Document Document Title
US09050072B2 Cryoprobe for low pressure systems
A cryoprobe for use in cryosurgery and other applications comprising a rigid outer tube, an inner coolant inlet tube. a short rigid penetrating segment extending distally from the distal end of the outer tube and a helical-shaped baffle having a heating element disposed about the outer surface of the inlet tube. The baffle is adapted to produce turbulent fluid flow improving heat transfer and is able to warm target tissue during rapid freezing and thawing cycles.
US09050063B2 Systems and methods for determining suitability of a mechanical implant for a medical procedure
Stored information comprising product use information for each of a plurality of mechanical implants is maintained. Data identifying a mechanical implant is received, during a medical procedure. Suitability of the mechanical implant is determined, during the medical procedure, based on the data and the stored information.
US09050058B2 X-ray diagnostic system and X-ray diagnostic method
An X-ray diagnostic system according to an embodiment includes: an X-ray tube for radiating an X-ray to the subject on the basis of a tube current for taking a scanogram of a subject; an X-ray detector for detecting the X-ray radiated by the X-ray tube and transmitted through the subject; a data collector for collecting X-ray dose distribution data, which shows the dose distribution of the X-ray; an image processor for creating the scanogram from the X-ray dose distribution data; a genuine data generator for generating genuine data showing the dose distribution of the X-ray, from the scanogram; a threshold value setting section for setting a threshold value for the genuine data; and a tube current adjustor for adjusting a tube current for taking a tomographic image of the subject in accordance with a comparison between the X-ray dose in the genuine data and the threshold value.
US09050057B1 Medical image system and program
A medical image system includes: a storage unit which stores a first medical image; a selection unit which selects a medical image to be associated with a second medical image; a designation unit which designates an abnormal shadow candidate; a reception unit which receives the second medical image newly created; a determination unit which determines whether or not the first medical image selected is an image suited for association, and the abnormal shadow candidate designated and the second medical image received satisfy a predetermined condition; an association unit which stores the second medical image in association with the abnormal shadow candidate; and a monitoring unit which monitors the association, outputs a warning, and stores the abnormal shadow candidate or the second medical image in association with information indicating there is no second medical image or abnormal shadow candidate to be associated, respectively.
US09050054B2 Medical image diagnostic apparatus
Provided is a medical image diagnostic apparatus, including: an internal image acquiring unit for acquiring a plurality of internal images different in time phase by irradiating a body part of a subject with X-rays; an outer appearance image acquiring unit for acquiring an outer appearance image by photographing the body part of the subject; an analysis unit for analyzing the outer appearance image to acquire first shape information indicating a shape of the body part of the subject and analyzing each of the plurality of internal images to acquire second shape information indicating a shape of the body part of the subject; and a display control unit for displaying the outer appearance image and the each of the plurality of internal images by superimposing one on another so that the body part of the subject included in the outer appearance image and the body part of the subject included in the each of the plurality of internal images are located in the same position based on the first shape information and the second shape information.
US09050052B2 Ultrasound endoscope
A wiring board electrically connected to a back side of an ultrasound transmitting/receiving section that transmits/receives ultrasound includes a rigid circuit board included in a stiff portion, and a wrapping portion extending out from the rigid circuit board (stiff portion), and a plurality of drive wirings electrically connected to the wiring board are inserted into a wiring insertion portion of a housing with the plurality of drive wirings wrapped and bundled by the wrapping portion.
US09050047B2 Resistance feedback laryngoscope
A resistance feedback laryngoscope contains a pushing grip, a trigger pad, a rotary shaft, a first transmitting rod, a second transmitting rod, and a two-step levering blade. The pushing grip includes a curved front side connecting with the two-step levering blade. The two-step levering blade includes a first movable blade, a second movable blade, and a fixed blade. The first transmitting rod and the second transmitting rod connect with the rotary shaft fixed on a drive post with a resilient element. The resilient element has a first foot butting against a locking peg proximate to the drive post and has a second foot being biased against a side piece of the rotary shaft. The trigger pad contacts with the pushing grip and curves upward slightly, and the trigger pad includes an arcuate groove formed therein, a bottom end of the arcuate groove contacts with the side piece of the rotary shaft.
US09050046B2 Anti-reflux mechanism for urine collection systems
A urine collection system includes an anti-flux mechanism to reduce the amount of urine that may flow from within the collection bag back into the urine meter. The urine collection system includes a urine meter, a collection member defining at least a first opening for receiving urine from the urine meter and a shield positioned adjacent the opening of the collection member. The shield is affixed to the collection member at predetermined connection points along a periphery of the shield whereby urine flows between the connection points from the urine meter to the collection member. The shield may be affixed to an internal surface of the bag. The shield may be spot welded to the collection member at the connection points. The shield may include at least a first slot configured to permit the passage of fluid therethrough.
US09050043B2 Systems and methods for wavelet transform scale-dependent multiple-archetyping
Methods and systems are disclosed for producing a plurality of archetype signals in wavelet space at a plurality of wavelet scales. A signal is transformed using a continuous wavelet transform based at least in part on a wavelet function. A scale dependent archetype transformed signal is computed based at least in part on the transformed signal and based at least in part on a natural periodicity of the wavelet function used to transform the signal. Information may be derived about the signal from the archetype transform signal, and stored in memory.
US09050039B2 Radiation imaging device with irregular rectangular shape and extraoral dental imaging system therefrom
A radiation imaging device includes plural individual detectors defining an irregular rectangular active area responsive to x-rays and with different widths along a length of the active area. The individual detectors may be of different rectangular shapes and mounted on a motherboard. The motherboard may be formed of a first module mounting a first of two individual detectors and a second module detachable connected to the first module and mounting a second of two individual detectors.
US09050037B2 View optimizer and stabilizer for use with surgical scopes
The present application discloses several devices for maintaining visualization with a surgical scope. The embodiments of the device are adapted to shield, defog or clean the lens of the surgical scope while the surgical scope is being used to perform a surgical procedure within a patient's body. In some embodiments, the view optimizer is provided in multiple parts enabling separation of one or more operator control features from engagement with the surgical scope. In some embodiments, the view optimizer features stabilization means for securement and positioning with the surgical scope.
US09050032B2 Methods for measuring the magnitude of attention and motor activity disturbance in a subject
The invention features methods and systems to monitor changes in the magnitude of attentional disturbance and the magnitude of motor activity disturbance in a subject. The invention also features methods and systems for determining a subject's degree of concordance with individuals having an attentional disorder versus individuals not having an attentional disorder. The methods and systems of the invention can enable clinicians and consumers to ascertain both the severity of an attentional disorder as well as how much an individual changes over time, or with therapy.
US09050026B2 Apparatus and method for operating a real time large diopter range sequential wavefront sensor
An apparatus including a wavefront sensor including a light source configured to illuminate a subject eye, a detector, an image sensor configured to output an image of the subject eye, a first beam deflecting element configured to intercept a wavefront beam returned from a subject eye when the subject eye is illuminated by the light source and configured to direct a portion of the wavefront from the subject eye through an aperture toward the detector and a controller, coupled to the light source, the image sensor and the beam deflecting element, configured to process the image to determine transverse movement of the subject eye and to control the beam deflecting element to deflect and project through the aperture portions of an annular ring portion of the wavefront and further configured to pulse the light source at a firing rate to sample selected portions of the annular ring at the detector, to process the image of the subject eye to calculate transverse movement of the subject eye and to orient the beam deflecting element at a DC offset angle to compensate transverse movement of the subject eye.
US09050020B2 Ultrasound diagnostic apparatus and image processing method
An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment includes a detector, a determination unit, a retention controller, and a display controller. The detector is configured to detect a peak flow velocity of blood flow velocities acquired from Doppler waveforms collected in a time-serial manner or a peak value of average flow velocities of the blood flow velocities as a representative flow velocity for each predefined period. The determination unit is configured to determine a maximum value in a predefined polarity of a plurality of representative flow velocities. The retention controller is configured to control a memory unit to retain maximum waveform information that is Doppler waveform information of Doppler waveforms collected for a period in which the maximum value was detected. The display controller is configured to control a display unit to display the maximum waveform information with Doppler waveform information having been collected by a present time point.
US09050019B2 Pharyngeal ultrasound guide
A pharyngeal ultrasound guide (PUG) to be placed inside the pharynx which allows the transmission of ultrasonic waves from a ultrasonic probe placed therein into the structures of the pharynx, throat, and major vessels; the technique of acquisition of the ultrasonic images and Doppler measurements using such a device; and the procedures which may be performed using the images.
US09050018B2 Means and methods for providing high resolution MRI
Means and methods for improving the MRI “image quality in an MRI imaging” apparatus comprising a non-superconducting electromagnet and a plurality of pole pieces are provided. Said means for improving the image quality chosen from the group consisting of (a) means for reducing degradation of MRI image quality due to B0 field instability; (b) means for decreasing or otherwise correcting residual magnetization; (c) means for providing a 3D scout image; and (d) any combination of the above. These means for improving the image quality provides greater resolution of the imaged object relative to an MRI apparatus not containing such means for improving image quality.
US09050014B2 System for cardiac arrhythmia detection and characterization
A system for analyzing cardiac electrophysiological signals includes an acquisition processor for acquiring signal data representing heart electrical activity over multiple heart cycles. An individual heart cycle comprises a signal portion between successive sequential R waves. A time interval detector uses a signal peak detector for detecting multiple successive time intervals including individual time intervals comprising a time interval between a first peak occurring in a first heart cycle and a second peak occurring in at least one of, (a) a successive sequential second heart cycle and (b) a third heart cycle successive and sequential to the second heart cycle. A data processor processes the multiple detected successive time intervals by, determining at least one interval parameter of, a mean, variance and standard deviation of the time intervals and generating an alert message in response to the interval parameter.
US09050008B2 Non-linear filtering for the reconstruction of a surface electrocardiogram from an endocardial electrogram
An active medical device using non-linear filtering for the reconstruction of a surface electrocardiogram (ECG) from an endocardial electrogram (EGM) is disclosed. The device for the reconstruction of the surface ECG includes a plurality of inputs, receiving a corresponding plurality of EGM signals from endocardial or epicardial electrogram (x1[n], x2[n]), each collected on a respective EGM derivation of a plurality of EGM derivations, and at least one output delivering a reconstructed surface ECG electrocardiogram signal (y[n]), related to an ECG derivation, and a non-linear digital filter (12′, 12′, 14) with a transfer function that determines the reconstructed ECG signal based on said plurality of input EGM signals. The non-linear digital filter includes a Volterra filter type (12, 12′, 12″) whose transfer function includes a linear term (h1) and at least one quadratic (h2) and/or cubic (h3) term(s).
US09050006B2 System and method for reconstructing cardiac activation information
An example system and method of reconstructing cardiac activation information are disclosed. An analysis signal and a reference signal are processed to determine whether there is a first point of change in a first selected-order derivative of the analysis signal with respect to a first selected-order derivative of the reference signal above a first threshold. The analysis signal and the reference signal are processed to determine whether there is a second point of change in a second selected-order derivative of the analysis cardiac signal with respect to a second selected-order derivative of the reference cardiac signal above a second threshold. An activation onset time is assigned in the analysis cardiac signal at a point based on a mathematical association of the first point of change and the second point of change to define cardiac activation indicating a beat in the analysis cardiac signal.
US09050004B2 Endoscopic system for accessing constrained surgical spaces
A retractor instrument for minimally invasive surgery may include a housing with a longitudinal axis, an arm extending from a distal end of the housing, and an actuation mechanism, wherein actuation of the actuation mechanism causes radial expansion of the arm relative to the longitudinal axis. The device may be adapted for use with an endoscope or arthroscope or may be an integral part of one such scope. A method of performing surgery in constrained areas within the body is also included and may be applicable to the carpal tunnel of a wrist and palm or the cubital tunnel of an elbow.
US09049996B2 Stereoscopic X-ray imaging apparatus
A stereoscopic X-ray imaging apparatus includes: right and left X-ray tubes; a diaphragm unit in which right and left openings are formed through which X-rays radiated by the right and left X-ray tubes pass, respectively; an X-ray sensor on which the X-ray radiated by each of the right and left X-ray tubes is projected; a controller configured to control positions and sizes of the right and left openings; and right and left visible light sources configured to radiate a visible light to the X-ray sensor in the same area as each of the right and left X-ray tubes through each of the right and left openings. Spectra of the visible light emitted by the right and left visible light sources are different from each other.
US09049991B2 Method of discriminating longitudinal melanonychia and visualizing malignancy thereof
In a digital color image of longitudinal melanonychia, RGB parameter values of each pixel are assumed as three components to form a three-dimensional vector. Latitudinal and longitudinal variables are obtained for each three-dimensional vector in an RGB space. The latitudinal and longitudinal variables are used to define a distribution of points, and from the distribution, a discrimination index is found. The discrimination index is classified according to a threshold, to discriminate whether the longitudinal melanonychia is malignant or benign. The distribution of points is displayed to realize visualization of the malignancy of the longitudinal melanonychia.
US09049989B2 Methods and devices to decrease tissue trauma during surgery
Methods and devices are disclosed to reduce tissue trauma when a physician retracts a patient's tissues for surgery. In one part, methods and devices are disclosed for controlling retraction force and pace. In another part, methods and devices are disclosed for oscillating force when opening. In another part, methods and devices are disclosed for detecting trauma during retraction. In another part, methods and devices are disclosed for balancing forces on multiple retraction elements. In another part, methods and devices are disclosed for reducing forces in multiple dimensions. In another part, methods and devices are disclosed for engaging ribs. In another part, methods and devices are disclosed to compensate for deformation of a retractor under load. In another part, methods and devices are disclosed that combine these methods and devices. In another part, methods and devices are disclosed for controlling pressure inside inflatable devices used for deforming biological tissues.
US09049985B2 Satellite, cellular and Wi-Fi mobile multimode transmission and reception methods
A airplane based communication and position finding method for receiving in a transceiver a OFDM signal from a mobile unit in an airplane. Demodulating and processing an OFDM received signal into a processed OFDM signal and processing and modulating the processed OFDM signal into a processed modulated signal. Transmitting in the airplane based transceiver the modulated signal to a satellite receiver. Receiving in the airplane based transceiver a second modulated signal from a satellite transmitter, demodulating and processing the second modulated signal into a processed second OFDM signal and modulating and transmitting said processed second OFDM signal to mobile unit. Method for processing an input voice signal, in a mobile unit, into a processed cross-correlated CDMA signal, modulating and transmitting cross-correlated CDMA signal into a modulated transmitted CDMA signal, used in a cellular system.
US09049979B2 User interface system and method for creating and managing ultrasound measurement-based calculations in ultrasound imaging system
An ultrasound imaging system (10) includes a display (16) for displaying an ultrasound image and an analysis package operatively connected to the image display. The analysis package provides a user the ability to manage an ultrasound measurement-based calculation. The analysis package facilitates the management of the measurement-based calculation by displaying for the user a sequence of data entry steps. Information necessary for managing the calculation is accepted and verified at each step and then, also used to determine which step to display next. At the conclusion of the final step, the measurement-based calculation is saved in the system.
US09049977B2 Dishwasher
A dishwasher, in particular a household dishwasher, includes at least one wash compartment and a rack guide rail for support in the wash compartment of a rack which holds items to be washed and/or dried. The rack guide rail has a running surface to allow movement of the rack in and out of the wash compartment for loading and unloading purposes along a travel path supported on the running surface. The rack guide rail is hereby supported at a support point for pivoting about a pivot axis.
US09049976B2 Rotary sponge having an adjustable elongated handle
An automatically rotating sponge apparatus for facilitating reaching and cleaning in hard to reach places comprising an extendable rod having disposed at one end a rotating attaching member, a motor, and a switch for actuating the motor, wherein attaching member is configured to attach and hold a conventional sponge and the attaching member is connected to the motor such that it rotates about its center axis by the motor when the motor is actuated. In this manner, the rotating sponge apparatus allows a conventional sponge being held by the attaching member to be extended beyond arms reach the length of the extendable rod and automatically rotated to generate cleaning action friction.
US09049967B1 Food processing apparatus and method
Food processing apparatus and methods for processing food are disclosed. The apparatus may include stored sequences for operating a processing tool. The stored sequences may address various challenging aspects of blending solid foods and/or ice. In some embodiments, particular sequences are implemented with specific processing tools.
US09049957B2 Infusion device for infusion capsules and the like, particularly for espresso coffee machines and the like
An infusion device for infusion capsules, particularly for espresso coffee machines, comprising a filter basket holder cylinder and a piston which can move with respect to each other from a configuration for loading and unloading at least one capsule for infusions into or from the filter basket holder cylinder to a dispensing configuration and vice versa, the device comprising first elements for movement of at least one of the filter basket holder cylinder and the piston for their first relative movement from the loading and unloading configuration to an intermediate configuration that is comprised between the loading and unloading configuration and the dispensing configuration and vice versa, and second elements for moving at least one of the filter basket holder cylinder and the piston for a second relative movement thereof from the intermediate configuration to the dispensing configuration and vice versa.
US09049956B2 Rigid grill structure
A cart suitable for supporting a grill, including a grill bowl. The cart has two union members with curved channels for receiving tubular, U-shaped frame members. The union members may be in the form of two similar (but not necessarily identical) halves joined together to enclose the frame members. The tubular channels of the union members resist movement (such as twisting and tilting) in at least two directions. The union members lock the frame members in place with internal protrusions that fit into mating depressions or holes in the frame members. Extra rigidity is added to the cart by one or more side tables which are structural members as well as functional tables. The side tables thus serve as cross-members between two frame assemblies. The grill's lid can easily be tilted back to rest in place on lid supports underneath the bottom edge and contact points on the side tables.
US09049954B2 Hanger bar assembly for architectural mesh and the like
An architectural mesh hanging system having a hanger assembly including a hanger tube having a plurality of openings and an architectural mesh panel of predetermined size having an uppermost edge defined by a plurality of loops. The plurality of loops are positioned within the plurality of openings in the hanger tube and a retaining rod is disposed through the plurality of loops within an interior of the hanger tube, thereby preventing the plurality of loops from displacement out of the plurality of opening.
US09049953B2 Cord embedded roman shade curtain and cord embedded roman shade using the same
Disclosed herein is a cord embedded roman shade curtain which is configured to include a curtain 10, a pocket curtain 20, a connection belt 30, and a cord 40. Further, the present invention relates to a cord embedded roman shade which is configured to include a curtain 10, a pocket curtain 20, a connection belt 30, a cord 40, a rotating bar 50, a frame 60, and a tow rope 70. Therefore, the curtain can be integrally woven without forming a separate ring and the cord is not exposed to the outside to prevent the accidents that the cord is wound around a child's hand or neck.
US09049951B2 Multi-functional accessory
In an embodiment, a multi-functional accessory serves as a platform for implementing modifications to a product in a time-saving and less costly manner, whereas the modifications would otherwise be made to the product itself. In an embodiment, the product is inserted into the multi-functional accessory. In an embodiment, the multi-functional accessory may be utilized in applications with exposure to a liquid or moisture and in dry applications with no or minimal exposure to a liquid or moisture.
US09049946B1 Infant covering blanket adapted for use with infant supporting apparatuses
A blanket for covering an infant in an infant supporting apparatus having one or more restraints to retain the infant in said infant supporting apparatus, said blanket comprising: a flexible panel having an interior surface that is adjacent to the infant when said blanket is in use and at least one strap for attaching said blanket to at least one of said one or more restraints, said at least one strap being affixed to the flexible panel and adjacent to the interior surface of the flexible panel.
