depressions and elevational protrusions in the uniform composition material. A plurality of magnetic tracks is formed over and which angle relative to the alternating regions. Interfaces of immediately adjacent of the regions individually form a domain wall pinning site in individual of the magnetic tracks. Other methods, including memory devices independent of method, are disclosed.
US09048408B2 Light emitting diode package
A light emitting diode (LED) package includes a substrate, a first electrode and a second electrode embedded in the substrate and spaced from each other, an LED die mounted on a top surface of the substrate and electrically connected to the first and the second electrodes. Both the first and the second electrodes include a top face and a bottom face, with the top face and the bottom face of each of the first and the second electrodes being exposed at the top surface and a bottom surface of the substrate, respectively. The top face of the first electrode defines a first groove corresponding to a positive bonding pad (p-pad) of the LED die. The p-pad is partially inserted into the first groove. An oxidation-resistant metal coating layer is filled between an insertion portion of the p-pad and an inner surface of the first groove.
US09048404B2 Thin flat solid state light source module
Thin, flat solid state light source device and methods for manufacturing is described. LED chips and their circuit boards are mounted on a thermal conductive substrate. The LED chips are surrounded with a flat layer of reflecting material which may embed the circuit boards. The LED chips and the reflecting layer is then topped with a layer of diffusion material and a layer of cover material.
US09048401B2 Producing method of semiconductor device
A method for producing a semiconductor device includes a preparing step of preparing a board formed with a concave portion, a terminal disposed in or around the concave portion, and a semiconductor element disposed in the concave portion; a wire-bonding step of connecting the terminal to the semiconductor element with a wire; a pressure-welding step of pressure-welding an encapsulating sheet to the board so as to be in close contact with the upper surface of a portion around the concave portion and to be separated from the upper surface of the concave portion under a reduced pressure atmosphere; and an atmosphere releasing step of releasing the board and the encapsulating sheet under an atmospheric pressure atmosphere.
US09048399B2 Light emitting device
Disclosed is a white light emitting device including a semiconductor light emitting element configured to emit near ultraviolet light having a peak wavelength ranging from 380 to 410 nm, a first phosphor layer and a second phosphor layer. The first phosphor layer contains a blue-emitting phosphor configured to emit blue light by the near ultraviolet light, and a red-emitting phosphor activated by trivalent europium and configured to emit red light by the near ultraviolet light. The second phosphor layer contains a green-emitting phosphor configured to emit green light by the near ultraviolet light. The semiconductor light emitting element, the first phosphor layer and the second phosphor layer are laminated in this order to emit white light.
US09048392B2 Light emitting device array assemblies and related methods
Light emitting device (LED) array assemblies and related methods are provided. An LED array assembly can include a primary substrate with an array of light emitting devices disposed on the primary substrate. The LED array assembly can also include a secondary substrate comprising at least one or more grooves. The primary substrate can be positioned on the secondary substrate with the grooves facing the primary substrate.
US09048390B2 Package for light emitting device, and light emitting device
A package for a light emitting device includes: a resin portion having a sidewall thereof; a first lead having a reflective layer containing silver, the first lead being embedded in the resin portion such that the reflective layer is exposed inside the sidewall; and a second lead having at least a part of a surface thereof exposed inside the sidewall, the second lead being embedded in the resin portion while being isolated from the first lead, wherein in the first lead, the reflective layer is provided spaced inward apart from a boundary between the first lead and the resin portion, and wherein a separating surface exposed between the boundary and the reflective layer is formed of a surface of metal containing silver in a smaller amount than that of the reflective layer.
US09048382B2 Thermoelectric generator, method for producing a thermoelectric material, motor vehicle and method for producing a thermoelectric generator
A thermoelectric material contains fibers and a method for producing a thermoelectric material uses fibers. The fibers, in this case, in particular, perform the function of influencing thermal conductivity, electrical conductivity, tensile strength and/or extensibility of the thermoelectric material. The thermoelectric material is used, in particular, in thermoelectric generators which are used, for example, in motor vehicles for converting thermal energy from the exhaust gas into electrical energy.
US09048380B2 Thermoelectric conversion material and production method for thermoelectric conversion material
A thermoelectric conversion material having a novel composition is provided. The thermoelectric conversion material comprises a first dielectric material layer, a second dielectric material layer, and an electron localization layer that is present between the first dielectric material layer and the second dielectric material layer and that has a thickness of 1 nm.
US09048374B1 Method for manufacturing an interdigitated back contact solar cell
A method for manufacturing an interdigitated back contact solar cell, comprising steps of: (a) providing a doped silicon substrate; (b) forming a first silicon dioxide layer on the front surface and the rear surface; (c) depositing a boron-containing doping paste on the first silicon dioxide layer of the rear surface in a first pattern; (d) heating the silicon substrate; (e) removing the first silicon dioxide layer; (f) forming a second silicon dioxide layer on the front surface and the rear surface; (g) depositing a phosphorus-containing doping paste on the second dioxide layer of the rear surface in a second pattern; (h) heating the silicon substrate; and (i) removing the second silicon dioxide layer from the silicon substrate, wherein the first pattern and the second pattern collectively form an interdigitated pattern.
US09048367B2 Multichip package structure for generating a symmetrical and uniform light-blending source
A multichip package structure for generating a symmetrical and uniform light-blending source includes a substrate unit, a light-emitting unit and a package unit. The substrate unit includes a substrate body and at least one bridging conductive layer disposed on the top surface of the substrate body. The light-emitting unit includes at least two first light-emitting elements diagonally disposed on the substrate body and electrically connected to the substrate body and at least two second light-emitting elements diagonally disposed on the substrate body and electrically connected to the substrate body. The package unit includes at least two first light-transmitting package bodies respectively covering the at least two first light-emitting elements and at least two second light-transmitting package bodies respectively covering the at least two second light-emitting elements.
US09048363B2 Elemental semiconductor material contact for high indium content InGaN light emitting diodes
A vertical stack including a p-doped GaN portion, a multi-quantum-well including indium gallium nitride layers, and an n-doped transparent conductive material portion is formed on an insulator substrate. A dielectric material liner is formed around the vertical stack, and is patterned to physically expose a surface of the p-doped GaN portion. A selective low temperature epitaxy process is employed to deposit a semiconductor material including at least one elemental semiconductor material on the physically exposed surfaces of the p-doped GaN portion, thereby forming an elemental semiconductor material portion. The selective low temperature epitaxy process can be performed at a temperature lower than 600° C., thereby limiting diffusion of materials within the multi-quantum well and avoiding segregation of indium within the multi-quantum well. The light-emitting diode can generate a radiation of a wide range including blue and green lights in the visible wavelength range.
US09048362B2 Semiconductor light emitting device
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor light emitting device includes n-type and p-type semiconductor layers containing a nitride semiconductor and a light emitting layer. The emitting layer includes a barrier layer containing III group elements, and a well layer stacked with the barrier layer and containing III group elements. The barrier layer is divided into a first portion on an n-type semiconductor layer side and a second portion on a p-type semiconductor layer side, an In composition ratio in the III group elements of the second portion is lower than that of the first portion. The well layer is divided into a third portion on an n-type semiconductor layer side and a fourth portion on a p-type semiconductor layer side, an In composition ratio in the III group elements of the fourth portion is higher than that of the third portion.
US09048343B2 Semiconductor light emitting device and method of manufacturing the same
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor light emitting device, includes forming a light emitting structure on a growth substrate. The light emitting structure includes a first conductive semiconductor layer, an active layer and a second conductive semiconductor layer. A support substrate having one or more protrusions formed on one surface thereof is prepared. The one or more protrusions formed on the one surface of the support substrate are attached to one surface of the light emitting structure. The growth substrate is separated from the light emitting structure.
US09048342B2 Semiconductor device stacked structure
A semiconductor device stacked structure is disclosed, which includes multiple semiconductor devices and at least one reinforcing structure. The semiconductor devices are stacked on one another. At least one semiconductor device has at least one through silicon via. Each reinforcing structure surrounds a corresponding one of the at least one through silicon via and is electrically insulated from the semiconductor devices. The at least one reinforcing structure includes multiple reinforcing elements and at least one connecting element. Each reinforcing element is disposed between the semiconductor devices. Vertical projections of the reinforcing elements on a plane define a close region, and a projection of the at least one through silicon via on the plane is located within the close region. The connecting element is located in an overlapping region of the vertical projections of the reinforcing elements on the plane, for connecting the reinforcing elements to form the reinforcing structure.
US09048338B2 Device including two power semiconductor chips and manufacturing thereof
A device includes a first power semiconductor chip having a first face and a second face opposite to the first face with a first contact pad arranged on the first face. The first contact pad is an external contact pad. The device further includes a first contact clip attached to the second face of the first power semiconductor chip. A second power semiconductor chip is attached to the first contact clip, and a second contact clip is attached to the second power semiconductor chip.
US09048336B2 Reduced threshold voltage-width dependency in transistors comprising high-k metal gate electrode structures
Performance and/or uniformity of sophisticated transistors may be enhanced by incorporating a carbon species in the active regions of the transistors prior to forming complex high-k metal gate electrode structures. For example, a carbon species may be incorporated by ion implantation into the active region of a P-channel transistor and an N-channel transistor after selectively forming a threshold adjusted semiconductor material for the P-channel transistor, while the active region of the N-channel transistor is still masked.
US09048335B2 Method of fabricating multiple gate stack compositions
An integrated circuit having multiple different device gate configurations and a method for fabricating the circuit are disclosed. An exemplary embodiment of forming the circuit includes receiving a substrate having a first device region, a second device region, and a third device region. A first interfacial layer is formed over at least a portion of each of the first device region, the second device region, and the third device region. The first interfacial layer is patterned to define a gate stack within the third device region. A second interfacial layer is formed over at least a portion of the second device region. The second interfacial layer is patterned to define a gate stack within the second device region. A third interfacial layer is formed over at least a portion of the first device region. The third interfacial layer defines a gate stack within the first device region.
US09048333B2 Isolation rings for packages and the method of forming the same
A device includes a first package component, and a second package component underlying, and bonded to, the first package component. A molding material is disposed under the first package component and molded to the first and the second package components, wherein the molding material and the first package component form an interface. An isolation region includes a first edge, wherein the first edge of the isolation region contacts a first edge of the first package component and a first edge of the molding material. The isolation has a bottom lower than the interface.
US09048331B2 Method of manufacturing semiconductor device
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor chip includes forming a masking member including an opening on a wiring substrate including a chip mounting region so as to align the opening with the chip mounting region, forming an uncured sealing resin on at least the chip mounting region of the wiring substrate, wherein a support film is formed on the uncured sealing resin, removing the support film from the uncured sealing resin, removing the masking member from the wiring substrate so that the uncured sealing resin remains on the chip mounting region, and flip-chip mounting a semiconductor chip onto the chip mounting region with the uncured sealing resin arranged in between. The uncured sealing resin has a higher temperature when removing the masking member than when removing the support film.
US09048327B2 Microcrystalline semiconductor film, method for manufacturing the same, and method for manufacturing semiconductor device
An embodiment of the present invention is a microcrystalline semiconductor film having a thickness of more than or equal to 70 nm and less than or equal to 100 nm and including a crystal grain partly projecting from a surface of the microcrystalline semiconductor film. The crystal grain has an orientation plane and includes a crystallite having a size of 13 nm or more. Further, the film density of the microcrystalline semiconductor film is higher than or equal to 2.25 g/cm3 and lower than or equal to 2.35 g/cm3, preferably higher than or equal to 2.30 g/cm3 and lower than or equal to 2.33 g/cm3.
US09048326B2 Thin film transistor substrate and method of manufacturing the same
A thin film transistor substrate includes a substrate; a gate electrode on the substrate; a semiconductor pattern on the gate electrode; a source electrode on the semiconductor pattern; a drain electrode on the semiconductor pattern and spaced apart from the source electrode; a pixel electrode connected to the drain electrode; and a common electrode partially overlapped with the pixel electrode. The semiconductor pattern is in a same layer of the thin film transistor substrate as the pixel electrode and has an electrical property different from an electrical property of the pixel electrode.
US09048323B2 Semiconductor device
A transistor that is to be provided has such a structure that a source electrode layer and a drain electrode layer between which a channel formation region is sandwiched has regions projecting in a channel length direction at lower end portions, and an insulating layer is provided, in addition to a gate insulating layer, between the source and drain electrode layers and a gate electrode layer. In the transistor, the width of the source and drain electrode layers is smaller than that of an oxide semiconductor layer in the channel width direction, so that an area where the gate electrode layer overlaps with the source and drain electrode layers can be made small. Further, the source and drain electrode layers have regions projecting in the channel length direction at lower end portions.
US09048320B2 Display device including oxide semiconductor layer
A protective circuit includes a non-linear element which includes a gate electrode, a gate insulating layer covering the gate electrode, a first oxide semiconductor layer overlapping with the gate electrode over the gate insulating layer, a channel protective layer overlapping with a channel formation region of the first oxide semiconductor layer, and a pair of a first wiring layer and a second wiring layer whose end portions overlap with the gate electrode over the channel protective layer and in which a conductive layer and a second oxide semiconductor layer are stacked. Over the gate insulating layer, oxide semiconductor layers with different properties are bonded to each other, whereby stable operation can be performed as compared with Schottky junction. Thus, the junction leakage can be reduced and the characteristics of the non-linear element can be improved.
US09048319B2 Thin film device and manufacturing method thereof
With a TFT using an oxide semiconductor film, there is such an issue that oxygen deficit is generated in a surface region of the oxide semiconductor film after performing plasma etching of a source/drain electrode, thereby increasing the off-current. Provided is a TFT which includes: a gate electrode on an insulating substrate; a gate insulating film on the gate electrode; an oxide semiconductor film containing indium on the gate insulating film; and a source/drain electrode on the oxide semiconductor film. Further, the peak position derived from an indium 3d orbital in the XPS spectrum of a surface layer in a part of the oxide semiconductor film where the source/drain electrode is not superimposed is shifted towards a high energy side than the peak position derived from the indium 3d orbital in the XPS spectrum of an oxide semiconductor region existing in a lower part of the surface layer.
US09048316B2 Flash memory structure and method of forming the same
Embodiments of mechanisms of a semiconductor device structure are provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a substrate and a word line cell disposed over the substrate. The semiconductor device further includes a memory gate disposed over the substrate and adjacent to the word line cell and a spacer on a sidewall of the memory gate. The spacer and the word line cell are at opposite sides of the memory gate. In addition, an angle between a top surface of the memory gate and a sidewall of the memory gate is in a range from about 75° to about 90°.
US09048312B2 Semiconductor device and method for forming the same
A semiconductor device including a substrate having an active region is disclosed. A field-plate region and a bulk region are in the active region, wherein the bulk region is at a first side of the field-plate region. At least one trench-gate structure is disposed in the substrate corresponding to the bulk region. At least one source-doped region is in the substrate corresponding to the bulk region, wherein the source-doped region surrounds the trench-gate structure. A drain-doped region is in the substrate at a second side opposite to the first side of the field-plate region, wherein an extending direction of length of the trench-gate structure is perpendicular to that of the drain-doped region as viewed from a top view perspective.
US09048310B2 Graphene switching device having tunable barrier
According to example embodiments, a graphene switching devices having a tunable barrier includes a semiconductor substrate that includes a first well doped with an impurity, a first electrode on a first area of the semiconductor substrate, an insulation layer on a second area of the semiconductor substrate, a graphene layer on the insulation layer and extending onto the semiconductor substrate toward the first electrode, a second electrode on the graphene layer and insulation layer, a gate insulation layer on the graphene layer, and a gate electrode on the gate insulation layer. The first area and the second area of the semiconductor substrate may be spaced apart from each other. The graphene layer is spaced apart from the first electrode. A lower portion of the graphene layer may contact the first well. The first well is configured to form an energy barrier between the graphene layer and the first electrode.
US09048307B2 Method of manufacturing a semiconductor device having sequentially stacked high-k dielectric layers
A semiconductor device having reduced leakage current and increased capacitance without increasing an equivalent oxide thickness (EOT) can be manufactured by a method that includes providing a substrate having a dummy gate pattern; forming a gate forming trench by removing the dummy gate pattern; forming a stacked insulation layer within the gate forming trench, wherein the forming of the stacked insulation layer includes forming a first high-k dielectric layer, forming a second high-k dielectric layer by performing heat treatment on the first high-k dielectric layer, and, after the heat treatment, forming a third high-k dielectric layer on the second high-k dielectric layer, the third high-k dielectric layer having a higher relative permittivity than the second high-k dielectric layer and having a dielectric constant of 40 or higher; and forming a gate electrode within the gate forming trench.
US09048306B2 Semiconductor device and method of forming open cavity in TSV interposer to contain semiconductor die in WLCSMP
A semiconductor device is made by mounting a semiconductor wafer to a temporary carrier. A plurality of TSV is formed through the wafer. A cavity is formed partially through the wafer. A first semiconductor die is mounted to a second semiconductor die. The first and second die are mounted to the wafer such that the first die is disposed over the wafer and electrically connected to the TSV and the second die is disposed within the cavity. An encapsulant is deposited over the wafer and first and second die. A portion of the encapsulant is removed to expose a first surface of the first die. A portion of the wafer is removed to expose the TSV and a surface of the second die. The remaining portion of the wafer operates as a TSV interposer for the first and second die. An interconnect structure is formed over the TSV interposer.
US09048300B2 Strained-induced mobility enhancement nano-device structure and integrated process architecture for CMOS technologies
A method for forming a CMOS integrated circuit device, the method including; providing a semiconductor substrate, forming a gate layer overlying the semiconductor substrate, patterning the gate layer to form NMOS and PMOS gate structures including edges; forming a first dielectric layer overlying the NMOS and PMOS gate structures to protect the NMOS and PMOS gate structures including the edges, forming a first masking layer overlying a first region adjacent the NMOS gate structure; etching a first source region and a first drain region adjacent to the PMOS gate structure using the first masking layer as a protective layer for the first region adjacent the NMOS gate structure, and depositing a silicon germanium material into the first source and drain regions to cause the channel region between the first source and drain regions of the PMOS gate structure to be strained in a compressive mode.
US09048298B1 Backside warpage control structure and fabrication method
Through vias extend through a substrate between a frontside surface and a backside surface, the through vias comprising active surface ends at the frontside surface. A frontside redistribution structure is coupled to the active surface ends, the frontside redistribution structure exerting force on the frontside surface, e.g., due to a difference in the thermal coefficient of expansion (TCE) between the frontside redistribution structure and the substrate. To prevent warpage of the substrate, a backside warpage control structure is coupled to the backside surface of the substrate. The backside warpage control structure exerts an equal but opposite force to the force exerted by the frontside redistribution structure thus avoiding warpage of the substrate.
US09048294B2 Methods for depositing manganese and manganese nitrides
Described are manganese-containing films, as well as methods for providing the manganese-containing films. Doping manganese-containing films with Co, Mn, Ru, Ta, Al, Mg, Cr, Nb, Ti or V allows for enhanced copper barrier properties of the manganese-containing films. Also described are methods of providing films with a first layer comprising manganese silicate and a second layer comprising a manganese-containing film.
US09048291B2 Method of manufacturing a semiconductor device having multi-layered interconnect structure
Disclosed is a semiconductor device provided with an active element in a multilayer interconnect layer and decreased in a chip area. A second interconnect layer is provided over a first interconnect layer. A first interlayer insulating layer is provided in the first interconnect layer. A semiconductor layer is provided in a second interconnect layer and in contact with the first interlayer insulating layer. A gate insulating film is provided over the semiconductor layer. A gate electrode is provided over the gate insulating film. At least two first vias are provided in the first interconnect layer and in contact by way of upper ends thereof with the semiconductor layer.
US09048285B2 Semiconductor structure and method of forming a harmonic-effect-suppression structure
A semiconductor structure includes a SOI/BOX semiconductor substrate, a device, a deep trench, a silicon layer, and a dielectric layer. The deep trench is adjacent to the device and extends through a shallow trench isolation layer within the SOI layer and the BOX layer and into the base semiconductor substrate. The silicon layer is disposed within a lower portion of the deep trench. The silicon layer has a top surface height substantially the same as or lower than a top surface height of the base semiconductor substrate. The dielectric layer is disposed within the deep trench and on the silicon layer. The deep trench can be formed before or after formation of an interlayer dielectric.
US09048284B2 Integrated RF front end system
Systems and methods are disclosed for integrating functional components of front-end modules for wireless radios. Front-end modules disclosed may be dual-band front-end modules for use in 802.11ac-compliant devices. In certain embodiments, integration of front-end module components on a single die is achieved by implementing a high-resistivity layer or substrate directly underneath, adjacent to, and/or supporting SiGe BiCMOS technology elements.
US09048270B2 Apparatus and method for heating semiconductor wafers via microwaves
An apparatus for heating a semiconductor wafer includes: a microwave source; an applicator cavity; and, a fixture for supporting a wafer in the cavity. The fixture contains a dielectric mechanical support for the wafer and a grounded metallic ring movably positioned parallel to and concentric with the wafer at some distance from the wafer, to adjust the microwave power distribution to compensate for edge effects. A closed-loop feedback system adjusts the distance based on wafer edge and center temperatures. A method for heating a semiconductor wafer includes: a. placing the wafer in a microwave cavity; b. supporting the wafer on a fixture having a dielectric wafer support and a grounded metallic ring movably positioned at some distance from the wafer; c. introducing microwave power into the cavity to heat the wafer; and d. adjusting the distance between wafer and ring to modify the power distribution near the wafer edge.
US09048268B2 Method and equipment for removing photoresist residue after dry etch
A method for removing photoresist residue includes etching a photoresist layer disposed over a front side of a semiconductor substrate during fabrication of a semiconductor device, and exposing at least one of the front side and the back side of the semiconductor substrate to an atmosphere comprising active oxygen. The method further includes cleaning at least one of the front side and the back side of the semiconductor substrate with a cleaning fluid.
US09048266B2 Apparatus and methods for improving parallel conduction in a quantum well device
Embodiments of an apparatus and methods of providing a quantum well device for improved parallel conduction are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US09048265B2 Method for manufacturing semiconductor device comprising oxide semiconductor layer
A transistor including an oxide semiconductor film, which has stable electric characteristics is provided. A transistor including an oxide semiconductor film, which has excellent on-state characteristics is also provided. A semiconductor device in which an oxide semiconductor film having low resistance is formed and the resistance of a channel region of the oxide semiconductor film is increased. Note that an oxide semiconductor film is subjected to a process for reducing the resistance to have low resistance. The process for reducing the resistance of the oxide semiconductor film may be a laser process or heat treatment at a temperature higher than or equal to 450° C. and lower than or equal to 740° C., for example. A process for increasing the resistance of the channel region of the oxide semiconductor film having low resistance may be performed by plasma oxidation or implantation of oxygen ions, for example.
US09048258B2 Narrow body field-effect transistor structures with free-standing extension regions
Narrow-body FETs, such as, FinFETs and trigates, exhibit superior short-channel characteristics compared to thick-body devices, such as planar bulk Si FETs and planar partially-depleted SOI (PDSOI) FETs. A common problem, however, with narrow-body devices is high series resistance that often negates the short-channel benefits. The high series resistance is due to either dopant pile-up at the SOI/BOX interface or dopant diffusion into the BOX. This disclosure describes a novel narrow-body device geometry that is expected to overcome the high series resistance problem.
US09048257B2 Backplane for flat panel display apparatus, flat panel display apparatus, and method of manufacturing the backplane
A backplane includes: a substrate, a pixel electrode, which includes a transparent conductive material, on the substrate, a capacitor first electrode formed on the same layer as the pixel electrode, a first protection layer covering the capacitor first electrode and an upper edge of the pixel electrode, a gate electrode of a thin film transistor (TFT) formed on the first protection layer, a capacitor second electrode formed on the same layer as the gate electrode, a first insulating layer that covers the gate electrode and the capacitor second electrode, a semiconductor layer that is formed on the first insulating layer and includes a transparent conductive material, a second insulating layer covering the semiconductor layer, source and drain electrodes of the TFT that are formed on the second insulating layer, and a third insulating layer that covers the source and drain electrodes and exposes the pixel electrode.
US09048254B2 Semiconductor structure having a metal gate with side wall spacers
A method of forming a semiconductor structure having a metal gate. Firstly, a semiconductor substrate is provided. Subsequently, at least a gate structure is formed on the semiconductor substrate. Afterwards, a spacer structure is formed to surround the gate structure. Then, an interlayer dielectric is formed. Afterwards, a planarization process is performed for the interlayer dielectric. Then, a portion of the sacrificial layer is removed to form an initial etching depth, such that an opening is formed to expose a portion of the spacer structure. The portion of the spacer structure exposed to the opening is removed so as to broaden the opening. Afterwards, remove the sacrificial layer completely via the opening. Finally, a gate conductive layer is formed to fill the opening.
US09048253B2 Method of manufacturing strained source/drain structures
An integrated circuit device and method for manufacturing the integrated circuit device is disclosed. The disclosed method provides improved control over a surface proximity and tip depth of an integrated circuit device. In an embodiment, the method achieves improved control by forming a doped region and a lightly doped source and drain (LDD) region in a source and drain region of the device. The doped region is implanted with a dopant type opposite to the LDD region.
US09048249B2 Integrated circuit chip with high speed input and output pins directly coupled to common node
An integrated circuit (IC) including a high-speed signal input pin, a common node, a high-speed signal output pin, and a core circuit is provided. The high-speed signal input pin and the high-speed signal output pin are disposed on a package of the IC. The common node and the core circuit are disposed in the IC. The common node is directly and electrically coupled to the high-speed signal input pin. The high-speed signal output pin is directly and electrically coupled to the common node. A high-speed signal input terminal of the core circuit is directly and electrically coupled to the common node.
US09048246B2 Die seal ring and method of forming the same
A die seal ring is provided. The die seal ring includes a substrate and a first layer extruding from the substrate. The first layer has a first fin ring structure and a layout of the first fin ring structure has a stamp-like shape. In addition, a method for forming a die seal ring is provided. A substrate having an active region is provided. A patterned sacrificial layer is formed on the substrate. A spacer is formed on the sidewall of the patterned sacrificial layer. The patterned sacrificial layer is removed. The substrate is patterned by using the spacer as a mask, thereby simultaneously forming at least a fin structure of a Fin-FET and a first layer of the die seal ring.
US09048244B2 Method for manufacturing a marked single-crystalline substrate and semiconductor device with marking
A method for manufacturing a marked single-crystalline substrate comprises providing a single-crystalline substrate comprising a first material, the single-crystalline substrate having a surface area; forming a marking structure on the surface area of the single-crystalline substrate, wherein the marking structure comprises a first semiconductor material; and depositing a semiconductor layer on the marking structure and at least partially on the surface area of the single-crystalline substrate, wherein the semiconductor layer comprises the second semiconductor material, and wherein the marking structure is buried under the second semiconductor material.
US09048237B2 Electronic device including a nonvolatile memory structure having an antifuse component
An electronic device can include a nonvolatile memory cell, wherein the nonvolatile memory cell can include a substrate, an access transistor, a read transistor, and an antifuse component. Each of the access and read transistors can include source/drain regions at least partly within the substrate, a gate dielectric layer overlying the substrate, and a gate electrode overlying the gate dielectric layer. An antifuse component can include a first electrode lying at least partly within the substrate, an antifuse dielectric layer overlying the substrate, and a second electrode overlying the antifuse dielectric layer. The second electrode of the antifuse component can be coupled to one of the source/drain regions of the access transistor and to the gate electrode of the read transistor. In an embodiment, the antifuse component can be in the form of a transistor structure. The electronic device can be formed using a single polysilicon process.
US09048236B2 Semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same
A semiconductor device includes an interlayer insulating film formed on a substrate, the insulating layer including a trench. A gate insulating layer is formed on a bottom surface of the trench and a reaction prevention layer is formed on the gate insulating layer on the bottom surface of the trench. A replacement metal gate structure is formed on the reaction prevention layer of the trench to fill the trench.
US09048225B2 Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate. A through hole extends through the semiconductor substrate. A first insulating layer covers an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate and includes an opening in communication with the through hole. An insulating film covers wall surfaces of the through hole and the opening. A through electrode is formed in the through hole and the opening. A first connection terminal includes an electroless plating metal layer formed on an end surface of the through electrode and an end surface of the insulating film. The first connection terminal has a larger diameter than the through electrode. A wiring pattern is laminated on a lower surface of the semiconductor substrate. An electrode pad is connected to the wiring pattern. The through electrode is connected to the wiring pattern.
US09048222B2 Method of fabricating interconnect structure for package-on-package devices
An interconnect structure and a method of forming an interconnect structure are provided. The interconnect structure is formed over a carrier substrate, upon which a die may also be attached. Upon removal of the carrier substrate and singulation, a first package is formed. A second package may be attached to the first package, wherein the second package may be electrically coupled to through vias formed in the first package.
US09048218B2 Semiconductor device with buried gates and method for fabricating the same
A semiconductor device includes a supplementary layer and a silicon layer stacked over a substrate, a trench penetrating the supplementary layer and the silicon layer and formed over the substrate, a gate insulation layer formed along a surface of the trench, and a buried gate formed over the gate insulation layer and filling a portion of the trench.
US09048213B2 Semiconductor device
A field plate electrode is repetitively disposed in a folded manner or a spiral shape in a direction along an edge of a first circuit region. A coupling transistor couples a first circuit to a second circuit lower in supply voltage than the first circuit. A second conductivity type region is disposed around the coupling transistor. A part of the field plate electrode partially overlaps with the second conductivity type region. The field plate electrode is electrically coupled to a drain electrode of the coupling transistor at a portion located on the first circuit region side from a center thereof in a width direction of the separation region. A ground potential or a power potential of the second circuit is applied to the field plate electrode at a portion located on the second conductivity type region side from the center.
US09048210B2 Transistors and methods of manufacturing the same
A transistor includes a device portion and a collector layer. The device portion is in a first side of a semiconductor substrate, and includes a gate and an emitter. The collector layer is on a second side of the semiconductor substrate, which is opposite to the first side. The collector layer is an impurity-doped epitaxial layer and has a doping profile with a non-normal distribution.
US09048201B2 Sacrificial wafer probe pads through seal ring for electrical connection to circuit inside an integrated circuit
The disclosure is directed to a semiconductor wafer, integrated circuit product, and method of making same, having multiple non-singulated chips separated by scribe lines, comprising a plurality of seal rings, each seal ring surrounding a corresponding chip and disposed between the corresponding chip and adjacent scribe lines. Well resistors are disposed below the seal rings and probe pads disposed in the scribe lines. In particular, at least one of the probe pads is coupled by at least one of the well resistors to at least one of the chips.
US09048198B2 Biocompatible packaging
A method is disclosed for packaging a device, e.g., for bio-medical applications. In one aspect, the method includes obtaining a component on a substrate and separating the component and a first part of the substrate from a second part of the substrate using at least one physical process inducing at least one sloped side wall on the first part of the substrate. The method also includes providing an encapsulation for the chip. The resulting packaged chip advantageously has a good step coverage resulting in a good hermeticity, less sharp edges resulting in a reduced risk of damaging or infection after implantation and has a relatively small packaged volume compared to conventional big box packaging techniques.
US09048187B2 Epoxy resin composition for semiconductor encapsulation, and semiconductor device using the same
Disclosed are an epoxy resin composition for semiconductor encapsulation containing (A) an epoxy resin, (B) a curing agent, (C) an inorganic filler material, (D) a hydrocarbon compound having structures of formula (1) and formula (2), and (E) a hydrocarbon compound having an ester group; and a semiconductor device including a semiconductor element encapsulated with the epoxy resin composition for semiconductor encapsulation. CH2—CH2  (1) CH═CH  (2)
US09048184B2 Method of forming a gate contact
A method is provided for forming a gate contact for a compound semiconductor device. The gate contact is formed from a gate contact portion and a top or wing contact portion. The method allows for the tunablity of the size of the wing contact portion, while retaining the size of the gate contact portion based on a desired operational frequency. This is accomplished by providing for one or more additional conductive material processes on the wing contact portion to increase the cross-sectional area of the wing contact portion reducing the gate resistance, while maintaing the length of the gate contact portion to maintain the operating frequency of the device.
US09048178B2 Plasma etching method and semiconductor device manufacturing method
A plasma etching method is provided for etching a substrate corresponding to an etching object within an etching apparatus that includes a supply condition adjustment unit for adjusting a supply condition for supplying etching gas to the substrate, a temperature adjustment unit for adjusting a temperature of the substrate placed on a stage along a radial direction, and a plasma generating unit for generating plasma within a space between the supply condition adjustment unit and the stage. The plasma etching method includes a control step in which the temperature adjustment unit controls the temperature of the substrate to be uniform within a substrate plane of the substrate, and an adjustment step in which the supply condition adjustment unit adjusts a concentration distribution of active species contained in the plasma generated by the plasma generation unit within the space above the substrate.
US09048177B2 Resin coating device, and resin coating method
A translucent member 41 that has been trial-coated with a resin 8 for measurement of a light emission characteristic is placed on a translucent member placement portion 53, an excitation light that excites a phosphor is emitted from a light source unit 42 disposed above, the resin 8 coated on the translucent member 41 is irradiated with the excitation light from above, a deviation between a measurement result obtained by measuring the light emission characteristic of the light emitted from the resin 8, and a light emission characteristic specified in advance is obtained, and an appropriate resin coating amount of the resin to be coated on the LED element for actual production is derived on the basis of the deviation.
US09048175B2 Diffusion-agent composition for forming an impurity-diffusing agent layer on a semiconductor substrate
A diffusion-agent composition including a borate ester (A); a polyhydric alcohol (B) represented by general formula (1); and an alkoxysilane compound (C). In general formula (1), k represents an integer from 0 to 3, m represents an integer of 1 or more, and R2 and R3 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group, a C1-5 alkyl group, or a C1-5 hydroxyalkyl group. When there are a plurality of R2s and R3s, the plurality of R2s and R3s may be the same as or different from one another. When k is 2 or more, the plurality of R2s and R3s always include at least one or more hydroxyl groups or C1-5 hydroxyalkyl groups having 1 to 5 carbon atoms. R4 and R5 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a C1-3 alkyl group.
US09048167B2 Reacted conductive gate electrodes and methods of making the same
A semiconductor device and a method for fabricating a semiconductor device involve a semiconductor layer that includes a first material and a second material. The first and second materials can be silicon and germanium. A contact of the device has a portion proximal to the semiconductor layer and a portion distal to the semiconductor layer. The distal portion includes the first material and the second material. A metal layer formed adjacent to the relaxed semiconductor layer and adjacent to the distal portion of the contact is simultaneously reacted with the relaxed semiconductor layer and with the distal portion of the contact to provide metallic contact material.
US09048166B2 Method for controlled growth of silicon carbide and structures produced by same
A method for controlled growth of silicon carbide and structures produced by the method are disclosed. A crystal of silicon carbide (SiC) can be grown by placing a sacrificial substrate in a growth zone with a source material. The source material may include a low-solubility impurity. SiC is then grown on the sacrificial substrate to condition the source material. The sacrificial substrate is then replaced with the final substrate, and SiC is grown on the final substrate. A single crystal of silicon carbide is produced, wherein the crystal of silicon carbide has substantially few micropipe defects. Such a crystal may also include a substantially uniform concentration of the low-solubility impurity, and may be used to make wafers and/or SiC die.
US09048165B2 Light-emitting diode device
A light-emitting diode device having two electrode pads for connecting to an external power comprises a substrate; a plurality of light-emitting diode units on the substrate; and a plurality of conductive connecting structures electrically connecting the plurality of light-emitting diode units; wherein the two electrode pads are encircled by the plurality of light-emitting diode units.
US09048157B2 Solid-state imaging device and portable information terminal
A solid-state imaging device according to an embodiment includes: an imaging element formed on a semiconductor substrate, and comprising an imaging region including a plurality of pixel blocks each including a plurality of pixels; a first optical system forming an image of an object on an imaging plane; and a second optical system comprising a microlens array including a plurality of microlenses each corresponding to one of the pixel blocks, and reducing and re-forming the image to be formed on the imaging plane on the pixel blocks corresponding to the respective microlenses. The imaging plane of the first optical system is located further away from the first optical system than the imaging element when the object is located at an infinite distance.
US09048156B2 Semiconductor image pickup device
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor image pickup device includes a pixel area and a non-pixel area. The device includes a first photoelectric conversion element formed in the pixel area, a first transistor formed in the pixel area and connected to the first photoelectric conversion element, a second photoelectric conversion element formed in the non-pixel area, a second transistor formed in the non-pixel area and connected to the second photoelectric conversion element, a metal wire formed at least in the non-pixel area, a first cap layer formed on the metal wire to prevent diffusion of metal contained in the metal wire, and a dummy via wire formed in the non-pixel area and penetrating the first cap layer.
US09048153B2 Three-dimensional image sensor
An integrated image sensor capable of determining the distance to objects contained in a scene including at least a set of first pixels and a set of second pixels, the first and second pixels being alternately distributed in an array, the first pixels having a different angular aperture than the second pixels.
US09048152B2 Image pickup apparatus and focus detection method
The image pickup apparatus includes an image sensor photoelectrically converting paired object images formed by light fluxes from mutually different pupil areas of an image capturing optical system, a signal producing part producing, by using output from each of plural pixel lines in a focus detection area in the image sensor, paired image signals corresponding to the paired object images for each pixel line, a calculating part calculating a defocus amount by using the paired image signals produced for each pixel line. The calculating part shifts the paired image signals relatively, produce first correlation data showing change of a correlation value of the paired image signals according to their relative shift amount, adds the first correlation data produced for the respective plural pixel lines to produce second correlation data, and calculates the defocus amount from the second correlation data.
US09048151B2 Self-powered integrated circuit with photovoltaic cell
A photovoltaic cell is provided as a composite unit together with elements of an integrated circuit on a common substrate. In a described embodiment, connections are established between a photovoltaic cell portion and a circuitry portion of an integrated structure to enable self-powering of the circuitry portion by the photovoltaic cell portion.
US09048143B2 Defect-resistant thin film transistor array panel and manufacturing method thereof
A thin film transistor array panel according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a substrate; a gate line disposed on the substrate; a gate insulating layer disposed on the gate line; a semiconductor disposed on the gate insulating layer; a data line disposed on the semiconductor and including a source electrode; a drain electrode disposed on the semiconductor and facing the source electrode; a first electrode disposed on the gate insulating layer; a protection electrode disposed on the data line; a passivation layer disposed on the first electrode and the protection electrode; and a second electrode disposed on the passivation layer, wherein the protection electrode comprises the same material as the first electrode.
US09048132B2 Lateral double diffused metal oxide semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
An LDMOS device includes a second conduction type buried layer, a first conduction type drain extension region configured to be formed on and/or over a region of the second conduction type buried layer, a second conduction type drain extension region configured to be formed in a partial region of the first conduction type drain extension region, a first conduction type body, a first guard ring configured to be formed around the second conduction type drain extension region and configured to include a second conduction type impurity layer, and a second guard ring configured to be formed around the first guard ring and configured to include a high-voltage second conduction type well and a second conduction type impurity layer. Further, the second conduction type impurity layer of the first guard ring and the second conduction type impurity layer of the second guard ring operate as an isolation.
US09048130B2 Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
A conventional DRAM needs to be refreshed at an interval of several tens of milliseconds to hold data, which results in large power consumption. In addition, a transistor therein is frequently turned on and off; thus, deterioration of the transistor is also a problem. These problems become significant as the memory capacity increases and transistor miniaturization advances. A transistor is provided which includes an oxide semiconductor and has a trench structure including a trench for a gate electrode and a trench for element isolation. Even when the distance between a source electrode and a drain electrode is decreased, the occurrence of a short-channel effect can be suppressed by setting the depth of the trench for the gate electrode as appropriate.
US09048121B2 FinFET cell architecture with insulator structure
A finFET block architecture includes a first set of semiconductor fins having a first conductivity type, and a second set of semiconductor fins having a second conductivity type. An inter-block insulator is placed between outer fins of the first and second sets. A patterned gate conductor layer includes a first plurality of gate traces extending across the set of fins in the first block without crossing the inter-block insulator, and a second plurality of gate traces extending across the set of fins in the second block without crossing the inter-block insulator. Patterned conductor layers over the gate conductor layer are arranged in orthogonal layout patterns, and include an inter-block connector arranged to connect gate traces in the first and second blocks.
US09048114B2 Electronic device with an active region and transistors
A semiconductor device has a first and second transistors formed on an active region defined by an insulating region. The active region is divided into a first and second portions arranged in a first direction, and into a third and fourth portions interposed between the first portion and the second portion, and provided adjacent to each other in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The first transistor is provided in the first and third portions, and the second transistor is provided in the second and fourth portions.
US09048113B2 Cost-effective LED lighting instrument with good light output uniformity
A lighting instrument includes: a substrate; a plurality of first light-emitting diodes (LEDs) disposed over the substrate, wherein the first LEDs each have a first value range for a light output characteristic; a plurality of second LEDs disposed over the substrate, wherein the second LEDs each have a second value range for the light output characteristic, the second value range being different from the first value range; a phosphor layer located at a distance above the first LEDs and the second LEDs; and a light-reflective layer that is disposed on a surface of the phosphor layer; wherein the first LEDs interleave with the second LEDs according to a predefined pattern.
US09048106B2 Semiconductor diode assembly
TSV devices with p-n junctions that are planar have superior performance in breakdown and current handling. Junction diode assembly formed in enclosed trenches occupies less chip area compared with junction-isolation diode assembly in the known art. Diode assembly fabricated with trenches formed after the junction formation reduces fabrication cost and masking steps increase process flexibility and enable asymmetrical TSV and uni-directional TSV functions.
US09048103B2 Method for producing semiconductor device
A method for producing a semiconductor device (20) is disclosed. The semiconductor device (20) includes: 1) a semiconductor substrate (1, 2), 2) a hetero semiconductor area (3) configured to contact a first main face (1A) of the semiconductor substrate (1, 2) and different from the semiconductor substrate (1, 2) in band gap, 3) a gate electrode (7) contacting, via a gate insulating film (6), a part of a junction part (13) between the hetero semiconductor area (3) and the semiconductor substrate (1, 2), 4) a source electrode (8) configured to connect to the hetero semiconductor area (3), and 5) a drain electrode (9) configured to make an ohmic connection with the semiconductor substrate (1, 2). The method includes the following sequential operations: i) forming the gate insulating film (6); and ii) nitriding the gate insulating film (6).
US09048102B2 SiC single crystal, SiC wafer, and semiconductor device
An SiC single crystal includes a low dislocation density region (A) where the density of dislocations each of which has a Burgers vector in a {0001} in-plane direction (mainly a direction parallel to a <11-20> direction) is not more than 3,700 cm/cm3. Such an SiC single crystal is obtained by: cutting out a c-plane growth seed crystal of a high offset angle from an a-plane grown crystal; applying c-plane growth so that the density of screw dislocations introduced into a c-plane facet may fall in a prescribed range; cutting out a c-plane growth crystal of a low offset angle from the obtained c-plane grown crystal; and applying c-plane growth so that the density of screw dislocations introduced into a c-plane facet may fall in a prescribed range. An SiC wafer and a semiconductor device are obtained from such an SiC single crystal.
US09048098B2 Electrostatic discharge protection device
An electrostatic discharge protection device, having a P-type semiconductor substrate set as floating; a first N-well and a second N-well formed in the P-type substrate; a first P-doped region and a second P-doped region formed in the first N-well and the second N-well, respectively. The first N-well and the first P-doped region form a first diode, and the second N-well and the second P-doped region form a second diode. A first N-doped region and a second N-doped region formed in the first N-well and the second N-well respectively. A third P-doped region is formed in the P-type substrate, wherein the third P-doped region is disposed between the first N-well and the second N-well, and the third P-doped region is electrically connected to the first N-doped region and the second P-doped region.
US09048097B2 Semiconductive micro- and nano-wire array manufacturing
The disclosure provides methods of manufacturing semiconductive structures using stamping and VLS techniques.
US09048096B2 Diode-based ESD concept for DEMOS protection
The invention relates to an ESD protection circuit for an integrated circuit including a drain-extended MOS device and an output pad that requires protection. The ESD protection circuit includes a first diode coupled to the output pad and to a bias voltage rail, a second diode coupled to the output pad and to another bias voltage rail, and an ESD power clamp coupled between the two bias voltage rails. The ESD power clamp is formed as a vertical npn transistor with its base and emitter coupled together. The collector of the npn transistor is formed using an n-well implantation and a DEMOS n-drain extension to produce a snapback-based voltage limiting characteristic. The diodes are formed with a lightly p-doped substrate region over a buried n-type layer, and a p-well implant and an n-well implant separated by intervening substrate. A third diode may be coupled between the two bias voltage rails.
US09048094B2 Method for manufacturing semiconductor device comprising forming oxide semiconductor by sputtering
It is an object to provide a thin film transistor having favorable electric characteristics and high reliability and a semiconductor device which includes the thin film transistor as a switching element. An In—Ga—Zn—O-based film having an incubation state that shows an electron diffraction pattern, which is different from a conventionally known amorphous state where a halo shape pattern appears and from a conventionally known crystal state where a spot appears clearly, is formed. The In—Ga—Zn—O-based film having an incubation state is used for a channel formation region of a channel etched thin film transistor.
US09048087B2 Methods for wet clean of oxide layers over epitaxial layers
Methods for an oxide layer over an epitaxial layer. In an embodiment, a method includes forming an epitaxial layer of semiconductor material over a semiconductor substrate; forming an oxide layer over the epitaxial layer; applying a solution including an oxidizer to the oxide layer; and cleaning the oxide layer with a cleaning solution. In another embodiment, a densification process is applied to an oxide layer including treating with thermal energy, UV energy, or both. In an embodiment for a gate-all-around device, the cleaning process is applied to an oxide layer over an epitaxial portion of a fin. Additional methods are disclosed.
US09048085B2 Semiconductor device
A field plate of a semiconductor device is provided with i) an insulating film that is formed on a surface of the semiconductor substrate, and includes a plurality of first regions, one for each of a plurality of FLR layers, that contact the layers and are arranged at intervals in a radial direction, and a plurality of second regions, one for each of the first regions, that are adjacent to the first regions in the radial direction, and ii) a plurality of first conductive films that are formed, one for each of the layers, inside of the insulating film, are arranged at intervals in the radial direction along the layers when a semiconductor substrate is viewed from above, and that are electrically connected to the layers. A thickness of at least a portion of the second regions is thicker than a thickness of the first regions.
US09048082B2 Time-of-flight mass spectrometer
A thin metal plate and two prismatic-bar-shaped metal members that are parallel to each other are alternately and repeatedly stacked, and the stack is sandwiched between two thick metal plates. Each contact surface is bonded to the counterpart surface by diffusion bonding to form an integrated multilayer body. The multilayer body is cut at predetermined intervals at planes perpendicular to the thin metal plates, whereby a grid-like electrode is completed, with the thin metal plates serving as crosspieces and the metal members serving as spacers for defining a gap which serves as openings.
US09048079B2 Method and apparatus for improving ion transmission into a mass spectrometer
An ion transfer device for transferring ions emerging from an electrospray ion source at atmosphere to a vacuum chamber includes an inner surface in the shape of a diverging conical duct. The ion transfer device has an entrance aperture for positioning proximate the exit port of the electrospray ion source emitter, the entrance aperture receiving the electrosprayed ions from the exit port of the electrospray ion source emitter at atmosphere, the diverging conical duct being an electrode toward which the ions migrate and having an exit aperture with an inner diameter larger than an inner diameter of its entrance aperture, the exit aperture enclosed in the vacuum chamber, the diverging conical duct transporting the ions from atmosphere to vacuum. The vacuum chamber can be a chamber of a vacuum housing enclosing a mass analyzer.
US09048078B2 Mass spectrometry
There is provided an ion reflector for use with a mass spectrometer for directing a flow of ions between two distinct axes of travel. The reflector includes an electric field capable of causing a flow of ions focused through a first spatial region to be focused toward a second spatial region, whereby the first and second spatial regions are aligned with respective axes of travel.
US09048064B2 Cathode assembly for a long throw length X-ray tube
Cathode assembly for a long throw length x-ray tube. In one example embodiment, a cathode assembly for an x-ray tube includes an electron emitter, an acceleration region, and a drift region. The electron emitter includes a curved emitting surface configured to emit an electron beam having a y-dimension that is greater than an x-dimension at the electron emitter. The acceleration region is defined adjacent to the electron emitter. The acceleration region is configured such that when the electron beam propagates within the acceleration region, the electron beam accelerates in a z-direction substantially normal to a midpoint of the curved emitting surface. The drift region is defined between the acceleration region and an anode. The drift region is configured such that the combined lengths of the drift region and the acceleration region are sufficient for the y-dimension to be less than the x-dimension at the anode.
US09048062B1 Method for improving performance of an energy filter
This invention provides a method for improving performance of a reflective type energy filter for a charged particle beam, which employs a beam-adjusting lens on an entrance side of a potential barrier of the energy filter to make the charged particle beam become a substantially parallel beam to be incident onto the potential barrier. The method makes the energy filter have both a fine energy-discrimination power over a large emission angle spread and a high uniformity of energy-discrimination powers over a large FOV. A LVSEM using this method in the energy filter can obviously improve image contrast. The invention also provides multiple energy-discrimination detection devices formed by using the advantages of the method.
US09048059B2 Stacked x-ray tube apparatus using spacer
The present disclosure relates to a stacked x-ray tube apparatus using a spacer, and more particularly, to a stacked x-ray tube apparatus using a spacer that makes it possible to reduce the size of an x-ray tube by forming a stacked structure, with electric insulation and predetermined gaps maintained for each electrode, by forming a stacked x-ray tube by inserting insulating spacers (for example, ceramic) between a exhausting port, a cathode, a gate, a focusing electrode, and an anode and bonding them with an adhesive substance, and then inserting a spacer between a field emitter on a cathode substrate and a gate hole connected with a gate electrode.
US09048058B2 Radiation generating tube and radiation generating apparatus using the same
A radiation generating tube, which includes: a cathode connected to an electron gun structure; an anode including a target and configured to generate radiation; and a tubular side wall disposed between the cathode and the anode to surround the electron gun structure; and an electrical potential defining member disposed at an intermediate portion of the tubular side wall between the anode and the cathode. The electrical potential defining member is electrically connected to an electrical potential defining unit via an electrical resistance member or an inductor, and a potential of the electrical potential defining member is defined to be a higher potential than a potential of the cathode and to be a lower potential than a potential of the anode.
US09048050B2 Electric power supply control apparatus for vehicle
In an electric power supply control apparatus for a motor in a hybrid vehicle or an electric vehicle, when a main relay is switched over from an on-state to an off-state, only one of its positive-side switch and negative-side switch is turned off to provide a one-side off-state. Thus the numbers of operations of its switches are reduced in comparison to a system, in which both switches are turned off. When a charging relay is switched over from an on-state to an off-state, only one of a positive-side switch and a negative-side switch is turned off to provide a one-side off-state. Thus the numbers of operations of its switches are also reduced.