US09049939B2 Furniture device
A furniture device (1) comprising a fundament (3), a support member (5) comprising a first section (7), a second section (9) and a pivoting member (15) adapted to pivot the second section between a first and a second orientation. The pivoting member comprising an arm arrangement (20, 20a, 20b) comprising a first arm (22) extending between the fundament and the second section and comprising a displaceable end (50), a second arm (40) extending between the fundament and the second section, a first pivot (24) between the first arm and the fundament and a second pivot (42) between the second arm and the fundament. The pivoting member comprises a pivoting mechanism (30) adapted to pivot the second section from the first orientation to the second orientation by inducing a displacement of the displaceable end towards the second pivot (42) while the first and the second arm act on the second section.
US09049938B2 Canopy chair
An exemplary embodiment providing one or more improvements includes a frame which attaches to outdoor furniture, in particular to a chair, and a canopy. Embodiments can be moved from an overhead position to a behind the chair position. The frames can be moved from a collapsed to a fully extended position. In embodiments the canopy can be positioned to contain the collapsed frame and chair in the carrying position.
US09049937B2 Active response seating system
A seat having a plurality of defined zones for supporting the human anatomy. The zoned seating can also include one or more recoil shields that can be one piece, multiple pieces, or can itself comprise multiple sections that correspond with the multiple zones or individual zones. The seating can also include inserts to assist in supporting or isolating certain desired portions of the human anatomy. The seating includes both seat back structures and seat pan structures, with each including a zoned configuration designed to support and stabilize specific structures of the human anatomy in a defined manner. The zones can separate independent and defined zones that are designed to be separate and act as individual anatomical support areas that collectively support, cradle and permit the human anatomy to be supported in a comfortable manner. It is preferred that the zones act and operate independently from one another. However, the zones could be arranged, for example, by size, design, formation, or the shape of construction, to interact with adjacent zones. The seat can also be formed around and/or from a molded, contoured member that itself replicates a surface taken from a multi-zoned surface which has been adjusted to fit an individual.
US09049936B2 Integral coccyx and lumbar support system
A seating support includes a lumbar support portion having first and second lumbar supports. The lumbar support portion defines at least a portion of a channel extending between the first and second lumbar supports. The channel is sized to substantially preclude contact with an occupant of the seating support. Such a seating support also includes a coccyx support portion having first and second coccyx supports. The coccyx support portion is disposed substantially perpendicular to the lumbar support portion and is in communication therewith such that the channel extends from the lumbar support portion between the first and second coccyx supports.
US09049931B2 Hanger assemblies for use in storage systems
A shelving unit includes a wire shelf having multiple wire members arranged to form a platform, at least one bracket configured to releasably couple to wire members of the wire shelf, and a rod coupled to the bracket. The bracket includes a hook-shaped end portion and an elbow portion. The hook-shaped end portion of the bracket defines a channel that opens toward the elbow portion for receiving a first one of the wire members, and the elbow portion of the bracket defines a bend for receiving a second one of the wire members to thereby releasably couple (e.g., snap fit, etc.) the bracket to the wire shelf. The shelving unit may also include a stop for inhibiting movement of hangers along the rod and past the stop, and/or a connector for coupling the shelving unit to a rod of another shelving unit for allowing movement of hangers between the rods.
US09049911B1 Electronic device cover
A cover for an electronic device includes back cover, such as a tray, to receive the electronic device. The cover may also include a foldable flap that is foldable into a stand to support an electronic device held by the cover at one or more viewing angles oblique to a surface on which the cover is placed. The back cover and/or the foldable flap may include one or more activation mechanisms that, when moved relative to the electronic device, activate one or more functions of the electronic device (e.g., camera functions, display of information, etc.).
US09049898B2 Footwear with improved upper
An article of footwear, such as a boot, including an outer sole assembly and an upper, the boot extending lengthwise from a rear end to a front end, widthwise between a lateral side and a medial side, and heightwise from the outer sole assembly to an upper end of the upper, the upper including a lateral quarter and a medial quarter, the boot including a first tightening device, which itself includes a linkage and a quick-locking device, the boot including a cover flap. The flap demarcates a storage space capable of receiving the quick-locking device.
US09049891B2 Water shorts incorporating a stretch textile
An article of apparel, which may be a pair of water shorts, includes a first textile and a second textile. The first textile forms a majority of an exterior surface and an opposite interior surface of the apparel, and the first textile exhibits at least thirty percent stretch prior to tensile failure. The second textile is located around a waistband portion of the apparel, and the second textile exhibits less than ten percent stretch prior to tensile failure.
US09049890B2 Tan-through sports brassiere
A sports brassiere designed for reducing tan lines is disclosed. The sports brassiere includes an exterior front panel comprising a micromesh fabric substantially transparent to ultraviolet light, wherein the exterior front panel is shaped to include two shoulder straps and two side seams, and an interior front panel including an opaque, moisture-wicking fabric having a height limited to covering breasts, wherein the interior front panel is coupled to an interior face of the exterior front panel via stitching running along a top edge of the interior front panel. The sports brassiere further includes an exterior rear panel of micromesh fabric coupled to the exterior front panel via a set of seams located at the shoulder straps and side seams and an elastic band coupled to a bottom edge of the exterior front and rear panels, and a bottom edge of the interior front panel.
US09049884B2 Methods of modulating inflammation in preterm infants using carotenoids
The present disclosure relates to preterm infant formulas comprising lutein, lycopene, and beta-carotene, and the use of the preterm infant formulas to modulate inflammation, such as skin inflammation, in preterm infants. Also disclosed are methods of modulating the level of C-reactive protein in a preterm infant using preterm infant formulas comprising mixtures of carotenoids.
US09049877B2 Crispy french fries
Crispy French fry-style food products are prepared by modification of the water content and the texture of the products' surface layers prior to deep frying. The surface modifications include surface firming, enzyme treatments, starch infusion and/or ultrasound treatment.
US09049873B2 Method of producing an aromatised aqueous liquid
The present invention relates to a method for producing an aqueous liquid aromatised with aroma compounds from coffee, wherein a gas comprising aroma from roast and ground coffee and water is condensed to provide a liquid aqueous phase and a gas phase; and the gas phase is subjected to pressurisation in the presence of an aqueous liquid. The liquid is useful e.g. in the production of soluble coffee products.
US09049872B2 Soybean variety A1026244
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1026244. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1026244. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1026244 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1026244 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US09049871B2 Beta-cyclodextrin immobilized on glass and cholesterol removal using the same
The present disclosure relates to beta-cyclodextrin immobilized on glass manufactured by method comprising: a) synthesizing mono-6-(p-toluenesulfonyl)-6-deoxy-cyclodextrin from beta-cyclodextrin and converting the mono-6-(p-toluenesulfonyl)-6-deoxy-cyclodextrin into β-cyclodextrin-undecenyl ether; and b) etching borosilicate glass and coating the borosilicate glass with the β-cyclodextrin-undecenyl ether and removal of cholesterol from milk using the same.
US09049866B2 Synergistic herbicidal combination of clomazone and pethoxamid
Presented are herbicidal compositions comprising as active ingredients clomazone and pethoxamid. The combinations of these herbicidal active compounds show a synergistic effect in the control of harmful plants.
US09049862B2 Arthropodicidal anthranilamides
This invention provides a composition comprising a a compound selected from Formula 1, an N-oxide and an agriculturally suitable salt thereof; and pymetrozine, wherein R1, R2, R3, R4a, R4b and R5 are as defined in the disclosure.
US09049861B2 Arthropodicidal anthranilamides
This invention provides a composition comprising a first compound selected from Formula 1, an N-oxide or an agriculturally suitable salt thereof; and a second compound selected from insecticidal macrocyclic lactones, wherein R1, R2, R3, R4a, R4b and R5 are as defined in the disclosure.
US09049855B2 Insect trap having an air-actuated damper
A device for trapping insects includes a cover and a trap or cage that are disposed at opposite ends of a housing. A fan is disposed in the housing and oriented to direct an airstream through the housing and toward the trap. A damper is disposed in the airstream proximate the trap and includes two independently operable doors. Each door is biased toward a closed position and opens during operation of the fan. Insects in the proximity of the device are overpowered by the airflow and blow into the trap and retained therein by the airflow or the closed orientation of the damper doors. The trap removably cooperates with the housing to facilitate disposal of insects captured therein.
US09049853B1 Hook setting fishing pole holder
A hook setting fishing pole holder holds and secures a fishing pole to allow for unattended fishing includes a base having a pointed stake and a bracket that pivotably holds a fishing pole holder connected by an axle mechanism. The bracket is held between a pair of bracket flanges and the pole holder is secured in a ready position by a retaining clip. The axle mechanism allows the rod to be balanced and to slightly bob up and down as a line and bait are taken by a fish. The force of a fish strike and subsequent movement disengages the pole holder from the clip allowing the fishing pole to pivot forward. The forward motion is immediately limited by a stop feature which sets the hook.
US09049851B2 Line guide
A tubular line guide ring apparatus that is mountable to a line guide support and line guide ring of a fishing rod and that is capable of flexing to accommodate a range of line angles during casting, retrieval and fish fighting operations.
US09049849B2 Screening methods for compounds useful for treating pancreatic dysfunction
The present invention discloses polynucleotides which identify and encode DP119, DP444, DP810, DP685, WE474, DP160, RA977, or RA770 as well as novel functions for these proteins of the inventions. The invention provides for compositions for disorders associated with the expression of the proteins of the invention, such as for the treatment, alleviation and/or prevention of pancreatic dysfunction (for example diabetes, hyperglycemia, and impaired glucose tolerance), and related disorders, and other disease and disorders.
US09049829B1 Maize inbred PH18V2
A novel maize variety designated PH18V2 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH18V2 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH18V2 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH18V2 or a locus conversion of PH18V2 with another maize variety.
US09049827B1 Maize inbred PH1TP5
A novel maize variety designated PH1TP5 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH1TP5 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH1TP5 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH1TP5 or a locus conversion of PH1TP5 with another maize variety.
US09049823B2 Increased alpha-prime beta-conglycinin soybeans
The invention overcomes the deficiencies of the art by providing a soybean plant with non-transgenic mutations conferring decreased α-subunit of β-conglycinin content and increased α′-subunit content of β-conglycinin in seed. Moreover, the invention provides an agronomically elite soybean plant with non-transgenic mutations conferring a gyclinin null phenotype, increased β-conglycinin content, and increased α′-subunit content of β-conglycinin in the seed. The invention also provides derivatives, and plant parts of these plants and uses thereof. Methods for producing such plants are also provided.
US09055706B2 Method for integrating an electronic component into a printed circuit board
A method for integrating a component into a printed circuit board includes the following steps: providing two completed printed circuit board elements, which more particularly consist of a plurality of interconnected plies or layers, wherein at least one printed circuit board element has a cutout or depression, arranging the component to be integrated on one of the printed circuit board elements or in the cutout of the at least one printed circuit board element, and connecting the printed circuit board elements with the component being accommodated in the cutout, as a result of which it is possible to obtain secure and reliable accommodation of a component or sensor in a printed circuit board. Furthermore, a printed circuit board of this type comprising an electronic component integrated therein is provided.
US09055686B2 Explosion-proof electronic device and manufacturing method thereof
An explosion-proof electronic device includes: a first circuit board provided with a first connector on one surface thereof; and a second circuit board provided with a second connector on a surface facing the one surface of the first circuit board, the second connector being fit to the first connector. A packing is attached to a position on the second connector which is away from the surface of the second circuit board, surrounds the outer circumference of the second connector, and extends toward the first circuit board to form a closed space including an interface between the first and second connectors. The space between the first and second circuit boards is filled with a filler with the first and second connectors fit to each other.
US09055685B2 Electric circuit apparatus and manufacturing method therefor
An electric circuit apparatus includes: a first-circuit board that includes a first-through-hole, and a first-electrode disposed on a front side of the first-circuit-board; a second-circuit-board that is disposed on a back side of the first-circuit-board, the second-circuit-board including on the front side of the second-circuit-board a second-electrode associated with the first-through-hole; a semiconductor device that is disposed on the front side of the first-circuit-board, the semiconductor device including on a back side a third-electrode-associated with the first-electrode, and a fourth-electrode-associated with the second-electrode; a first-bonding-material that bonds the first-electrode and the-third-electrode; a second-bonding-material that bonds the second-electrode and the fourth-electrode while passing through the first-through-hole; and a support body that is disposed between the first-electrode and the second-circuit-board and that supports the first-circuit-board.
US09055679B2 Information processing device
An information processing device of the invention has a first board on which a tamper detection pattern is installed, a second board that is arranged to face the first board and on which a tamper detection pattern is installed, and sidewalls that are arranged between the first and second boards and along the outer periphery of the first and second boards and that include a plurality of layers (41 and 43) upon which electrodes (33 and 34) for tamper detection are provided. A circuit that needs to be tamper proof is provided in the space that is enclosed by the first and second boards and the sidewalls. The sidewalls have a structure in which electrodes (34) in one layer (43) of the two layers (41 and 43) that are adjacent with an insulating layer (42) interposed there between are arranged at positions corresponding to the spaces between the electrodes provided in the other layer (41).
US09055678B2 Modular unit and image forming apparatus incorporating same
A modular unit removably mounted to a main body includes a cover openably closable relative to a unit body of the modular unit and a movable member to move to the main body in conjunction with closing of the cover. As the cover is closed with the modular unit mounted to the main body, a projection provided to the movable member pushes a lever provided to the main body, and a detector provided to the main body detects that the lever is pushed by the projection of the movable member.
US09055672B2 Device for protecting an electronic printed circuit board
A device is provided for protecting an electronic printed circuit board. The device includes at least one zone of conductive contact between the printed circuit board and an element for securing the printed circuit board. The device also includes at least one elevating pad for elevating the at least one zone of conductive contact. The element for securing comes into contact with the zone of conductive contact of the printed circuit board by means of a zone of conductive contact of the elevating pad.
US09055667B2 Noise dampening energy efficient tape and gasket material
A noise dampening tape and gasket material for reducing or preventing unwanted electromagnetic interference from escaping or entering an enclosure. The noise dampening gasket includes an inner core section, a carbon material layer surrounding the inner core section, an insulating layer surrounding the carbon material layer, and a metal shield layer surrounding the insulating layer. The noise dampening tape includes a metal shield layer, an insulating layer adjacent to and in contact with the metal shield layer, a carbon material layer adjacent to and in contact with the insulating layer, and an adhesive layer disposed on a surface of the carbon material layer. A second adhesive layer can be disposed on a surface of the metal shield layer. The carbon fibers can be coated with silicone or polytetrafluoroethylene to enhance mechanical and electrical properties of the carbon material layer.
US09055663B2 Touch panel and method for manufacturing the same
Disclosed herein is a touch panel, including: a window substrate divided into an active area and a non-active area surrounding the active area; an electrode part having an electrode bezel pattern formed of a bezel ink in the active area of the window substrate and an electrode pattern integrally formed on one surface of the electrode bezel pattern; and a bezel part formed of the bezel ink in the non-active area of the window substrate, to surround the electrode part.
US09055655B2 Conversion medium body, optoelectronic semiconductor chip and method of producing an optoelectronic semiconductor chip
A method of producing an optoelectronic semiconductor chip includes providing a semiconductor layer sequence with at least one active layer, providing a one-piece conversion medium body, wherein a matrix material is incompletely crosslinked and/or cured, and wherein the conversion medium body exhibits at room temperature a hardness of Shore A 0 to Shore A 35 and/or a viscosity of 10 Pa·s to 150 Pa·s, placing the conversion medium body onto the semiconductor layer sequence such that they are in direct contact with one another, and curing the conversion medium body wherein after curing the hardness of the conversion medium body is Shore A 30 to Shore D 80.
US09055643B2 Solid state lighting apparatus and methods of forming
A light emitting device can include a solid state lighting source and a luminophoric medium for down-converting at least some of the radiation emitted by the solid state lighting source. The luminophoric medium may include a first material that down-converts the radiation emitted by the solid state lighting source to radiation having a first peak wavelength and that has a first decay time. The luminophoric medium may include a second material that down-converts the radiation emitted by the solid state lighting source to radiation having a second peak wavelength and that has a second decay time that is longer than the first decay time.
US09055641B2 Apparatus, method and system for providing AC line power to lighting devices
An apparatus, method and system are disclosed for providing AC line power to lighting devices such as light emitting diodes (“LEDs”). A representative apparatus comprises: a plurality of LEDs coupled in series to form a plurality of segments of LEDs; first and second current regulators; a current sensor; and a controller to monitor a current level through a series LED current path, and to provide for first or second segments of LEDs to be in or out of the series LED current path at different current levels. A voltage regulator is also utilized to provide a voltage during a zero-crossing interval of the AC voltage. In a representative embodiment, first and second segments of LEDs are both in the series LED current path regulated at a lower current level compared to when only the first segment of LEDs is in the series LED current path.
US09055633B2 Load compensation for an electronic transformer in a LED illumination system
The invention relates to a light emitting diode (LED) illumination system, and more particularly, to systems, devices and methods of rapidly ramping up a transformer current and a LED driver current by coupling a transformer load compensation circuitry to an output of an electronic transformer. A bridge rectifier is coupled to the electronic transformer and provides full-wave rectification to an AC supply at the output of the electronic transformer. The load compensation circuitry senses the rectified AC supply and compensates the load of the electronic transformer, such that the electronic transformer starts up properly when the level of the signal envelope is below a threshold voltage. Therefore, the load compensation circuit is active for a programmed time during which the LED driver current has been increased to a sufficient value to keep the electronic transformer operational.
US09055632B2 Bit packer for control signals
Representative implementations of devices and techniques provide a bit packing arrangement for a control signal. The control signal is received as a bit stream having a first rate of change. A packed control signal having a varying rate of change may be generated based on the bit stream. The average rate of change of the packed control signal is less than the first rate of change.
US09055628B2 Illumination system and operation method thereof
An illumination system and an operation method thereof are provided. The illumination system includes a first controller and a first lighting device. The first controller is capable of emitting a wireless control signal. The first lighting device is capable of receiving the wireless control signal, adjusting a light emitting state thereof according to the wireless control signal, and accordingly emitting a wireless feedback signal. When the first controller does not receive the wireless feedback signal within a predetermined time or receives a wrong wireless feedback signal after the first controller emitted the wireless control signal to the first lighting device, the first controller emits the wireless control signal again.
US09055616B2 Method and apparatus for inductively heating an electrically conductive workpiece
An apparatus for inductively heating an electrically conductive workpiece in the form of a closed ring includes a U-shaped magnet core with two legs, an electrically conducting coil arranged on at least one leg of the core and connectable with an alternating current source, and a magnet yoke spaced from at least one freestanding end of a leg of the core, so that a closed magnetic circuit with at least one air gap is formed, with the height of the air gap chosen such that the workpiece can be moved in a non-contacting manner into the air gap.
US09055611B2 Resilient peer network with 802.11 technology
A Wi-Fi Direct Group Owner stores network parameters needed for proper operation of a peer-to-peer network. These include the network name and identifier, the power save schedule, the security settings, MAC address of all of the group members, etc. To reduce the need for a single Group Owner, this information is distributed. As each new device is added to the network, all of these parameters are passed via IEEE 802.11 data packets from the device acting as the Group Owner to the new peer device. This way, the new peer device has all of the information about the group at the time that it joins. Any device in the Resilient Peer Network can temporarily take on the role of a traditional Wi-Fi Direct Group Owner (admission control). Selection of which peer will act as a Group Owner will depend on a user action or network event.