US09048048B2 Thermal protector
A thermal protector for opening and closing an electric circuit, includes: a movable plate having a movable contact point mounted on a one end portion thereof and having a terminal mounted on an opposite end portion thereof; a bypass member joined to the movable plate at the end portions of the movable plate on which the movable contact point and the terminal are mounted; and a thermal responsive element for moving the movable contact point of the movable plate by a snap action thereof to open and close the electric circuit, wherein the bypass member is formed of a first metal material having a higher conductivity than a second metal material of which the movable plate is formed, and the movable plate and the bypass member are joined together and are subjected to heat treatment so that the first metal material of the bypass member is softened while the second metal material of the movable plate is precipitation-hardened.
US09048034B2 Extended contact strip
The extended contact strip has a first elongate strip having first and second longitudinal edges, an upper and a lower surface, a first electrically conductive strip located on the upper surface of the first elongate strip, a second elongate strip having first and second longitudinal edges, and a flexible resilient portion extending between the first and second edges, the flexible resilient portion having an upper and a lower surface, a second electrically conductive strip located on the lower surface of the second strip, the first and second strips being connectable at their respective first and second edges, and the first and second strips forming an isolating gap such that the first and second electrical conductors lie opposite and spaced apart from each other when the second strip remains un-deformed, such that the first and second electrical conductors can make contact with each other upon deformation of the second strip.
US09048017B2 Circuits for and methods of implementing a gain stage in an integrated circuit
A circuit for implementing a gain stage in an integrated circuit is described. The circuit comprises a first inductor formed in a first plurality of metal layers; a second inductor formed in a second plurality of metal layers, the second inductor coupled to a center tap of the first inductor; and wherein the second inductor has a diameter that is less than a diameter of the first inductor. A method of implementing a gain stage in an integrated circuit is also described.
US09048010B2 Method for preparing an electrically conducting article
A method for manufacturing an electrically conducting article is disclosed. According to some aspects, the method includes dry mixing a powder comprising at least one thermosetting resin, a hardener compound powder for the resin and an electrically conducting filler powder, the thermosetting resin including at least two epoxide groups. The method further includes thermocompressing the mixture of powders in a mold with a shape adapted to the article and at an effective temperature for obtaining cross-linking of the resin.
US09048004B2 Half-heusler alloys with enhanced figure of merit and methods of making
Thermoelectric materials and methods of making thermoelectric materials having a nanometer mean grain size less than 1 micron. The method includes combining and arc melting constituent elements of the thermoelectric material to form a liquid alloy of the thermoelectric material and casting the liquid alloy of the thermoelectric material to form a solid casting of the thermoelectric material. The method also includes ball milling the solid casting of the thermoelectric material into nanometer mean size particles and sintering the nanometer size particles to form the thermoelectric material having nanometer scale mean grain size.
US09047999B2 Three-dimensional focused anti-scatter grid and method for manufacturing thereof
A device for, and method of manufacture of, a focused anti-scatter grid for improving the image contrast of x-ray images produced in medical, veterinary or industrial applications. The grid comprising a series of modular units so juxtaposed with each other as to form a series of focused channels for the passage of the focused imaging x-rays. The modules comprise a series of focusing ribbons of a heavy metal or a series of mating solid arcuate forms, formed of a polymer and having on at least one side surface a layer of heavy metal.
US09047998B2 Method of producing radionuclides
The invention relates to a method of producing radionuclides. According to the method, a target medium comprising at least a target nuclide material is irradiated in an irradiation zone with neutron irradiation. Radionuclides form in the target nuclide material as a result of the irradiation, and at least some of the formed radionuclides are ejected from the target nuclide material. The ejected radionuclides are then captured and collected in a carbon-based recoil capture material which does not have an empty cage structure at crystallographic level.
US09047988B2 Flash interface error injector
A flash interface error injector for end-of-life testing of a flash-based array includes a plurality of error injection logic blocks that are implemented by one or more processors. Each of the plurality of error injection logic blocks corresponds with a respective flash channel. The flash injector also includes a bit flip probability logic that identifies one or more bits to be flipped.
US09047985B2 Apparatus, storage device, switch and methods, which include microstructures extending from a support
An apparatus has a support and a plurality of bendable and conductive microstructures extending from the support. Two adjacent microstructures of the plurality of microstructures define a detectable first state if they are not bent such that end portions thereof, which are distal with respect to the support, do not touch each other, and the two adjacent microstructures of the plurality of microstructures define a detectable second state if they are bent such that the end portions thereof, which are distal with respect to the support, touch each other and are fixed to each other.
US09047983B2 Temperature compensation of conductive bridge memory arrays
Methods for operating a semiconductor memory array including dynamically adjusting control line voltages (e.g., unselected word line or unselected bit line voltages) based on one or more array conditions associated with the semiconductor memory array are described. The one or more array conditions may include a temperature associated with the semiconductor memory array or a particular number of write cycles associated with the semiconductor memory array. In some embodiments, an intermediate voltage is generated based on the one or more array conditions and applied to the unselected word lines and the unselected bit lines of the semiconductor memory array. The one or more intermediate voltages may be generated such that a first voltage difference across unselected memory cells sharing a selected word line is different from a second voltage difference across other unselected memory cells sharing a selected bit line based on the one or more array conditions.
US09047975B2 Coding techniques for reducing write cycles for memory
Structures and methods for encoding data to reduce write cycles in a semiconductor memory device are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method of writing data to a semiconductor memory device can include: (i) determining a number of significant bits for data to be written in the semiconductor memory device; (ii) determining a tag associated with the data to be written in the semiconductor memory device, where the tag is determined based on the determined number of significant bits; (iii) encoding the data when the tag has a first state, where the tag is configured to indicate data encoding that comprises using N bits of the encoded data to store M bits of the data, where M and N are both positive integers and N is greater than M; and (iv) writing the encoded data and the tag in the semiconductor memory device.
US09047974B2 Erased state reading
A method of determining whether a page of NAND flash memory cells is in an erased condition includes applying a first set of read conditions to identify a first number of cells having threshold voltages above a discrimination voltage under the first set of read conditions, if the first number of cells is less than a first predetermined number, applying a second set of read conditions that is different from the first set of read conditions to identify a second number of cells having threshold voltages above the discrimination voltage under the second set of read conditions, and if the second number of cells exceeds a second predetermined number, marking the page of flash memory cells as partially programmed.
US09047965B2 Circuit and method for spin-torque MRAM bit line and source line voltage regulation
Circuitry and a method for regulating voltages applied to source and bit lines of a spin-torque magnetoresistive random access memory (ST-MRAM) reduces time-dependent dielectric breakdown stress of the word line transistors. During a read or write operation, only the selected bit lines and source lines are pulled down to a low voltage and/or pulled up to a high voltage depending on the operation (write 0, write 1, and read) being performed. The unselected bit lines and source lines are held at the voltage while separately timed signals pull up or pull down the selected bit lines and source lines during read and write operations.
US09047958B2 Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device
A non-volatile semiconductor memory device according to one embodiment includes: a cell array; and a data writing unit that repeatedly executes a write loop including a programming operation of applying a program voltage to a selected word line and a passage voltage to non-selected word lines during writing of data, in which, when a difference between the passage voltage used in an n-th write loop and the passage voltage used in an n+1-th write loop is expressed as ΔVn and when a condition of L
US09047949B2 Non-volatile storage system using opposite polarity programming signals for MIM memory cell
A reversible resistance-switching metal-insulator-metal (MIM) stack is provided which can be set to a low resistance state with a first polarity signal and reset to a higher resistance state with a second polarity signal. The first polarity signal is opposite in polarity than the second polarity signal. In one approach, the MIM stack includes a carbon-based reversible resistivity switching material such as a carbon nanotube material. The MIM stack can further include one or more additional reversible resistivity switching materials such as metal oxide above and/or below the carbon-based reversible resistivity switching material. In another approach, a metal oxide layer is between separate layers of carbon-based reversible resistivity switching material.
US09047946B2 Read circuit and non-volatile memory using the read circuit
A read circuit includes a current load circuit configured to supply a load current from a power source to a first input and a second input; a first discharge circuit configured to discharge potential of the first and second inputs to a ground level; an equalization circuit configured to equalize the potential of the first and second inputs; a differential circuit configured to receive the first and second inputs as differential inputs, and to output a first output and a second read output as differential outputs; and a second discharge circuit configured to discharge potential of the first and second read outputs to the ground level.
US09047940B2 Resistive random access memory cells having variable switching characteristics
Provided are resistive random access memory (ReRAM) cells forming arrays and methods of operating such cells and arrays. The ReRAM cells of the same array may have the same structure, such as have the same bottom electrodes, top electrodes, and resistive switching layers. Yet, these cells may be operated in a different manner. For example, some ReRAM cells may be restively switched using lower switching voltages than other cells. The cells may also have different data retention characteristics. These differences may be achieved by using different forming operations for different cells or, more specifically, flowing forming currents in different directions for different cells. The resulting conductive paths formed within the resistive switching layers are believed to switch at or near different electrode interfaces, i.e., within a so called switching zone. In some embodiments, a switching zone of a ReRAM cell may be changed even after the initial formation.
US09047936B2 Memory device having control circuitry for write tracking using feedback-based controller
A memory device includes a memory array comprising a plurality of memory cells, and control circuitry coupled to the memory array. The control circuitry comprises at least one dummy memory cell, a feedback-based controller having inputs coupled to respective internal nodes of the dummy memory cell, and write signal generation circuitry coupled to the feedback-based controller and configured to provide one or more write signals for controlling writing of data to portions of the memory array. The feedback-based controller generates a reset signal for application to a reset input of the write signal generation circuitry at least in part as a function of a logic level transition delay of a selected one of the first and second internal nodes of the dummy memory cell.
US09047933B2 High speed signaling techniques to improve performance of integrated circuits
Techniques are presented to improve the performance, accuracy and power consumption of on-chip voltage biasing and transmission for highly loaded RC networks (such as wordlines or bitlines in NAND or 3D memory arrays) that are otherwise limited by the physics of RC time constant. When transitioning the near-end voltage of the network, an under-drive or over-drive level is applied, combined with feedback control to estimate when the far-end voltage approaches the desired level.
US09047928B2 High voltage switching circuitry for a cross-point array
Circuitry for generating voltage levels operative to perform data operations on non-volatile re-writeable memory arrays are disclosed. In some embodiments an integrated circuit includes a substrate and a base layer formed on the substrate to include active devices configured to operate within a first voltage range. Further, the integrated circuit can include a cross-point memory array formed above the base layer and including re-writable two-terminal memory cells that are configured to operate, for example, within a second voltage range that is greater than the first voltage range. Conductive array lines in the cross-point memory array are electrically coupled with the active devices in the base layer. The integrated circuit also can include X-line decoders and Y-line decoders that include devices that operate in the first voltage range. The active devices can include other active circuitry such as sense amps for reading data from the memory cells, for example.
US09047911B2 Disk drive unit having seal part forming gas-liquid interface of lubricant
A disk drive unit includes a stationary body; a rotating body rotatably supported on the stationary body, a seal part configured to form a first gas-liquid interface of a lubricant existing in a gap between the stationary body and the rotating body, and a groove-shaped opening opposing the seal part and communicating to the gap via a communication hole. The seal part has a shape such that the gap gradually increases towards an aperture opposing the groove-shaped opening, and the groove-shaped opening has a shape such that the gap gradually increases towards an aperture opposing the seal part.
US09047908B2 Heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) head with diffusion barrier between waveguide core and write pole lip
A heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) head in which the core of the optical waveguide has an end face that abuts the NFT and the write pole lip has a diffusion barrier between the end face of the waveguide core and the write pole lip. The diffusion barrier layer may also be located between the waveguide core end face and the NFT, in which case it is formed of an optically transparent material, like TaNx, TiNx, ZrNx, HfNx, NbNx, CrNx, VNx, TiC, TaC, WC, SiC or SiNx, or a layer of Au, Ru, Rh or Ir with a thickness less than 5 nm. In addition to being located between both the NFT and the write pole lip and the waveguide core end face, the diffusion barrier layer may also be located between the waveguide core and the lower waveguide cladding layer.
US09047903B2 Perpendicular magnetic recording medium and process for manufacture thereof
An object of the present invention is to provide a perpendicular magnetic recording medium in which each space between crystal grains of a first magnetic recording layer is so designed as to allow the layer to also have a function as a continuous layer, and a method of manufacturing a perpendicular magnetic recording medium. In a perpendicular magnetic recording medium 100 according to the present invention, a first magnetic recording layer 122a and a second magnetic recording layer 122b are ferromagnetic layers each having a granular structure in which a grain boundary part made of a non-magnetic substance is formed between crystal grains each grown in a column shape and, in the first magnetic recording layer 122a, an intergranular distance defined by an average of shortest distances between grain boundary parts each between a crystal grain and its adjacent crystal grain is equal to or shorter than 1 nm.
US09047899B1 Servo pattern of a tape storage medium
A tape storage medium comprises at least one servo band (SB) along a longitudinal extension (x) of the tape storage medium (TP) for supporting to determine positional information. The servo band (SB) comprises a set of servo tracks (STx) extending along the longitudinal extension (x) of the tape storage medium (TP) and arranged next to each other. Each servo track (STx) of the set contains a servo pattern with a pseudo noise sequence (PN_x) of symbols, wherein the pseudo noise sequences (PN_x) of servo patterns of adjacent servo tracks (STx) are different from each other. The set of servo tracks (STx) contains at least three servo tracks (STx) with different pseudo noise sequences (PN_x).
US09047897B1 Lateral tape motion signal conditioning
Various embodiments described herein include processing of a lateral tape motion signal, caused primarily by a tape supply reel (e.g., depending on direction of tape movement). The resulting data may be used, at least in part, to determine placement of a coarse actuator. In one general embodiment, a method includes receiving a signal representative of a lateral position of a magnetic head, and integrating portions of the signal representative of a lateral position of a magnetic head, the portions corresponding to fractions of one or more revolutions of a supply reel for generating first data. The first data is averaged over a value or values corresponding to one or more revolutions of the supply reel for generating second data.
US09047891B1 Current-perpendicular-to-the-plane giant magnetoresistance (CPP-GMR) sensor with indium-zinc-oxide (IZO) spacer layer
A current-perpendicular-to-the-plane giant magnetoresistance (CPP-GMR) sensor has a spacer layer that includes electrically conductive indium-zinc-oxide (IZO), i.e., In2O3 plus ZnO where the ZnO is present between 5-30 weight percent. The spacer layer may include a protective sublayer, like a layer of Ag, below the IZO layer to prevent oxidation of the reference layer from the oxygen in the IZO layer. The spacer layer includes a top layer consisting essentially of Zn located above the IZO layer below the free layer. Measurements from a large number of CPP-GMR sensors with spacer layers of Ag(9 Å)/IZO(20 Å)/Zn(8 Å) show ΔR/R values of about 15-17% and acceptable RA values of around 100 mΩ·μm2.
US09047888B2 MAMR head adapted for high speed switching
A microwave-assisted magnetic recording (MAMR) head according to one embodiment includes a main magnetic pole adapted to generate a writing magnetic field when current is applied to a write coil; a trailing shield positioned, at an air bearing surface (ABS), in a trailing direction from the main magnetic pole; and a field generation layer (FGL) positioned, at the ABS, between the main magnetic pole and the trailing shield, wherein either a portion of the main magnetic pole closer to the FGL or a portion of the trailing shield closer to the FGL is adapted to act as a spin polarization layer.
US09047884B2 Data reader with horizontal lamination shield
A data storage device may be constructed to sense data bits with at least a magnetic stack contacting a shield that has a horizontal lamination of magnetic and non-magnetic layers. The magnetic layer may be configured with a first width at an air bearing surface (ABS) that defines a first aspect ratio and a different second width that defines a different second aspect ratio distal the ABS.
US09047861B2 Electronic device for converting audio file format
An electronic device for converting a multi-channel audio file to a dual channel audio file and vice versa. The multichannel audio file includes a right channel group and a left channel group of channel signals. The electronic device respectively mixes the channel signals of the right channel group and the left channel group according to a mixed matrix to form N mixed signals, and cross embeds the N mixed signals to from a left channel audio signal and a right channel audio signal to compose the dual channel audio file. The electronic device samples, recombines and decodes the left channel audio signal and the right channel audio signal according to a decoding matrix, which is the inverse of the mixed matrix, to revert to the original multi-channel audio file.
US09047857B1 Voice commands for transitioning between device states
Techniques for transitioning an electronic device between device states. In one example, a voice-controlled device is configured to transition from a sleep state to an awake state in response to identifying a user speaking a predefined utterance. The techniques may determine whether the user has spoken the predefined utterance with reference to traditional speech-recognition techniques, as well as with reference to changes in the volume of a user's voice.
US09047851B2 Optoelectronic pickup for musical instruments
An optoelectronic pickup for a musical instrument includes at least one light source which directs light to impinge a sound generating element of the musical instrument in at least one photoreceiver located to detect the reflected light, so as to generate an electrical signal that is responsive to sound generating element movement.
US09047845B2 Drive circuit and liquid crystal display device
Provided is a drive circuit including: an image supply section for supplying an image to be displayed on a liquid crystal panel (2); a command issuing section for issuing a command that instructs an image displayed on the liquid crystal panel (2) to be updated; a low-speed oscillation circuit (13) for supplying a low-speed clock signal (L-CLK); a high-speed oscillation circuit (8) for supplying a high-speed clock signal (H-CLK) higher in frequency than the low-speed clock signal (L-CLK); image outputting means for supplying, to the liquid crystal panel (2), the image from the image supplying means, the image outputting means being driven by the high-speed clock signal (H-CLK); and a logic section (10) for controlling, in accordance with the command issued by the command issuing section, whether or not to cause the high-speed oscillation circuit (8) to operate, the logic section (10) being driven by the low-speed clock signal (L-CLK).
US09047844B2 Apparatus and method for driving an electro-optical device and an electronic apparatus using a data line driving circuit for supplying a corrected voltage
An apparatus for driving an electro-optical device is disclosed. The apparatus includes a plurality of scanning lines, a plurality of data lines that intersect the plurality of scanning lines, and are divided so that the neighboring data lines form another group of data lines, a plurality of pixels provided to correspond to the intersection of the plurality of scanning lines and the plurality of data lines, a data line driving circuit that supplies a correction voltage being simultaneously supplied to the group of data lines and having a fixed polarity with respect to a predetermined potential, and a driving voltage being time-serially supplied to the group of data lines in response to an image signal and having a polarity that is inverted for each frame with respect to the predetermined potential, and a scanning line driving circuit that supplies a scanning signal through the plurality of scanning lines.
US09047841B2 Display apparatus and method of driving the same
A display apparatus includes: a display panel which displays an image based on a display mode; a data driver which provides data signals to the display panel; a gate driver which starts an operation thereof in response to a start signal, and comprises stages and at least two dummy stages, where the stages sequentially provides gate signals to the display panel; and a timing controller which selects a signal from the start signal and a reset signal based on the display mode and outputs the selected signal selected to the at least two dummy stages, where each stage receives a clock signal, a previous carry signal from a previous stage, a first subsequent carry signal from a first subsequent stage and a second subsequent carry signal from a second subsequent stage, and outputs a corresponding gate signal of the gate signals and a carry signal.
US09047835B2 Thermal and power aware graphics processing
Embodiments for thermal and/or power aware graphics processing are provided. In an embodiment, a thermally and/or power adaptive graphics processing environment is presented. The graphics processing environment includes various thermally and/or power adaptive elements, each of which may be thermally and/or power aware (adaptive) in the sense that it may adapt at least one aspect of its operation and/or outputs based on thermal and/or power information to effectuate a change in graphics processing in any element (including itself) of the environment. This may include changing or causing a change in at least one of a graphics element, feature, setting, or characteristic based on thermal and/or power information. In an embodiment, thermal and/or power based adaptation may include software and/or hardware adaptation of graphics processing to affect thermal and/or power performance.
US09047817B2 Organic light emitting display device
An organic light emitting display device that can display an image with desired luminance is disclosed. The organic light emitting display device includes: pixels at crossing regions of scan lines and data lines; first control transistors between a first power supply (for supplying current to the pixels) and the pixels in the odd-numbered rows (or, in a second embodiment, the even-numbered rows); and second control transistors between the first power supply and the pixels in the even-numbered rows (or, in the second embodiment, the odd-numbered rows). The first control transistors are configured to turn on and off in alternation with the second control transistors during a scan period of one frame period.
US09047805B2 Driving method of pixels of display panel
A driving method of pixels of a display panel is provided, which is adapted to drive a pixel of the display panel corresponding to a target grey-level of a display frame. In this method, a first pixel voltage is applied to the pixel during a first display period. At least one second pixel voltage is applied to the pixel during a second display period. The first and second display periods correspond to the display frame, and an enabling duration of the second display period is longer than the enabling duration of the first display period. When the target grey-level is not equal to a limit grey-level, the grey-level corresponding to the pixel voltage is different from the grey-level corresponding to the second pixel voltages. A sum of optical effects of the pixel during the first and second display periods is equal to the optical effect of the target grey-level.
US09047801B2 Method of remotely adjusting display device and display device
A method of remotely adjusting a display device is provided which introduces the concept of Pages as a superordinate concept of VCPs known as control or adjustment item codes under current standards, defines the maximum value of the VCP Pages, and controls the VCP Pages from a personal computer, thereby to define and control more VCPs.
US09047800B2 Methods for external display resolution selection
A user may couple an external display to an electronic device using a communications path. Extended display identification data or other information on the capabilities of the external display may be provided to the electronic device over the communications path. The extended display identification data may include a list of timing elements including display parameters such as a horizontal active pixel count, a vertical active pixel count, and a pixel clock. The electronic device may tag the timing elements with their type and may flag certain timing elements as being native to the display. A scoring function may then be used to rate each timing element. A scored list of timing elements may be sorted by score. The sorted scored list may be filtered to remove inappropriate timing elements. The electronic device may automatically use a selected one of the filtered timing elements in displaying information on the external display.
US09047798B2 Display apparatus and method of displaying three dimensional images using plural barrier states
A display apparatus includes a display panel, a display panel driver, a light source part, a light directing element and a barrier driver. The display panel displays a 3D image by dividing a single 3D image frame into plural sub frames including one corresponding to a first stereoscopic view for display during a first sub frame and a second corresponding to a second stereoscopic view for display during a second sub frame. The light source part provides selectively blockable backlighting. The light directing element is disposed between the display panel and the light source part so as to implement selective blocking. The light directing element includes a barrier part and a lens part disposed on the barrier part. The barrier part has a plurality of first electrodes and a plurality of second electrodes crossing the first electrodes.
US09047794B2 Wingtip fin of an aircraft
A wingtip fin of an aircraft comprising an upstanding fin body, the fin body having an inboard face and an outboard face, a sign assembly in the fin body, the assembly comprising a translucent, graphic bearing face, substantially flush with and forming at least part of the inboard face or the outboard face of the fin body, a recess in the fin body behind the graphic-bearing face, and a light source arranged in the recess to illuminate the graphic-bearing face from inside the fin body.
US09047780B2 Collision mitigation systems and methods using driver attentiveness
Methods and systems for mitigating vehicle collisions. One system includes a processor configured to set a driver attention level to at least one of an attentive level and an inattentive level based on a driver's interaction with at least one device located within a vehicle. The processor is also configured to automatically pre-fill at least one brake line of the vehicle when the driver attention level is set to the inattentive level, automatically perform a brake jerk when the driver attention level is set to the inattentive level and a distance between the vehicle and a closest object detected around the vehicle is less than a first predetermined distance, and automatically slow the vehicle when the driver attention level is set to the inattentive level and a distance between the vehicle and a closest object detected around the vehicle is less than a second predetermined distance.
US09047779B2 Vehicle rear view monitoring device
Because a vehicle rear view monitoring device changes the detection threshold level of each of distance sensors 4-1 to 4-4 to change horizontal and vertical detection areas and a bearing resolution, determines the display position of an obstacle mark 16 from the distances to an obstacle 15 detected by the plurality of distance sensors 4-1 to 4-4, and amplitude information about the amplitude of a reflected wave from the obstacle, and overlays the obstacle mark 16 on the obstacle 15 by using an overlay unit 17, the vehicle rear view monitoring device improves the degree of positional precision of the overlay of the obstacle mark on the obstacle displayed on a captured image.
US09047774B2 Method and apparatus for crowd-sourced traffic reporting
A system includes a processor configured to project monitoring needs for a road segment. The processor is further configured to contact one or more vehicles traveling on the road segment during a time of monitoring need. The processor is additionally configured to instruct a first number, determined based on a projected monitoring need, of contacted vehicles to being monitoring and reporting traffic data for the road segment.
US09047773B2 Exceptional road-condition warning device, system and method for a vehicle
An exceptional road-condition warning device, system and method for a vehicle are provided. The system includes an information processing device and a display device. The display device provides real-time and advance warning information to a driver of the vehicle. The system may notice the driver and passenger in advance to respond to an exceptional road condition before the vehicle approaches the occurring place of the road condition through a back-end cooperative self-learning mechanism. The back-end cooperative self-learning mechanism may collect the exceptional road conditions from different vehicles and update the database automatically to maintain the accuracy. The back-end cooperative self-learning mechanism further shares the information stored in the database with the databases installed in the vehicles by a bidirectional communication manner to update the information inside the database of the vehicles for the information processing device.
US09047769B2 System for aiding the guidance of an aircraft travelling around an airport zone
The general field of the invention is that of systems for aiding the guidance of a first aircraft travelling around an airport zone. The system according to the invention comprises: a set of databases comprising bulkiness and performance characteristics of the said first aircraft, geometric and technical characteristics of the airport zone and information about the air traffic in the immediate environment of the said first aircraft; calculation means making it possible to firstly determine a safety zone around the said first aircraft taking into account at least the position of the said aircraft, its size and the uncertainty in the measurement of its position; and then a taxiing indication on the basis of the information arising from the databases and the characteristics of the safety zone; viewing means displaying at least one view of the airport one in which the first aircraft is situated and a representation of the said taxiing indication.
US09047764B2 Method of alert calculation for an aircraft ground proximity warning system
The invention relates to a method of alert calculation for an aircraft obstruction proximity warning system including a step for detecting a hazardous flight situation capable of triggering an alert as a function of a data signal representing the change in height below the aircraft, including, prior to the step of detection, a step for converting the data signal representing the change in height as a function of information representative of the vertical profile of the obstructions below the aircraft.
US09047757B2 Systems and methods for remotely controlling an advanced metering infrastructure
A computer-implemented method for remotely controlling an AMI is disclosed. The method includes receiving at an AMI controller module, meter event data from a remote command and control module; generating, at a third module, rules for the management, implementation and compliance documentation of connect/disconnect orders; processing, at the third module, the meter event data based on those rules to aggregate, batch, filter, or prioritize execution of individual connect/disconnect orders; communicating the connect/disconnect execution orders and policy compliance verification information to the AMI controller module; and, at the AMI controller module, executing connect/disconnect operations via the command and control module.
US09047750B2 Movement monitoring
A monitoring device includes a memory with a management application installed thereon. The application is configured to process a sensor signal generated by a sensor system configured between a patient and a corresponding surface, the sensor signal being configured based on a physiological movement detected by the sensor system, analyze the sensor signal utilizing a monitoring heuristic associated with a patient profile. The monitoring heuristic is configured to identify physiological movement patterns over time within the sensor signal and generate an output based on the physiological movement patterns.
US09047747B2 Dual serial bus interface
An interface protocol for patient monitoring systems includes a Dual Serial Bus (DSB) interface. The DSB interface includes a first serial protocol that is USB, Firewire, or Ethernet protocol and a second serial protocol that is a low power serial (LPS) protocol. DSB interfaces provide for communication between DSB Hosts and DSB Devices and allow for the transfer of operating and battery charging power from DSB Host to DSB Device. In addition, the DSB host contains a switched Auxiliary Voltage Supply (AVS) which can provide up to 15 W of power to DSB devices for battery charging or other high power needs. The DSB interface eliminates the need for multiple cables for different parameter sensing devices as there is only one type of connector and, accordingly, reduces the risk of damage caused by inadvertently plugging a parameter sensing device into the wrong receptacle.
US09047746B1 Electronic medication compliance monitoring system and associated methods
A system and method for monitoring a patient's compliance with a medication regimen includes an electronic tag integral with or attached to a medicine delivery device such as a capsule, the tag having an antenna and a receiver/transmitter, the system also including a reader positioned externally for detecting the presence and location of the delivery device in the patient.
US09047741B2 Gaming machine and methods of allowing a player to play a gaming machine having multiple games with the same reel
A gaming machine for providing multiple games to a player with the same reel is described herein. The gaming machine displays a first game that includes a first portion of a reel in a first display area and concurrently displays a second game that includes a second portion of the reel being displayed in a second display area. The gaming machine randomly generates an outcome of the first game and spins and stops the at least one reel to display the first game outcome in the first display area and awards the player an award as a function of the first game outcome.
US09047739B2 Apparatus and methods for playing electronic table card games
Electronic card game devices and methods incorporate progressive jackpot operations controlled by a central server computer. If a system game device is selected by the central server computer to win a progressive jackpot award, the system game device is programmed to display secondary game outcome symbols on playing cards being displayed during game play to indicate winning of the award.
US09047735B2 Head to head gambling hybrid games
Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention include: at least one gambling game with a real world engine; a multiplayer entertainment game with a head to head gambling controller constructed to: instruct the real world engine to conduct a head to head gambling session in which at least two players of the multiplayer entertainment game conduct at least one wager in at least one gambling game where real world credit payout as a result of the at least one wager in the at least one gambling game of the head to head gambling session is distributed between the at least two players of the multiplayer entertainment game within the head to head gambling session; and parameterize wager terms of each wager made in each gambling game of the head to head gambling session using information related to gameplay within the multiplayer entertainment game.
US09047705B1 Methods and systems for electronically displaying financial data
Methods and systems for electronically displaying financial data involve, for example, providing access to an authorized user via a client computing device to financial data on a back-end server using a processor coupled to memory; likewise using the processor, sending the financial data to the client computing device from the back-end server; and also using the processor, rendering a three-dimensional graphic display showing a plurality of geographic locations associated with the financial data on the client computing device.
US09047704B2 Method for filleting 3D mesh edges by subivision
Methods of producing an electronic geometric model, and systems which perform the methods are disclosed. In some embodiments, the method includes accessing electronic data, the data including polygonal data defining a reference object and a mesh of polygonal data points, the mesh including a plurality of edges. Such methods also include selecting an edge of the mesh, and in response to an indication from a user determining locations for additional data points, where the locations are adjacent to the selected edge and contact portions of the reference object. Such methods also include inserting the additional data points into the accessed data at the determined locations, and subdividing the accessed data having the additional data points with a subdivision algorithm, whereby subdivided data is generated. Such methods also include generating the geometric model based on the subdivided data, and storing the geometric model in a computer readable data storage.
US09047701B2 4D cone beam CT using deformable registration
A method of obtaining a volumetric image includes obtaining a plurality of volumetric images, the volumetric images generated using respective sets of projection images, wherein the volumetric images and the respective sets of projection images correspond with different respective bins for a physiological cycle, and determining an additional volumetric image using one or more of the projection images from each of the sets that correspond with the different respective bins for the physiological cycle, wherein the act of determining the additional volumetric image is performed using a processor.
US09047700B2 Virtual and augmented reality
Technologies are generally described for systems and methods effective to implement virtual and augmented reality. In an example, a first device may send data to a second device. The first device may include a processor and a memory. The processor may receive first image data based on a first real image from a third device. The first real image may include a fourth device image that relates to a fourth device. The processor may receive second image data based on a second real image from the fourth device. The processor may send the first image data to the second device. The processor may receive a first request from the second device to receive the second image data. The processor may send a second request to the fourth device for the second image data, receive the second image data, and send the second image data to the second device.
US09047699B2 System and method for creating and displaying map projections related to real-time images
There is provided a method and system for creating and displaying a map projection of a device's real-time viewing area to depict virtual objects, the virtual objects providing a reflected view of real-time objects displayed within the device's viewing area, the method comprising: displaying a real-time image of the device's viewing area taken from a geographical location on a display; retrieving the map projection for revealing the reflected view as an elevated view of a ground surface about the device's current geographical location and in accordance with the device's viewing area; superimposing the map projection on the display and overlaid in an upper portion of the real-time image; and defining one or more markers configured to show a relationship between the map projection and the real-time image, each marker overlaid on the display and configured to connect between the virtual object in the map projection and the corresponding real-time object on the real-time image.
US09047693B2 Color distribution design assistance system
Provided is a system to assist in designing of color distribution on an object surface while considering the relationship between characteristics of a particle group contained in the paint and the design effect or texture at the object surface achieved by the particle group. The system is configured to calculate and display color distribution in accordance with variation angle at the object surface so as to reflect the texture or design effect at the object surface achieved by the particle group based on the designated distribution mode of the particle group included in the coating layer at the object surface as well as designated shape characteristics and optical characteristics of the particles making up the particle group and based on color distribution in accordance with variation angle at the object surface stored.
US09047690B2 System and method for facilitating creation of a rich virtual environment
A virtual venue application for displaying information is provided, where the virtual venue application is implemented as part of an apparatus, or a system. The virtual venue application allows one or more users to store digital information, where the virtual venue application displays the stored digital information within a virtual environment, and where the virtual environment is presented by one or more two- or three-dimensional screens displayed within a user interface. The virtual venue application further enables interaction between users in a virtual environment.
US09047678B2 Change analyst
A method of determining change in a state of an object using images of the object, the method including providing a first image and a second image of the object, the first image and the second image being spaced apart in time, performing a plurality of pixel-based change detection algorithms to obtain a plurality of output difference products/images containing change information and pseudo change information, combining the plurality of output difference products to form a hybrid output difference product, and thresholding the output difference product to detect changes in the object.
US09047676B2 Data processing apparatus generating motion of 3D model and method
Provided is a data processing apparatus that may include a storage unit, a first calculator, and a second calculator. The storage unit may store a plurality of training data obtained by motion sensing. The first calculator may calculate a first transformation matrix by performing a regression analysis for the plurality of training data. The second calculator may calculate first output data by applying the first transformation matrix to first input data.
US09047675B2 Strike detection using video images
A method and apparatus for strike detection. Images of an object are identified in video images from a video camera on a vehicle. A movement of the object with respect to the vehicle is identified from the images of the object in the video images. It is determine whether the movement of the object with respect to the vehicle indicates that the object will strike the vehicle. A strike report comprising information indicating that the object will strike the vehicle is generated in response to a determination that the object will strike the vehicle.
US09047673B2 Apparatus and method for extracting target, and recording medium storing program for performing the method
A target extracting apparatus and method for extracting a target through probability modeling of pixel brightness values in an image, and a recording medium storing a program for performing the method, are disclosed. The method includes extracting a background image from an input image, modeling brightness values of the input image and the background image based on a Gaussian distribution to generate an input image modeling result and a background image modeling result, calculating likelihood ratios for determining whether a pixel in the input image corresponds to a target based on a correlation between the input image modeling result and the background image modeling result and target templates having different sizes; determining a location of the target based on the calculated likelihood ratios; and outputting the determined location of the target.
US09047671B2 Platelike workpiece with alignment mark
A platelike workpiece having an alignment mark formed on the front side thereof and adapted to be recognized by an imaging unit included in an alignment apparatus for performing alignment. The platelike workpiece includes a plurality of direction indicating marks formed at given intervals so as to surround the alignment mark. Each of the direction indicating marks is pointed toward the alignment mark. The space of the direction indicating marks is set so that at least two of the plural direction indicating marks fall in the visual field of the imaging unit in viewing the platelike workpiece from the imaging unit.
US09047664B2 Apparatus and method for utilizing mammogram images for verification
A method and apparatus for utilizing mammogram images for verification, including obtaining one or more mammogram image of a patient; determining a first set of breast characteristics from the one or more mammogram image, wherein the first set of breast characteristics include breast landmark, breast tissue density, tissue pattern and breast finding; comparing the first set of breast characteristics with a second set of breast characteristics to yield a comparison, wherein the second set of breast characteristics is from one or more previous mammogram image identified as potentially belonging to the patient using an identification not related to content of a mammogram image; and determining based on the comparison whether the one or more previous mammogram image belongs to the patient.
US09047663B2 Method for triggering blood salvage
One variation of a method for triggering blood cell salvage for a patient includes: processing a first photographic image of a canister to estimate a content of a blood component within the canister; processing a second photographic image of a gauze sponge to estimate a content of the blood component in the gauze sponge; estimating an aggregate salvageable blood component content for the patient based on the estimated content of the blood component within the canister and the estimated content of the blood component in the gauze sponge; and in response to the estimated aggregate salvageable blood component content exceeding a threshold salvageable blood component content, generating a prompt to salvage the blood component from fluid within the canister and from the gauze sponge.
US09047661B2 System and method for radiographing information management for low-dose radiographing and recording medium storing program therefor
Useful material for making low-dose radiographing and an increase in the image quality compatible with each other is provided. An image analysis unit of a central server derives the granularity of a region of interest by analyzing an X-ray image transmitted from a client terminal. A storage processing unit stores the granularity, the X-ray image, and radiographing information in a storage device so as to be associated with each other. A search processing unit searches for the radiographing information, which is matched with search conditions designated from the client terminal, and granularity, which is associated with the radiographing information, from the storage device. A statistical data generation unit generates a scatter plot, which has granularity on the vertical axis and a radiation dose on the horizontal axis, as statistical data. The statistical data is transmitted to the client terminal and is displayed on a display of the client terminal.
US09047659B2 System, method and computer-accessible medium for performing attenuation-corrected multispectral luminescence tomography of cerenkov and bioluminescent light sources
The present disclosure can provide apparatus, system, methods, and computer-accessible medium for generating particular information which is at least one of three-dimensional information or intensity information of a tissue portion which can include at least one of a tissue surface or a tissue volume. For example, the exemplary method can include determining a light intensity distribution of light provided on the tissue portion, using the light intensity distribution, determining one or more attenuation maps of the tissue portion, obtaining one or more multispectral measurements of the light intensity distribution on the tissue portion taken from one or more views, and generating the particular information using an image reconstruction procedure in conjunction with data from the one or more tissue attenuation maps and the multispectral measurements.
US09047653B2 Stitched digital images
Disclosed is a method of blending stitched document image portions. The method identifies background pixels and foreground pixels on each boundary of the image portions. Pixels of the image portions are then modified based on a pixel value difference between corresponding background pixels on the respective boundary of the first and second portions.
US09047651B2 Contact management system
A family-plan management system integrating family plan widgets on mobile devices that interact with an API maintained and used by a central server is described. The family-plan management system enables high-visibility, low-effort communications between family-plan members as well as easy access to family-plan services offered by the central server. The API automatically identifies family plan members by accessing a database and then implements high-value web and mobile add-on services for the family plan members. The family-plan management system enables control and use of the family plan by the family plan member and enables the carrier to upgrade family plan services without direct action on the part of family plan members.
US09047647B2 Method, medium, and system for an online textbook exchange
An online textbook exchange apparatus an associated methodology for receiving seller course material information from a seller including a first set of parameters and a course material survey, and generating a probability score. The online textbook exchange apparatus generates a course material profile containing the first set of parameters and the probability score and stores the course material profile in a memory. Buyer course material information is them received from a prospective buyer where the buyer course material information includes a second set of parameters. The online textbook exchange apparatus compares the one or more of the course material profiles to the second set of parameters and generates a set of comparison results. The one or more course material profiles and the respective probability score are then output to the prospective buyer based on the set of comparison results.
US09047645B2 Group network connector
The present invention relates to a method and system for contacts management and an interface application for managing, searching and sharing electronic contact information of users of a group.
US09047641B2 Methods and systems for using metadata to represent social context information
A method includes establishing an interaction session between a plurality of devices associated with a plurality of users, respectively. Access to an asset by a first device in the interaction session is detected. Session metadata relating to the interaction session is associated with the asset. The asset may be an asset that was generated by another device during another interaction session or it may have been generated by the first device in the interaction session.
US09047639B1 Service participation acknowledgement system
In general terms, embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and apparatuses for providing a service participation acknowledgment mechanism at a transaction machine. For example, in some embodiments, a method is provided that includes: (a) receiving transaction information associated with a transaction, where the transaction involves a transaction machine and a user of the transaction machine, and where the transaction information identifies an account; (b) determining, based at least partially on the transaction information, that the account will meet a pre-defined condition as a result of the transaction; (c) presenting, via a user interface associated with the transaction machine, information associated with a service to address the condition; (d) prompting, via the user interface, the user to consent to the service; (e) receiving, via the user interface, the user's consent to the service; and (f) presenting, via the user interface, a confirmation message to the user, where the confirmation message includes information that confirms the user's consent to the service.
US09047634B2 Method and system for reserving future purchases of goods and services
A method and system for reserving future purchases of goods or services or events. Electronic options are provided for desired goods or services or events on communications network and a cloud communications network. One or more graphical buttons are used to display electronic option information. A display appearance of the one or more graphical buttons are dynamically changed based on actions completed on the electronic options. The electronic options and the one or more graphical buttons are displayed on one or more client network devices and/or one or more server network devices for one or more retail sites, a social networking sites, social couponing sites, social virtual reality sites, social virtual gaming sites, or social fantasy sports gaming sites.
US09047626B2 Content distribution system and method
Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture consistent with the present invention provide an electronic marketplace that matches units of content from secondary content providers with suitable vacancies from primary content providers. Vacancies may constitute, or be included in, any digital transmission containers, such as a television or radio programming, web pages, and the like. Specifically, the electronic marketplace automatically matches content offered by secondary content providers with vacancies offered by primary content providers thus filling the vacancies in these containers through a real-time content trading, placement, and distribution system. To do so, attributes associated with the vacancies and with units of secondary content are used to trade and match suitable vacancies with suitable content. This invention enables both secondary content owners and vacancy owners (primary content providers) to obtain the full commercial benefit of their secondary content and containers.
US09047624B1 Auditing of content related events
At times, it may be desirable to determine that a client system is, or to determine the number of client systems that are, presenting particular dynamic content when an auditable event occurs in the dynamic content. One manner of making the determination may include accessing presentation time information that indicates the time(s) at which one or more client systems present particular dynamic content and accessing event time information indicating the time(s) at which one or more auditable events occur in the dynamic particular content. Based on the presentation time information and the event time information, it may be possible to determine that a client system is, or to determine the number of client systems that are, presenting particular dynamic content when an auditable event occurs in the dynamic content.
US09047617B2 Systems and methods for facilitating the approval and use of a credit account via mobile commerce
A consumer can receive a new credit application at their mobile device. The consumer can complete and electronically transmit the credit application via a mobile application on their mobile device. A transaction processing system can receive the credit application and electronically pass it along to the financial institution issuing the credit for a determination on the credit application. An approval or denial can be electronically received by the transaction processing system from the financial institution. If approved, the transaction processing system can forward the approval along with the new credit account information and a code or other device to allow the consumer to immediately use the new credit account. The mobile device can receive the approval via the mobile application as well as any coupons associated with the new account and can provide the consumer with a mechanism to immediately purchase items with the newly approved credit account.
US09047616B2 Method of generating a prioritized listing of customers using a purchase behavior prediction score
There is provided a method of generating on a computer a prioritized listing of customers. The method includes establishing a data communications link to a database including financial payment information related to a financial transaction of an existing vehicle of each customer. The method includes retrieving an existing payment amount based upon the financial payment information. The method includes calculating a new payment amount. The method further includes deriving a payment difference score based upon a difference between the existing payment amount and the new payment amount. The method includes determining a behavior factor. The method includes deriving on a computer a behavior score based upon the behavior factor. The method includes determining a purchase behavior prediction score based upon the payment difference score and the behavior score. The method further includes ranking each customer based upon the determined purchase behavior prediction score. The method further includes generating a prioritized listing using the ranking of each customer.
US09047612B2 Systems and methods for managing content associated with multiple brand categories within a social media system
Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to aspects of an Internet-accessible brand management system (BMS) that allows marketers (e.g., corporations, organizations, etc.) to efficiently organize, create, maintain, and display content associated with many brand categories or brand items within a brand category on a single social media system (SMS) page/account, or alternatively, across many SMS pages or accounts with one or more common content themes. Administrators/developers of individual marketing pages or accounts (global and local) may update their pages through the BMS using standard configurable templates. The system may integrate content from one or more developers to create content for varying pages (for example, by incorporating some global content into local pages according to configurable rules, or vice versa). Subsequently, when a social media system user requests content associated with a particular brand category or brand item within that category on a social media system, the brand management system renders the updated, requested marketing page associated with that category, but within a global marketer page, or with common marketer content also provided.
US09047608B1 Method and system to improve risk assessments in fraud detection systems using machine identifiers
A computing system obtains data for a transaction pertaining to access to an application. The transaction data includes a machine identifier of a machine that is associated with the transaction. The computing system determines a percentile that is assigned to the machine identifier of the transaction based on cross-user transaction data for a plurality of transactions associated with a plurality of users. The percentile represents a number of machine identifiers from the cross-user transaction data that satisfy a count threshold that is associated with the machine identifier. The computing system modifies a user-level risk evaluation of the transaction based on the percentile assigned to the machine identifier and determines whether to intervene in the transaction based on the modified risk evaluation.
US09047603B2 Certification mobile terminal and electronic commerce system and method using the same
Disclosed are a certification mobile terminal, and an electronic transaction system and method using the same. A certificate is downloaded to a mobile terminal from a certification authority. In a wired electronic transaction, a user's transaction history is provided to the mobile terminal from a service providing server or a user's transaction terminal, and the mobile terminal digitally signs the transaction history by using a stored digital certificate and provides the digitally signed transaction history to the service providing server or the transaction terminal so that the service providing server may finally receive the digitally signed transaction history. The service providing server settles the transaction with the user according to the digitally signed transaction history, and provides a service to the user. Also, in the offline transaction, the certificate stored in the mobile terminal is provided to a system to thereby execute stable transactions based on the certificate.
US09047599B1 Method and apparatus for wirelessly processing a financial transaction using a wireless payment card reader
A wireless device including a reader to read information from a payment card and generate data. A verification module verifies whether the reader has correctly read the information. A security module securely connects the wireless device to a mobile device using a first or a second wireless communication protocol. A transmitter transmits the data and identifying information received from a user to the mobile device using the first or the second wireless communication protocol. The mobile device transmits the data and the identifying information to a payment system. A receiver at the wireless device receives from the mobile device an acknowledgement received by the mobile device from the payment system, indicating whether the payment system has approved the data and the identifying information. An indicator on the wireless device indicates whether the reader has correctly read the information and the payment system has approved the data and the identifying information.
US09047594B2 Smart phone system and method
A system and method for remediation, curing concerns, and transferring information associated with declined transactions is disclosed. The present disclosure generally relates to electronic commerce, and more particularly, to a system and method of validation and efficiency associated with electronic commerce.
US09047593B2 Non-destructive media presentation derivatives
The claimed subject matter relates to various architectures that can, inter alia, facilitate creation of a synch file as well as facilitate interpretation of the synch file. Both creation and interpretation can be accomplished in conjunction with an original media asset. The synch file can include transformation commands that can operate on a presentation of the asset rather than upon the asset itself. Accordingly, what is actually perceived by a content consumer during a presentation of the asset need not be exactly what the asset creator fixed in a tangible medium. Rather, the content consumer can observe a derivative media presentation based upon interpretation of the synch file.
US09047590B2 Single identifiable entry point for accessing contact information via a computer network
Embodiments of the invention provide for systems, devices, apparatus, methods, and computer program products for providing an activatable indicium configured as an entry point for accessing contact information on a user interface. The activatable indicium, which may be a company logo, company name or the like, is not initially readily identifiable as an entry point for accessing the contact information. However, over time and continual use, the user recognizes that the presentation of the indicium regardless of the platform provides for an entry point for accessing contact information.
US09047584B2 Web-based user interface tool for social network group collaboration
Members of a social networking system group are provided multiple interfaces to communicate within the group. A first communication interface allows a user to upload a first content item; in response to this, the first content item is transmitted via a first communication channel to online members of the group. A second communication interface allows a user to upload a second content item; in response to this, the second content item is transmitted via a second communication channel to online and offline members of the group. Transmission via a first communication channel may comprise sending an instant message containing the first content item. Transmission via a second communication channel may comprise displaying the second content item on a group message board. Both interfaces may be contained within the group's web page or may be contained within another web page within the social networking system or outside of it.
US09047572B2 Mode determination for multivariate time series data
Embodiments relate to mode determination for multivariate time series data. An aspect includes determining first within-mode and first cross-mode parameters for a first number of modes, each mode comprising one or more time periods in the multivariate time series. Another aspect includes determining a first likelihood of the at least one multivariate time series based on the first sets of within-mode parameters and first set of cross-mode parameters. Another aspect includes determining second within-mode and second cross-mode parameters for a second number of modes. Another aspect includes determining a second likelihood of the at least one multivariate time series based on the second sets of within-mode parameters and second set of cross-mode parameters. Another aspect includes based on the first likelihood being higher than the second likelihood, selecting the first number of modes to model the at least one multivariate time series.
US09047568B1 Apparatus and methods for encoding of sensory data using artificial spiking neurons
Sensory encoder may be implemented. Visual encoder apparatus may comprise spiking neuron network configured to receive photodetector input. Excitability of neurons may be adjusted and output spike may be generated based on the input. When neurons generate spiking response, spiking threshold may be dynamically adapted to produce desired output rate. The encoder may dynamically adapt its input range to match statistics of the input and to produce output spikes at an appropriate rate and/or latency. Adaptive input range adjustment and/or spiking threshold adjustment collaborate to enable recognition of features in sensory input of varying dynamic range.
US09047564B1 User interface for entering and viewing quantitatively weighted factors for decision choices
An interface facilitates user input of quantitatively weighted recommendations, including weighted factors in support of decision choices. A user input mechanism allows a user to specify a factor in support of a choice, and to specify values for quantitative parameters associated with the factor along two or more axes. An overall quantitative weight for the factor is generated based on the specified quantitative parameters. In one embodiment, a graphical user interface is presented, wherein the user specifies the values for the weighting parameters by dragging a movable indicator within an N-dimensional space. Each axis of the N-dimensional space corresponds to a weighting parameter. An overall quantitative weight for the factor is calculated, for example, as the product of the specified values along each of the axes. A visual indication of this calculation is presented, so as to provide an intuitive sense of the overall weight assigned to the factor.
US09047561B2 Contextual network access optimizer
A method and apparatus for optimizing access to a contextual network are described. The apparatus has a registration manager module, a configuration manager module, an access manager module, and an access optimizer module. The registration manager module registers business applications operating in the contextual network of a server with registration data having a set of parameters to define the business applications. The configuration manager module determines initial configuration settings for the business applications to identify parts of the contextual network relevant to the business applications. The access manager module provides the business applications with access to contextual network data based on distances between nodes in a contextual network graph of the contextual network data. The access optimizer module collects measurements of the access of the business applications to the contextual network data, and computes future optimal configuration settings for the business applications.