US09055608B2 Frequency band admission
A device is configured to receive a request, from a user device, to connect to a network using a first frequency band. The device is configured to determine that the first frequency band cannot accommodate the user device. The device is configured to determine that the user device can connect to the network using a second frequency band, and connect the user device to the network using the second frequency band rather than the first frequency band.
US09055603B2 Scheduling of up-link transmissions of a wireless communication system
A method is disclosed of scheduling up-link transmissions for a number of terminals of a wireless communication system into a number of groups, wherein each group comprises terminals intended for simultaneous up-link transmission during a respective period of time. A subset metric may be calculated for each of a number of subsets of terminals based on transmissions received from the terminals of the subset. The subset metric is indicative of a simultaneous transmission suitability measure for the terminals of the subset. The subsets may be processed in subset metric order, starting with the subset having a subset metric indicating a least suitability of simultaneous transmission. During the processing, each terminal of the subset that is not already scheduled in a group may be scheduled in a group that does not already comprise another terminal of the subset. Information indicative of the period of time during which a scheduled terminal is intended to transmit may be transmitted to each of the scheduled terminals. Corresponding computer program product, scheduler and arrangement are also disclosed.
US09055600B2 Communication system, mobile station apparatus, radio link state management method, and integrated circuit
A base station apparatus performing communication through the use of a plurality of frequency bands and a mobile station apparatus wirelessly-connected to the base station apparatus, efficiently manage a radio link state of the frequency band in consideration of a cooperation relation between the plurality of frequency bands. The base station apparatus and the mobile station apparatus communicate with each other by aggregating a plurality of cells of different frequencies, the base station apparatus, in a case of configuring a plurality of cells of different frequencies to the mobile station apparatus, configures linkage information indicating a cooperation relation between an uplink and a downlink for each of the cells, and a timer for managing a state of the cells, and the mobile station apparatus simultaneously changes states of the uplink and the downlink of the cell upon timer being expiration, based on the linkage information for each the cell.
US09055598B2 Systems and methods for making channel assignments to reduce interference and increase capacity of wireless networks
Techniques for making channel assignments to reduce interference and increase capacity of wireless networks are described. In an implementation, a signal is received at a first station from a second station. A signal strength is measured and compared to other signal strength measurements of signals received from other stations. The signal strength is determined to be relatively weak based on the comparison, and the second station is assigned to a first subchannel that includes subcarriers reserved for stations with relatively weak signals. Subsequently, the signal strength measurement is repeated and the signal strength is determined to be relatively strong in comparison to the other signal strengths. The second station is then reassigned to a second subchannel that includes subcarriers reserved for stations with relatively strong signals.
US09055589B2 Methods and apparatus for prioritizing assignment of a packet data session for a plurality of applications of a mobile communication device
A mobile device establishes with a wireless network a packet data session associated with a first application for accessing a first communication service, as well as a packet data session associated with a second application for accessing a second communication service. In response to identifying an indication of a request for information via a third application, the mobile device causes the packet data session associated with the second application to be terminated, and establishes with the wireless network a packet data session associated with the third application for accessing a third communication service.
US09055579B2 Systems and methods for creating non-orthogonal dimensionality between signals in electronic devices
Systems and methods for creating non-orthogonal dimensionality between signals are disclosed. Signals are received from at least one electronic device. An adjustment of a parameter of a received signal of a first device of the at least one of the electronic device that would result in an adjusted signal that is not orthogonal but differentiates the signal from at least one other signal of the received signals is determined. An instruction is communicated to the first device to implement the adjustment of the parameter.
US09055578B2 Systems and methods for UE-specific search space and ePDCCH scrambling
Encoded control information can be mapped to an enhanced physical downlink control channel (ePDCCH) search space of a user equipment (UE) in accordance with an offset and aggregation level. The ePDCCH search space may include a physical resource block (PRB) set located in a data region of a downlink subframe. The encoded control information may be mapped into one or more enhanced control channel elements (eCCEs) of the ePDCCH search space beginning from a starting location. The starting location is an eCCE location within the PRB set. The PRB set, as well as the starting/eCCE location within the PRB set, are identified in accordance with an offset associated with the UE. A number of eCCEs carrying encoded information corresponds to an aggregation level.
US09055574B2 Method and device for transmitting control information
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system. Specifically, the present invention relates to a method for transmitting uplink control information and to an apparatus for the same. The present invention relates to a method and to a device for said method which comprises the steps of selecting one uplink control channel resource corresponding to a plurality of HARQ-ACKs from among a plurality of uplink control channel resources, and transmitting a bit value corresponding to the plurality of HARQ-ACKs by using the selected uplink control channel resource.
US09055557B1 Policy and charging control rule programming and lookup in wireless connectivity access networks
In general, techniques are described for programming a set of one or more pre-defined rules within the forwarding plane of a packet gateway of a mobile service provider network and caching, within control plane, a group identifier that identifies the set of programmed, pre-defined rules. The control plane may match quality of service (QoS) information of incoming subscriber service requests with the group identifier and respective subsets of the set of programmed, pre-defined rules to rapidly associate service requests with already-programmed PCC rules and thereafter install, to the forwarding plane, subscriber service-specific actions for the PCC rules.
US09055555B2 Cellular communication system, network controller and method for obtaining feedback from subscriber communication units
A method for obtaining feedback from one or more wireless subscriber communication unit(s) related to a broadcast service in a wireless communication system comprising at least one communication cell. The method comprises transmitting a request message by a network controller to one or more wireless subscriber communication unit(s); receiving and processing the request message by a wireless subscriber communication unit; transmitting a layer-1 response signal by the wireless subscriber communication unit in response to the request message; and detecting by the network controller the layer-1 response signal in a particular communication cell, and in response thereto, performs one of the following: (i) entering a point-to-multipoint broadcast mode of operation; (ii) modifying a delivery of the broadcast service in that communication cell.
US09055539B2 Method and a device for adjusting the transmission power of signals transferred by plural mobile terminals
A method for adjusting transmission power, in a wireless cellular telecommunication network, of signals transferred by plural mobile terminals through a wireless interface, the mobile terminals being served by at least one base station or by home base stations, the home base stations being located in the cell of the at least one base station. The method includes: obtaining at least the path gains between the mobile terminals and the at least one base station and at least one home base station; determining statistics from the obtained path gains; obtaining at least one coefficient of a function according to at least a part of the statistics; transferring an information representative of the at least one obtained coefficient to the mobile terminals.
US09055535B2 Wireless communication device and method for controlling transmission power
Disclosed is a wireless communication device that can suppress an increase in power consumption of a terminal while preventing the degradation of SINR measurement precision resulting from TPC errors in a base station. A terminal (100) controls the transmission power of a second signal by adding an offset to the transmission power of a first signal; an offset-setting unit (106) sets an offset correction value in response to a transmission time gap between a third signal transmitted the previous time and the second signal transmitted this time; and a transmission power control unit (111) controls the transmission power of the second signal using the correction value.
US09055517B2 System and method of user-directed dynamic domain selection
A mobile device configured for communication in both packet and circuit switched domains. The mobile device includes a domain selector. The domain selector is configured, responsive to selection by a user of one of the packet switched and circuit switched domains, to promote mobile device communication via the selected one of the packet switched and circuit switched domains.
US09055511B2 Provisioning communication nodes
Provisioning and access control for communication nodes involves assigning identifiers to sets of nodes where the identifiers may be used to control access to restricted access nodes that provide certain services only to certain defined sets of nodes. In some aspects provisioning a node may involve providing a unique identifier for sets of one or more nodes such as restricted access points and access terminals that are authorized to receive service from the restricted access points. Access control may be provided by operation of a restricted access point and/or a network node. In some aspects, provisioning a node involves providing a preferred roaming list for the node. In some aspects, a node may be provisioned with a preferred roaming list through the use of a bootstrap beacon.
US09055502B2 Content-based handover method and system
A handover of a wireless communication device is performed between a first wireless band and a second wireless band when a detected feature occurs within a content stream being communicated with the wireless communication device.
US09055501B2 Method and node supporting cell reselection in load balanced network
The present invention relates to a method in a RN node of a communications system operating on multiple carrier frequencies. The RN node hosts a first cell operating on a first carrier frequency and a second cell overlapping with the first cell and operating on a second carrier frequency. The method comprises broadcasting (501) information comprising a cell reselection priority for each of the first and the second carrier frequency in the first cell, where the priority of the first carrier frequency is the highest. The method also comprises broadcasting (502) information comprising a cell reselection priority for each of the first and the second carrier frequency in the second cell, where the cell reselection priority of the second carrier frequency is the highest. Thereby a UE will primarily perform intra-frequency cell reselection.
US09055500B2 Load estimation in softer handover
Method and arrangement in a Radio Base Station RBS in a wireless communication system, for handling load coupling in softer handover. The method in an RBS involves receiving (702) signals from a plurality of UEs connected to the RBS, using a category 1 receiver. Further, the load experienced by the respective UEs is determined (704). The effect of load coupling in softer handover of at least one of the UEs connected to the RBS is estimated (706), and, when the estimated effect of load coupling of a UE fulfills a predefined criterion (708:1), at least one entity in the RBS is modified (710), such that the effect of load coupling is reduced or avoided.
US09055494B2 Mobile control device and handover control method
The present invention is a handover control method in a mobile communication system that performs handover control by switching base stations that communicate with a mobile terminal as the mobile terminal moves. In this handover control method, a mobile control device selects one or more handover base station candidates based on the communication state, and based on the communication capabilities of the handover base station candidates, decides a transmission rate for multicasting communication data, and transmits communication data to each of the handover base station candidates at the decided transmission rate, and a handover base station candidate that is decided as a handover base station sends the saved multicast communication data to the mobile terminal.
US09055491B2 Handover device of wireless communication system using multi-component carrier and method thereof
A source base station (SeNB) composes a handover request message including information of which at least one or more CC formed for a user terminal (UE) and information about the performance of the UE associated with at least one or more CC and transmits the handover message to a target base station (TeNB) and the TeNB transmits to the SeNB a handover request response message including at least one CC allocation information as information for the CC which the UE uses thereby or CC allocation information and a CC activation indicator associated with the CC allocation information, and an activation composition indicator having a bit length with respect to the allocated CCs. Packet loss due to the handover is minimized by enabling the UE to rapidly use the CC(s) to be used in the TeNB as the moved cell and transmission efficiency of a system can be enhanced thereby.
US09055483B2 Scheduling in a two-tier network
A method, system and computer program product to schedule transmissions in a two-tier network are provided. In an example, the system includes a Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) scheduler configured to generate a MAP message to allocate bandwidth and a first instance in time to a cable modem to transmit data to a branch node. The system further includes a MAP message translator coupled to the DOCSIS scheduler and configured to determine a second instance in time at which data from the cable modem arrives at the branch node and generate a GATE message that grants the branch node bandwidth to transmit the data received from the cable modem at the second instance in time to a headend node.
US09055481B1 Method and apparatus for detecting packets
In a method for detecting a duplicate packet in a signal, the signal is received at a communication device. A carrier sense (CS) operation is performed, for each of a plurality of frequency bands, on the received signal. Performing a CS operation includes performing a respective autocorrelation on the received signal in a respective one of the plurality of frequency bands. A clear channel assessment (CCA) operation is performed, for each of the plurality of frequency bands, on the received signal. Performing a CCA operation on the received signal includes measuring a respective amount of energy in a respective one of the plurality of frequency bands. Whether the received signal corresponds to a packet duplicated in each of the plurality of frequency bands is determined based on the CS operations and the CCA operations.
US09055471B2 Data transmission method, apparatus and system
The present invention provides a data transmission method, apparatus and system, which relate to the field of the wireless network technology. The data transmission method provided in the embodiment of the present invention includes: acquiring a downlink data packet sent to a terminal, in which the downlink data packet does not have a high layer protocol stack header; sending the downlink data packet to the terminal through an air interface; Through the present invention, the data amount in the air interface transmission is reduced to a great extent, the efficiency of air interface transmission is substantially enhanced, and the air interface resource is saved, thereby facilitating the enrichment and development of wireless services and satisfying the demands of users. The present invention is applicable to a scenario of air interface transmission in a wireless network.
US09055468B2 Frame formats and timing parameters in sub-1 GHz networks
Systems and methods of controlling characteristics of messages in sub-1 GHz networks (e.g., IEEE 802.11ah networks) are disclosed. One or more data structures indicating available frame formats and/or timing parameters may be stored at or accessible to transmitters and receivers. The data structures may be organized based on a frame format, a wireless network bandwidth, and/or the number of spatial streams in use at the wireless network. Information stored in the data structures may be used in generation and processing of messages communicated via the sub-1 GHz network.
US09055459B2 Method and system for dual-mode rate control in a wireless communication system
A method of performing dual-mode rate control for an access point in a wireless communication system includes a single-user mode of operation and a multi-user mode of operation. In the single-user mode, a basic rate for a station is determined based on channel conditions. In the multi-user mode, a rate for a plurality of stations is determined using tracking. The tracking includes performing a sounding for the plurality of stations. An initial multi-user current rate is then set equal to a function of a number of users and the basic rate. A transmission is sent to the plurality of stations using the current rate. A packet error rate (PER) is detected during transmission to the plurality of stations. The current rate is adjusted based on the PER. After rate adjustment, either sounding is triggered or the method returns to sending a transmission using the current rate.
US09055457B2 Transmission parameters for very high throughput transmission
Transmission parameters are determined for communication between apparatuses. These transmission parameters may specify, for example, a number of spatial streams, a bandwidth, and a transmission rate. Based on the determined parameters, a table of a set of tables comprising transmission parameters is identified and an index from the table is determined. Rate information is then sent in a frame from one of the apparatuses to the other. The rate information comprises several fields indicative of the index, the number of spatial streams, and bandwidth. The apparatus that receives the rate information may then use this information to identify the table and obtain transmission parameters from the table.
US09055450B2 System and method for determining the location of a station in a wireless environment
A system for quantifying the shadow fading observed in a wireless environment having multiple wireless access points is also provided. A distance determination module is in signal communication with the wireless access points. The distance determination module determines a distance between a pair of the wireless access points based on location information that relates to the locations of the wireless access points at the wireless environment. A shadow fading determination module is also in signal communication with the wireless access points. The shadow fading determination module determines a shadow fading factor based on the distance between a pair of the wireless access points and based on RSS information received from one of the wireless access points in the pair of wireless access points.
US09055430B2 Rapid local address assignment for wireless communication networks
A wireless client device includes a receiver and a connection module. The receiver is configured to receive, on a wireless medium of a wireless network, a management frame that is periodically transmitted on the wireless medium. The management frame includes an address assignment indication that indicates which address assignment types are employed by the wireless network. The connection module is configured to, in response to the address assignment indication indicating that a dynamic address assignment type is employed by the wireless network, configure a network-layer address for the wireless client device according to a dynamic address assignment protocol. The connection module is configured to, in response to the address assignment indication indicating that the dynamic address assignment type is not employed by the wireless network, configure the network-layer address for the wireless client device according to a link-local address assignment protocol.
US09055429B2 Group subscriber number management system for a group messaging service
A method for managing group subscriber numbers in a group messaging device reduces the required number of group subscriber numbers used by the messaging service. The required number of group subscriber numbers is equal to the total number of groups in which a user is permitted to be a member and not the total number of groups of users in the system.
US09055423B1 Virtual telephone extension
The present disclosure is directed to a method and system for routing communications. A plurality of communication devices are coupled to a communications network. Each communication device has a device identifier. A user-programmable database associates each of a plurality of user identifiers with a device identifier. A call-routing switch arrangement is coupled to the communication network through a portal communication device having a portal identifier. A user designates a destination user identifier when making a communication. The call-routing switches the call, directing the call to a destination device identifier responsive to the user-programmable database association between the destination user identifier and a device identifier. According to certain aspects, communications are directed to users and are routed to associated equipment, a user identifier serving as a virtual extension number. Users remotely program the database to direct their calls to communication devices at various geographic, voice mail and e-mail destinations.
US09055410B2 Method for collectively transferring logically grouped objects
A method for creating, utilizing/applying and transferring a group of objects from a communication device to a remote device in a network is provided. The method includes creating at least one group of related objects by extracting the related objects from a database of the communication device; applying rules and properties to the created group locally on the communication device; connecting to the remote device for transferring the group; and transferring the group to the remote device as a single entity.
US09055409B2 Method and apparatus for roadside assistance facilitation
A roadside assistance system includes a vehicle computing system (VCS), an intermediate system, operable to communicate with the VCS and at least one backend system, and a backend roadside assistance processing system, operable to receive data from the intermediate system and operable to receive calls from the VCS. The VCS is operable to establish communication with the intermediate system. The VCS is further operable to transfer data to the intermediate system, to place a call to the backend roadside assistance processing system, and to relay at least a MIN to the backend roadside assistance processing system. The intermediate system is operable to process transferred data and relay data to the backend roadside system. The backend roadside system is operable to compare the MIN relayed from the VCS with data received from the intermediate system to formulate a dispatch order and to dispatch roadside assistance in accordance with the dispatch order.
US09055402B2 Sending location information from within a communication application
A method in a wireless communications device for transmitting current location information representing a current location of the wireless communications device. The method entails, from within a communication application executing on a processor of the wireless communications device, causing the wireless communications device to obtain the current location information representing the current location of the wireless communications device, including the current location information in a communication generated from within the communication application, and transmitting the communication that includes the current location information. The method optionally entails a further step of performing a reverse look-up of GPS coordinates representing the current location to determine address information for including in the communication. Location information, such as maps or URLs to maps can be sent directly from an e-mail application or instant messenger without having to separately launch a mapping application.
US09055401B2 Radio communications device, universal integrated circuit card and related method and communications device
The present invention provides for a UICC interface and related interfacing method, for use in a mobile radio communications device and including an element enabling the UICC to provide an indication that at least one service requiring location data is present in the UICC, an element for UICC to receive notification that a source of location data is available, an element for allowing the UICC to initiate transfer of location data thereto, an element for the actual transfer of the location data to the UICC, and an element enabling the UICC to terminate the transfer of the location data, and wherein the location data can be provided from a GPS module or remotely in a contact-less manner.
US09055398B2 Centralized data store for providing all place-related data to applications on a mobile device
A method of managing place data for a mobile device, the method comprising storing place data for the mobile device in a centralized place data store, the centralized place data store storing location data for each of a plurality of places defined by the mobile device, and in response to place data requests from a plurality of applications executing on the mobile device, providing the place data from the centralized place data store to the plurality of applications.
US09055397B2 Method for usage of VPLMN infrastructure by an HPLMN to terminate an IMS session set up for a roaming user
A method for providing a roaming functionality related to an Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) session includes: transmitting, by a second IMS domain, a session set-up request control signaling to a first IMS domain; transmitting, by the first IMS domain, the session set-up request control signaling in a forward direction to a Roaming Border Control Function (RBCF); and handling, by the second IMS domain, the user plane path and the associated control signaling to terminate the session set-up. Local break out of media is applied for the roaming first UE. The RBCF provides a linking of signaling received via a loop through the first IMS domain in the Home Public Land Mobile Network (HPLMN) with media anchored due to the local break out in the second IMS domain in the Visited Public Land Mobile Network (VPLMN).
US09055395B2 Location tracking using response messages identifying a tracked device in a wireless network
In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a receiver configured for receiving a response message from a tracked device in a wireless network, the response message transmitted in response to a provoking message having an identifier of the tracked device in a transmitter address field, and a processor for measuring at least one location related parameter, extracting the identifier of the tracked device from the response message and identifying the response message as a location tracking message based on information in the response message. A field of the response message includes the identifier of the tracked device copied from the provoking message and the transmitter address is not provided in another field of the response message.