US09047554B2 Image processing apparatus and program
Where plural rectangle drawing objects are provided in an overlapping manner in plural layers each having a different density, an intermediate code producing unit produces plural divisional objects upon dividing a region into prescribed pixel region units at each layer. The divisional object of a lower layer is set as a lower divisional object whereas the divisional object of a layer upper than the lower divisional object is set as an upper divisional object. The invented apparatus omits production of the intermediate code of the lower divisional object completely hiding under the upper divisional object and performs production of the intermediate code of the lower divisional object having a region protruding from the upper divisional object, at each of the prescribed pixel regions from the bottommost layer to the topmost layer.
US09047547B2 Semiconductor memory card
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory card includes a first pin group which includes a plurality of pins arranged in a line at an end portion on a side of an inserting direction into a connector and part of which is used both in a first and second modes; and a second pin group which includes a plurality of pins including at least two pin pairs for differential signal, is arranged so that a ground is positioned on both sides of each of the pin pairs for differential signal, and is used only in the second mode. In the second mode, among the respective pins configuring the first pin group, any of adjacent two pins are changed to a pin pair for differential clock signal, and a function of remaining pins of the first pin group is stopped.
US09047542B2 System and method for adding data to a printed publication
Systems and methods for adding data to a printed publication are provided. One method includes receiving variable data and controlling an energy source to at least partially ablate the printed publication based on the variable data. The printed publication is printed on the substrate using the commercial printing press based on fixed data. Controlling the energy source to at least partially ablate the printed publication includes, after the printed publication has been printed on the substrate by the commercial printing press based on the fixed data, controlling the energy source to remove a portion of the printed publication based on the variable data.
US09047540B2 Trellis based word decoder with reverse pass
Systems, apparatuses, and methods to relate images of words to a list of words are provided. A trellis based word decoder analyses a set of OCR characters and probabilities using a forward pass across a forward trellis and a reverse pass across a reverse trellis. Multiple paths may result, however, the most likely path from the trellises has the highest probability with valid links. A valid link is determined from the trellis by some dictionary word traversing the link. The most likely path is compared with a list of words to find the word closest to the most.
US09047538B2 Facial image quality assessment
An example method includes capturing, by a camera of a mobile computing device, an image, determining whether the image includes a representation of at least a portion of a face, and, when the image includes the representation of at least the portion of the face, analyzing characteristics of the image. The characteristics include at least one of a tonal distribution of the image that is associated with a darkness-based mapping of a plurality of pixels of the image, and a plurality of spatial frequencies of the image that are associated with a visual transition between adjacent pixels of the image. The method further includes classifying, by the mobile computing device, a quality of the image based at least in part on the analyzed characteristics of the image.
US09047535B2 Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and computer readable medium
An image processing apparatus includes an image retrieving unit that retrieves an image including a symbol, a noise detecting unit that detects noise of the image, a comparative image retrieving unit that retrieves a comparative image that is to be compared with a detection region of the image detected as the noise by the noise detecting unit, and a removing unit that, in accordance with comparison results of the detection region with the comparative image, removes from the image one portion of the detection region excluding the other portion of the detection region where at least part of the symbol included in the image is detected as the noise.
US09047532B2 System, method and computer program product for evaluating an actual structural element of an electrical circuit
A method, a system and a computer program product for evaluating an actual structural element of an electrical circuit. The method includes: detecting an actual structural element contour by processing a scanning electron microscope image of the actual structural element; aligning the actual structural element contour with a simulated contour to provide an aligned actual structural element contour; wherein the simulated contour is obtained by simulating a lithographic process that is responsive to a design contour; and comparing between the aligned actual structural element contour and reference information.
US09047528B1 Identifying characters in grid-based text
A method for identifying characters in scanned images of objects includes identifying a first set of characters in a scanned image of an object based on connected component analysis, identifying a second set of characters for the object based on an optical character recognition (OCR) process on the image of the object, and combining the first set of characters with the second set of characters to create a third set of characters.
US09047527B2 Method for reading a barcode
Method for reading a barcode by means of an optical reader arranged to capture at a determined sampling frequency a series of partial images of the barcode by a sensor having at least one line of pixels. According to the invention it is provided to determine in each partial image a logical value as a function of the light intensity received by a central pixel of the line of pixels and a corresponding bar width when this bar is completely incorporated into the partial image in question. By only setting a maximum speed for the speed of movement of the barcode and dimensioning the line of pixels to ensure that each bar of this barcode is completely incorporated into a partial image at least once, the sequence of bits defined by the barcode is determined by means of an algorithm ignoring the duplications detected in consecutive partial images.
US09047515B2 Method and system for wildfire detection using a visible range camera
Wildfires are detected by controlling image scanning within the viewing range of a video camera to generate digital images that are analyzed to detect gray colored regions, and then to determine whether a detected gray colored region is smooth. Further analysis to determine movement in a gray colored smooth region uses a past image which is within a slow moving time range, as determined by a strategy for controlling the image scanning. Additional analysis connects a candidate region to a land portion of the image, and a support vector machine is applied to a covariance matrix of the candidate region to determine whether the region shows smoke from a wildfire.
US09047511B1 Describing inter-character spacing in a font file
A method of describing inter-character spacing in a font file. The method includes receiving a plurality of glyphs associated with textual content, and determining a corresponding advance value for each of the plurality of glyphs, the corresponding advance value being based on a distance between a respective glyph and a next glyph following the respective glyph. The method further includes storing the corresponding advance value for each of the plurality of glyphs in an advance table of the font file, and generating an electronic document for the textual content based on the plurality of glyphs and the font file.
US09047499B2 Anti-counterfeiting methods
The present invention relates to the field of product authentication and anti-counterfeiting techniques, and more specifically, to techniques employing RFID tags and encryption technologies. Embodiments of the present invention illustrate the use of RFID tags having encrypted information stored therein which upon decryption by a down-stream entity or an end user can help determine the authenticity of a product. Furthermore, the embodiments disclosed herein illustrate various examples supply chains and private key management.
US09047493B1 System and method for protecting content
A method, computer program product, and computing system for receiving an unsecure data portion for storage within a storage system. The unsecure data portion is stored within a temporary storage device. The unsecure data portion is processed to produce a secure data portion via a processor included within a first controller card included within the storage system. The secure data portion is stored on a persistent storage device via a second controller card.
US09047492B2 Apparatus, systems and methods for securely storing media content events on a flash memory device
Systems and methods are operable to securely store media content events on a flash memory device. An exemplary embodiment receives user-provided authorization information, compares the received user-provided authorization information with authorization information associated with the flash memory device, and permits access to a flash memory of the flash memory device when the received user-provided authorization information corresponds to the authorization information.
US09047484B2 Method and apparatus for collecting and disseminating information over a computer network
The apparatus comprises at least one database for storing digital information associated with at least a first user and a second user, at least one links module for the first user and for the second user, at least one manipulations module and at least one display device for respectively displaying at least said linked digital information wherein said linked digital information associated with said first user is automatically updated on at least said display device of said second user when that information is manipulated, and wherein said linked digital information associated with said second user is automatically updated on at least said display device of said first user when that information is manipulated.
US09047480B2 Secure application access system
A proxy server creates an index of keywords, receives at least a portion of a file, and, when a keyword in the index is encountered in the at least a portion of the file as the at least a portion of the file is being encrypted, associates in the index an encrypted record location identifier with the encountered keyword. The proxy server receives a search query and uses the keyword index to retrieve encrypted records from the server. The encrypted records are decrypted and sent as search results in response to the search query.
US09047460B2 Domain isolation through virtual network machines
A method and device for communicating information resources between subscriber end stations and nodes belonging to different network domains is described. The device instantiates different virtual network machines for different network domains using separate independently administrable network databases. Each of the administrable chores of the separate independently administrable network databases includes the assignment of access control and the configuration of the policies for those network databases. The policies include traffic filtering policies to indicate what kind of information payloads can be carried, traffic and route filtering policies to indicate what paths through the network will be used for each payload carried. Each of the network domains includes one of the different virtual network machines and each of the different network domains is virtually isolated from other network domains.
US09047454B2 Authentication device and authentication system
A biological information authentication device is provided with a biological information memory means, a user group information confirmation means, a biological information registering means and an authentication unit. The user group information is the information representing a trust relationship among a plurality of users; the biological information memory unit associates each biological information extracted from a plurality of users with the user group information and stores them. The user group information confirmation unit receives a determination as to whether or not a trust relationship exists among a plurality of users from whom the biological information is extracted and confirms the relationship between users. The biological information registering unit matches the user group information and stores each biological information extracted from each user in association with the biological information memory means.
US09047450B2 Identification of embedded system devices
An embedded system device comprises a processor operatively coupled to a first memory space, a second memory space, and a plurality of user controls. The processor is configured to execute only executable code residing within the first memory space, and the executable code includes authentication routine configured to generate a device identifier based at least upon non-user-configurable parameters of the embedded system device. The second memory space includes user configurable options for use by the processor when executing the executable code. The user controls are adapted to configure the user configurable options within the second memory space, wherein the user controls cannot configure the first memory space.
US09047441B2 Malware analysis system
In some embodiments, a malware analysis system includes receiving a potential malware sample from a firewall; analyzing the potential malware sample using a virtual machine to determine if the potential malware sample is malware; and automatically generating a signature if the potential malware sample is determined to be malware. In some embodiments, the potential malware sample does not match a preexisting signature, and the malware is a zero-day attack.
US09047440B2 Logical cell array and bus system
A logic cell array having a number of logic cells and a segmented bus system for logic cell communication, the bus system including different segment lines having shorter and longer segments for connecting two points in order to be able to minimize the number of bus elements traversed between separate communication start and end points.
US09047437B2 Method, system and software for accessing design rules and library of design features while designing semiconductor device layout
Provided is a system and method for designing the layout of integrated circuits or other semiconductor devices while directly accessing design rules and a library of design features by interfacing with a GUI upon which the design layout is displayed. The design rules may be directly linked to the design features of the pattern library and imported into the device layout. The design rules may be directly accessed while designing the layout or while conducting a design rule check and the design features from the pattern library may be used in creating the layout.
US09047433B2 Cell and macro placement on fin grid
A die includes at least one standard cell, which includes a first boundary and a second boundary opposite to the first boundary. The first boundary and the second boundary are parallel to a first direction. The at least one standard cell further includes a first plurality of FinFETs including first semiconductor fins parallel to the first direction. The die further includes at least one memory macro, which has a third boundary and a fourth boundary opposite to the third boundary. The third boundary and the fourth boundary are parallel to the first direction. The at least one memory macro includes a second plurality of FinFETs including second semiconductor fins parallel to the first direction. All semiconductor fins in the at least one standard cell and the at least one memory macro have pitches equal to integer times of a minimum pitch of the first and the second semiconductor fins.
US09047428B2 Determining method, computer product, and determining apparatus
A determining method includes obtaining terminal information indicating a first object terminal that is among terminals included among partial circuits and subject to determination of whether the first object terminal is an open terminal; obtaining for each terminal, connection information and first attribute information indicating an attribute of any one among an input terminal and an output terminal; generating, by a computer, for each terminal, second attribute information indicating an attribute opposite to the attribute indicated by the first attribute information; and determining, by the computer, whether a state of the first object terminal indicated by the terminal information becomes a high-impedance state, by simulating on the basis of the connection information and the second attribute information, a state of each terminal when a value of a terminal among the terminals and indicated as an output terminal by the second attribute information, is set at a first specified value.
US09047419B2 System on chip and operating method thereof
A system on chip comprises a bus electrically connected with a master intellectual property (IP) block, a slave IP block, and a default slave IP block. An IP block control part is configured to generate a control signal for activating or inactivating the slave IP block. When a call signal on the slave IP block is received from the master IP block, the bus is configured to transfer the received call signal to either one of the slave IP block and the default slave IP block according to the received call signal and the control signal.
US09047417B2 NUMA aware network interface
Methods, apparatus, and computer platforms and architectures employing node aware network interfaces are disclosed. The methods and apparatus may be implemented on computer platforms such as those employing a Non-uniform Memory Access (NUMA) architecture including a plurality of nodes, each node comprising a plurality of components including a processor having at least one level of memory cache and being operatively coupled to system memory and operatively coupled to a NUMA aware Network Interface Controller (NIC). Under one method, a packet is received from a network at a first NIC comprising a component of a first node, and a determination is made that packet data for the packet is to be forwarded to a second node including a second NIC. The packet data is then forwarded from the first NIC to the second NIC via a NIC-to-NIC interconnect link. Upon being received at the second NIC, processing of the packet (data) is handled as if the packet was received from the network at the second NIC.
US09047414B1 Method and apparatus for generating automated test case scripts from natural language test cases
A method and apparatus for generating automated test case scripts from natural language test cases is described. The method may include receiving a natural language test case for testing a software application. The method may also include parsing the received natural language test case to locate terms relevant to testing a software application within the natural language test case, selecting one or more of the terms, and causing a search of a testing framework system for automated testing script commands based on the selected terms. The method may also include generating an automated test case script that corresponds to the natural language test case based on results of the search.
US09047412B2 System and method for extracting instrumentation relevant inheritance relationships for a distributed, inheritance rule based instrumentation system
The presented enhancement of a rule based instrumentation system taking object oriented inheritance relationships into account is directed to the detection and extraction to inheritance relationships relevant for the instrumentation process. Relevant inheritance relationships which have an impact on the instrumentation process and typically only represent a small fraction of the complete inheritance relationships of a monitored application. The small size of the relevant inheritance relationships allows, for example to prepare it in advance and ship it as part of a monitoring application or to transmit inheritance information between different local instrumentation engines being part of a distributed instrumentation system.
US09047402B2 Automatic calculation of orthogonal defect classification (ODC) fields
A method and system for Orthogonal Defect Classification (ODC) analysis in a computing system, is provided. One implementation involves determining a defect in a software application, providing a defect fix to the software application, linking the source code fix to the defect, and automatically performing ODC analysis and calculating ODC information has based on calculations against the source code linked to the defect fixed.
US09047396B2 Method, system and computer product for rescheduling processing of set of work items based on historical trend of execution time
In a method for processing work items that have not been completed by a first escalation, a computer determines that the first escalation failed to complete execution, processed fewer work items than the first escalation is configured to process, or completed execution beyond an allotted processing time. The computer duplicates the first escalation to form a second escalation. In addition, the computer configures the second escalation to process the work items that have not been completed by the first escalation. Furthermore, the computer disables the first escalation and activates the second escalation to process the work items that have not been completed by the first escalation.
US09047386B2 Creating a link relationship between document objects and storing in a link directory
Methods for searching relationships between and among documents are detailed. One method includes steps for selecting one or more initial search items from a group consisting of: (a) document objects, (b) link references to document objects, (c) link reference attributes, and (d) link relationship attributes. The method also includes steps for identifying one or more link relationships using the selected initial search items, and for presenting one or more link relationships attributes describing the identified link relationships. A user interface for presenting and searching relationships between document objects located on a network is also detailed. The user interface may include a first portion of a screen display for displaying one or more link relationship attributes and a second portion of the screen display for displaying one or more entries from a group consisting of: (a) link references that represent the document objects, (b) link relationship attributes describing the link relationships, (c) link reference attributes describing the link references, and (d) document objects. The displayed entries in the second portion of the user interface are related to the displayed one or more link relationship attributes in the first portion.
US09047385B1 Interactive barcodes
A centralized barcode system is described. The centralized barcode system includes a barcode generation system configured to create a customized barcode by creating a new barcode or enhancing an existing barcode.
US09047382B2 Customized presentation of event guest lists in a social networking system
A user creates an event in a social networking system specifying a location, a time, and a guest list of other users invited to the event. The social networking system generates a page associated with the event that provides information about the event and identifies whether users have responded to invitations to the event. The content of the page may be customized for the user viewing the page to encourage the viewing user to attend the event. For example, the viewing user's relationship to and/or similar characteristics with other users on the guest list is determined and used by the social networking system to identify the users whose responses to invitations are shown to the viewing user via the page. Additionally, a notification method more prominently distributes acceptances of invitations to other users to encourage attendance.
US09047380B1 Technique for determining keywords for a document
A technique for providing one or more keywords associated with a document (such as a web page) is described. In this technique, a set of user-selected keywords and a specification of a market segment associated with the document are received from a user. In response, a set of similar keywords (which can include one or more of the set of user-selected keywords) is determined based on the user-selected keywords. Furthermore, a market-specific set of keywords (which can also include one or more of the set of user-selected keywords and/or the set of similar keywords) is selected based on the set of similar keywords by using keywords for documents that are associated with other users in the market segment. Then, at least a subset of the set of market-specific keywords is provided to the user.
US09047379B2 Methods and apparatuses for searching content
Embodiments of methods and apparatuses for searching contents, including structured search for atomic search expressions, including proximately associated atomic search expressions, are described herein. Embodiments may use tree structures (or more generally, graph structures), layout structures, and/or other information to capture within search results relevant content, include sub-document constituents, to reduce the incidence of false positives within search results, and/or to improve the accuracy of rankings within search results. Embodiments may use distance and/or scoring functions to generate scores for the structures to indicate relevance, including usage of local geometry, and linear iteration over portions of the content at a level to capture potential of a portion to influence other portions of the level, and influence received by a portion from the other portions of the level. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US09047375B2 Internet video content delivery to television users
A method for delivering video content to a user, including accessing a website that hosts a plurality of video content, causing a search to be performed of the website based on a keyword in the set of keywords, identifying, based on a result of the search, a set of video content, of the plurality of video content, related to the keyword, identifying a format of a particular video content in the set of video content, determining whether the format is compatible with a video client device, and outputting identifying information that identifies the particular video content when the format is compatible with the video client device, where the identifying information allows the video client device to access the particular video content.
US09047374B2 Assembling video content
A computer-implemented method involves accessing a library of video segments, receiving a user instruction to assemble a movie related to an organizing element that includes a video segment from the library of video segments, relating the organizing element to a video segment in the library of video segments, determining, based on relating the organizing element to the video segment in the library of video segments, whether the video segment should be added to a list of selected segments used to assemble the movie, selectively adding the video segment to the list of selected segments in response to determining that the video segment should be added, and assembling the movie using the list of selected segments.
US09047370B2 Associating documents with classifications and ranking documents based on classification weights
A method and apparatus for associating documents with classification values and ranking documents based on classification weights is provided. It is determined if a document is associated a classification. If the document is associated with a classification, then it is determined if a classification value, which is associated with the document, is associated with a weight. If the classification value is associated with a weight, then a rank of the document is adjusted based on the weight that is associated with the classification value.
US09047366B2 Method and system for providing tag information
Methods and apparatuses for providing tag information. According to a method of outputting tag information in a user terminal, tag information and attribute information are obtained by reading at least one tag and then mapped to a key word and stored, and when a message content is input through a message-writing application, tag information corresponding to a key word can be extracted and displayed if the key word is included in the message content.
US09047363B2 Text indexing for updateable tokenized text
Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with text indexing for updateable tokenized text are described. One example method includes receiving revised tokenized text intended to replace existing tokenized text in an indexed document. Token location information corresponding to the revised tokenized text is stored in an allocated free space portion of a text index posting.
US09047362B2 High-dimensional stratified sampling
In one aspect, a processing device of an information processing system is operative to perform high-dimensional stratified sampling of a database comprising a plurality of records arranged in overlapping sub-groups. For a given record, the processing device determines which of the sub-groups the given record is associated with, and for each of the sub-groups associated with the given record, checks if a sampling rate of the sub-group is less than a specified sampling rate. If the sampling rate of each of the sub-groups is less than the specified sampling rate, the processing device samples the given record, and otherwise does not sample the given record. The determine, check and sample operations are repeated for additional records, and samples resulting from the sample operations are processed to generate information characterizing the database. Other aspects of the invention relate to determining which records to sample through iterative optimization of an objective function that may be based, for example, on a likelihood function of the sampled records.
US09047346B2 Reporting language filtering and mapping to dimensional concepts
Architecture that translates a complex dimensional hierarchy (e.g., XBRL) into an understandable member picker which removes the complexities that the user would otherwise have to face. Using a building block metaphor, the architecture provides element and dimension tagging. The building blocks can include rows, columns, and optional trees. Building blocks are selected and grouped into a report definition, which definition is utilized to retrieve and process basis data into fact data in the final reports. The reporter mechanism removes the complexities in both the XBRL standard and XML, and ensures that the user associates the information appropriately within the report definition. The architecture extends the building block metaphor to include dimension tagging. A portion of the information from each building block is used to produce a fully qualified dimension context and logical validation is performed to ensure accuracy.
US09047337B2 Database connectivity and database model integration within integrated development environment tool
Embodiments of the invention provide database integration within an integrated development environment (IDE) tool for displaying database structure and other database information, query editing and execution, and error detection for database statements embedded in program source code. Embodiments of the invention integrate database connectivity and error detection into the IDE tool, thereby potentially reducing the time required for database-aware application development.
US09047332B2 Methods and systems for managing automated identification technologies information
Computer-readable storage media and methods are described in relation to management, control, and distribution of automated identification technology (AIT) information and data associated with sensors and tags utilized for asset identification and tracking. The method includes generating a gateway for at least one of read and write access to deployed identification sensors and tags associated with a set of assets, the sensors and tags incorporating a plurality of disparate native solution formats, providing data storage and management with hierarchical functionality in a common data format for information passing through the generated gateway, the information related to the assets as provided by the deployed identification sensors and tags, executing a service framework for data delivery to and from the deployed sensors and tags via a publish and subscribe middleware service layer that provides access to the gateway through a common middleware interface, and providing a user interface through which commands to the common middleware interface are generated.
US09047320B2 Music recommendation system, information processing device, and information processing method
A photograph classification unit classifies the photographs for each scene in a music-feature information determination unit. A photograph feature acquisition unit identifies a feature of the photograph based on additional information of the photograph and a result of face recognition of the image. A tempo determination unit determines a tempo of music based on a time zone of image capturing, a range of the number of people captured in a photograph, the degree of smile, activities, etc. A melody determination unit determines information that confines a title, a feature value, a genre, etc., based on an event, a time zone, and a season at the time of image capturing, a city and a country in which the image capturing has occurred, etc. Based on the determined feature of the music, a music data output unit extracts and then presents matching music.
US09047314B1 Creating and using dynamic vector classes
A device may store a data structure including information identifying a geometric relationship between first and second coordinate values of a first data type. The data structure may also include a first array of a first length that includes the first coordinate value located at a position identifiable by a reference value. The data structure may also include a second array of a second length that includes the second coordinate value located at a position identifiable by the reference value. The data structure may also include a third array of a third length that includes an attribute value of a second data type, located at a position identifiable by the reference value. The device may receive an indication that one of the lengths is to be modified, and may modify the data structure so that the first length, the second length, and the third length are equivalent.
US09047309B1 Dynamic snapshot mounting
Techniques are presented for keeping only the most commonly-accessed snapshots mounted at any given time, while providing for fast mounting of unmounted snapshots. Techniques are also provided for maintaining separate databases for the snapshots of each primary filesystem in order to minimize locking latency.
US09047308B2 Methods and apparatus for providing unified access to various data resources using virtualized services
A non-transitory processor-readable medium stores code representing instructions to be executed by a processor. The code causes the processor to receive, from a client device, a request for a service associated with a set of compute devices. The processor is caused to define a normalized request, based on a metadata associated with service requirements. The processor is caused to define a translated request for a compute device from the set of compute devices based on the normalized request. The processor is caused to send the translated request to the compute device in accordance with an endpoint interface associated with a format of the translated request. The processor is caused to receive data associated with the service from the compute device, in response to the translated request. The processor is caused to send, to the client device, a response having a format associated with the client device based on the data.
US09047303B2 Systems, methods, and computer program products for secure multi-enterprise storage
In one embodiment, a computer program product for storing data to a storage network includes a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, the computer readable program code including computer readable program code configured to receive a plurality of data identifiers (IDs) from multiple data providers, each data ID being associated with one of a plurality of files, computer readable program code configured to store the plurality of data IDs to a database, computer readable program code configured to identify any duplicate data IDs in the database to determine if any of the plurality of files associated with the plurality of data IDs are non-confidential, computer readable program code configured to receive one of the files having a duplicate data ID, and computer readable program code configured to store the file having the duplicate data ID to a storage network.
US09047294B2 Model for generating custom file plans towards management of content as records
Convenient approach for managing records with respect to entities based on file plans. In an embodiment, historical data representing policies previously selected is maintained. The historical data is then used to generate custom file plans containing policies most likely to be used by a corresponding user. A list in such custom file plan may have more relevant policies prioritized higher. A user may thus conveniently select a desired policy, and associate the selected policy with a set of entities to cause the selected policies to be applied against management of the set of entities.
US09047288B2 Intelligent data delivery and storage based on data characteristics
Methods, program products, and systems of intelligent data delivery and storage based on data characteristics are disclosed. A database server can receive, from a user device, a request for data. The database server can determine a data size and a data type of the requested data. The database server can identify, based on the data size and data type, and from multiple candidate data delivery protocols for responding to the request, a data delivery protocol designated for delivering data having the data size and data type. The database server can deliver the data to the user device in response to the request using the identified data delivery protocol.
US09047286B2 Program and syndicated content detection
Content from multiple different stations can be divided into segments based on time. Matched segments associated with each station can be identified by comparing content included in a first segment associated with a first station, to content included in a second segment associated with a second station. Syndicated content can be identified and tagged based, at least in part, on a relationship between sequences of matched segments on different stations. Various embodiments also include identifying main sequences associated with each station under consideration, removing some of the main sequences, and consolidating remaining main sequences based on various threshold criteria.
US09047285B1 Method and apparatus for frame-based search
A frame represents a concept with a set of roles and a set of linguistic rules. If a linguistic rule is satisfied, by a unit of natural language discourse (UNLD), the frame is invoked and a frame instance produced. A frame instance specifies how the UNLD, with particular values drawn from the UNLD, fulfills the roles of the frame. A frame-based search, of target content, is accomplished in response to a frame-based user query. The search result is comprised of records, where each record is a result of a match, of the frame-based query, at a location in the target content. If the frame-based query is implicit, a match requires only that the location of the target content invokes the appropriate frame. If the frame-based query is role-specific, in addition to invoking the appropriate frame, a query search term needs to be found in the value for a role of the frame instance produced.
US09047282B2 Document management systems, apparatuses and methods configured to provide user interface customized for specific user
Apparatuses, systems and methods are provided for accessing a document management application through a network, wherein user interface information comprising one or more of a plurality of user interfaces customized for a specific user is maintained, and upon successful login of the specific user, said one or more of the plurality of user interfaces are provided for display to the specific user.
US09047277B2 Systems and methods for synchronizing hierarchical repositories
Systems and methods which implement synchronization across hierarchical targets by ordering elements in a hierarchical target in order of hierarchical depth and propagating a first set of element changes based upon the hierarchical order of elements and a second set of element changes based upon a non-hierarchical order of elements priority are shown. A child attribute data model is utilized with respect to hierarchical data structures for which synchronization is provided in which hierarchy relationships are represented as an attribute of the child according to embodiments.
US09047276B2 Automatic translation of system messages using an existing resource bundle
A processing device receives a message identifier associated with an application. and identifies a first language that an operating system running on the processing device is configured to use. Responsive to determining that a first application resource bundle associated with the application and configured for the first language is not available, the processing device selects a second application resource bundle that is associated with the application and configured for a second language, identifies a first version of a message associated with the message identifier in the second application resource bundle, sends the first version of the message to an automated translator with a request to translate the first version of the message to the first language, and receives a first translated version of the message that is in the first language. The processing device may then present or store the first translated version of the message.
US09047258B2 Systems and methods for the comparison of selected text
Systems and methods are disclosed for comparing selections of text to show differences between the two selections. The text may be selected from the same source or from two different sources. In one implementation, a system receives a first selection of text for comparison and places the selection in a first buffer. The system receives a second selection of text for comparison and places the second selection in a second buffer. The system compares the first buffer and the second buffer to determine differences and displays the differences. In some embodiments, the system may allow a user to choose two buffers from among a plurality of buffers for comparison.
US09047252B1 Method and apparatus for detecting a row or a column of a memory to repair without reporting all corresponding defective memory cells
A system including first and second devices. The first device generates a trigger signal to test a memory. The memory has memory cells including first and second cells. The first and second cells are defective and are in a same row or column. The second device: tests the memory in response to the trigger signal and based on a first frequency; generates an error signal in response to detecting the first cell as defective; and based on the test, generates information including first and second addresses of the first and second cells. The first device, based on the error signal, receives the information at a second frequency. The second device compares the first and second addresses, and if a match, continues the test without reporting the second cell as defective. The first device, based on a number of times the first address is matched, repairs the row or the column.
US09047249B2 Handling faults in a continuous event processing (CEP) system
The concept of faults and fault handling are added to the execution of continuous event processing (CEP) queries. By introducing fault handling techniques to the processing of CEP queries, users are enabled to instruct a CEP query processor to respond to faults in a customized manner that does not necessarily involve the halting of the CEP query relative to which the faults occurred. For example, a fault might be due to a temporary problem. Under such circumstances, the CEP query processor can be instructed to ignore the fault and allow the execution of the CEP query to continue relative to the remainder of the event stream. Alternatively, if the fault is due to a problem with the CEP query itself, then the CEP query processor can be instructed to propagate the fault through the query processing system until the fault ultimately causes the problematic CEP query to be halted.
US09047238B2 Creating a virtual machine from a snapshot
A computer system generates a clone of a virtual machine from a point-in-time snapshot backup by collapsing metadata snapshots and storage snapshots into a virtual machine image. The computer system identifies a clone request for a virtual machine, the clone request comprising a point-in-time reference, retrieves at least one metadata snapshot and at least one storage snapshot based on the point-in-time reference, combines the at least one metadata snapshot and the at least one storage snapshot into a virtual machine image, and provisions a new virtual machine based on the virtual machine image.
US09047229B1 System and method for protecting content
A method, computer program product, and computing system for storing an unsecure data portion within a temporary storage device. An indication of a power failure event within the storage system is received. The unsecure data portion is processed to produce a secure data portion via a processor included within a first controller card included within the storage system. The secure data portion is stored on a persistent storage device via a second controller card.
US09047211B2 Managing data reliability
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for managing data reliability. A priority module is configured to receive a storage request for a non-volatile memory device. The storage request may include data associated with a priority. The non-volatile memory device includes a plurality of cells, and each cell encodes a plurality of bits. The bits for a cell provide distinct levels of quality of service. A select module is configured to select a bit for storing the data based on the priority of the data and the level of quality of service of the selected bit. A data management module is configured to manage the data to satisfy a write order for the plurality of bits.
US09047208B1 Method and system of configuring virtual function in peripheral devices
Methods and systems for a device are provided. The device includes physical function (PF) representing a physical component and is assigned to an XF group. The XF group includes a plurality of virtual functions (VFs) associated with the PF, each VF identified by a unique number. A number of XF group that are assigned to the PF is configurable depending on the function of the physical component.
US09047207B2 Mobile device power state
Techniques for mobile device power state are described. In one or more implementations, a mobile device includes a computing device that is flexibly coupled to an input device via a flexible hinge. Accordingly, the mobile device can operate in a variety of different power states based on a positional orientation of the computing device to an associated input device. In one or more implementations, an application that resides on a computing device can operate in different application states based on a positional orientation of the computing device to an associated input device. In one or more implementations, techniques discussed herein can differentiate between vibrations caused by touch input to a touch functionality, and other types of vibrations. Based on this differentiation, techniques can determine whether to transition between device power states.
US09047203B1 Systems and methods for encoding and decoding data
Methods and systems for encoding and decoding data using a streaming product-code (SPC). An SPC codeword has a first and second portion in a first and second component stream of the SPC, respectively. The first portion of the first codeword is arranged along a first dimension of the SPC, and the second portion of the first codeword is arranged along a second dimension of the SPC. The SPC efficiently encodes data into a desired target frame format without the overhead of dedicated mapping logic used by product-codes solutions.
US09047198B2 Prefetching across page boundaries in hierarchically cached processors
Processors and methods for preventing lower level prefetch units from stalling at page boundaries. An upper level prefetch unit closest to the processor core issues a preemptive request for a translation of the next page in a given prefetch stream. The upper level prefetch unit sends the translation to the lower level prefetch units prior to the lower level prefetch units reaching the end of the current page for the given prefetch stream. When the lower level prefetch units reach the boundary of the current page, instead of stopping, these prefetch units can continue to prefetch by jumping to the next physical page number provided in the translation.
US09047191B2 Error control in memory storage systems
A method includes calculating a first syndrome of a codeword read from a memory location under a first set of conditions and calculating a second syndrome of the codeword read from the memory location under a second set of conditions. The method also includes analyzing the first and second syndromes and applying one of the first and second syndromes to the codeword to find the codeword having a minimum number of errors.
US09047190B2 Intrusion protection for a client blade
Receiving, by a blade management module from a client blade, notification of a loss of communications between a remote desktop apparatus and the client blade; responsive to the notification, accepting, by the blade management module from the remote desktop apparatus, an instruction to alter a power setting of the client blade; and; responsive to the instruction, altering, by the blade management module, the power setting of the client blade.
US09047184B2 Processing error detection within pipeline circuitry
An integrated circuit includes processing pipeline circuitry comprising a plurality of pipeline stages separated by respective signal value storage circuitry. Timing detection circuitry to the processing pipeline circuitry serves to detect as timing violations any signal transitions arrive at the signal value storage circuits outside respective nominal timing windows. Error detection circuitry triggers an error correcting response if the timing detection circuitry indicates a predetermined pattern comprising a plurality of timing violations spread over a plurality of clock cycles of a clock signal controlling the processing pipeline circuitry. The predetermined pattern may be two consecutive timing violations.
US09047180B2 Computing system, method and computer-readable medium processing debug information in computing system
Disclosed are a system, method and computer-readable medium related to processing debug information from an embedded system. Source code of an application program to be used in an embedded system may be compiled by a computing system. The application program may include a debug code line. A minimum amount of debug information is stored in an embedded system, reducing memory overhead and waste of clock cycles of a processor.
US09047177B2 Memory system, data management method, and computer
According to one embodiment, a memory system includes a non-volatile memory, a volatile memory, a controller, and a compression/decompression processor. When data transmission is performed through the volatile memory between a host apparatus and the non-volatile memory, the controller updates management information stored in the volatile memory. In addition, the compression/decompression processor compresses the management information in the case where a first condition is satisfied, and decompresses the compressed management information in the case where a second condition is satisfied. The controller stores the compressed management information in the non-volatile memory.
US09047171B2 Differentiating cache reliability to reduce minimum on-die voltage
Systems and methods may provide for determining whether a memory access request is error-tolerant, and routing the memory access request to a reliable memory region if the memory access request is error-tolerant. Moreover, the memory access request may be routed to an unreliable memory region if the memory access request is error-tolerant. In one example, use of the unreliable memory region enables a reduction in the minimum operating voltage level for a die containing the reliable and unreliable memory regions.
US09047170B2 Safety control system for vehicles
According to one aspect of one embodiment of the present invention, a safety control system for vehicles, includes, a communication device having at least one of an input accessible from within the vehicle and an output communicated within the vehicle, at least one sensor operable to sense at least one condition related to vehicle operation, and a controller communicated with the sensor and the communication device to selectively suppress at least one of said input and said output in response to a sensed parameter of said at least one condition being outside of a threshold. When an input is suppressed, the driver is prevented from accessing or inputting information into the communication device. When an output is suppressed, communication between the device and the driver of a vehicle is suppressed to, among other things, avoid distracting the driver during certain driving situations or conditions relating to the driver, vehicle and/or environment.
US09047168B2 Automatically generating documentation for a diagram including a plurality of states and transitions
System and method for generating documentation for a diagram including states and transitions. The diagram may be received or otherwise stored and may specify a plurality of states and a plurality of transitions between the states. The first diagram also specifies first functionality. User documentation may be automatically generated for the first diagram based on the first diagram. The user documentation may describe the first diagram, e.g., the plurality of states and the plurality of transitions of the first diagram. Automatic generation of the user documentation may be performed without manual user input specifying the user documentation. The user documentation may be displayed on a display and/or stored in a memory medium.
US09047164B2 Calculating defect density by file and source module
Techniques are provided for tracking and analyzing defect density by source file or module. Defect density is the number of distinct defects which required changes to be made (to fix the defect) to a particular file or module in a given period of time. This metric is very useful for identifying the most critical areas of weakness of the system and hence the areas where additional investment/action may be taken. For example, this metric can be used to prioritize the area in which unit tests should be written, for which additional automated system tests should be written or which a project should be undertaken to re-write the error prone file or module to improve its quality and maintainability.
US09047156B2 System image customization tool
A system image customization tool provides an efficient and cost effective way to implement a highly customizable system image for a digital device. The system image customization tool controls application installation, device settings, and selection, delivery methods and licensing options for products, applications and services with minimal or no customer interaction from the customer's first out of box experience with the device and through the lifecycle use of the device. The system image customization tool provides retailers, original equipment manufacturers and products, applications and services providers a way to create new distribution channels and partnerships.
US09047155B2 Message-based installation management using message bus
Embodiments relate to message-based installation management using a message bus. In embodiments, a deployment server or other provisioning host can be connected to a resource via a message bus. A processor monitors the bus message traffic to detect a message activity. The processor generates an installation command to cause a software installation in a managed network in view of the message activity detected on the message bus.
US09047153B2 Selective delay of data receipt in stochastic computation
Circuitry for stochastic computation includes processing nodes, including a first processing node and a second processing node, each configured to process an outcome stream having a plurality of outcomes, each outcome being in one of a plurality of states, wherein an outcome from said outcome stream is in a particular state with a particular probability; communication links configured to transmit outcome streams between pairs of said processing nodes; and a delay module on each of said communication links, said delay module configured to delay outcome streams traversing said communication link by an assigned delay; wherein said first and second processing nodes are connected by a plurality of data paths, at least one of which comprises a plurality of communication links, each of said data paths causing an aggregate delay to an outcome stream traversing said data path; wherein no two aggregate delays impose the same delay on an outcome stream.
US09047152B2 Delay device, method, and random number generator using the same
A delay device for generating a signal for a random component in a random number generator is disclosed. The delay device includes a delay module, for generating a plurality of delayed signals, wherein each delayed signal has a delay time and the delay time is different from each other; a first multiplexer, coupled to the delay module, for outputting a delayed signal among the plurality of delayed signals as a delayed trigger signal to control the random component to generate a random bit; and a delay selector, coupled to the first multiplexer, for generating a selecting signal to control the first multiplexer to select to output the delayed signal as the delayed trigger signal.
US09047147B2 Method and system for recording and replaying user sessions in browser based applications
A computer-implemented method for recording and replaying user sessions in browser based applications includes initiating a user session as a result of a user accessing an application in a web browser. The computer-implemented method also includes attaching an event handler to the application as a replacement for an original event handler. Further, the computer-implemented method includes executing the event handler in response to an event, wherein the event is a plurality of user actions performed during the user session. Furthermore, the computer-implemented method includes receiving the plurality of user actions as inputs to the application. Moreover, the computer-implemented method includes recording the plurality of user actions and replaying the plurality of user actions recorded at a later time.
US09047134B2 System and method for increasing the capabilities of a mobile device
A system and computer-implemented method for increasing the computational capabilities of a mobile device by initializing one or more virtual machines in cloud computing environment to run applications. The system and computer-implemented method comprising a manager module that stimulates an application on a virtual machine with a user's interactions with a rendered version of the application on a mobile device.
US09047133B2 Single, logical, multi-tier application blueprint used for deployment and management of multiple physical applications in a cloud environment
A deployment system enables a developer to define a logical, multi-tier application blueprint that can be used to create and manage (e.g., redeploy, upgrade, backup, patch) multiple applications in a cloud infrastructure. In the application blueprint, the developer models an overall application architecture, or topology, that includes individual and clustered nodes (e.g., VMs), logical templates, cloud providers, deployment environments, software services, application-specific code, properties, and dependencies between top-tier and second-tier components. The application can be deployed according to the application blueprint, which means any needed VMs are provisioned from the cloud infrastructure, and application components and software services are installed.
US09047124B2 Query scheduler
A mixed workload management system and associated operating method modify a shortest job first (SJF) by service levels. The workload management system comprises a scheduler configured for scheduling mixed workloads. The scheduler comprises an analyzer that determines query execution time, assigns scheduling priority to a query in order inverse to the query execution time, weights the assigned scheduling priority by service level of the query, and sorts a list of queries in order of weighted scheduling priority. A schedule controller selects a query for execution from head of the sorted list of queries.
US09047119B2 Circular floating-point number generator and a circular floating-point number adder
One aspect of the present invention will provide a circular floating-point number generator (400) for generating, from an input fixed-point number, a circular floating-point number including sign-bit field (S), exponent field (E), and circular-mantissa field (M). The generator assigns the input bits in the fixed-point number to a plurality of slots, generates the sign-bit field (S), generate the exponent field (E) based on a bit position of a leading significant bit, and generate the mantissa field (M) by extracting a first bit group and a second bit group and by providing a start bit of the first bit group after a last bit of the second bit group.
US09047107B2 Applying a custom security type label to multi-tenant applications of a node in a platform-as-a-service environment
A mechanism for applying security category labels to multi-tenant applications of a node in a PaaS environment is disclosed. A method of embodiments includes receiving, by a virtual machine (VM) executing on a computing device, a custom security type label (STL) and a custom security policy associated with the custom STL, the custom STL and associated custom security policy applied to one or more multi-tenant applications executed by the VM. The method further include receiving a request to initialize an application on the VM, the request identifying the custom STL as an STL to apply to the application, assigning a local UID maintained by the VM to the application, recording a mapping of the assigned local UID to the custom STL, assigning the custom STL to files of the application, and assigning the custom STL to a running process of the application.
US09047104B2 Internationalization technology, including associating a text string in a target computer program with an attribute of a user-interface element
Internationalizing a target program includes associating a text string in the program with an attribute of a user interface element (“UI”). The UI element is defined in the program and the associating is provided at least partly by a non-executable UI element annotation in the program. A resource bundle annotation in the program defines a name for a resource bundle to which the text string of the UI element annotation may be extracted. An annotation processor program automatically creates the resource bundle by processing source code of the target program, including the UI element annotation and the resource bundle annotation. Executing a method in the target program causes the text string to be displayed on the attribute for a displayed instance of the UI element. The method determines whether to obtain the displayed text string from the UI element annotation or from the resource bundle.
US09047096B2 Real-time temperature sensitive machine level code compilation and execution
Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for real-time temperature sensitive machine level code compilation and execution are provided. Embodiments include compiling and executing, by a just-in-time (JIT) compiler, machine level code; during execution of the machine level code, determining, by the JIT compiler, an execution temperature for the machine level code, including reading temperature measurements from one or more processor temperature sensors; based on the determined execution temperature, identifying, by the JIT compiler, a portion of the machine level code that, when executed, caused temperature measurements of one or more processor temperature sensors to exceed a predetermined threshold temperature; recompiling, by the JIT compiler, the machine level code including modifying the identified portion to generate a new execution temperature that is lower than the previously determined execution temperature; and executing, by the JIT compiler, the recompiled machine level code.
US09047091B2 Collective operation protocol selection in a parallel computer
Collective operation protocol selection in a parallel computer that includes compute nodes may be carried out by calling a collective operation with operating parameters; selecting a protocol for executing the operation and executing the operation with the selected protocol. Selecting a protocol includes: iteratively, until a prospective protocol meets predetermined performance criteria: providing, to a protocol performance function for the prospective protocol, the operating parameters; determining whether the prospective protocol meets predefined performance criteria by evaluating a predefined performance fit equation, calculating a measure of performance of the protocol for the operating parameters; determining that the prospective protocol meets predetermined performance criteria and selecting the protocol for executing the operation only if the calculated measure of performance is greater than a predefined minimum performance threshold.
US09047088B2 Multiprocessor system and method of controlling power
According to one embodiment, a multiprocessor system includes a plurality of processors, a power supply device and a shared memory. The shared memory includes a thread pool and a thread queue. In the thread pool, threads each having waiting events are registered in association with the numbers of the waiting events. In the thread queue, threads having no waiting event are registered. One or more first processors acquire first thread from the thread queue and execute the first thread. A second processor updates the number of waiting events of a second thread, which is registered in the thread pool, having completion of required procedure for the second thread by the first thread as a waiting event. A third processor operates supply of power to the first processors individually based on the number of threads in the thread queue and the number of waiting events.
US09047087B2 Power management and virtual machine migration between logical storage units based on quantity of shared physical storage units
In a shared storage system for supporting virtual machines, virtual machine images are opportunistically migrated between logical storage units to free up physical storage units and achieve better storage hardware resource utilization and reduced power consumption by powering down freed-up physical storage units. The destination for the opportunistic migration of a virtual machine is selected based on the extent to which the physical storage units are shared between the logical storage unit in which the virtual image is currently stored and the destination. In situations where the demand for storage hardware resources increases, the powered-down physical storage units may be opportunistically powered up to meet the increased demand.
US09047083B2 Reducing power consumption in a server cluster
A method of reducing power consumption of a server cluster of host systems with virtual machines executing on the host systems is disclosed. The method includes recommending host system power-on when there is a host system whose utilization is above a target utilization, and recommending host system power-off when there is a host system whose utilization is below the target utilization. Recommending host system power-on includes calculating impact of powering on a standby host system with respect to reducing the number of highly-utilized host systems in the server cluster. The impact of powering on is calculated by simulating moving some virtual machines from highly utilized host systems to the standby host system being recommended to be powered on. Recommending host system power-off includes calculating impact of powering off a host system with respect to decreasing the number of less-utilized host systems in the server cluster. The impact of powering off is calculated by simulating moving all virtual machines from the host system, which is being recommended to be powered-off, to less -utilized host systems.
US09047082B2 Instruction-set architecture for programmable Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) computations
A method and apparatus to perform Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) operations on a data block using a plurality of different n-bit polynomials is provided. A flexible CRC instruction performs a CRC operation using a programmable n-bit polynomial. The n-bit polynomial is provided to the CRC instruction by storing the n-bit polynomial in one of two operands.
US09047077B2 Vectorization in an optimizing compiler
An optimizing compiler includes a vectorization mechanism that optimizes a computer program by substituting code that includes one or more vector instructions (vectorized code) for one or more scalar instructions. The cost of the vectorized code is compared to the cost of the code with only scalar instructions. When the cost of the vectorized code is less than the cost of the code with only scalar instructions, the vectorization mechanism determines whether the vectorized code will likely result in processor stalls. If not, the vectorization mechanism substitutes the vectorized code for the code with only scalar instructions. When the vectorized code will likely result in processor stalls, the vectorization mechanism does not substitute the vectorized code, and the code with only scalar instructions remains in the computer program.
US09047072B2 System and method for managing power supply units
A power supply management system includes a power supply backplane, a plurality of power supply units connected to the power supply backplane, and a power controller chip. The power controller chip sends a plurality of power controlling signals to the power supply backplane. The power supply backplane transmits the plurality of power controlling signals to the plurality of power supply units, transition the plurality of power supply units into specific working states according to the plurality of power controlling signals, collect present working states of the plurality of power supply units, and sends the present working states of the plurality of power supply units to the power controller chip. A method for managing power supply units is also provided.
US09047069B2 Computer implemented method of electing K extreme entries from a list using separate section comparisons
A computer implemented method selects K extreme elements of a list of N elements by partitioning each of the N elements into a plurality of sections. For each section the method selects a threshold selection determining at least K extreme entries from the list. This iteratively compares a corresponding section to a section threshold, counts a number of sections which are more extreme than the section threshold, increasing (or decreasing) the section threshold if the count is greater than K and decreasing (or increasing) the section threshold if the count is less than K. The method forms a combined threshold by concatenation of said section thresholds in order, compares each of the N elements to the combined threshold, and selects at least K elements from the set of N elements more extreme than the combined threshold.
US09047065B2 Computer case and cooling device thereof
A computer case includes a housing and a cooling device. The cooling device includes a first pillar, a second pillar, a movable element, and a heat-dissipating element. The first pillar penetrates a top guidance slot hole and a bottom guidance slot hole of the housing and has an elongated slot hole; the second pillar penetrates a first side guidance slot hole, a second side guidance slot hole, and the elongated slot hole and forms an intersection portion of the first and the second pillar. The movable element is disposed in the intersection portion, and a heat-dissipating element is fixed to the movable element. When the first pillar moves along a first direction and/or the second pillar moves along a second direction, the movable element drives the heat-dissipating element to move along the first direction and/or the second direction, so as to adjust the position of the heat-dissipating element.
US09047064B2 Data storage device assembly
A data storage device assembly includes a chassis. The chassis includes a dividing plate. Two brackets are arranged on the dividing plate, and another two brackets are arranged at a bottom of the dividing plate. Each bracket receives a data storage device. The data storage device assembly includes four data storage devices arranged in the chassis, which can provide large capacity of data storage.
US09047062B2 Multi-configurable switching system using multi-functionality card slots
An embodiment of the invention comprises a reconfigurable chassis with one or more multi-functionality card slots, where each multi-functionality card slot is capable of being populated with at least one of a plurality of different types of cards, including port cards and switch cards. In a first configuration, the port card slots and the multi-functionality card slots are populated with port cards. In a second configuration, a first set of multi-functionality card slots is populated with switch cards and a second set of multi-functionality card slots is populated with port cards. In a third configuration, the first set of multi-functionality card slots and the second set of multi-functionality card slots are populated with switch cards.
US09047050B2 Modular system having cross platform master device
A modular system of devices, in which a (master) device can be combined with one or more of the other (slave) devices in the system to form a functional electronic device (e.g., handheld cellular phone, tablet computing device), having different functionalities and features in different form factors across various platforms. The master device provides control and/or stored data to operate the slave devices, to reduce redundancy between devices of various form factors and/or platforms, in a manner that provides additional or different functions and features in an optimized and/or enhanced manner as the form factor and/or platform changes from one to another. The master device is not functional independent without attachment to a slave device. The master device requires at least a peripheral component (e.g., a display module) provided by the slave device to become an overall functional unit.
US09047048B2 Rotating mechanism for electronic device
An electronic device comprises a first portion, a second portion, and a rotating mechanism. The first portion covers on the second portion. The rotating mechanism is disposed in the second portion and is used for rotatably connecting the first portion and the second portion. The first portion is rotatable relative to the second portion from a first position to a second position by rotating the first portion relative to the rotating mechanism in a first plane. In the first position, the first position covers on the second portion. In the second position, a part of the second portion is exposed, and the angle between the first portion and the second portion is adjustable by rotating the first portion in a second plane perpendicular to the first plane.