US09055387B1 Method and system for self-regulating content download
A method, system and mobile application for self-regulating content downloads to mobile communication devices is disclosed herein. The invention determines if a network connection to a mobile communication device is a WiFi connection or a cellular connection. The invention utilizes the performance characteristics and the type of network identified to select the quality and the quantity of DLC to download onto the mobile communication device from the content server.
US09055386B2 Endpoint-hosted hypervisor management
A client hypervisor comprises a virtual agent that runs outside of a system OS and that allows device management independent of the OS and user. The virtual agent is tied to a device and not a specific instance of the OS. Such client hypervisors expose new functionality to ease managing systems. Some of these capabilities come from the persistence and privileges outside the OS. In some embodiments of the invention, this new management functionality is exposed to allow device management via new virtualization concepts, such as multiple VMs per system, VM replacement, snapshot/rollback, etc.
US09055378B2 Micromachined ultrasonic transducer switch for hearing assistance devices
Disclosed herein, among other things, are apparatus and methods for micromachined ultrasonic transducer switches for hearing assistance devices. In various embodiments, a hearing assistance device includes a housing, hearing assistance electronics within the housing, and a micromachined ultrasonic transducer connected to the hearing assistance electronics. The micromachined ultrasonic transducer is configured to switch upon detection of proximity or touch by the wearer. In various embodiments, the micromachined ultrasonic transducer includes one ultrasonic transmitter and one ultrasonic receiver. The micromachined ultrasonic transducer is adapted to control one or more functions of the hearing assistance electronics, in various embodiments.
US09055372B2 Acoustic transducer with gap-controlling geometry and method of manufacturing an acoustic transducer
A transducer of the preferred embodiment including a transducer and a plurality of adjacent, tapered cantilevered beams. Each of the beams define a beam base, a beam tip, and a beam body disposed between the beam base and the beam tip. The beams are arranged such that each of the beam tips extends toward a common area. Each beam is joined to the substrate along the beam base and is free from the substrate along the beam body. A preferred method of manufacturing a transducer can include: depositing alternating layers of piezoelectric and electrode onto the substrate in block, processing the deposited layers to define cantilever geometry in block, depositing metal traces in block, and releasing the cantilevered beams from the substrate in block.
US09055356B2 Sound source localization apparatus and sound source localization method
A sound source localization apparatus for localizing a sound source using an eigenvector, includes, a sound signal input unit inputting a sound signal, a correlation matrix calculation unit calculating a correlation matrix of the input sound signal, and an eigenvector calculation unit calculating an eigenvalue of the correlation matrix using the calculated correlation matrix, wherein the eigenvector calculation unit calculates the eigenvector using the correlation matrix of the input sound signal and one or more predetermined correlation matrices.
US09055351B2 Method for processing information in content receiver
The present invention relates to a method of processing information by a content receiver. According to an embodiment, the method includes detecting multi-dimensional code data split and inserted into a content provided through broadcast or an IP when the content is played, temporarily storing the detected multi-dimensional code data, synthesizing the temporarily stored multi-dimensional code data into a multi-dimensional code, when the play of the content is terminated, outputting the synthesized multi-dimensional code image on a screen or making a connection to a server corresponding to a URL obtained by decoding the synthesized multi-dimensional code image or generating and displaying a new multi-dimensional code based on the multi-dimensional code image. The identifier of the broadcast receiver or user's identifier is transmitted to the connected server so that a viewer may be compensated for watching the content.
US09055348B1 Distribution of video ads in a playlist format
This disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for distribution of video ads of a playlist of video ads.
US09055347B2 Apparatus and method for providing electronic program guides
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a server having a controller to provide a media processor with a description of available channels, receive from the media processor a request for EPG data and a selection of channels from the available channels where the selection of channels is based on a user's input at the media processor in response to a presentation of the description of the available channels at a display device operably connected to the media processor, and provide to the media processor the requested EPG data representing programming for the selection of channels without programming for remaining channels from the available channels that were not selected, where the media processor presents an EPG based on the provided EPG data, and where a portion of the EPG data is obtained by the controller from a first service provider network that is different from a second service provider network in which the server operates. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US09055344B2 Systems and methods for automated extraction of closed captions in real time or near real-time and tagging of streaming data for advertisements
System and methods for finding and accessing desired audio content from audio content sources, including means and methods for extracting captions from a broadcast; aggregating the captions in a database; indexing the database content; searching the captions for a mention of at least one target; analyzing the results for desired content; indexing into the database to extract the desired content; thereby providing a method for quickly finding and accessing desired audio and video content from a large number of sources.
US09055333B2 Management and utilization of recorded video content
Management of and utilization of information related to recorded video content are provided. For any given piece of recorded content, identification information for any of a number of interested persons may be associated with the recorded content. After each interested person associated with a given piece of recorded content views or watches the content or decides he or she is not interested in the recorded content, the recorded content may be deleted. A graphical user interface may be provided for showing the viewing status of persons associated with a given piece of recorded content and for allowing each person associated with the recorded content to manage their individual viewing status. Information about content viewed by identified persons may be used to direct advertising or suggested content to one or more identified persons.
US09055319B2 Interactive guide with recording
An interactive television program guide system is provided. An interactive television program guide provides users with an opportunity to select programs for recording on a remote media server. Programs may also be recorded on a local media server. The program guide provides users with VCR-like control over programs that are played back from the media servers and over real-time cached copies of the programs. The program guide also provides users with an opportunity to designate gift recipients for whom programs may be recorded.
US09055317B2 Media content catalog service
Aggregating media content catalog data from a plurality of content providers. The catalog data is merged according to rules and provided to a user on a scheduled basis or on demand. In an embodiment, the merged catalog data represents an incremental update to previously delivered catalog data.
US09055316B2 Method and system for inserting digital video effects into a video stream at a multiplexing device after routing
A system and apparatus for generating an output signal includes a receiving system 160 generating a plurality of signals having a first format, an encoder 182 encodes the plurality of signals into a plurality of transport streams and a multiplexer 210. A local area network 130 routes the plurality of transport streams to the multiplexer 210. The multiplexer 210 combines the transport streams to form a combined signal and inserts a digital video effect into the combined signal. A modulator 214 modulates the combined signal to form a modulated signal. A system 202 forms the output signal from the modulated signal.
US09055314B2 Secure transfer of credit card information
A method includes receiving, at a video service provider system, a security markup assertion language (SAML) token encrypted for a partner federated security token service (FSTS) device from a client device. The method includes submitting the SAML token to the partner FSTS device in exchange for a partner SAML token. The partner SAML token is encrypted for a partner account device. The method also includes receiving the partner SAML token, and sending the partner SAML token to the client device. The client device is configured to request an access token from the partner account device based on the partner SAML token and to submit an encrypted message including credit card information to the partner account device based on the access token.
US09055306B2 Parallel decoding method and system for highly compressed data
Embodiments of a method and system for decoding video data are described herein. In various embodiments, a high-compression-ratio codec (such as H.264) is part of the encoding scheme for the video data. Embodiments pre-process control maps that were generated from encoded video data, and generating intermediate control maps comprising information regarding decoding the video data. The control maps include information regarding rearranging the video data to be processed in parallel on multiple pipelines of a graphics processing unit (GPU) so as to optimize the use of the multiple pipelines. In an embodiment, decoding is performed on a frame basis such that each of multiple, distinct decoding operations is performed on an entire frame at one time. In other embodiments, processing of different frames is interleaved. Embodiments increase the efficiency of the decoding such as to allow decoding of high-compression-ratio encoded video data on personal computers or comparable equipment without special, additional decoding hardware.
US09055304B2 Reduced resolution pixel interpolation
An offset can be applied to intermediate values obtained while performing an interpolation filtering operation such that applying the offset reduces the bitdepth of the intermediate value. The intermediate value can be stored with the reduced bitdepth, and when retrieved, the offset can be added back such that future calculation can be performed using the intermediate value with the original bitdepth.
US09055297B2 System, method, and apparatus for displaying pictures
Presented herein are systems, methods, and apparatus for displaying pictures. In one embodiment, there is presented a decoder system for decoding video data. The decoder system comprises a port and a transport processor. The port receives packets carrying encoded video data from a plurality of video streams. The transport processor changes a header to encoded video data from at least one of the packets. The header identifies a particular one of the plurality of video streams, wherein the at least one packet is from the particular one of the plurality of video stream.
US09055295B2 Transcoding queue management
A network node includes a media resources server having a plurality of coded media items for processing media item requests, a statistics database for storing media item requests received by the media resources server, and a transcoding queue manager for monitoring the media requests in the statistics database and for selectively initiating coding requests to a transcoder based on the monitored media requests and for providing the coded requests to the media resources server.
US09055294B2 Method and device for encoding an image using a prediction mask decoding method and device and corresponding signals and computer programs
A method is provided for encoding at least one image, divided into macroblocks, one macroblock including a set of blocks de pixels. The method includes, for at least one current macroblock of a current image, at least two iterations of the following steps: allocation of a priority level for encoding to at least one pixel of the current macroblock, selection of a pixel with the highest priority level called the priority pixel, prediction of a set of pixels including the priority pixel and a step of encoding a remainder from prediction for a region made up of predicted pixels of the macroblock, called the predicted region, the encoding step being used as and when the predicted region meets a predetermined encoding criterion.
US09055284B2 Stereo image processing apparatus and stereo image processing method
Provided is a stereo image processing apparatus wherein parallax can be calculated with high precision. A window-function shifting unit (411) sets a third window function, which is formed by shifting a second window function on the basis of the amount of deviation in sub-pixel units, onto an image cutting-out unit (412). The image cutting-out unit (412) applies the second window function to a position subjected to a cut-out, cuts out a unit partial target image from a standard image, applies the second window function or the third window function, and cuts out a unit partial reference image from a reference image. A peak-position detection unit (106) calculates the amount of deviation in sub-pixel units on the basis of the phase difference between a data string comprising brightness of the cut-out unit partial target image, and a data string comprising brightness of the cut-out unit partial reference image.
US09055274B2 Altering presentation of received content based on use of closed captioning elements as reference locations
A content receiver receives an captioning element and positional information regarding segments of a content instance. The captioning element corresponds to a component of captioning data included in content that can be utilized with the positional information to locate where the segments stop and/or start. The content receiver analyzes the content based on the captioning element and the positional information and alters how the content will be presented. Such alteration may involve skipping and/or deleting segments, starting/stopping presentation of content other than at the beginning and/or end of the content, altering recording timers, and/or replacing segments with alternative segments. In some implementations, the content may be recorded as part of recording multiple content instances received via at least one broadcast from a content provider wherein the multiple content instances are all included in a same frequency band of the broadcast and are all encoded utilizing a same control word.
US09055270B2 Television camera
A first video signal having a first frame rate optionally settable is generated by an image pickup device, and the first video signal is memorized in a memory and outputted from the memory. A write control device controls the write of the first video signal with respect to the memory, and a read control device controls the read of the video signal with respect to the memory. The write control device writes respective first frame data constituting the first video signal in the memory in each cycle determined by the first frame rate of the first video signal. The read control device reads the first frame data as a second video signal. The second video signal is formed from sequentially arranging the first frame data in a partially duplicating manner in a standard video signal having a standard frame rate based on a determined arrangement rule. The predetermined arrangement rule is an arrangement rule employed when respective frame data constituting a video signal having a second frame rate equal to or lower than the standard frame rate are arranged in a duplicating manner in the standard video signal. In the foregoing manner, an time elongation/contraction effect on an image can be speedily and inexpensively obtained.
US09055259B2 Multimedia device connected to external electronic device and method for controlling the same
A method for controlling a remote controller and a multimedia device is disclosed. The multimedia device connected to an external electronic device includes a memory configured to store at least string and on screen display (OSD) graphic data corresponding thereto, a video processor configured to process a video image received from the external electronic device, a detection module configured to detect a string in the video image, a controller configured to access the memory and extract OSD graphic data corresponding to the detected string, a display module configured to output the extracted OSD graphic data, the OSD graphic data being divided into one or more regions, and a communication module configured to transmit a command signal corresponding to a specific region to the external electronic device or the remote controller if the specific region in the OSD graphic data is selected.
US09055257B2 Method and system for reproducing contents, and computer-readable recording medium thereof
A content reproducing method and system for performing seamless playback of contents between devices is provided. The contents reproducing system includes a portable device which, when a short distance communication with a remote control which is configured to control an electronic device occurs during reproducing of contents, generates data required by the electronic device for reproducing the contents that are being reproduced, and which transmits the generated data to the remote control; the remote control which receives the data from the portable device and which transmits the received data to the electronic device, in conjunction with the occurrence of the short distance communication with the portable device; and the electronic device for receiving the contents from a contents provider and reproducing the contents.
US09055255B2 Live television application on top of live feed
An intelligent television and methods for user interaction between the intelligent television and the user are provided. In general, a user is provided with navigation, notification, and setup options which enable one or more functions associated with the intelligent television. The presentation of options is based on input received by the intelligent television. As a user provides input to the intelligent television via a remote control or other input device, the intelligent television is configured to interpret the input and provide interactive functionality in the form of content presented to the display of the intelligent television.
US09055254B2 On screen method and system for changing television channels
A method, system, and executable instructions are provided that receive a request to change a programming channel, display, on the television screen, an on screen channel changer, the on screen channel changer comprising electronic program guide (“EPG”) information and a number input bar comprising digits, receive, from the remote control, a channel selection based on digits using the on screen channel changer, and change to the selected channel.
US09055246B2 Noise-cancelling image sensors
An image sensor that has a plurality of pixels within a pixel array coupled to a control circuit and to one or more subtraction circuits. The control circuit causes an output transistor coupled to a pixel to provide a first reference output signal, a common reset output signal, and a first sense-node reset output signal, between which a subtraction circuit may form a weighted difference to create a noise signal. The control circuit causes the output transistor to provide a second sense-node reset output signal, a light response output signal and a second reference output signal, between which a subtraction circuit may form a weighted difference to create a normalized light response signal. The light response output signal corresponds to the image that is to be captured by the sensor. The noise signal is subtracted from the normalized light response signal to generate a de-noised signal.
US09055238B2 Radiation image detecting device and operating method thereof
To provide a radiation image detecting device providing high responsivity and high precision of an emission start judgment, an electronic cassette has a panel unit and a control unit. The panel unit has a two-dimensional array of normal pixels for accumulating signal charge upon receiving X-rays and detection pixels for detecting the X-rays. A signal processing circuit periodically samples a dose signal, corresponding to an X-ray dose per unit of time, from the detection pixels. An emission start judgment unit performs based on the dose signals of the detection pixels a first judgment process for judging whether X-ray emission has been started, and a second judgment process for judging whether a result of the first judgment process is correct. The control unit sets a second sampling cycle SP2 used in the second judgment process longer than a first sampling cycle SP1 used in the first sampling process.
US09055237B1 Projection autofocus
Techniques are described for projecting content onto surfaces and for focusing the content. When content is projected by a projector onto a surface, the surface is observed by a camera or other sensor, and the contrast of the projected content is evaluated. The projector then varies its focal point to improve or maximize the observed contrast of the projected content.
US09055233B2 Systems and methods for synthesizing higher resolution images using a set of images containing a baseline image
Systems and methods for implementing array cameras configured to perform super-resolution processing to generate higher resolution super-resolved images using a plurality of captured images and lens stack arrays that can be utilized in array cameras are disclosed. An imaging device in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes at least one imager array, and each imager in the array comprises a plurality of light sensing elements and a lens stack including at least one lens surface, where the lens stack is configured to form an image on the light sensing elements, control circuitry configured to capture images formed on the light sensing elements of each of the imagers, and a super-resolution processing module configured to generate at least one higher resolution super-resolved image using a plurality of the captured images.
US09055229B2 Control circuit, control method of control circuit, and imaging device
To be provided is a control circuit including a horizontal synchronization clock counting unit that counts the number of clock cycles of a horizontal synchronization clock signal for instructing a timing of starting scanning pixels in a horizontal direction of a pixel group arranged in a two-dimensional lattice shape, so as to be used as a horizontal synchronization clock count value, a high frequency clock counting unit that counts the number of clock cycles of a high frequency clock signal with a higher frequency than the horizontal synchronization clock signal, so as to be used as a high frequency clock count value, and a timing determination unit that determines timings of starting and ending exposure for the pixels on the basis of the horizontal synchronization clock count value and the high frequency clock count value.
US09055224B2 Optical apparatus, image capturing apparatus, and method for controlling optical apparatus
An image capturing apparatus detects the angular rotational shake and translational shake generated in the apparatus using an angular velocity sensor and an accelerometer. An angular rotational shake correction coefficient calculation unit calculates a first correction coefficient using a zoom lens position and a focus lens position. A translational shake correction coefficient calculation unit calculates a second correction coefficient using the imaging magnification of an imaging optical system. The camera CPU 106 computes a correction amount for angular rotational shake from the detected value of angular rotational shake and the first correction coefficient, computes a correction amount for translational shake from the detected value of translational shake and the second correction coefficient, produces both of the correction amounts to thereby calculate an image shake correction amount so as to suppress an increase in an image magnification for controlling image stabilization in a direction of increasing an imaging magnification. A driving unit drives a shake correction unit in accordance with an image shake correction amount, and a shake correction unit corrects image shake generated in the image surface of an imaging optical system.
US09055223B2 Digital image stabilization method and imaging device using the same
A digital image stabilization method includes taking N frames of a target image with an exposure of T, dividing each of the N frames into predetermined blocks, and selecting a reference frame from among the N frames by setting one of the blocks in each of the N frames as a reference region and comparing reference regions of the respective N frames with one another. The method further includes estimating a motion vector of each of the remaining frames based on a reference region of the reference frame, and generating a result frame by combining a weighted frame, which is obtained by mapping a weight calculated based on the estimated motion vector to each block, and a color component frame.
US09055222B2 Electronic device and method for image stabilization
An electronic device and methods for image stabilization for use in an electronic device are provided. The method includes the steps of: receiving a plurality of motion data, at least a portion of the plurality of motion data corresponding to a first image frame, determining a motion value corresponding to the first image frame according to the portion of motion data, determining a display offset between the first image frame to a reference image frame according to the motion value and providing a portion of the first image frame for display according to the display offset. The reference image frame is displayed prior to the first image frame and is stored in a storage unit.
US09055221B2 Portable hand-held device for deblurring sensed images
A portable hand-held device is provided having an image sensor for sensing an image of a scene, a motion sensor for detecting motion of the device relative to the scene, and a processor for receiving image manipulation instructions via encoded media. The processor processes the sensed image to remove blur therein based on the detected relative device motion and the received image manipulation instructions.
US09055220B1 Enabling the integration of a three hundred and sixty degree panoramic camera within a mobile device case
A user activation of an image capture function of a mobile device is received. The image capture function is for a surround image mode. Two or more camera lenses of a mobile device case are approximately concurrently activated. Responsive to activating the lenses, a front-side image from a first camera lens and a rear-side image from a second camera lens are optically captured. Content from the front-side image and content from the rear-side are recorded in a non-transitory storage medium of the mobile device within a single file for a surround mode image.