US09047030B2 Caching network service resources
An application service includes a device interface manager, an acquisition manager, and a job manager. The device interface is configured to receive, from a device, a print instruction defining a context. The acquisition manager is configured to use the context to acquire context compatible content. The job manager is configured to communicate a reference to a print service for accessing cached context compatible print data for the print instruction if the context compatible print data is available in a cache, and to otherwise communicate to the print service, context compatible print data for context compatible content acquired by the acquisition manager.
US09047025B2 Print service provider operations management
A system for print service provider (PSP) operations management includes a provenance analytics engine. The provenance analytics engine accesses fresh meta-data associated with fresh events in a PSP operation performed using a printing system operated by a PSP. The provenance analytics engine further accesses stored meta-data associated with past events related to past PSP operations. Still further, the provenance analytics engine accesses a component behavioral model (CBM) to produce results associated with events in a PSP operation. The provenance analytics engine analyzes the event-related meta-data.
US09047014B2 Frequency and voltage scaling architecture
A method and apparatus for scaling frequency and operating voltage of at least one clock domain of a microprocessor. More particularly, embodiments of the invention relate to techniques to divide a microprocessor into clock domains and control the frequency and operating voltage of each clock domain independently of the others.
US09047005B2 Substituting touch gestures for GUI or hardware keys to control audio video play
A user can toggle between GUI input and touch screen input with the GUI hidden using touch gestures correlated to respective hidden GUI elements and, thus, to respective commands for a TV and/or disk player sending AV data thereto.
US09047003B2 Touch input device and method for portable device
A touch input device and method for a portable device that is capable of inputting various user commands with diversified touch events detected on a touch screen is provided. A touch input method for a mobile terminal having a touch screen may include displaying a plurality of representative images representing content objects on the touch screen, selecting at least one representative image in response to a first command designated for a first touch event on the touch screen, and executing a second command designated for a second touch event on the touch screen. The second touch event may be defined by a movement direction, speed, a lift position of a touch, and the representative images selected by the first command.
US09046999B1 Dynamic input at a touch-based interface based on pressure
Disclosed herein are methods, devices, and systems that may enable a touch-based interface to receive dynamic user inputs based on pressure. An exemplary method may involve: (a) detecting a touch interaction including an increase in pressure greater than a first threshold pressure-increase followed by a reduction in pressure greater than a threshold pressure-reduction; and (b) responsive to detecting the touch interaction, initiating an operation based on a region of the touch-based interface that corresponds to the touch interaction, wherein the operation is associated with the touch interaction.
US09046997B2 Systems and methods for image handling and presentation
Certain embodiments provide systems and methods for adaptive compression, transmission, and display of clinical images. Certain embodiments provide a method for adaptive compression of image data for transmission and display at a client workstation. The method includes identifying one or more images for display, the one or more images including a plurality of image slices. The method also includes determining a compression scheme for the one or more images based on at least one of bandwidth, processing power, and diagnostic modality. The method further includes transferring the one or more images for display at the client workstation. The method additionally includes adapting the compression scheme based on resource availability.
US09046992B2 Gesture controls for multi-screen user interface
Method and apparatus for controlling a computing device using gesture inputs. The computing device may be a handheld computing device with multiple displays. The displays may be capable of displaying a graphical user interface (GUI). The GUI may be a multi screen GUI or a single screen GUI such that receipt of gesture inputs may result in the movement of a GUI from one display to another display or may result in maximization of a multi screen GUI across multiple displays.
US09046985B2 Visual browsing system and method
A visual browsing method allows a user to look at an item closely by hovering over, instead of clicking on, an icon representing the item. The method also enables the user to browse items in different levels of a multiple level category without waiting for web pages to be loaded, to know where he/she has been in the multiple level category, and to back up if he/she likes. The method makes the browsing process faster and easier.
US09046983B2 Hierarchically-organized control galleries
A computing system provides a graphical user interface having hierarchically-organized control galleries. The computing system displays the graphical user interface on a display device. The graphical user interface contains a document area and a control ribbon. The document area contains at least a portion of a document that a user is editing. The control ribbon includes a class control gallery. The class control gallery includes a plurality of class controls associated with different classes of related commands. The computing system displays a variation control gallery containing variation controls in a class associated with a selected one of the class controls. In response to a selection of a variation control in the variation control gallery, the computing system applies a command associated with the variation control to a document in the document area.
US09046979B2 Panel configurator engine
A method including receiving input identifying a panel associated with a software application, the software application including a Graphical User Interface (GUI) and the panel comprising a discrete area of the GUI within which to group software objects to control the software application. Additionally, the method includes processing the input to identify an object of the software objects to be included in the panel. Further, the method includes generating a panel definition including the object and dimensions of the panel, the panel definition to be processed to render the GUI.
US09046975B2 Flexible touch screen panel and flexible display device having the same
A flexible touch screen panel includes a flexible thin-film substrate including an active region and an inactive region, the inactive region being at an outer side portion of the active region, and the thin-film substrate being configured to bend along at least one bending axis, sensing patterns in the active region of the thin-film substrate, the active region being divided into a plurality of electrically independent regions by the at least one bending axis, and sensing lines in the inactive region of the thin-film substrate, the sensing lines being connected to the sensing patterns.
US09046973B2 Touch screen system
A touch screen system has an electrically non-conductive substrate. At least one electrically conductive pad is disposed upon the substrate, and an electrically non-conductive cover is placed over the pad. The system further includes a controller having a touch switch interface and at least one output, the touch switch interface being electrically coupled to the pad. The controller generates an AC signal, the AC signal being electrically coupled from the controller to the pad through the touch switch interface, thereby generating an electrostatic field proximate the pad. The controller is also configured to detect at the touch switch interface a change in the electrostatic field resulting from an actuating member contacting the cover proximate the pad. The controller provides at the output a signal relating to the change in the electrostatic field.
US09046971B2 Detection method and detection device for detecting multiple contacts on touch panel according preliminary sensing data
A detection method for detecting a plurality of contacts on a touch panel which includes a plurality of first sensing axes on a first dimension and a plurality of second sensing axes on a second dimension includes: generating a preliminary sensing data according to the contacts on the touch panel; determining at least one specific sensing axis included in the plurality of first sensing axes according to the preliminary sensing data; utilizing a configuration circuit to configure a driving and receiving sequence of the plurality of first sensing axes and the plurality of second sensing axes for obtaining a sensing output; and utilizing a determining circuit to receive a completion instruction.
US09046969B2 Input device
An input device includes an electrode part, a switching circuit, a driving circuit, a detecting circuit, and a controller. The electrode part includes a plurality of electrode pieces. The switching circuit is formed of a plurality of switches connected to the electrode pieces respectively. The driving circuit and the detecting circuit are connected to the electrode part via the switching circuit. The controller is connected to the driving circuit, the switching circuit, and the detecting circuit. The controller controls the respective switches such that the electrode pieces are individually opened or connected to one of the driving circuit and the detecting circuit.
US09046960B2 Light path adjusting assembly and optical touch device using the same
A light path adjusting assembly includes a supporting component and a light path adjusting component. The supporting component includes a mounting portion, a light transmission portion and a connecting portion. The light transmission portion faces to the mounting portion. The connecting portion is located between and is connected to the mounting portion and the light transmission portion, thereby forming a receiving space between the mounting portion and the light transmission portion. The light path adjusting component is disposed in the receiving space. An optical touch device using the light path adjusting assembly is also provided. The light path adjusting assembly and the optical touch device have a simple manufacturing process and a high production yield.
US09046957B2 Method for displaying pages of E-book and mobile device adapted thereto
A page display method is provided that detects information related to pages of an e-book that the user inputs in a mobile device with a touch screen, and displays the pages on the touch screen, according to the detection. A system adapted to the method is also provided. The method includes: displaying a page of an e-book on the touch screen in a preset mode; detecting a touch at a spot on the displayed page; detecting a press by detecting a contact period of time of the detected touch; and, in response to at least one of a location of the spot and a strength of the detected press, displaying the spot on the page as being deformed.
US09046954B2 Display device integrated with touch screen and method of driving the same
Disclosed are a display device integrated with a touch screen and a method of driving the same, the display device comprising: a touch panel comprising a touch electrode which is disposed in each of a plurality of pixels defined by intersections between a plurality of gate lines and a plurality of data lines; a display driver supplying data voltages for displaying an image to the respective pixels during a display period, and supplying an initialization data voltage for initializing a capacitance of the touch electrode to each pixel during a touch sensing period; and a touch driver sensing the capacitance of the touch electrode to detect a touched position during the touch sensing period. The display device integrated with the touch screen and the method of driving the same according to the present invention initialize capacitances of the touch electrodes to the same value irrespective of image data of the pixels being changed from black to white during the display period, thus preventing the occurrence of a touch error due to a screen change.
US09046951B2 Electronic device
An electronic device includes a planar display and a touch panel, which overlaps the display. The touch panel has a detection zone that covers at least a vertical distance which is less than a first value and greater than a second value which is smaller than the first value and where two dimensional coordinates and the vertical distance can be detected. The detection zone has a first zone that covers the vertical distance from the first value to the second value and includes a center of the touch panel with respect to the two dimensional coordinates. The first zone, in which the vertical distance is a specific value between the first value and the second value, narrows as the specific value increases from the second value toward the first value.
US09046949B2 Electronic device
An electronic device 100 includes a display unit 165 including a display part 160 having a display region 160a on which to display an image, a panel member 130 to be touched by a user, and a first adhesive part 150 which is provided so as to cover the display region 160a and which bonds the panel member 130 and the display part 160 together; a vibration part 140 which causes flexural vibration of the display unit 165; and a second adhesive part 155 which bonds the vibration part to the display unit. The rigidity of the first adhesive part 150 is lower than the rigidity of the second adhesive part 155.
US09046946B2 System and method of determining stylus location on touch-sensitive display
An electronic device includes a touch-sensitive display including a plurality of touch sensors configured to detect touches on the touch-sensitive display. The touch sensors include a plurality of touch sensor jumpers that are spaced apart in the touch-sensitive display. The touch-sensor jumpers include attributes to facilitate identification of a location of a stylus relative to the jumpers. The stylus includes a device configured to obtain data relating to an attribute of at least one of the touch sensor jumpers of the touch-sensitive display, a processor operably coupled to the device to receive the data, and a transmitter operably coupled to the processor and configured to transmit to the electronic device, information based on the data. The electronic device includes a receiver that receives the information and a processor that is configured to determine the location of the stylus based on the information.
US09046945B2 Touch control device
Disclosed is a touch control device, comprising a substrate, a plurality of sensing units, an insulating layer, an electric bridge, a protection layer, a supporting part, an element layer and a glue part. A plurality of sensing units are disposed on the substrate in an interval between two of sensing units to expose portions of the substrate. The insulating layer covers the exposed substrate. The electric bridge covers the insulating layer, and two ends of the electric bridge are respectively connected to two sensing units among the plurality of sensing units. The protection layer covers the electric bridge and the sensing unit. The supporting part covers the protection layer. The element layer is disposed on the supporting part. As a result, an accommodating space is formed therebetween. The accommodating space is filled up with the glue part to glue the protection layer and the element layer.
US09046942B2 Combined accumulator and maximum/minimum comparator
In one embodiment, a method comprises detecting, by a hardware accelerator, that a value has been written to a first location of a memory, the first location identified by a first address. The method further includes adding the value to an accumulated value stored in an accumulator register of the hardware accelerator and storing the result in the accumulator register. The method further includes comparing the value to a maximum value stored in a first register of the hardware accelerator and overwriting the maximum value with the value if the value is greater than the maximum value. The method also includes comparing the value to a minimum value stored in a second register of the hardware accelerator and overwriting the minimum value with the value if the value is less than the minimum value.
US09046941B1 System and method for sharing logic in a network device
Method and system for processing information at a network device connected to a network is provided. The method includes receiving information conforming to a first protocol at a first clock rate at a first sub-port; receiving information conforming to a second protocol at a second clock rate at a second sub-port; storing received information in a temporary storage device at the base-port; reading information out of the temporary storage device at a third clock rate; and processing the information at a MAC module that includes logic that is time-shared among the plurality of sub-ports to process information at the third rate for both the first protocol and the second protocol. The first sub-port is granted access to the logic in a first phase and the second sub-port is granted access to the logic in a second phase for processing the information.
US09046933B2 Displaying three-dimensional image data
Systems, methods, apparatus, and computer program products are provided for displaying three-dimensional image data. For example, the position of one or more markers can be tracked. Then, image may be displayed based at least in part on the position of the one or more markers.
US09046926B2 System and method of dynamically generating a frequency pattern to realize the sense of touch in a computing device
Systems and methods for providing tactile feedback. A method for providing tactile feedback, comprises extracting a plurality of features from a visual representation of a physical object, wherein the extracting is performed using at least one image processing technique, generating a variable frequency pattern corresponding to the extracted features, sending the variable frequency pattern to a computing device, and generating the tactile feedback via the computing device in response to a stimulation applied by a user, wherein the tactile feedback is based on the variable frequency pattern.
US09046923B2 Haptic/voice-over navigation assistance
A method includes displaying a user interface on a touch display, receiving a user input on the touch display, determining whether the user input is associated with a navigational assistance area of the user interface, outputting one or more vibrations, when it is determined that the user input is associated with the navigational assistance area of the user interface, and outputting an auditory navigational cue that corresponds to a name associated with the navigational assistance area, when it is determined that the user input is associated with the navigational assistance area of the user interface.
US09046906B1 Highly survivable and rugged computer assembly
A ruggedized computer assembly that includes a liquids proof case made of thermally conductive material and having an exterior surface and an interior surface. Also, an electrically-powered cooling assembly is supported on the exterior surface and draws heat from the exterior surface. Moreover, a plurality of computers is housed in the case, and supported by and thermally connected to the interior surface of the case, so that heat is transferred from the computer assembly, through the liquids proof case, to the cooling assembly.
US09046903B2 Controller
The disclosed invention provides a controller that can prevent overshoot and undershoot from occurring when a voltage is switched to another voltage without using two types of regulators. Voltage regulators supply a power supply voltage to a CPU. An SVID interface receives a command to change the number of voltage regulators to be actuated among the voltage regulators from outside. A phase clock generating circuit makes a stepwise change of the number of voltage regulators to be actuated from the current number of regulators to the commanded number of regulators after change.
US09046900B2 Method and apparatus for monitoring refrigeration-cycle systems
A monitoring system for an HVAC system including an evaporator unit device, first and second temperature sensors, and a condenser unit. The evaporator unit device includes a first current sensor that measures current provided to a circulator blower and a differential pressure sensor that measures pressure between a point prior to a filter element and a point after the filter element. The first temperature sensor measures a refrigerant temperature between a condenser and an expansion valve. The second temperature sensor measures a refrigerant temperature between an evaporator and a compressor. The condenser unit device communicates with the evaporator unit device over low-voltage control lines, wherein the condenser unit comprises a second current sensor that measures current provided to the compressor. The evaporator unit device transmits sensor data to a remote monitoring service over a data network. An efficiency of the HVAC system is calculated based on the sensor data.
US09046899B2 Aircraft heating system
An aircraft heating system (100) is provided which can be supplied with DC power from an onboard source (130). The system (100) comprises a heater (150) positioned to provide heat to an aircraft appliance (101), a sensor (160) situated to sense appliance-relevant temperatures, a reporter (170) reporting system faults, and an introducer (180) introducing temperature setpoints. A thermostat (200) integrates circuitries which together manage power supply, control heating, convey sensed temperatures, detect heater and/or sensor faults, and/or perform other advantageous functions.
US09046881B2 Updating and utilizing dynamic process simulation in an operating process environment
A simulation system that includes interconnected simulation blocks which use process models to perform simulation activities for a process plant is integrated into a process control environment for the process plant in a manner that makes the simulation system easy to use and easily updated for on-line process simulation. The disclosed simulation system enables future predicted values as well as the current predicted values of process parameters produced by the simulation system to be made available for performance evaluation as well as to guide plant operations. Additionally, the simulation system is connected to the operating process plant to receive various on-line process plant measurements, and uses these measurements to automatically update the process models used in the simulation system, to thereby keep the simulation system coordinated with the actual operating conditions of the process plant.
US09046873B2 Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus including a main duct forming an airflow path of air blown by an air blower such that the air flows through the main duct from a first side to a second side in an extending direction of the airflow path, the main duct including a plurality of air outlets opening in a direction intersecting the extending direction and discretely disposed along the extending direction, and an image forming unit including a plurality of air inlets disposed apart from the plurality of air outlets such that the air flowing out from the plurality of air outlets is introduced into the plurality of air inlets, each air inlet formed such that a second-side end thereof in the extending direction is positionally shifted toward the second side in the extending direction, relative to a second-side end of a corresponding air outlet in the extending direction.
US09046870B2 Image forming apparatus
A copier includes a developing unit, a toner container, a first movable unit, and a second movable unit. The first movable unit carries the developing unit and is movable between a close position where a developing roller of the developing unit is located close to a photosensitive drum and a distant position where the developing roller is located away from the photosensitive drum. The second movable unit carries the toner container and is configured to drag the first movable unit from the close position to the distant position. The copier is configured so that while the second movable unit is located at a standby position for the drag, a clearance is formed between the first and second movable units to avoid physical contact between the first and second movable units.
US09046867B2 Developing unit having slidably movable receptable
A developing unit includes a developer casing, a developer carrying member, and a receptacle. The developer carrying member is mounted on the developer casing. The receptacle is supported on the developer casing to be slidable linearly with respect to the developing casing, and is configured to accommodate a waste developer.
US09046862B2 Image forming apparatus congigured to form an image by using a recolorable decolorable colorant and undecolorable colorant or anunrecolorable decolorable colorant and fix both colorant at the same time, and method for reuse of sheet
According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes an image forming section, a fixing device, and a control section. The image forming section forms images on a sheet with a recolorable decolorable colorant and an undecolorable colorant. The fixing device heats the sheet to fix the recolorable decolorable colorant and the undecolorable colorant on the sheet. The control section performs temperature control for the fixing device and fixes the recolorable decolorable colorant and the undecolorable colorant on the sheet at temperature higher than decoloring start temperature of the recolorable decolorable colorant to thereby fix the recolorable decolorable colorant on the sheet in a decolored state and fix the undecolorable colorant on the sheet in a colored state.
US09046852B2 Method for determining abnormality of temperature sensor and image forming apparatus using the same
A method for determining abnormality of a temperature sensor and the image forming apparatus, the method comprises: detecting an actual temperature of a fixing apparatus and an input voltage; calculating an actual temperature variation amount in a predetermined time period; comparing the detected input voltage and a predetermined voltage; comparing the calculated actual temperature variation amount and a first reference temperature variation amount if the input voltage is greater than the predetermined voltage; determining that the temperature sensor is abnormal if the actual temperature variation amount is less than the first reference temperature variation amount; comparing the calculated actual temperature variation amount and a smaller second reference temperature variation amount if the input voltage is equal to or less than the predetermined voltage; determining that the temperature sensor is abnormal if the actual temperature variation amount is less than the second reference temperature variation amount.
US09046837B2 Fixing device and method, and image forming apparatus incorporating same
A fixing device includes a heater to generate heat based on soft-start control. The heater is supplied with power using different power-turn-on-duty control patterns in accordance with power requirements and an operation mode of the fixing device.
US09046832B2 Fixing device having heat shielding device and image forming apparatus incorporating same
A fixing device includes an endless belt formed into a loop and rotatable in a given direction of rotation. An opposed rotary body contacts the endless belt to form a fixing nip therebetween through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed. A heater is disposed in proximity to an irradiation span spanning on an inner circumferential surface of the endless belt in a circumferential direction thereof to emit light that irradiates and heats the irradiation span of the endless belt. A shield is interposed between the heater and the irradiation span of the endless belt in a diametrical direction thereof to shield the irradiation span of the endless belt from heated air surrounding the heater.
US09046822B2 Systems and methods for universal imaging components
A method of operating a cartridge chip installed in an imaging device includes: causing, by the cartridge chip, the imaging device to enter an error condition; monitoring the timing or sequence of communication signals received from the imaging device during at least a portion of the error condition; and operating, based on the timing or sequence of the communication signals received from the imaging device during at least a portion of the error condition, in a first mode of operation compatible with a first type of imaging device not having a list of banned serial numbers or in a second mode of operation compatible with a second type of imaging device having a list of banned serial numbers.
US09046820B1 Sealing member, toner accommodating container and image forming apparatus
A toner supply container includes a toner container body including a cylindrical portion and an opening, and a sealing member provided at one axial end portion of the container body. The sealing member is movable relative to the container body in an axial direction and includes a sealing portion provided at a side adjacent the container body and a coupling portion provided at a side remote from the container body. The coupling portion includes a supporting portion provided on the sealing portion, and an engaging portion provided at a free end of the supporting portion, and a displacing force receiving portion is provided on the supporting portion at a position closer to the container body than the engaging portion. The displacing force receiving portion is displaceable with the supporting portion and has a radially outermost part that is more remote from a rotation axis of the container body than a radially outermost part of the engaging portion, and a radially outermost part of the container body is more remote from the rotation axis of the container body than the radially outermost part of the displacing force receiving portion.
US09046819B2 Toner transport device, and image forming apparatus
Provided is a toner transport device including a transport member that transports a developer in one direction, a toner feeding member disposed adjacent to, in a direction crossing the one direction, an end portion of the transport member, and a housing that is provided with a toner receiving port which receives supply of toner in an upper section of the toner feeding member, and accommodates the transport member and the toner feeding member, wherein the toner feeding member includes a rotating shaft, and a flat plate portion that protrudes in a direction away from a shaft member with one side thereof being connected to the shaft member and a front end portion away from the shaft member having a tapered shape, the flat plate portion rotating along with rotation of the shaft member to scrape the toner that moves from the toner receiving port toward the toner feeding member.
US09046817B2 Replaceable unit for an image forming device having a sensor for sensing rotational motion of a paddle in a toner reservoir of the replaceable unit
A replaceable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a reservoir for storing toner. A rotatable shaft is positioned within the reservoir. A paddle is mounted on the shaft. A sensor is positioned on the housing outside of the reservoir and positioned to sense a rotational motion of the paddle when the shaft rotates. A processor is mounted on the housing and in electric communication with the sensor. An electrical contact is in electric communication with the processor and exposed on an exterior of the housing unobstructed to mate with a corresponding electrical contact when the replaceable unit is installed in the image forming device.
US09046812B2 Development device and image forming apparatus including the same
A film member in a development device can vibrate with respect to an internal wall in the development device. An idler gear in the development device includes a projection and is reciprocally movable between a first position and a second position. The first position is a position where the projection is apart from an end edge of the film member in response to a rotation of a toner supply roller when image formation is performed. The second position is a position where the projection overlaps with the end edge of the film member in response to a reverse rotation of the toner supply roller when image formation is not performed. The projection causes the film member to vibrate by intermittently coming into contact with the end edge of the film member along with a rotation of the idler gear at the second position.
US09046807B2 Surface emitting laser
A surface emitting laser includes a stepped structure including portions having different thicknesses. The optical path length from a plane defined above the stepped structure and extending parallel to a base substrate to an interface between a front mirror and the stepped structure is set to a specific value in each of the portions of the stepped structure.
US09046798B2 Imaging members having electrically and mechanically tuned imaging layers
An electrophotographic imaging member which has improved imaging layer(s) formulated to comprise a charge transport compound and a polymer blended binder to render photoelectrical stability, tune-ability, and surface contact friction reduction for providing service life extension. The polymer blended binder used in the imaging layer(s) is a binary polymer blend binder consisting of: (1) an A-B diblock copolymer and a bisphenol polycarbonate and a low surface energy polysiloxane/polycarbonate random copolymer and (2) an A-B diblock copolymer and a low surface energy graft polysiloxane/polycarbonate copolymer.
US09046794B2 Cleaning module, EUV lithography device and method for the cleaning thereof
In order to clean optical components (35) inside an EUV lithography device in a gentle manner, a cleaning module for an EUV lithography device includes a supply line for molecular hydrogen and a heating filament for producing atomic hydrogen and hydrogen ions for cleaning purposes. The cleaning module also has an element, (33) arranged to apply an electric and/or magnetic field, downstream of the heating filament (29) in the direction of flow of the hydrogen (31, 32). The element can be designed as a deflection unit, as a filter unit and/or as an acceleration unit for the ion beam (32).
US09046789B2 Immersion lithography system using a sealed wafer bath
Immersion lithography system and method using a sealed wafer bottom are described. One embodiment is an immersion lithography apparatus comprising a lens assembly comprising an imaging lens and a wafer stage for retaining a wafer beneath the lens assembly, the wafer stage comprising a seal ring disposed on a seal ring frame along a top edge of the wafer retained on the wafer stage, the seal ring for sealing a gap between an edge of the wafer and the wafer stage. The embodiment further includes a fluid tank for retaining immersion fluid, the fluid tank situated with respect to the wafer stage for enabling full immersion of the wafer retained on the wafer stage in the immersion fluid and a cover disposed over at least a portion of the fluid tank for providing a temperature-controlled, fluid-rich environment within the fluid tank fluid-rich environment within the fluid tank.
US09046784B2 Nanoporous film patterned by direct photolithography and method for preparing the same
A nanoporous film patterned by direct photolithography and a method for preparing the same are provided. Since a precursor of the material is the mixture of a nano template material and a photoresist and the mixture still has the basic physical properties of the photoresist, a film is formed on a substrate by a standard photolithography process and a micro-sized patterned structure is realized. The mixture with the patterned structure is chemically etched to remove the template material to form a porous polymer film, or the mixture with the patterned structure is carbonized at a high temperature and then the template material is removed to form a porous carbon film. The nanoporous film patterned by direct photolithography and the method for preparing the same have the advantages of simple operation, low cost and good integration with other micro electric mechanical systems.
US09046783B2 Photomask, and pattern formation method and exposure apparatus using the photomask
A photomask includes a translucent substrate; and a light-shielding film formed on the translucent substrate, and including a light-shielding portion and an opening which serves as a translucent region. A plurality of recesses are formed in a region of the translucent substrate, which is exposed from the opening. Widths of the plurality of recesses gradually increase with an increase in distances from a focal point so that light transmitted by the plurality of recesses is focused in a predetermined position.
US09046781B2 Structure and method for reflective-type mask
The present disclosure provides an embodiment of a reflective mask that includes a substrate; a reflective multilayer formed on the substrate; a capping layer formed on the reflective multilayer and having a hardness greater than about 8; and an absorber layer formed on the capping layer and patterned according to an integrated circuit layout.
US09046780B2 Multilayer mirror and lithographic apparatus
A multilayer mirror constructed to reflect radiation having a wavelength in the range of 6.4 nm to 7.2 nm. The multilayer mirror has alternating layers, including a first layer and a second layer. The first and second layers are selected from the group consisting of: U, or a compound or nitride thereof, and B4C layers; Th, or a compound or nitride thereof, and B4C layers; La, or a compound or nitride thereof, and B9C layers; La, or a compound or nitride thereof, and B4C layers; U, or a compound or nitride thereof, and B9C layers; Th, or a compound or nitride thereof, and B9C layers; La, or a compound or nitride thereof, and B layers; U, or a compound or nitride thereof, and B layers; C, or a compound or nitride thereof, and B layers; Th, or a compound or nitride thereof, and B layers.
US09046778B2 Method of improving print performance in flexographic printing plates
A method of tailoring the shape of a plurality of relief printing dots created in a photosensitive printing blank during a platemaking process is provided. The photocurable layer is exposed to actinic radiation using an array of UV LED light assemblies and the use of the array of UV LED light assemblies produces relief printing dots having at least one geometric characteristic selected from the group consisting of a desired planarity of a top surface of the relief printing dots, a desired shoulder angle of the relief printing dots and a desired edge sharpness of the relief printing dots.
US09046777B2 Method for manufacturing a fine metal electrode
In a method for manufacturing a fine metal electrode, the method includes coating an organometallic ink on a first base substrate to form a solution layer. The first base substrate on which the solution layer is formed is pre-baked, to self-produce a nanoparticle in the solution layer. The first base substrate on which the solution layer is formed is aligned with a photomask. A laser is irradiated on the photomask. The photomask is detached from the base substrate on which the solution layer is formed. The solution layer is cleaned.
US09046772B2 Monomer, polymer, resist composition, and patterning process
A polymer for resist use is obtainable from a monomer having formula (1) wherein R1 is H, CH3 or CF3, R2 and R3 are a monovalent hydrocarbon group, R4 to R9 are hydrogen or a monovalent hydrocarbon group, R10 is a monovalent hydrocarbon group or fluorinated hydrocarbon group, A1 is a divalent hydrocarbon group, k1 is 0 or 1, and n1A is 0, 1 or 2. A resist composition comprising the polymer displays a high dissolution contrast during organic solvent development.
US09046767B2 Photoacid generator, photoresist, coated substrate, and method of forming an electronic device
A photoacid generator compound has the formula (1) wherein a, b, c, d, e, x, L1, L2, L3, L4, R1, R2, X, and Z− are defined herein. The photoacid generator compound exhibits good solubility in solvents typically used to formulate photoresist compositions and negative tone developers. Described herein are a photoresist composition including the photoacid generator compound, a coated substrate including the photoresist composition, and a device-forming method utilizing the photoresist composition.
US09046762B2 Nanoimprint lithography
A molding system includes a mold having a base and at least one protuberance extending from the base. The protuberance has an end surface. The system also includes a first photo-catalyst layer on the end surface. The first photo-catalyst layer is configured to at least partially break down a residual layer on a substrate in response to activation of the first photo-catalyst layer by a first radiation.
US09046761B2 Lithography mask having sub-resolution phased assist features
Techniques are disclosed for using sub-resolution phased assist features (SPAF) in a lithography mask to improve through process pattern fidelity and/or mitigate inverted aerial image problems. The technique also may be used to improve image contrast in non-inverted weak image sites. The use of SPAF in accordance with some such embodiments requires no adjustment to existing design rules, although adjustments can be made to enable compliance with mask inspection constraints. The use of SPAF also does not require changing existing fab or manufacturing processes, especially if such processes already comprehend phased shift mask capabilities. The SPAFs can be used to enhance aerial image contrast, without the SPAFs themselves printing. In addition, the SPAF phase etch depth can be optimized so as to make adjustments to a given predicted printed feature critical dimension.
US09046741B2 Lens cap assembly with integrated display
Disclosed are lens cap assemblies wherein a removable lens cap may include a lens cap body that is configured to be removably attached to an end of a lens. The lens cap can further include a cap communication interface configured to receive lens information from a lens communication interface while the lens cap is in an attached position. The lens cap can include a display to allow for the displaying of lens characteristics and information.
US09046736B2 Image stabilizer and image capturing device
An image stabilizer includes a stationary frame, a moveable frame, and a driving assembly. The stationary frame defines a central axis and includes an upper end, a lower end opposite to the upper end, and a first protrusion extending from the upper end. The moveable frame is elastically connected to the upper end and coincides with the stationary frame. The driving assembly includes two first metal clips and a first SMA line. The first metal clips are connected to two neighboring side surfaces of the moveable frame. Opposite ends of the first SMA line are clipped to the respective first metal clips. A bending portion of the first SMA line between the opposite sides contacts and hooks the first protrusion.
US09046730B2 Displays and sensors integrated with multi-state cholesteric liquid crystal devices
A sensing device may include a cholesteric crystal device including two optically transparent substrates; a liquid crystal having portions adapted for producing a plurality of optical states, said liquid crystal being arranged between the two optically transparent substrates; an optical sensor for changing optical states of respective portions of said liquid crystal to produce a range of respective optical states including all optical states produced by said liquid crystal ranging from one state to any combination of broadband reflection, tunable narrow band reflection, light scattering, and transparency in accordance with an amount of voltage applied across said cholesteric crystal device for changing optical states.
US09046725B2 Display device
Inspection pads are reduced when there is a need to input a plurality of control signals as inspection control signals. A display device includes: an integrated circuit; a first substrate on which a plurality of signal lines that respectively input the control signals to the integrated circuit, and an inspection pad are formed; and a driver circuit that that is mounted on the first substrate and connected to the plurality of signal lines. The plurality of signal lines include first and second signal lines adjacent to each other. The inspection pad is formed on the one signal line. The second signal line is connected to the inspection pad through a switch element. At the time of inspection, the switch element turns on, and the same control signal is input to the first and second signal lines from the inspection pad.
US09046720B2 Liquid crystal device and electronic apparatus
According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a liquid crystal device, including: which makes it possible to dispose a spacer for setting a distance between substrates, to prevent deterioration of display quality by eliminating thickness non-uniformity of an alignment layer due to the presence of a retardation layer, to prevent deterioration of display quality by preventing dissolution and flow of an ingredient of the retardation layer to the liquid crystal layer side, and the like in the liquid crystal device having a horizontal electric field system of a transflective type, and to provide an electric apparatus using the same.
US09046713B2 Liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display is provided. A liquid crystal display includes: a first substrate; a thin film transistor disposed on the first substrate; and a first electrode disposed on the thin film transistor and connected to an output terminal of the thin film transistor, wherein the first electrode includes a first region and a second region each including a plurality of minute branches separated from each other by open parts, portions of at least two minute branches among the plurality of minute branches are connected to form a plurality of minute plate branches, and wherein the minute plate branch has a wider width than a minute branch.
US09046701B2 Spectacle attachment that provides protection
Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention implement spectacle attachments that can provide protection from radiation. In one embodiment, a spectacle attachment that provides protection from radiation includes: a body of material that is a barrier to at least some form of radiation; where the body of material is configured so that it can couple with either temple of a pair of glasses; and where the body of material is sized to protect the side of a wearer's face from at least approximately the wearer's temple to approximately below the wearer's cheek when the body of material is coupled to a temple of a pair of glasses and the pair of glasses is worn.
US09046700B2 Glasses storage system
Glasses storage system. In one example embodiment, a glasses storage system includes a frame configured to position one or more lenses in front of one or both eyes of a user and an earpiece configured to support the frame. The earpiece surrounds a hollow storage cavity that is defined internally to the earpiece.
US09046698B2 Multi-axis lens design for astigmatism
A toric contact lens utilizes concentric annual rings, a continually varying lens design as a function of distance from the lens center or any other function to create a range of cylinder axis zones on a single lens.
US09046696B2 Image processing apparatus
Optimal shading correction is achieved even when exposure times are different. An apparatus includes a section that stores a γ property of an image pickup device, a section that stores a shading pattern acquired by the image pickup device, and a first exposure time, a section that stores image data acquired by the image pickup device and a second exposure time, a section that calculates a pre-correction pattern, based on the stored shading pattern and the stored γ property, a section that calculates a revised pattern by performing γ correction for the calculated pre-correction pattern after multiplying the calculated pre-correction pattern by a ratio of the second exposure time to the first exposure time, and a section that performs shading correction for the stored image data by using the calculated revised pattern.
US09046691B2 Laser scanning optical device
In an oblique-incidence optical system, a pair of optical beams are incident from the deflection section on an optically anisotropic common scanning lens. First and second individual scanning lenses are optically anisotropic and on which the one and the other of the pair of optical beams are respectively incident from the common scanning lens. Light sources are arranged such that their respective planes of polarization are symmetrical to each other. The first and second individual scanning lenses are arranged so as to be symmetrical to each other, the common scanning lens has a symmetrical shape in the secondary direction with respect to a plane including its own optical axis, and each of the individual scanning lenses has an asymmetrical shape in the secondary direction with respect to a plane including its own optical axis.
US09046690B2 Integrated monolithic optical bench containing 3-D curved optical elements and methods of its fabrication
An optical system, such as an integrated monolithic optical bench, includes a three-dimensional curved optical element etched in a substrate such that the optical axis of the optical system lies within the substrate and is parallel to the plane of the substrate.
US09046683B2 Adjustable optics for ongoing viewing correction
Exemplary methods, systems and components enable an enhanced direct-viewing optical device to make customized adjustments that accommodate various optical aberrations of a current user. In some instances a real-time adjustment of the transformable optical elements is based on known corrective optical parameters associated with a current user. In some implementations a control module may process currently updated wavefront measurements as a basis for determining appropriate real-time adjustment of the transformable optical elements to produce a specified change in optical wavefront at an exit pupil of the direct-viewing device. Possible transformable optical elements may have refractive and/or reflective and/or diffractive and/or transmissive characteristics that are adjusted based on current performance viewing factors for a given field of view of the direct-viewing device. Some embodiments enable dynamic repositioning and/or transformation of corrective optical elements based on a detected shift of a tracked gaze direction of a current user of the direct-viewing device.
US09046681B2 Electro-wetting element and operation method thereof, electro-wetting display device
The disclosure provides an electro-wetting element, including: a first substrate and a second substrate, wherein the first substrate and the second substrate are disposed oppositely; a first electrode formed on the first substrate; a photoreactive layer formed on the first electrode, wherein the photoreactive layer includes a reversible photoreactive material; a second electrode formed on the first substrate or the second substrate; and a polar fluid and a non-polar fluid disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate.
US09046667B2 Photoelectric conversion device and optical fiber coupling connector
A photoelectric conversion device includes a circuit board, light-emitting modules, light-receiving modules, an optical coupling module, and a lens strip. The light-emitting modules and the light-receiving modules are mounted on the circuit board. The optical coupling module is mounted on the circuit board and includes first and second optical surfaces, a reflection surface, and first converging lenses formed on the second optical surface and corresponding to the light-emitting modules and the light-receiving modules. The lens strip is mounted on the circuit board and includes a body portion and second converging lenses. The body portion includes an upper surface and an opposing lower surface defining a receiving cavity. The second converging lenses are formed on the upper surface. The light-emitting modules and the light-receiving modules are received in the receiving cavity and are aligned with the second converging lenses.
US09046665B2 Optical coupling module and optical fiber coupling connector
An optical coupling module includes a reflection member, first and second assembled members, first and second converging lenses. The reflection member includes a first surface, a second surface perpendicular connected to the first surface, and a reflection surface obliquely interconnected between the first and second surfaces. The first assembled member includes a first optical surface and is detachably mounted on the first surface. The second assembled member includes a second optical surface and is detachably mounted on the second surface. The first converging lenses are arranged on the first optical surface. The second converging lenses are arranged on the second optical surface and correspond to the second converging lenses. The reflection surface reflects parallel light beams from the first converging lenses toward the corresponding second converging lenses and reflects parallel light beams from the second converging lenses toward the corresponding first converging lenses.
US09046659B2 Independent dual path optical rotary joint
A dual optical path rotary joint provides a low friction coupling of optical fiber connections for optogenetic research and other applications. Two optical paths are provided through the rotary joint which are rotation-insensitive. The ends of the rotary joint rotate with respect to a common housing, which may be provided with ball-bearings or other suitable low-friction rotational mounts in which a first rotating component and a second rotating component are secured. The first and second rotating components are not mechanically linked in rotation, and their rotation is only synchronized by magnets disposed on the first rotating component and the second rotating component. A pair of optical fibers is coupled to the first rotating component and another pair of optical fiber is coupled to the second rotating component. A pair of isolated optical paths links the pairs of fibers, which are directed between the first and second rotating components by reflection.
US09046657B2 Systems and methods for reducing off-axis optical aberrations in wavelength dispersed devices
Through its higher refractive index, a silicon grism can be used to reduce the Described herein are systems and methods for reducing optical aberrations in an optical system to decrease polarization dependent loss. Embodiments are provided particularly to define beam trajectories through an optical switching system which reduce off-axis aberrations. In one embodiment, a silicon grism is provided for reducing the curvature of the focal plane at an LCOS device in a wavelength selective switch (WSS) such that the separated polarization states converge at the LCOS at substantially the same point along the optical axis for all wavelengths. In this embodiment, an axial offset at the LCOS device will not produce large PDL at the coupling fibers. In another embodiment, a coupling lens having an arcuate focusing region is provided to address an offset in the optical beams, such that the separated polarization states couple symmetrically to respective output fibers.
US09046653B2 PDL compensator optical device, and PDL compensation method
A PDL compensation technique is provided that reduces the number of and the number of types of the PDL compensators even if it is uncertain to determine which of the two polarization principal axes of an optical device has a larger loss. The PDL compensator according to the present invention is configured to, before an optical signal input from a first or a second input/output terminal enters a PDL compensation device, switch between the first polarization principal axis and the second polarization principal axis of the optical signal depending on which of the first and the second polarization principal axes has a larger loss or gain.
US09046645B2 Antireflection film, method for producing antireflection film, polarizer and image display device
The claimed invention provides an antireflection film including a light-transmitting substrate, a hard coat layer, and a low-refractive-index layer, the hard coat layer and the low-refractive-index layer being formed on the light-transmitting substrate, the low-refractive-index layer including a (meth)acrylic resin, hollow silica particles, reactive silica particles, and two kinds of antifouling agents, the hollow silica particles having an average particle size of 40 to 80 nm and a blending ratio to the (meth)acrylic resin, represented by a ratio: Amount of hollow silica particles/Amount of (meth)acrylic resin, of 0.9 to 1.4, the amount of the reactive silica particles being 5 to 60 parts by mass based on 100 parts by mass of the (meth) acrylic resin, the antifouling agents including an antifouling agent that contains a fluorine compound and an antifouling agent that contains a fluoro-silicone compound.
US09046644B2 Low water content soft lens for eye, and method for producing the same
A low water content soft lens for eye is provided, which includes a layer made of an acidic polymer and a basic polymer on at least a part of a surface of a base material containing a polysiloxane compound. Adhesion of the lens to the cornea during wear, which has hitherto been regarded as a problem in a conventional low water content soft lens for eye, can be reduced or avoided when using the low water content soft lens.
US09046641B2 Silicone hydrogel composition and silicone hydrogel contact lenses made from the composition
A silicone hydrogel composition is disclosed. The composition includes at least one silicone macromer, a hydroxy-functionalized silicone-containing monomer, a first hydrophibic monomer and at least one crosslinker, in which the first hydrophibic monomer is N-vinyl pyrrolidone. The silicone macromer and the hydroxy-functionalized silicone-containing monomer are mutually soluble with N-vinylpyrrolidone. Silicone hydrogel contact lenses prepared from the silicone hydrogel composition are also disclosed.
US09046631B2 Light guiding plate and light guiding device including the same
A light guiding plate and a light guiding device are provided, and the light guiding plate is implemented in the light guiding device. The light guiding device includes a side light source emitting light to the light guiding plate. The light guiding plate includes a first surface, a second surface and a third surface. The second surface is opposite to the first surface, and the third surface is adjacent to the first surface and the second surface. The second surface includes plural light guiding units, and each of the light guiding units includes a total reflection concavity and a light emitting convexity. The light emitting convexity surrounds the total reflection concavity.
US09046627B2 Generating a forecast by field coalescence
A method for generating a coalesced image includes receiving a plurality of fields for a geographical region. A set of forces is determined for each of the fields by multiplying a gradient of a respective one of the fields with a difference between the respective one of the fields and each of the other fields. A net influence for each field is determined by averaging each of the forces associated with the respective field. A spectral filter is applied to each net influence to generate a respective value of a mode of motion used to deform each field and then displace each field until each field coalesces with each other field.
US09046622B2 Image forming apparatus
An optical sensor, which can be included in an image forming apparatus, includes a detecting portion disposed facing a detection target and configured to detect the detection target by emitting light to the detection target, a dust-proofing member having a surface disposed facing the detection target and configured to cover the detecting portion, a vibration member configured to vibrate the surface of the dust-proofing member, and a collecting member configured to collect dust in the vicinity of the dust-proofing member. On the surface of the dust-proofing member facing the detection target, at least a portion that intersects a pathway of light emitted from the detection portion is formed as a thru-beam part by a material through which the light transmits.
US09046603B2 Radar sensor for motor vehicles, in particular RCA sensor
Radar sensor for motor vehicles, including a transmitting antenna in the form of a planar array antenna having multiple adjacent antenna elements, and including a power supply system for supplying the antenna elements with microwave power. The power supply system is designed for supplying each pair of directly adjacent antenna elements with microwave power in phase opposition.
US09046597B2 Monitoring sensor with activation
A monitoring sensor for detecting a test signal from an external signal generator at an input for receiving signals, to switch the monitoring sensor from a passive state to an active state when a signal is detected, to switch the monitoring sensor to a test state after a test period “t2” has expired, to change an output signal from an output of the monitoring sensor after an activation period “t3” has expired, this change in the output signal corresponding to a signal which arises when the monitoring sensor triggers a switching operation after an object has been detected, to convert the output signal to the initial state again after the withdrawal of the test signal has been detected, and to provide this renewed signal change as the signal for an external signal generator, the monitoring sensor changing to the monitoring state after this signal sequence.
US09046595B2 Client assisted location data acquisition scheme
A system and method for locating a wireless client using trusted wireless detectors is described. Sniffers may sense signal strength information and transmit the information to a database. The database may store signal strength-based location information. Information from the database may then be used to determine the location of a wireless client based on new signal strength information from one or more sniffers.
US09046587B2 Superconducting-magnet adjustment method
There are provided the steps of: measuring a magnetic field in a predetermined space; and performing shimming by arranging a plurality of ferromagnetic shims in a superconducting magnet. The step of shimming includes arranging the plurality of shims at positions that make the magnetic field homogeneous, based on a result of measurement in the step of measuring the magnetic field and that provide a predetermined value of an electromagnetic force caused by the magnetic field to act on the plurality of shims.
US09046583B2 Apparatus and method for estimating voltage of secondary battery including blended material in electrode
Disclosed is an apparatus for estimating a voltage of a secondary battery which includes a cathode comprising a first cathode material and a second cathode material with different operating voltage ranges, an anode comprising an anode material and a separator for separating the cathode from the anode. The apparatus comprises a control unit configured to estimate a voltage of a secondary battery based on a circuit model including a first cathode material circuit, a second cathode material circuit and an anode material circuit, each circuit modeled to change its voltage according to State Of Charge (SOC) of the electrode material corresponding the circuit and a current flowing through the circuit.
US09046582B1 System and method for testing a battery
A method, computer program product, and computing system for decoupling a cooling fan within a computing device from a line voltage power supply. The cooling fan within the computing device is coupled to a battery backup unit. The cooling fan is energized for a defined test period. One or more battery statistics are monitored during at least a portion of the defined test period.
US09046580B2 Battery thermal event detection system utilizing battery pack isolation monitoring
A system for detecting cell failure within a battery pack based on variations in the measured electrical isolation resistance of the battery pack is provided. The system includes an electrical isolation resistance monitoring subsystem for monitoring the electrical isolation resistance of the battery pack; a system controller coupled to the isolation resistance monitoring subsystem that detects when the electrical isolation resistance falls below a preset value; and a cell failure response subsystem that performs a preset response upon receipt of a control signal from the system controller, where the control signal is transmitted when the electrical isolation resistance falls below the preset value. The system may include a secondary effect monitoring system, wherein the cell failure response subsystem performs the preset response when the electrical isolation resistance falls below the preset value and the secondary effect is detected by the secondary effect monitoring system.
US09046575B2 TAP test clock control circuitry connected to device address port
The disclosure describes a novel method and apparatus for making device TAPs addressable to allow device TAPs to be accessed in a parallel arrangement without the need for having a unique TMS signal for each device TAP in the arrangement. According to the disclosure, device TAPs are addressed by inputting an address on the TDI input of devices on the falling edge of TCK. An address circuit within the device is associated with the device's TAP and responds to the address input to either enable or disable access of the device's TAP.
US09046556B2 Sensing device and related operating methods
Apparatus, systems, and methods are provided for sensing devices. An exemplary sensing device includes a sensing arrangement on a substrate to sense a first property, a heating arrangement, and a control system coupled to the first sensing arrangement and the heating arrangement to activate the heating arrangement to heat the first sensing arrangement and deactivate the heating arrangement while obtaining one or more measurement values for the first property from the first sensing arrangement.
US09046555B2 Latching over-current protection circuit and method
A load limiting circuit includes a transistor switch, for providing current to a load and a latching circuit having a control input, and a latch output driving the transistor switch. A current sensing transistor interconnects with the transistor switch, to sense current in excess of a threshold to the load. The current sensing transistor drives the control input to the latching circuit. An external controller may drive and monitor the control input. The controller may thus turn the transistor switch on and off, and be notified of an over-current condition. The latching circuit may turn the transistor switch off permanently. As well, the controller may attempt to set the load limiting circuit after an over-current condition.
US09046553B2 Method and apparatus for dynamic signal switching of a merging unit in an electrical power system
A method and an apparatus for dynamic signal switching with multiple measurement sources, for a merging unit in an electrical power system, said merging unit receiving at least two input signals from at least one current transformer measuring the same physical primary quantity. The method comprises a step of outputting from said merging unit, in a real-time mode, a digitized output stream of sampled values with the truest representation of the physical primary quantity, based on the actual values of the input signals.
US09046552B2 On-die trim-able passive components for high volume manufacturing
Described is an apparatus to trim on-die passive components. The apparatus comprises: a resistor-capacitor (RC) dominated oscillator independent of first order transistor speed dependency, wherein the RC dominated oscillator including one or more resistors and capacitors with programmable resistance and capacitance, and wherein the RC dominated oscillator to generate an output signal having a frequency depending substantially on values of the programmable resistance and capacitance; and a trim-able resistor or capacitor operable to be trimmed, for compensating process variations, according to a program code associated with the programmable resistance and capacitance of the RC dominated oscillator.
US09046541B1 Method for producing a disk resonator gyroscope
A method for producing a disk resonator gyroscope includes providing a base substrate and a handle wafer with a release hole, bonding a release wafer to the handle wafer, bonding a resonator wafer to the release wafer, etching the resonator wafer to form a disk resonator with a central pillar, and sense and drive electrodes, selectively applying a conductive film onto the disk resonator on a side of the disk resonator opposite the release wafer, on the outer edge of the disk resonator, and on the surfaces of the sense and drive electrodes facing the outer edge of the disk resonator, bonding the sense and drive electrodes and the central pillar of the disk resonator to the base substrate, and releasing the handle wafer by introducing a dry release agent into the release hole to undercut the release wafer.
US09046535B2 Methods and kits for measuring von willebrand factor
Methods and kits for measuring levels of von Willebrand factor function in a sample without using a platelet aggregation agonist, such as ristocetin, comprising recombinant glycoprotein Ibα having at least two of a G233V, D235Y and M239V mutations and an agent to detect a complex between the recombinant glycoprotein Ibα and von Willebrand factor.
US09046530B2 Methods and compositions for chlamydial antigens as reagents for diagnosis of tubal factor infertility and chlamydial infection
The present invention provides Chlamydia proteins and fragments thereof and methods of use in diagnostic assays.
US09046529B2 Prostatitis-associated antigens and methods of use thereof
The present disclosure provides prostatitis-associated antigens, and compositions comprising the antigens. The present disclosure provides diagnostic methods, generally involving assaying the level of an immune response specific for a prostatitis-associated antigen in an individual. Kits suitable for use in performing such diagnostic assays are also provided. The present disclosure further provides methods of treating prostatitis, methods of treating prostate cancer, and methods of treating benign prostatic hyperplasia.