US09055217B2 Image compositing apparatus, image compositing method and program recording device
A moving region information calculation unit calculates moving region information from a global motion vector and a local motion vector. An image correction unit generates a corrected reference image obtained by correcting a reference image based on the global motion vector and a corrected reference image obtained by correcting the reference image based on the local motion vector. A composition unit composites a base image with the corrected reference images with composition ratios determined based on the moving region information. The composition ratio of the corrected reference image corrected based on the global motion vector is higher than the composition ratio of the corrected reference image corrected based on the local motion vector in a region having the moving region information indicative of a moving region.
US09055212B2 Imaging system, image processing method, and image processing program recording medium using framing information to capture image actually intended by user
Acquired is a photographed image with a framing intended by a photographer. There is provided an imaging system including an operation detection unit for detecting a photographing operation by a photographer; an imaging unit for acquiring a through image prior to the photographing operation and acquiring an actually photographed image with a photographing field angle wider than a photographing field angle set by the photographer when the photographing operation is performed; a framing information acquiring unit for acquiring framing information created based on the through image when the photographing operation is performed, and related to framing in time of the photographing operation or immediately before the photographing information; and a trimming unit for trimming the actually photographed image acquired by the imaging unit based on the framing information.
US09055211B2 Image pickup apparatus
There is provided an image pickup apparatus including a pixel including a photoelectric conversion element and an amplification element for amplifying and outputting a signal generated at the photoelectric conversion element, a load transistor for controlling an electric current flowing at the amplification element, and a potential control element for suppressing potential fluctuation in a first main electrode region of the load transistor which is an output side of the amplification element.
US09055207B2 Auto-focus camera module with MEMS distance measurement
A MEMS actuator for an auto-focus camera module is coupled with a capacitance measurement component configured to determine MEMS actuator capacitance values to be used to determine motion and displacement of the camera module, the optical module and/or one or more movable lenses thereof, and to adapt a position and alignment of the one or more movable lenses to account for a specific focus distance.
US09055205B2 Imaging control system, control apparatus, control method, and storage medium
A control apparatus for controlling an imaging apparatus capable of changing an imaging direction of an imaging unit in panning and tilting directions includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire a captured image captured by the imaging unit, and an provision unit configured to provide, together with the captured image, when the imaging direction of the imaging unit coincides with a panning rotational axis for rotating the imaging direction in the panning direction, a panning direction guide for indicating that changing the imaging direction in the panning direction rotates the captured image around an intersection of an optical axis of the imaging unit and a plane containing the captured image.
US09055195B2 Method and apparatus for providing bi-directional data services and live television programming to mobile platforms
A system for bi-directional data content transfer between a plurality of mobile platforms, such as aircraft or cruise ships, and a ground-based control segment. The system includes the ground-based control segment, a space segment and a mobile system disposed on each mobile platform. The ground-based control segment includes an antenna which is used to transmit encoded RF signals representative of data content to the space segment. The space segment includes a plurality of satellite transponders, with one of the transponders being designated by the ground-based control segment to transpond the encoded RF signals to the mobile system. The mobile system includes steerable receive and transmit antennas. The receive antenna receives the encoded RF signals from the satellite transponder, which are thereafter decoded, demodulated, D/A converted by a communications subsystem and transmitted to a server. The server filters off that data content not requested by any occupants on the mobile system. A local area network (LAN) receives the remaining data content and provides same to individual users on the mobile platform in accordance with previously submitted programming requests or data input by the users at access stations associated independently with each user. The transmit antenna is used to transmit data content from laptop computers, PDAs or other user electronic devices coupled to the access stations back to the designated satellite transponder. The satellite transponder then transponds the data back to the antenna of the ground-based control segment.
US09055190B2 Arrangement of multiple audiovisual streams
Techniques for multi-user videoconferencing are described herein. The techniques may include receiving two or more audiovisual streams from a remote site, wherein the two or more audiovisual streams are associated with video images to be rendered at a display of a local computing device. The techniques may include rendering the video images associated with the audiovisual streams at the local display in an arrangement such that a part of one of the video images associated with the audiovisual streams is relatively more opaque than a part of a video image associated with the other audiovisual stream, wherein the arrangement of video images associated with the audiovisual streams is based on cues, the cues comprising video signals indicating activity existing within an audiovisual stream.
US09055188B2 Screen camera
A communication terminal comprising: a communication part, a display portion, comprising one of an AMOLED type comprising a white pixel or pixels arranged in RGBW (Red/Green/Blue/White) pattern and having a number of light emitting devices; at least one of the light emitting devices being configured to have a first state and a second operational state, wherein in said first operational state said light emitting device emits light and in a said second operational state said light emitting device is transparent, an image capturing sensor arranged behind said display and aligned with the light emitting device and configured to continuously capture images and generate signals corresponding to said captured image, and a processing unit to receive the signals from the image capturing sensor and process said signals and produce an image comprising images captured by selecting between images captured during said first state.
US09055186B2 Systems and methods for integrating user personas with content during video conferencing
A system and method is disclosed for extracting a user persona from a video and embedding that persona into a background feed that may have other content, such as text, graphics, or additional video content. The extracted video and background feed are combined to create a composite video that comprises the display in a videoconference. Embodiments cause the user persona to be embedded at preset positions, or in preset formats, or both, depending on the configuration, position, or motion of the user's body.
US09055182B2 Image coding apparatus, image coding method, and program
An image coding apparatus for coding RAW data of an image of a Bayer array separates the RAW data respectively into separate planes of data of a plurality of color components constituting the Bayer array, determines a coding method for coding each plane from a plurality of coding methods, generates a coding parameter on the basis of the determined coding method, and codes each plane on the basis of the generated coding parameter, wherein when a coding-target plane is a plane to be coded later among the plurality of planes of the same color, a coding parameter for coding the plane to be coded later is generated by using a result of the coding of the plane to be coded earlier among the plurality of planes of the same color.
US09055180B2 Color sensor for accurately detecting color components
A pixel that detects short-wavelength light is provided in a light receiving unit on a silicon substrate and has a first color filter. A pixel that detects long-wavelength light is provided in the light receiving unit on the silicon substrate, is provided in a position closer to an outer edge of the light receiving unit than the pixel that detects the short-wavelength light, and has a second color filter. A longest-wavelength transmission band of the first color filter is a first transmission band, and the longest-wavelength transmission band of the second color filter is a second transmission band. The second transmission band has a longer wavelength than the first transmission band.
US09055176B1 Method and apparatus for performing multi-cadence detection in a motion adaptive video deinterlacer
A method of deinterlacing an interlaced video having a plurality of fields is described. The method includes detecting cadence of each pixel of each of the fields of the interlaced video. The interlaced video is then deinterlaced in accordance with the cadence, if any, of each of the pixels of each of the fields of the interlaced video. A pixel-based multi-cadence detection method is also described. Moreover, a pixel-based multi-cadence detection apparatus is also described.
US09055169B2 Printing frames of a video
Systems and methods for printing a document over a network are described. In one implementation, print information is received from a user device, where the print information includes a frame time corresponding to the frame to be printed. The method further includes selecting the frame from the video based on the print information and printing the frame from a printer.
US09055167B1 Management and dissemination of information from a controlled-environment facility
Management and dissemination of information from a controlled-environment facility. In an embodiment, a method may include receiving an identification of each of a plurality of non-residents of a controlled-environment facility with whom a resident of the controlled-environment facility is allowed to communicate, contacting a selected one of the plurality of non-residents and, during the contact, allowing the selected non-resident to establish or fund an account associated with the resident. In another embodiment, a system may be configured to receive identification of a plurality of non-residents of the controlled-environment facility, determine, among the plurality of non-residents, a set of non-residents with whom the resident is allowed to communicate, contact at least one non-resident from the set of non-residents, and provide information to the at least one non-resident during the contact about how to release the resident from the controlled-environment facility.
US09055166B2 Customized hardware selection for a mobile phone
A method of customizing hardware by an end user for a mobile phone is provided. The method includes receiving from an end-user a selection of a mobile phone shell from a set of mobile phone shells, sending to the end-user a subset of interchangeable hardware components having different functions, and receiving from the end-user a selection of at least one hardware component from the subset of interchangeable hardware components. The subset of interchangeable hardware components is generated based on a compatibility between the selected mobile phone shell and the set of available interchangeable hardware components.
US09055161B2 Text processing method for a digital camera
Embodiments disclose a technique to recognize text in a current frame of an image in a view finder of a digital camera. In accordance with the technique, text at a marker (e.g. a cursor or cross hairs) associated with the view finder is recognized and a lookup is performed based on the recognized text. Advantageously, the lookup yields useful information e.g. a translation of a recognized word that is displayed in the viewfinder adjacent to the text. The current frame is not captured by a user. As the user moves the camera to position a new word at the marker, the view finder is updated to provide lookup results associated with the new word. Lookups may be performed of a bilingual dictionary, a monolingual dictionary, a reference book, a travel guide, etc. Embodiments of the invention also cover digital cameras or mobile devices that implement the aforementioned technique.
US09055160B2 Mobile phone
A mobile phone is disclosed. The mobile phone includes a touch panel, a correspondence execution determination part, and a correspondence selection part. The correspondence execution determination part determines whether or not to correspond with respect to an incoming call from other telephone, in response to an input from the touch panel. The correspondence selection part, when the correspondence execution determination part determines to correspond with respect to the incoming call from the other telephone, in response to the input from the touch panel, selects to at least answer the incoming call or ignore the incoming call.
US09055155B2 Collaborative conference experience improvement
An example computing device creates a resource module that acquires resource information relating to resources of the computing device and acquire quality of experience information corresponding to a quality of audio, and creates a roster module that displays a participant list including resource information relating to resources of a plurality of other computing devices connected to the teleconference and display quality of experience information corresponding to a quality of audio a user of each of the plurality of other computing devices experiences when connected to the teleconference. The device also creates a policy module configured to evaluate the resource information and quality of experience information acquired by the client resource module against rules of a teleconference policy and implement actions based on a determination that the computing device is non-compliant with one or more of the rules of the teleconference policy to control quality of audio during the teleconference.
US09055152B2 Managing visual voicemail from multiple devices
A network device may include a memory to store a database including voicemail message information associated with a voicemail mailbox, a transmitter, and a receiver. The transmitter may send a notification to each of a plurality of communication devices, the notification including an indication of a number of new voicemail messages in the voicemail mailbox, an indication of a total number of voicemail messages in the voicemail mailbox, and an identifier of a most recent voicemail message in the voicemail mailbox, where each of the plurality of communication devices uses the notification signal to determine whether to request a list of voicemail messages. The receiver may receive, from one of the communication devices in response to the notification, a request for the list of voicemail messages associated with voicemail message information stored in the database. The transmitter may sends, to the one of the plurality of communications devices, the list of voicemail messages.
US09055150B2 Skills based routing in a standards based contact center using a presence server and expertise specific watchers
The present invention discloses a presence management system for a contact center including a presence server, a data store, and one or more watchers. The presence server can accept, manage, and distribute presence information using Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) based messages in conformance with an open standard, such as an Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) based standard. The data store can be communicatively linked to the presence server and can be configured to store the presence information. The stored presence information can include presence information for multiple contact center agents, wherein for each agent the stored presence information includes an element for expertise of the associated agent. The watchers can subscribe to the presence information managed by the presence server. Each of the watchers can correspond to a unique expertise. The watcher associated with an expertise can watch presence information for all of the contact center agents having that expertise.
US09055148B2 Method and apparatus for analyzing leakage from chat to voice
The customer experience is enhanced by detecting leakage-to-voice from chats and providing recommendations to operations, chat agents, and customers. A chat is classified into leakage-to-voice or leakage-to-text chat and actionable recommendations are then provided to operations, chat agents, and customers based on the leakage information. Once leakage is identified, various other insights are extracted from chats and such insights are fed into the knowledge-base. Such insights also used in agent training and are provided to chat agents as recommendations. This results in a better customer experience.
US09055147B2 Voice user interface with personality
The present invention provides a voice user interface with personality. In one embodiment, a method includes executing a voice user interface, and controlling the voice user interface to provide the voice user interface with a personality. The method includes selecting a prompt based on various context situations, such as a previously selected prompt and the user's experience with using the voice user interface.
US09055142B2 Apparatus and method for use in assembly of a portable apparatus
An apparatus comprising: a first interconnector portion configured to fasten to a side part of a first housing portion of a portable apparatus, and a second interconnector portion rigidly connected to the first interconnector portion and configured to fasten to a second housing portion of the portable apparatus.
US09055139B1 Display protocol interception in the network for services and network-based multimedia support for VDI
An apparatus and related method are provided for improving the performance of virtual desktop services. A network device is deployed in a network to intercept packets of a control session initiated by a client with a connection broker to obtain data from a host. The network device initiates a new control session to the connection broker on behalf of the client. The network device receives host information from the connection broker, replaces address information of the network device for the host information in a control session message and sends the control session message to the client. The network device establishes a data session with the client, initiates a data session with the host on behalf of the client and relays data between the data session with the host and the data session with the client such that the network device is transparent to the client and the host.
US09055137B2 Method for supporting circuit switched interworking
A method includes receiving internet protocol (IP) multimedia core network subsystem (IMS) session content that includes voice call content in IMS domain and multimedia content in IMS domain; translating the voice call content in IMS domain to voice call content in circuit switched (CS) domain; transmitting the voice call content in CS domain to a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) via a CS domain entity and a radio access network (RAN); and transmitting the multimedia content in IMS domain to the WTRU via a PS domain entity and the RAN.
US09055135B2 Scheduled placeshifting
Disclosure is directed to managing placeshifting events that are scheduled to occur at specified times. In particular, embodiments are directed to automatically establishing a connection between a placeshifting server and a placeshifting client in order to facilitate a scheduled placeshifting event. The connection may be established by the placeshifting server, which is associated with a receiver, first connecting to a backend server to obtain connection credentials and then connecting to placeshifting client using the connection credentials. The placeshifting client, which is running on a target device, may be configured to register and update its connection credentials at the backend server as the target device moves between networks. The connection may also be established by the placeshifting client connecting to the server at time that the placeshifting client has determined the placeshifting event is to occur.
US09055131B2 Realtime kernel
A realtime kernel supports realtime communications between communicants operating on respective network nodes. The realtime kernel handles the complex tasks of connecting to communicants, virtual areas, and other network resources, switching those connections in response to user inputs, and mixing realtime data streams. The realtime kernel enables developers to focus on developing high-level communications functionality instead of low-level plumbing code. The realtime kernel imposes relatively low computational resource requirements so that realtime communications performance can be achieved using a wide range of computing devices and network connections that currently are available.
US09055127B2 Method for designating of hosting control for a conference call
A conference calling system and method for designating of hosting control from a server device. In a conference call session, one of the client devices may be designated as a host device, wherein that host device is permitted to implement hosting functions. In some instances, the required host device may not be available for the scheduled conference call, but may be available prior to the conference call. The host device may provide hosting control commands to the server device prior to the conference call. Such hosting control commands may include such commands as delegating of hosting control functions in relation to the designated host device. This may allow the presently designated host device to end communications with the server device prior to starting a conference call, while having the server device implement the specific hosting control commands.
US09055120B1 Device capability filtering
A computer-implemented method may include identifying first capability information for a computer device. The first capability information may be provided by the computing device. The method may further include augmenting the first capability information to produce second capability information that reflects capabilities of the computing device that were not reported by the computing device, comparing the second device capability information to application requirements that define device characteristics required or preferred for one or more applications in an online application marketplace that is accessible to the computing device, and providing one or more representations of applications filtered by the comparing of the second device capability information to the device requirements. The one or more representations may be provided for presentation by the computing device.
US09055118B2 Edge caching using HTTP headers
Disclosed is a program for pre-fetching resources. A computer, communicatively coupled to a plurality of client computers and a server computer, identifies a resource, through an examination of one or more HTTP server logs, that is cached on at least one of the plurality of client computers and has been validated by the server computer. The computer determines to pre-fetch the resource based on one or more predefined rules, at least one of the predefined rules including a threshold number of responses validating the resource that must be received by the computer. The computer pre-fetches and caches the resource from the server computer. The computer receives a request for the resource from a client computer that does not have the resource cached. The computer validates resource cached locally and sends the resource to the client computer from the local cache on the computer.
US09055108B2 Method for increasing performance in encapsulation of TCP/IP packets into HTTP in network communication system
The disclosure relates to methods of transmitting data over TCP/IP through HTTP. The method includes establishing a connection between a client and a server through at least two proxies; generating a tunnel message in the client; sending the tunnel message to the server; choosing a delay value T based on a maximum transmission rate of the tunnel message; and determining a size Q of a dummy data packet by Q = ∑ i = 1 N - 1 ⁢ ⁢ MSS i , where MSSi is a maximum segment size in TCP connections between the i-th proxy and the (i+1)-th proxy, and N is the number of proxies. The method also includes sending, from the client, a dummy data packet of size Q in T seconds after the last transmission of non-dummy data via the HTTP tunnel; receiving the tunnel message by the server; and disabling usage of Nagle's algorithm and TCP delayed acknowledgement algorithm for the TCP connection in the client and server.
US09055102B2 Location-based operations and messaging
Systems and methods for using location information to determine a medium to use for communications to a user of a mobile device are provided. The user's mobile device provides location information to in intermediate computing device. That location information is accessed and used to determine, from a plurality of media, which to use for communications with the user. In various embodiments of the present invention, the user's mobile device can receive location-based content and commands.
US09055100B2 Systems and methods for HTTP-Body DoS attack prevention with adaptive timeout
The present disclosure is directed generally to systems and methods for changing an application layer transaction timeout to prevent Denial of Service attacks. A device intermediary to a client and a server may receive, via a transport layer connection between the device and the client, a packet of an application layer transaction. The device may increment an attack counter for the transport layer connection by a first predetermined amount responsive to a size of the packet being less than a predetermined fraction of a maximum segment size for the transport layer connection. The device may increment the attack counter by a second predetermined amount responsive to an inter-packet-delay between the packet and a previous packet being more than a predetermined multiplier of a round trip time. The device may change a timeout for the application layer transaction responsive to comparing the attack counter to a predetermined threshold.
US09055098B2 Embedded anti-virus scanner for a network adapter
A network adapter system and associated method are provided. The network adapter system includes a processor positioned on a network adapter coupled between a computer and a network. Such processor is configured for scanning network traffic transmitted between the computer and the network.
US09055095B2 DOS detection and mitigation in a load balancer
A load balancer that is able to detect and mitigate a Denial of Service (DOS) attack. The load balancer is placed in the flow path of network data packets that are destined for one or more tenant addresses. The load balancer analyzes performance parameters regarding the network data packets that are destined for the one or more tenant addresses and are received at the load balancer. The performance parameters describe network data packet flow to the tenant addresses. The load balancer detects, based on the analysis of the performance parameters, that one or more of the tenant addresses are being subjected to a DOS attack. The load balancer performs a mitigation operation to isolate the one or more tenant addresses being subjected to the DOS attack.
US09055088B2 Managing a communication session with improved session establishment
System, method and program product for managing sessions. A request to open a session with a destination server is received. A determination is made whether an operational request is received concurrently with the open request or within a predetermined time thereafter. If so, the requested session is opened. If not, the requested session is not opened. The method can be performed by a proxy server. To initiate the session, the operational request should be received concurrently with the open request or within a predetermined time thereafter. The destination server is responsible for processing the operational request. To open the session with the destination server from the proxy server, an open request and the operational request are sent from the proxy server to the destination server. An inbound socket of the proxy server associated with the session is spliced to an outbound socket of the proxy server associated with the session. Consequently, subsequent requests in this session are automatically passed from the inbound socket to the outbound socket. The outbound socket is used for the session with the destination server.
US09055083B2 Interworking method and interworking control unit, method and system for implementing simulation services
The present invention discloses a method for implementing simulation services, including the following: an interworking control unit obtains the CS domain network user identifier after detecting that the call signaling message from the CS domain network carries no CS domain network user identifier, puts the obtained user identifier into the SIP message, which is subsequently sent to the IMS network; the IMS network processes the PSTN/ISDN simulation services according to the user identifier. The present invention also discloses a system for implementing simulation service. The present invention makes it unnecessary to extend the existing SIP protocol and to perform signaling interaction between the IMS network and the interworking control unit for obtaining the user identifier, thus simplifying the implementation of the PSTN/ISDN simulation services.
US09055079B2 Method and apparatus for growing next generation network using modular design
A method and system for growing a next generation network (NGN) using a modular design are disclosed. For example, the method defines a growth core module to support a specific number of subscribers, wherein the growth core module is assigned a module identifier (ID). The method upgrades existing network entities that will be impacted by an installation of the growth core module in the existing IMS network, and installs the growth core module in the IMS network.
US09055062B1 Per-user wireless traffic handling
A method and system for accessing a wireless local area network are provided. The method and system include receiving, from a wireless client device, an authentication request comprising credentials for a user account of a cloud-based service and forwarding the authentication request to a server associated with the cloud-based service for authentication of the credentials. An authentication response and a configuration profile associated with the user account of the cloud-based service is received from the server. The authentication response is forwarded to the wireless client device. An association request is received from the wireless client device and the wireless client device is associated with the wireless local area network in response to the association request. The association of the wireless client device with the wireless local area network is configured according to the received configuration profile associated with the user account.
US09055061B2 Process of authentication for an access to a web site
A Process of reinforced authentication based on data collection of hardware components contained in a system having steps of enrolment authentication. A web site is connected to and a web page received. A list of hardware components is detected and collected. A subset of the list constituting digital information of reference (DDNA) is generated by a hash operation applied to the raw data. The DDNA is used with a received seed of an authentication server to generate a unique use password (OTP).
US09055049B1 De-identifying medical history information for medical underwriting
A computer-implemented method includes producing information that characterizes a group of individuals from a set of private data representing characteristics of the individuals. The identity of the individuals is unattainable from the produced information. The method also includes providing the produced information to report the characteristics of the group.
US09055048B2 Secure browser
A method for interacting with a user, comprising communicating with at least one cooperative server through a normal browser; automatically receiving encrypted data having an associated received type code indicative of a requirement for a secure browser having restricted functionality with respect to a functionality of the normal browser; selectively and automatically invoking the secure browser for handling of the received encrypted data based on the received type code associated with the received encrypted data; receiving the encrypted data with the invoked secure browser for handling thereof, wherein the received encrypted data is not available for use by the user in the normal browser and the invoked secure browser imposes restrictions on availability outside of the secure browser of decrypted data derived from the encrypted data; and communicating an input from the user, through the secure browser, to the at least one cooperative server.
US09055045B2 Image providing device, image providing method, image providing program, and computer-readable recording medium storing the program
An image providing device includes a page information transmission unit that outputs a first page to be displayed on a client terminal and an image output unit that outputs images contained in the first page to the client terminal and then outputs a second composite image combining images, other than the images contained in the first page, of a plurality of images contained in a second page to the client terminal. This avoids that an image contained in common in the first page and the second page is redundantly output to the client terminal. This thus reduces the number of transfers of images.
US09055042B2 Providing network communications satisfying application requirements using virtualization
A method of providing network communications includes receiving, at a second device via a virtual network connection associated with virtual dispersive routing (VDR) software that virtualizes network capabilities of the second device, a packet communicated from a first device over a connection path comprising a plurality of other devices, the packet including a header and a payload, the payload including data appended thereto by one or more devices of the plurality of devices; and determining, at the second device by the VDR software, whether the connection path satisfies one or more requirements of an application running on the second device, the determination being based at least in part on the data appended to the payload by the one or more devices of the plurality of other devices.
US09055038B1 Apparatus, system, and method to garble programs
In one embodiment, a non-transitory computer readable storage medium includes executable instructions to perform a series of operations represented by a first garbled program received from a client on garbled data received from the client. A second garbled program is obtained as a result of execution of the first garbled program. The second garbled program includes a first garbled portion and a second garbled portion. The second garbled portion includes a third garbled portion generated through execution of the first garbled portion, such that the series of operations can be performed without interaction with the client and while maintaining as hidden the underlying content of the first garbled program and the garbled data.
US09055022B2 On board vehicle networking module
The present disclosure describes a microprocessor executable social networking module operable to enable on board processing modules of different privately owned vehicles to wirelessly connect to exchange vehicle-related information.
US09055008B1 Device and process for efficient multicasting
A method and apparatus for allocating pointers in a network switch managing a multicast transmission includes receiving a frame in the switch and assigning pointers in an ingress module to buffer the frame, forwarding pointers along with a header including an egress variable indicative of a number of transmissions in the multicast transmission to an egress module for transmission of the frame, forwarding the egress variable after transmission of the frame to a multicast module, monitoring the transmission of the frame based upon the egress variable, and returning pointers to a free list responsive to the monitoring step and a value of the egress variable.
US09055007B2 System and method for managing bursting traffic
A network device for managing communications. The network device includes a first counter operable to track CIR tokens. The first counter is operable to increase the CIR tokens at a first rate. The network device also includes a second counter operable to track the EIR tokens. The second counter is operable to increase the EIR tokens at a second rate. The network device also includes logic in communication with the first counter and the second counter. The logic is operable to determine whether there are EIR tokens in response to a determination that there are not CIR tokens. The logic is further operable to command the second counter to decrement the EIR tokens in response to a determination that there are EIR tokens. The logic is further operable to communicate a data unit from the network device through a network in response to decrementing the EIR tokens.
US09055004B2 Scalable low latency multi-protocol networking device
A network device receives a packet that includes a plurality of sets of fields. Sets of fields of the packet are parsed and the field sets are evaluated as soon as they are available to determine whether a processing decision can be made on the packet. Additional field sets may be parsed from the packet and obtained in parallel with determining whether a processing decision can be made, but once it is determined that a processing decision can be made, the evaluating of field sets is terminated such that any further field sets of the packet are ignored for purposes of making a processing decision for the packet.
US09055002B2 Modernization of legacy application by reorganization of executable legacy tasks by role
Methods, systems, and techniques for role-based modernization of legacy applications are provided. Example embodiments provide a Role-Based Modernization System (“RBMS”), which enables the reorganization of (menu-based) legacy applications by role as a method of modernization and enables user access to such modernized applications through roles. In addition the RBMS supports the ability to enhance such legacy applications by blending them with non-legacy tasks and functions in a user-transparent fashion. In one embodiment, the RBMS comprises a client-side javascript display and control module and a java applet host interface and a server-side emulation control services module. These components cooperate to uniformly present legacy and non-legacy tasks that have been reorganized according to role modernization techniques.
US09054991B2 Managing method and apparatus for servicing contents provided by content provider
A managing method for contents providing services includes providing a website server account of a Contents Provider (CP) based on information of the CP provided via a contents providing apparatus. A contents connection point which is contents position information for connecting to contents to be provided to a mobile communication terminal via a wireless Internet is registered. CP connection menus and a directory menu which is a menu provided via the mobile communication terminal are generated, and the contents connection point is connected to the CP connection menus. A segment for providing the contents to the mobile communication terminal according to a prescribed regulation is formed and the directory menu and the CP connection menus are selectively connected to the segment.
US09054989B2 Management of a distributed fabric system
A distributed fabric system has distributed line card (DLC) chassis and scaled-out fabric coupler (SFC) chassis. Each DLC includes a network processor and fabric ports. Each network processor includes a fabric interface in communication with the fabric ports of that DLC. Each SFC includes at least one fabric element and SFC fabric ports. A fabric communication link connects each SFC fabric port to one DLC fabric port. Each fabric communication link includes cell-carrying lanes. Each fabric element detects connectivity between each SFC fabric port of that SFC and one DLC fabric port over a fabric communication link. Each SFC reads a connectivity matrix from fabric element chips and sends connection information corresponding to the detected connectivity from that SFC to a central agent. A network element includes the central agent, which, when executed, constructs a topology of the distributed fabric system from the connection information sent from each SFC.
US09054984B2 Method, switching device and system for enabling multicast forwarding
A method for enabling multicast forwarding relates to the field of IP communication technologies. The method for enabling multicast forwarding implements flexible networking and enables proper function of the multicast proxy. A switch device receives a multicast protocol message; the switch device determines a sender of the multicast protocol message according to a port from which the multicast protocol message is received; the switch device transmits the multicast protocol message transparently if the sender of the multicast protocol message is a routing device or a switching device, and the switch device terminates the multicast protocol message according to a multicast proxy function if the sender of the multicast protocol message is a host of a multicast user.
US09054980B2 System and method for local packet transport services within distributed routers
A system and method for routing packets within a router having a plurality of loosely-coupled route processors, including a first route processor, and a line card operably coupled to the plurality of distributed-route-processors. Each route processor includes an internal forwarding information base (IFIB). Each IFIB includes information that is used to route packets addressed to elements within the router.
US09054976B2 Network configuration system based on location and configuration method thereof
A network configuration system based on location of the device transmits a transient network configuration via a server to a node to set the network configuration thereof. Link layer discovery protocol (LLDP) information produced at the node is used to search for a default network management table in order to obtain the actual network configuration. The network configuration of the node is then updated according to the actual network configuration. The corresponding configuration method is also proposed. The mechanism helps improve the convenience in setting the network configuration.
US09054969B2 System and method for situation-aware IP-based communication interception and intelligence extraction
A system and method for monitoring Internet Protocol (IP) data traffic may include receiving IP data generated by a target device interacting on the Internet, determining at least one activity performed by the target device based on the IP data, wherein an activity describes an interaction on the Internet, and aggregating data describing the at least one activity into one or more chunks, each chunk corresponding to a portion of time and at least one activity performed by the targets.
US09054961B1 Setup of multiple IOT devices
The present disclosure relates to the setup of multiple devices on a local area network. Specifically, various techniques and systems are provided for utilizing a network device to efficiently add a new device to a local area network using an existing network device. Exemplary embodiments of the present invention include a computer-implemented method. The method comprises receiving, at a network device on a network, credentials identifying a network gateway in the network; receiving a communication including an indication that a new network device has generated a new access point; transmitting a query, wherein the query includes a request to determine whether the new network device is associated with the network; receiving a communication including a response to the query indicating that the new network device is associated with the network; establishing a connection with the new access point of the new network device; and transmitting the credentials identifying the network gateway, wherein the credentials are used for the new network device to join the network.
US09054959B2 Method for indicating a service interruption source
The present invention relates to a method used to indicate a service interruption source, in a client device of said service comprising an interface to a first network, said device being connected to a remote server by means of a gateway to which said device is connected by means of said first network; comprising the steps for starting up a downloading session from said remote server of a content, the end of the session requiring an acknowledgement from the user, detecting the connection loss between the device and the gateway, detecting the connection recovery between the device and the gateway, sending information (S6) to the server indicating the device disconnection period.
US09054952B2 Automated passive discovery of applications
Embodiments are directed to monitoring communication over a network using a network monitoring device (NMD) to discover devices, roles, applications, and application dependencies present on the monitored networks. A NMD may monitor network packets that may be flowing on monitored networks. Using OSI L2-to-L3 data the NMD may determine the devices that may be on the monitored networks. Also, the NMD may determine the network protocols that may be in use on the monitored networks. Further, the NMD may reassemble monitored network packets into transactions based on knowledge regarding the network protocols are in use on the monitored networks. The NMD may perform various tests to determine the applications that may be running on the discovered devices. Some of the tests used by the NMD may examine OSI L4-L7 data that may be included in the transactions.
US09054947B2 Port membership table partitioning
A firmware model is provided for a shared port membership table that is partitioned for different needs of a distributed network switch, such as broadcast groups, multicast groups, ACL rules, and other port membership groupings. The shared port membership table enables a control point to set the size of each of the types of port membership information based on their usage or expected usage. By shrinking one partition, the control point is able to use the port group entries for a different partition of port group information.
US09054944B2 Path computation method, path computation element, node device, and network system
The present invention provides a path computation method, a Path Computation Element (PCE), a node device, and a network system. The method includes: receiving a path computation request message (S201), where the path computation request message carries a network type identifier and traffic parameter constraint conditions of a path required to be computed, and the network type identifier indicates a type of a network where the path required to be computed locates; determining the network through the network type identifier, and computing the path in the network according to the traffic parameter constraint conditions (S202); and sending a path computation response message (S203), where the path computation response message carries the computed path. The problem of distinguishing and computing Traffic Engineer (TE) paths for various types of services in a multi-region convergence network is solved.
US09054941B2 Clock and data recovery using dual manchester encoded data streams
Two Manchester encoded bit streams each bit stream with accompanying embedded clock data are disclosed. The two encoded bit streams are encoded at the source using opposite polarities of the source clock to position transitions within the bit streams at the rising and falling edges of the source clock. The receiver may extract the clock data from both bit streams. Because both rising and falling edge clock data is available between the two bit streams, the receiver does not need a phase locked loop (PLL) or incur the accompanying expense of such PLL. Further, by avoiding use of a PLL, a nearly all digital circuit may be created, which may provide further cost and space savings. Still further, a higher data throughput is provided without increasing pin count or signal bandwidth.
US09054935B1 OFDM-based acoustic communications system
Disclosed is an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM)-based acoustic communications system. At an acoustic transmitting end, original data is modulated through channel coding into an acoustic signal of a data frame formed by multiple OFDM symbols and the acoustic signal is transmitted through a loudspeaker; at an acoustic receiving end, after a microphone receives the acoustic signal, and the acoustic signal is restored to the original data through demodulation and channel decoding. In a communication process, symbol synchronization is implemented through pilot information, and data frame synchronization is implemented in a manner of inserting baker codes, thereby simplifying processing, having a low bit error rate, improving acoustic communication efficiency, promoting development of acoustic communication, and having a good application prospect.
US09054933B2 Orthogonal frequency division multiplex (OFDM) receiver with phase noise mitigation and reduced latency
A system according to one embodiment includes a demodulator configured to receive an orthogonal frequency division multiplexed (OFDM) modulated signal comprising a current symbol and a sequence of previous symbols, each of the symbols comprising one or more pilot sub-carriers and one or more data sub-carriers; a phase angle computation circuit coupled to the demodulator, the phase angle computation circuit configured to compute a first mean, the first mean computed from the phase angle of one or more of the pilot sub-carriers of a predetermined number of the previous symbols; a predictive filter circuit coupled to the phase angle computation circuit, the predictive filter circuit configured to compute a second mean, the second mean estimating the phase angle of one or more sub-carriers of the current symbol, the estimation based on the first mean; and a phase noise cancelling circuit coupled to the predictive filter circuit, the phase noise cancelling circuit configured to correct the phase of one or more sub-carriers of the current symbol based on the second mean.
US09054930B2 Method for performing wireless communication between user equipment and base station in a wireless communication system supporting first user equipment using single frequency band and second user equipment using multiple frequency bands
A method for performing a wireless communication between a UE and a BS in a wireless communication system supporting a first UE using a single frequency band and a second UE using a plurality of frequency bands, to each of which OFDM is applied, is disclosed. The method includes being allocated one or more downlink component carriers for the second UE from the BS, and receiving the one or more downlink component carriers from the BS by the second UE. The one or more downlink component carriers are cyclically shifted by different cyclic shift values and the cyclic shifting is performed by multiplying each of the one or more downlink component carriers by a linear phase having a different inclination.
US09054928B1 Crest factor reduction
A system for crest factor reduction (CFR) includes a peak detector configured to receive an input signal (xk); a running maximum filter configured to generate a scaling factor based on a window gain (Gk) and a filter length, wherein the window gain (Gk) is based on the input signal (xk) and a threshold value (T); a window CFR gain filter configured to generate a gain correction (Fk) based on the scaling factor and the filter length; a delay configured to delay the input signal (xk) to generate a delayed input signal; a multiplier configured to multiply the gain correction (Fk) by the delayed input signal to obtain a peak correction value; and an adder configured to determine an output signal (yk) based on the peak correction value and the delayed input signal.
US09054925B1 Parallel digital-to-time converter architecture
This document discusses, among other things, digital-to-time converters (DTCs) and more particularly to parallel implementations of DTCs. In an example, an apparatus can include a first digital-to-time converter (DTC) configured to receive reference frequency information and first phase information of a polar transmitter and to provide a first portion of phase modulation information, a second DTC configured to receive second phase information of the polar transmitter and to provide a second portion of phase modulation information, and a combiner configured to receive the first portion and the second portion and to provide a phase modulated signal.
US09054913B1 Network protocol proxy
A network proxy can be provided as a layer between an application layer protocol (such as the Remote Desktop Protocol) and a transport layer protocol (such as TCP). The network proxy can intercept communications between the application layer protocol and the transport layer protocol. The network proxy can transmit communications on multiple connections, without the application layer or transport layer protocols being aware of the parallelization.
US09054907B2 Partial response receiver and related method
A multi-phase partial response equalizer circuit includes sampler circuits that sample an input signal to generate sampled signals in response to sampling clock signals having different phases. A first multiplexer circuit selects one of the sampled signals as a first sampled bit to represent the input signal. A first storage circuit coupled to an output of the first multiplexer circuit stores the first sampled bit in response to a first clock signal. A second multiplexer circuit selects one of the sampled signals as a second sampled bit to represent the input signal based on the first sampled bit. A second storage circuit stores a sampled bit selected from the sampled signals in response to a second clock signal. A time period between the second storage circuit storing a sampled bit and the first storage circuit storing the first sampled bit is substantially greater than a unit interval in the input signal.
US09054901B2 Simplified blind signal detector
A method for detecting a presence of an RF signal begins by forming with at least one computer processor a sample correlation matrix A from a sample of a radio frequency channel. Thereafter, the at least one computer processor determines a trace tr(A) of the sample correlation matrix and a determinant det(A) of the sample correlation matrix. The at least one processor then selectively determines a presence or absence of a signal on the radio frequency channel based exclusively on the trace, the determinant and a threshold value T. The invention also includes a cognitive radio which includes a radio receiver configured to detect an RF signal and at least one computer processing device for performing the above-described method.
US09054896B2 SVC-L2 VPNs: flexible on demand switched MPLS/IP layer-2 VPNs for ethernet SVC, ATM and frame relay
A Layer-2 virtual private network arrangement and method is disclosed for switched virtual circuits. The switched virtual circuit Layer-2 VPN includes logical ports of two types, customer and provider, and port information tables to relate both types which provides simplified provisioning and a degree of customer autonomy regarding establishing virtual connections without the assistance of the service provider across the service provider's network. The switched virtual circuit Layer-2 VPN is particularly useful for overcoming the need for customers to store and manipulate provider addresses with respect to closed user groups as is done in existing Layer-2 VPNs known in the art.
US09054895B2 Network interface and detection module to enable network communication within information handling systems
A network interface module can include a housing including a first cavity configured to receive a first network plug having a first dimension. The housing also includes a second cavity within the first cavity, and configured to receive a second network plug having a second dimension that is less than the first dimension. The network interface module can also include a network detection circuit coupled to a first terminal within the housing.
US09054880B2 Information processing device, controller, key issuing authority, method for judging revocation list validity, and key issuing method
A memory card includes a storage unit storing key information and version information in association with the key information, the key information and the version information being issued by a key issuing authority and the version information indicating a version of the latest revocation list that has been issued when the key information is generated. A revocation list receiving unit receives a revocation list having a version; and a version verification unit compares the version of the revocation list received by the revocation list receiving unit and the version information. When the version of the revocation list is older than version information, processing by a revocation list writing unit is prohibited.
US09054874B2 System and method for data authentication among processors
The invention discloses system and method for data authentication among processors. The method comprises: generating a first key, by a first processor, according to a first identification data and a first algorithm; generating a first digest, by the first processor, according to data to be transmitted, the first identification data and a second algorithm; generating a digital signature, by the first processor, according to the first key, the first digest and a third algorithm; and transmitting the data and the digital signature from the first processor to a second processor.
US09054872B2 Secure lookup
A method for secure data transformation and lookup is executed by a computer system. A data value to create an encrypted value is encrypted by the computer system. A hash value based on the encrypted value is generated by the computer system. A modulo operation is performed by the computer system on the hash value to create a modulo value. A transformed value from a lookup table is retrieved by the computer system by using the modulo value as an index for the look up table. The transformed value is provided by the computer system.
US09054867B2 Method, device and system for assigning ACK channels to users
A method for assigning acknowledgement (ACK) channels to a user is used to feed back ACKs of a plurality of downlink sub-frames in one uplink sub-frame. According to the method, reserved ACK channels are divided into blocks according to the number of downlink sub-frames; each downlink sub-frame corresponds to one block; each block is divided into several sub-blocks; control channel element (CCE) sets within the same sub-frame are respectively mapped to different sub-blocks; and the ACK channels are assigned to the downlink sub-frames according to a sequence of increasing a mapping label d first and then increasing a sub-block label m. Thus, more unused ACK channels can be released to form resource blocks (RBs) for transmission on other channels, for example, for PUSCH transmission. Other methods for assigning ACK channels to a user, a device for assigning ACK channels to a user, and a communication system are further provided.
US09054864B2 Method and apparatus of securely processing data for file backup, de-duplication, and restoration
Disclosed are an apparatus and methods of performing a secure backup of at least one data file via an agent application. According to one example, the method may include determining the at least one data file requires a mirror backup file, and determining that the at least one data file is a candidate for de-duplication based on at least one data file characteristic. The method may also include creating a filekey based on at least a portion of the content of the at least one data file, and transmitting the filekey to a database query handler associated with a database to determine if the file has been de-duplicated.
US09054860B1 Digital verified identification system and method
A digital verified identification system and method are presented for verifying and/or authenticating the identification of an entity associated with an electronic file, such as, for example the digital signatory thereof. In particular, the system and method include a module generating assembly structured to receive at least one verification data element, and at least one digital identification module structured to be associated with at least one entity. The digital identification module is capable of being disposed or embedded within at least one electronic file. Further, the digital identification module includes at least one primary component structured to at least partially associate the digital identification module with the entity, and one or more metadata components.
US09054852B2 Method and device for transmitting/receiving channel state information in coordinated multipoint communication system
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system. More particularly, disclosed are a method and a device for transmitting channel state information in a coordinated multipoint communication system. The method for transmitting channel state information from a terminal to multiple base stations, according to one embodiment of the present invention, comprise the steps of: transmitting the CSI including long-term broadband PMI and short-term sub-band PMI to a first base station; transmitting the CSI including the long-term broadband PMI and not including the short-term sub-band PMI to a second base station; and transmitting the CSI including the short-term sub-band PMI to the second base station, when a request for the short-term sub-band PMI transmission to the second base station is received.
US09054844B2 Method for determining modulation order of uplink control information in multiple antenna wireless communication system and device therefor
Disclosed is a method for allowing a terminal equipped with multiple antennas to transmit uplink control information in a wireless communication system. More specifically, the method comprises the steps of generating a plurality of codewords by using data information and said uplink control information; modulating each of the generated codewords based on predetermined modulation orders; and transmitting the modulated signals to a base station through said multiple antennas, wherein first uplink control information of said uplink control information is mapped into a particular codeword among the plurality of codewords, second uplink control information is repeated and mapped for each of the plurality of codewords, and a modulation order for the second uplink control information is the modulation order corresponding to said particular codeword.
US09054840B2 Error detection and correction of a data transmission
Error detection and correction of a data transmission, including: receiving a block of data, where the block includes a predefined number of words, with each word including a parity bit, where the block of data also an error-correcting code (ECC); determining, for each word in dependence upon the parity bit of the word, whether the word of the block includes a parity error; committing each word that does not include a parity error, if only one word of the block includes a parity error: correcting the one word that includes the parity error through use of the ECC of the block and committing the corrected word.
US09054833B2 Optical transmission system, receiving-end device, and optical transmission method
An optical transmission system includes an optical transmitting device (8) and an optical receiving device (9). The optical transmitting device (8) includes an operating channel transmitting unit (81) that transmits a first optical signal to an operating channel, and a redundant channel transmitting unit (82) that transmits a second optical signal having the same information as the first optical signal to a redundant channel. The optical receiving device (9) includes a local selection function unit (91) that has a function of selecting a wavelength of the first optical signal or the second optical signal transmitted from the optical transmitting device (8), a channel setting control unit (92) that sets a wavelength to be selected by the local selection function unit (91), and a receiving unit (93) that receives the first optical signal or the second optical signal having the wavelength selected by the local selection function unit (91).
US09054824B2 Inter-frame gap controller, traffic transmitter, transmission apparatus and inter-frame gap control method
An inter-frame gap controller 12 includes an inter-frame gap length determiner 13 that determines the length of inter-frame gap based on traffic volume of Ethernet frames which are converted to synchronous frames and transmitted over synchronous network 4, and a gap inserter 14 that inserts the inter-frame gap of the length determined by the inter-frame gap length determiner 13 between Ethernet frames which are converted from the synchronous frames.
US09054812B2 Optical module
An optical module includes: a first circuit board on which a connector socket is mounted, an optical transceiver module that is electrically connected to the first circuit board via the connector socket; a heat sink; and a heat dissipating sheet. The optical transceiver module includes: a second circuit board on which an E/O converter, a drive circuit for the E/O converter, an O/E converter, and a current-to-voltage conversion circuit for the O/E converter are mounted; and an optical waveguide that guides an optical signal generated by the E/O converter to an output end of the optical transceiver module, and that guides an input optical signal to the O/E converter. The heat sink is thermally coupled to the E/O converter, the drive circuit, the O/E converter, and the current-to-voltage conversion circuit via the heat dissipating sheet, and presses the optical transceiver module onto the first circuit board.
US09054804B2 Electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding device and method for use in an optical communications system
An electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding device and method are provided for use with an optical communications module (OCM) that is configured to be plugged into a front panel of a box or housing of an optical communications system. The EMI shielding device is mechanically coupled to an end of a housing of the OCM such that when the OCM is fully inserted through an opening formed in the front panel, the EMI shielding device comes into abutment with the front panel to form an EMI seal around the opening that prevents, or at least helps prevent, EMI from escaping from the system housing through the opening formed in the front panel.
US09054800B2 Staging a mobile device with visible light communication
A system configures a mobile device. The system includes a visible light communication (VLC) transmitter and a mobile device. The VLC transmitter is configured to emit a visible light signal corresponding to staging profile data, the staging profile data including configuration data. The mobile device includes a VLC receiver configured to receive the visible light signal, the visible light signal being converted to generate the staging profile data, the staging profile data automatically configuring the mobile device for communicating with a communication network as a function of the configuration data.
US09054796B2 Dual optical electrical conversion module
In an embodiment, a dual optical-electrical conversion (DOEC) module is described that includes an optical host interface, an optical network interface, and an integrated circuit. The optical host interface includes an optical transmitter and an optical receiver. The optical network interface includes an optical transmitter and an optical receiver. The integrated circuit conditions electrical signals communicated between the optical host interface and optical network interface. Optical signals received at and transmitted by the optical host interface may have different parameter requirements than optical signals received at and transmitted by the optical network interface, such as different wavelength parameters and/or fiber link length parameters.
US09054795B2 Systems and methods for phase noise mitigation
A system for phase noise mitigated communication including a primary transmitter that converts a digital transmit signal to an analog transmit signal, a primary receiver that receives an analog receive signal and converts the analog receive signal to a digital receive signal, an analog self-interference canceller that samples the analog transmit signal, generates an analog self-interference cancellation signal based on the analog transmit signal, and combines the analog self-interference cancellation signal with the analog receive signal and a digital self-interference canceller that samples the digital transmit signal, generates a digital self-interference cancellation signal based on the digital transmit signal, and combines the digital self-interference cancellation signal with the digital receive signal.
US09054793B2 Structure, system and method for device radio frequency (RF) reliability
Disclosed are test structures for radio frequency (RF) power stress and characterization. Each test structure incorporates a single device and is selectively operated in either a stress mode, during which the device is stressed under RF power, or in an analysis mode, during which the impact of the applied stress on the performance of the device is characterized. During the stress mode, an input RF power signal is applied to the device through an RF signal input port and an output RF power signal is captured from the device at an RF signal output port. Depending upon the impedance value of the device at issue, the RF signal input port and the RF signal output port are connected to either the same terminal or opposing terminals and the need for impedance tuning is avoided. Also disclosed are test systems and methods for selectively controlling operation of such a test structure.
US09054789B2 Method and device for generating ultra wide band pulses
The disclosure relates to a method for generating UWB waveforms, each comprising a sequence of pulses, the method comprising: generating consecutive elementary pulses having durations corresponding to setpoint durations and a constant amplitude, amplifying each elementary pulse separately as a function of a respective setpoint amplitude, and combining the amplified elementary pulses to obtain a waveform successively comprising each of the amplified alternately positive and negative, elementary pulses.
US09054783B2 Methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to trigger preemptive maintenance in vectored digital subscriber line (DSL) systems
Example methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to trigger preemptive maintenance of vectored digital subscriber line (DSL) systems are disclosed. An example method includes generating a trouble ticket for a first subscriber loop based on a result of a diagnostic test, the diagnostic test being performed on the first subscriber loop when a value representing crosstalk coupling between the first subscriber loop and a second subscriber loop exceeds a threshold. The first subscriber loop and the second subscriber loop belong to a vectored group of subscriber loops contained in a same cable binder. The example method includes submitting the trouble ticket.
US09054779B2 Radio frequency interference shield
Examples provide various systems and method associated with intercepting radio frequency interference. In various examples, a wireless integrated circuit module comprises radio frequency connectors. An RF interference shield covers the RF connectors to intercept and ground interference.
US09054771B2 Method for transmitting control signal to relay node at base station in MIMO wireless communication system and apparatus therefor
A method for transmitting a control signal to a relay node at a base station in a multi-input multi-output (MIMO) wireless communication system is disclosed. The method comprises configuring relay-resource element groups (R-REGs) in a unit of four resource elements (REs) contiguous in the ascending order of subcarrier indexes, except for resource elements for a reference signal (RS); allocating transmission resources to the control signal in a unit of the relay-resource element group; and transmitting the control signal to the relay node by using the allocated transmission resources, wherein the resource elements for the reference signal include resource elements for channel state information-RS (CSI-RS), which include resource elements for a channel state information RS to which a transmission power of 0 is allocated.
US09054770B2 Communication circuit and semiconductor device
A communication circuit includes a receiver circuit that provides differential communication by using a first transmission path and a second transmission path. The first transmission path transmits a first signal. The second transmission path transmits a second signal. The receiver circuit includes a compensation circuit that compensates for the attenuation of a current when common mode noise is superimposed on the first signal and on the second signal. The compensation circuit includes a first compensation circuit. The first compensation circuit detects an electric current attenuation of the first signal when the common mode noise is superimposed thereon, and compensates for the attenuation thereof by adding the detected electric current attenuation to the second signal.
US09054769B2 Pre-processing unit for a signal processor
A pre-processing unit for a signal processor includes a pre-processing element. The pre-processing element is configured to receive data to be processed by the signal processor, to pre-process the receive data and to output the pre-processed data. The data is pre-processed based on a control signal describing an undesired signal characteristic of a supply voltage for the signal processor in order to compensate an influence of the signal characteristic of the supply voltage on the processing of the data.
US09054761B2 Method and apparatus for transmitting reference signal in multiple antenna system
A method and an apparatus for transmitting a reference signal in a multiple antenna system are provided. The method includes transmitting a first reference signal based on a first sequence through a first antenna group, and transmitting a second reference signal based on a second sequence through a second antenna group, wherein the first reference signal and the second reference signal are transmitted through a same radio resource.
US09054748B2 Reconfigurable wideband receiver
One embodiment of the present invention provides a receiver for wireless communication. The receiver includes a demodulator and at least one filtering mechanism coupled to the demodulator, and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) coupled to the filtering mechanism. The filtering mechanism can be configured to function as a low-pass filter (LPF) or a band-pass filter (BPF), thereby enabling the receiver to function as a direct-conversion receiver or a low-intermediate frequency (low-IF) receiver.
US09054746B2 Power transmission device, power transmission method, and power transmission system
A power transmission device includes a communication unit that transmits a power capability information transmission request, receives power capability information in response to the power capability information transmission request, and transmits randomized parameter information by a communication channel. The power transmission device also includes a processing unit that produces the randomized parameter information, based on the power capability information. Further, the power transmission device includes a power transmission unit that wirelessly transmits power based on the randomized parameter information.
US09054743B2 Auto-pairing wireless audio/visual system
A method of auto-pairing a receiver/transmitter system for use with a vehicle having an operator portion and a transporting portion, the method including the steps of initiating, searching and sending. The initiating step initiates the transmitter into a pairing mode by way of an electrical power sequencing of the transmitter. The searching step searches for the transmitter to be in the pairing mode by the receiver. The sending step sends a signal to the transmitter that the transmitter is paired to the receiver upon the receiver finding the transmitter to be in the pairing mode in the searching step.
US09054741B2 Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving in a communication/broadcasting system
A method and apparatus for transmitting in a communication/broadcasting system is provided. The method includes determining to use an additional parity technique, generating an Nth parity check matrix, where N is an integer, performing Low Density Parity Check (LDPC) encoding using the Nth parity-check matrix, modulating a codeword corresponding to the Nth parity-check matrix, and transmitting the modulated codeword.
US09054734B2 Variable length coding method and variable length decoding method
A variable length coding method is provided for coding coefficients in each block which are obtained by performing frequency transformation on picture data of a moving picture per block having a predetermined size, and includes: a coefficient scanning step of scanning the coefficients in the block in a predetermined order; and a coding step of coding the coefficients scanned in the coefficient scanning step into variable length codes in a predetermined order by switching a plurality of tables to be used for coding. Here, a direction of switching between the tables may be one-directional. Also, the coding may be non-arithmetic coding.
US09054732B2 SAR analog-to-digital conversion method and SAR analog-to-digital conversion circuit
An SAR analog-to-digital conversion circuit includes: first and second CDACs; first to third comparators respectively comparing outputs of the first and second CDACs, output levels of the first and third CDACs with a reference level; an arithmetic operation circuit; and an SAR control circuit, wherein the SAR control circuit: at each step, determines in which of four ranges output levels of the sampled and held signals of the first and second CDACs are included, the four ranges corresponding to the conversion range being quartered, determines two bits of the digital data and adjusts the output levels of the first and second CDACs so that a level at ¼ or ¾ of the voltage range agrees with the intermediate level, and controls first and second switches so that the voltage range is set to be a conversion range at a next step.
US09054728B2 Data compression systems and methods
Data compression using a combination of content independent data compression and content dependent data compression. In one aspect, a system for compressing data comprises: a processor; one or more content dependent data compression encoders; and a single data compression encoder. The processor is configured to analyze data within a data block to identify one or more parameters or attributes of the data wherein the analyzing of the data within the data block to identify the one or more parameters or attributes of the data excludes analyzing based solely on a descriptor that is indicative of the one or more parameters or attributes of the data within the data block; to perform content dependent data compression with the one or more content dependent data compression if the one or more parameters or attributes of the data are identified; and to perform data compression with the single data compression encoder, if the one or more parameters or attributes of the data are not identified.
US09054725B1 Signal or loop powered automatic multicolor display and controller
The present circuitry provides for an expansion of loop powered technology preferably employed on 4-20 mA. The invention provides for extracting energy from current loops for use in displays, alarms, controls and communication. Further, the circuit allows for a reporting of instrument status and loss of signal to eliminate operator error in assuming the meter is faulty when in actuality a loss of signal has occurred.
US09054723B2 Electronic system and operating method thereof
To compensate for non-linearity of an AD conversion unit and non-linearity of a DA conversion unit in an electronic system including the DA conversion unit and the AD conversion unit, an electronic system includes an A/D conversion unit, a D/A conversion unit, an AD conversion compensation unit, a DA conversion compensation unit, and a calibration unit. During a calibration operation period, the calibration unit sets an operating characteristic of the AD conversion compensation unit and an operating characteristic of the DA conversion compensation unit. The operating characteristic of the AD conversion compensation unit set during the calibration operation period compensates for non-linearity of AD conversion of the A/D conversion unit. The operating characteristic of the DA conversion compensation unit set during the calibration operation period compensates for non-linearity of DA conversion of the D/A conversion unit.
US09054716B2 Apparatus and methods for adjusting phase-locked loop gain
Apparatus and methods for adjusting a gain of an electronic oscillator, such as a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO), are disclosed. In one aspect, an apparatus for compensating for VCO gain variations includes a charge pump controller. The charge pump controller can be configured to select a VCO gain model based on a comparison of a VCO gain indicator and a threshold value stored in a memory, obtain VCO gain model parameters from the memory corresponding to the selected VCO gain model, and compute a charge pump current control value using the VCO gain model parameters. The charge pump current control value can be used to compensate for VCO gain variations.
US09054712B2 Level switching circuit and method for controlling rail-to-rail enabling signal
This document discusses, among other things, methods for controlling a Rail-to-Rail enabling signal, including providing a first signal of an input signal of a control circuit to a level switching circuit, performing, by the level switching circuit, enabling control according to a high level and a low level of the first signal, and outputting, by the level switching circuit, a disabling signal in case of a failure of a power supply coupled to the level switching circuit. The document also discusses a circuit for controlling a Rail-to-Rail enabling signal and a level switching circuit configured to output a disabling signal properly to provide an accurate enabling control signal for equipment operated under control of an enabling control in case of the failure of the power supply.
US09054711B2 Frequency divider
This disclosure relates to a divide-by-N frequency divider system and frequency dividing method. The system includes a ring oscillator having M stages, where M is an integer, and a zero mean current component coupled to one or more of the stages to provide a zero mean current flow path.
US09054702B2 Field programmable gate array utilizing two-terminal non-volatile memory
Providing for a field programmable gate array (FPGA) utilizing resistive random access memory (RRAM) technology is described herein. By way of example, the FPGA can comprise a switching block interconnect having parallel signal input lines crossed by perpendicular signal output lines. RRAM memory cells can be formed at respective intersections of the signal input lines and signal output lines. The RRAM memory cell can include a voltage divider comprising multiple programmable resistive elements arranged electrically in series across a VCC and VSS of the FPGA. A common node of the voltage divider drives a gate of a pass gate transistor configured to activate or deactivate the intersection. The disclosed RRAM memory can provide high transistor density, high logic utilization, fast programming speed, radiation immunity, fast power up and significant benefits for FPGA technology.
US09054699B2 Switching device of semiconductor circuit and switching method of the same
Each of a plurality of redundantly formed semiconductor circuits integrally has a monitor transistor and is energized by being supplied with an enable signal. A monitor circuit associated with each semiconductor circuit detects a collector current of the monitor transistor and, when the collector current is less than a predetermined threshold value, outputs an alarm signal. A variation predicting circuit calculates the rate of change per unit time with respect to the collector current. An order determining circuit stores the identification numbers of the semiconductor circuits into an order determination register in descending order of the rate of change. The order determination register initially outputs the front identification number, and thereafter outputs the respective following identification number each time a respective one of the monitor circuits outputs an alarm signal. A semiconductor circuit selection decoder supplies an enable signal to the semiconductor circuit indicated by an identification number.
US09054687B2 VCO with linear gain over a very wide tuning range
An oscillating circuit with linear gain is presented. The oscillating circuit may include a relaxation oscillator and a current compensation block. The relaxation oscillator includes a capacitor, a pair of resistors operative to deliver a first current to the capacitor, and a first current source adapted to generate the first current having a first predefined level. The current compensation block includes a second current source, and a pair of cross-coupled transistors coupled to the second current source and adapted to steer a current exceeding the first predefined level in the relaxation oscillator away from the capacitor and to the second current source. The proposed oscillating circuit generates an output signal which has a linear gain over a wide tuning range.
US09054683B2 Boosting circuit
A boosting circuit is provided which performs an appropriate boosting operation in accordance with load capacitance. In the boosting circuit, a slope control circuit is provided between a limiter circuit, which limits a high voltage obtained by a charge pump circuit to a desired boosted voltage VPP, and a discharge circuit, which makes the boosted voltage VPP drop quickly to a power supply voltage VCC after the completion of writing, to enable a boosting operation in an appropriate boosted-voltage reach time, by increasing the time taken to reach the boosted voltage VPP in the case where the load capacitance is low, while keeping the time taken to reach the boosted voltage VPP unchanged, irrespective of the presence/absence of the slope control circuit, in the case where the load capacitance is high as in the case of selecting the memory cells collectively.
US09054679B2 Flip-flop circuit and semiconductor device
A flip-flop circuit consuming lower power than a conventional flip-flop circuit is provided. Further, a flip-flop circuit having a smaller number of transistors than a conventional flip-flop circuit to have a reduced footprint is provided. An n-channel transistor is used as a transistor which is to be turned on at a high level potential and a p-channel transistor is used as a transistor which is to be turned on at a low level potential, whereby the flip-flop circuit can operate only with a clock signal and without an inverted signal of the clock signal, and the number of transistors that operate only with a clock signal in the flip-flop circuit can be reduced.
US09054674B2 Acoustic wave filter, communication module, and method for manufacturing the filter
An acoustic wave filter includes: a substrate; resonators that are arranged on the substrate and excite acoustic waves; a ground terminal on the substrate; interconnection lines interconnecting the resonators and connecting predetermined ones of the resonators to the ground terminal; and a shield electrode disposed so as to be close to and face the interconnection lines.
US09054665B2 Method and apparatus for removing acoustic incident signal
A method of removing a signal from among received signals, the method including: filtering the received signals; detecting a time band of the filtered received signals where an energy value of the filtered received signals exceeds a reference energy value; and applying a gain value to one or more received signals, from among the received signals, in the detected time band.
US09054664B1 Multiple-port signal boosters
A system is disclosed that includes a first interface port, a second interface port, a signal splitter device, a main booster, and a front-end booster. The signal splitter device may include first, second, and third splitter ports. The signal splitter device may be configured such that a first direction signal received at either of the second and third splitter ports is output at the first splitter port and a second direction signal that is received at the first splitter port is output at each of the second and third splitter ports. The main booster may include main first and second direction amplification paths that are each communicatively coupled between the first splitter port and the first interface port. The front-end booster may include front-end first and second direction amplification paths that are each communicatively coupled between the second splitter port and the second interface port.
US09054663B2 Apparatus and methods for reducing capacitive loading of a power amplifier supply control module
Apparatus and methods for reducing capacitive loading of a power amplifier supply control module are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of power supply control in a power amplifier system includes controlling a voltage level of a supply voltage using a supply control module, amplifying a first radio frequency (RF) signal using a first power amplifier module, amplifying a second RF signal using a second power amplifier module, delivering the supply voltage to a first supply input of the first power amplifier module through a first resonant circuit, and delivering the supply voltage to a second supply input of the second power amplifier module through a second resonant circuit. The first resonant circuit includes a first inductor and a first capacitor electrically connected in parallel, and the second resonant circuit includes a second inductor and a second capacitor electrically connected in parallel.
US09054654B2 Differential amplifier circuit having plural current mirror circuits
Disclosed herein is a differential amplifier circuit that includes: first and second transistors coupled to form a differential circuit; a first current mirror circuit generating first and second currents in response to a third current flowing through the first transistor; and a second current mirror circuit generating a fourth current in response to a fifth input current. A sum of the second and fourth currents flowing through the second transistor.
US09054652B2 Using fractional delay computations to improve intermodulation performance
Enhancing the intermodulation performance of an RF power amplifier by determining a coarse time delay represented by an integer T1; determining a reference point for a transmitted signal waveform of the RF power amplifier; shifting the waveform by a set of offsets comprising a plurality of non-integer fractional steps from (T1−Xd) to (T1+Xd) where T1 is the integer and Xd is a non-integer fractional step size value for defining fractional steps about the integer T1 such that the non-integer fractional steps progress in a positive direction as well as a negative direction; correlating the transmitted signal waveform with a feedback signal waveform to obtain a respective correlation value for each of corresponding fractional steps; obtaining an accurate fractional delay value by selecting a fractional step having a highest respective correlation value; applying the obtained correct fractional delay value to the transmitted signal waveform to provide a compensated transmitted signal waveform, and combining the compensated transmitted signal waveform with the feedback signal waveform to reduce at least one intermodulation product of the RF power amplifier.
US09054650B2 Bias circuit and power amplifier with selection function of power mode
There are provided a bias circuit and a power amplifier. The bias circuit includes a first temperature compensating unit connected between an operating voltage terminal and a ground and operating according to a reference voltage to generate a turn-on voltage, a second temperature compensating unit connected between a reference voltage terminal and the ground and operating according to the turn-on voltage to generate a control voltage, a power mode selecting unit selecting one of a high power mode and a low power mode and providing an additional current to the first temperature compensating unit at the time of selecting the low power mode to increase the turn-on voltage, and a bias voltage generating unit generating a bias voltage according to the control voltage, wherein the control voltage and the bias voltage are decreased according to the increase in the turn-on voltage.
US09054648B1 Wideband active balun LNA topology with narrow-band filtering and noise cancelling
The present invention provides a wideband active balun LNA topology with narrow-band filtering and noise cancelling. The amplifier includes three transconductance stages, a feedback network, and a load. The first and second transconductance stages are connected in parallel to receive the input signal. The differential output of the first transconductance stage is fed back to voltage input through a differential-to-single-end-end feedback network, while the output of the first transconductance, passing through the third transconductance, is added to the output of the second transconductance stage in proper phase. The present invention accomplish both wideband low-noise amplification and narrow-band filtering without inserting interface stages, thereby improving the linearity and noise performance of the whole circuit. Noise cancellation technique is implemented in differential way to ensure the low noise figure. The present invention also achieves single-end to differential conversion with balanced output and superior second order linearity performance.
US09054646B2 Integrated amplifier for driving acoustic transducers
The invention relates to an electronic integrated amplifier for driving an acoustic transducer. The amplifier comprises two differential input terminals to receive an input signal and a first and a second output terminal to provide an output signal to the transducer. In addition, the amplifier comprises an operational amplifier having an input end including differential inputs and an output end operatively associated with the first and second output terminals. A pair of input resistors connect the two differential input terminals to two intermediate terminals, respectively. A pair of feedback resistors connect the first and second output terminals to the two intermediate terminals, respectively. The integrated amplifier also comprises means for high-pass filtering the input signal. Such filtering means is characterized in that it comprises an input element interposed between said intermediate terminals and the input end of the operational amplifier, and a feedback element connected between the input end and the output end of the same operational amplifier.
US09054645B1 Programmable receivers implemented in an integrated circuit device
A programmable receiver implemented in an integrated circuit device is described. The programmable receiver comprises a pre-amplifier circuit coupled to receive an input signal, the pre-amplifier circuit having a programmable current source; and an amplifier circuit coupled to receive an output of the pre-amplifier circuit; wherein the programmable current source is coupled to receive a control signal to enable the receiver to be switched between a high performance mode and a low performance mode. A method of implementing a programmable receiver in an integrated circuit is also described.
US09054629B2 Sensorless torsional mode damping system and method
A torsional mode damping controller system is connected to a converter that drives an electrical machine mechanically connected to a train. The controller system includes an input interface configured to receive measured data related to variables of the converter or the electrical machine, and a controller connected to the input interface. The controller calculates at least one dynamic torque component along a section of a shaft of the train based on the data from the input interface, generates control data for the converter for damping a torsional oscillation in the mechanical drive train based on the at least one dynamic torque component, and sends the control data to the converter for modulating an active power exchanged between the converter and the electrical machine.
US09054613B2 Motor drive apparatus and vehicle with the same mounted thereon
A motor drive apparatus drives a motor generator using electric power provided from a DC power supply. The motor generator rotates a rotor provided with a permanent magnet using a current magnetic field generated by passing a drive current through a coil of a stator. The motor drive apparatus includes an inverter configured to convert DC electric power provided from the DC power supply into AC electric power for driving the motor generator. An ECU of the motor drive apparatus controls the inverter such that an offset current is superimposed on at least one phase of the coil of the stator and a temperature of the permanent magnet provided at the rotor is raised.
US09054596B2 Device for synchronous DC-DC conversion and synchronous DC-DC converter
A DC-DC converter transforms a DC input voltage to generate a DC output voltage by complementary switching control of a main switching transistor and a synchronous rectifying transistor. The DC-DC converter includes a soft-start circuit configured to generate a soft-start voltage rising from an initial voltage at start-up of the DC-DC converter; and a control circuit configured to control switching of the main switching transistor and the synchronous rectifying transistor based on the soft-start voltage to perform soft start of the DC-DC converter. The control circuit brings both of the main switching transistor and the synchronous rectifying transistor to an off state while the soft-start voltage is lower than the DC output voltage.
US09054591B2 Switching power supply apparatus and method of controlling switching power supply apparatus
A switching power supply apparatus includes a transformer having a primary winding, a secondary winding, and an auxiliary winding, a switching element coupled in series to the primary winding; an output circuit section generating a voltage output from power transferred from the primary winding to the secondary winding in response to a switching operation of the switching element, a feedback signal generation circuit section configured to, during a secondary side conduction period in which an electric current flows through the secondary winding, generate a feedback signal having a signal level corrected based on a length of the secondary side conduction period, from an auxiliary winding voltage induced in the auxiliary winding, and a control circuit section driving the switching element based on the feedback signal.
US09054589B2 Method and apparatus for detecting power converter capacitor degradation using negative sequence currents
Power converters and control techniques are presented in which capacitor degradation is detected according to negative sequence current by computing an uncompensated negative sequence current and a negative sequence voltage, compensating the negative sequence current based on the negative sequence voltage, comparing the compensated or uncompensated negative sequence current with an automatically calculated threshold and selectively identifying suspected degradation of one or more capacitors if the compensated negative sequence current exceeds the threshold value. The method can be used for power converters, control devices or protection relays for shunt capacitors or filters used in power systems.
US09054587B2 Non-isolated AC-to-DC converter having a low charging current initial power up mode
In a steady state operation mode, a charging circuit of a non-isolated AC-to-DC converter decouples an output voltage VO node from a VR node when the rectifier output signal VR on the VR node is greater than a first predetermined voltage VP and, 2) supplies a charging current from the VR node and onto the VO node when VR is less than VP provided that an output voltage VO on the VO node is less than a second predetermined voltage VO(MAX) and provided that VR is greater than VO. In an initial power up operation mode, the maximum limit value of the charging current is smaller than it is during steady state operation. Due to the reduced charging currents employed during initial power up operation, less noise is injected back to the AC source and EMI filters are not required between the rectifier of the converter and the AC source.
US09054583B2 Power-supply apparatus
A power-supply apparatus according to an aspect includes an inductor, a transistor that supplies, in an on-state, a current to the input side of the inductor, a second transistor that becomes, when the first transistor is in an off-state, an on-state and thereby brings the input side of the inductor to a predetermined potential, a signal generation unit that generates voltage signals corresponding to a current flowing to the inductor, an amplifier that outputs a current according to the voltage signals, a converter that converts the current output from the amplifier into a voltage signal, and a control unit that controls the transistors based on a first feedback signal corresponding to the voltage on the output side of the inductor and the voltage signal, which is used as a second feedback signal.
US09054578B2 Hybrid driver including a turbo mode
A hybrid output driver includes a voltage mode main driver and a current mode emphasis driver that provides an adjustable differential output voltage swing. The current mode emphasis driver provides: push-pull swing control currents in response to a cursor data value, push-pull precursor currents in response to a precursor data value, and push-pull postcursor currents in response to a postcursor data value. In a normal operating mode, the swing control currents oppose voltages imposed by the voltage mode main driver on the differential output terminals. In a turbo operating mode, the swing control currents enhance voltages imposed by the voltage mode main driver on the differential output terminals.
US09054572B2 Wound core, electromagnetic component and manufacturing method therefor, and electromagnetic equipment
A wound core formed of a magnetic thin band, an electromagnetic component and a manufacturing method therefor and electromagnetic equipment in which iron loss and cost reduction can be achieved are provided. The wound core is a wound core formed by winding a magnetic thin band in the axial direction. A cutout portion is formed from place to place on an end face of the thin band in the axial direction and the cutout portions are arranged in random directions in the direction of the radius of the wound core.
US09054567B2 High power density SRMs
A power converter having a first switch and a first unidirectional current device that conducts current unidirectionally. The first switch and first unidirectional current device are interconnected such that when interconnected with a dc voltage supply, battery, and first phase winding of an electrical machine: (1) a first operational state exists in which a conductive state of the first switch causes the dc voltage supply to conduct current through the first switch and first phase winding, so as to store energy within the first phase winding and (2) a second operational state exists in which a non-conductive state of the first switch causes the first phase winding to discharge its stored energy by conducting current through the first unidirectional current device and battery, so as to store energy in the battery.
US09054558B2 Automated shore power system
A shore power system includes a primary switchgear, a secondary switchgear, a dual output power transformer disposed in electrical communication between the primary switchgear and the secondary switchgear, a grounding switch section, and a vessel connector assembly. The shore power system further includes an automation and control system for automating and/or controlling the delivery of power to the vessel from a source of power, such as a medium voltage power source. In embodiments of the present disclosure, the medium voltage power source may be from the power grid or may be from a discrete power generation station.
US09054552B2 System for power distribution and communication
A system for power distribution and communication over a two-wire network comprises a control unit (dedicated or distributed) configured to receive power from the two-wire network and provided with a transceiver circuitry connected to the two-wire network, a power converter unit having a power converter which converts incoming voltage to a DC-voltage of less than 50 V and feeds the DC-voltage to the two-wire network, and a power fuse unit with a power fuse identity connected between the power converter and the two-wire network. The power fuse unit forwards the DC-voltage to the two-wire network and comprises a transceiver circuitry connected to the two-wire network and a fuse. The system monitors an amount of power consumed in the network and activates a power switch in the power fuse unit when the amount of power consumed in the two-wire network exceeds predetermined limits.
US09054547B2 Communication method and apparatus in wireless recharging system
A method of performing communication between a wireless power transmitter and a wireless power receiver, which includes performing load detection by detecting wireless power provided by the wireless power transmitter being applied to the wireless power receiver; setting up a common channel having a predetermined first frequency for establishing a connection with the wireless power receiver, which is performed by the wireless power transmitter; establishing the connection with the wireless power receiver using the common channel; determining, from among available channels, a selection channel having an optimal condition for communicating with the wireless power receiver and a predetermined second frequency through use of the common channel; and performing data transmission and reception with the wireless power receiver through the selection channel.
US09054546B2 Primary-side and secondary-side full-bridge switching circuit controller for a magnetic coupling and contactless power transmission apparatus
The present invention relates to a magnetic coupling and contactless power transmission apparatus. In one embodiment, an apparatus can include: a sweep generator to generate a switching pulse signal for operation of bottom switches of a primary-side full-bridge switching circuit; a primary-side switching current zero-crossing detector to generate a primary-side current zero-crossing pulse signal when a primary-side switching current crosses zero; a primary-side PWM signal generator to generate a primary-side PWM signal per an input current to control a shut-off operation of top switches of the primary-side full-bridge switching circuit; in a first operation condition, a frequency of the switching pulse signal is higher than the primary-side current zero-crossing pulse signal, and the switching pulse signal controls a shut-off operation of the bottom switches of the primary-side full-bridge switching circuit.
US09054540B2 Electrical charging device and electrical docking station
An electrical charging device includes a top cover, a bottom cover and a fixing assembly. The fixing assembly includes a first button device, a second button device, and a lifting device. The first button device moves back and forth along a first axis with a first button pole retracting into the electrical charging device and protruding out from the electrical charging device. The second button device moves back and forth along a second axis, with a second button pole retracting into the electrical charging device and protruding out from the electrical charging device. The lifting device rises up and drops down along a third axis, with a contacting table carrying conductive pins protruding out from the electrical charging device and retracting into the electrical charging device, thereby making electrical contact with the electrical charging device.
US09054537B2 Electric tool with controller of battery pack and the control method thereof
An Electric tool with a controller for a battery pack and a control method thereof. The electric tool includes a battery pack, an operator and a controller The battery pack includes a plurality of battery cells and a protection circuit module detects and controls a state of charge and discharge of a plurality of battery cells. The operator receives power from the battery pack and converts the received power into physical energy. The controller controls the protection circuit module so as to perform a protection process of the battery pack in a state similar to over-discharge caused in the case in which the power is transferred from the battery pack to the operator and at the same time, the operator does not continuously operate.
US09054536B2 System and method for charging and discharging battery
A system for charging and discharging batteries includes a battery module, an adapter, a charger, and an electronic device electrically connected to the charger and the battery module. The battery module includes a first cell battery, a second cell battery, and a first switch electrically connected to the first and second battery cells. The adapter receives an AC voltage, and converts the AC voltage to a DC voltage. The charger receives the DC voltage, and charges the battery module accordingly. The electronic device is electrically connected to the charger and the battery module. When the charger charges the battery module, the first switch is switched to electrically connect the first and second battery cells with the charger in series. When the battery module discharges to the electronic device, the first switch is switched to electrically connect the first and second battery cells with the electronic device in parallel.
US09054527B1 Short circuits and power limit protection circuits
In one embodiment, a method includes: detecting one of a short-to-ground condition and a short-to-supply condition at an output node; after a delay, selectively activating a feedback control transistor according to the detecting; detecting a first current passing through a first transistor using a second transistor sized to be smaller than the first transistor; mirroring the detected current using a plurality of transistors to form a feedback current; and providing the feedback current to a gate electrode of the first transistor according to the selectively activating the feedback control transistor.
US09054516B2 Circuit breaker trip notification systems and methods
The present invention provides circuit breaker notification to users. The invention includes systems, apparatus, and methods to monitor a position of an operating handle of a circuit breaker; sense a change in the position of the circuit breaker operating handle to a tripped position; generate a first signal representative of an identifier of the circuit breaker with the operating handle in the tripped position; transmit the first signal to a communications device; and provide notification of a trip event within the identified circuit breaker to a user via the communications device. Numerous additional aspects are disclosed.
US09054504B2 Metallic wire tracer element including woven protective tube and methods of making same
A detectable tracer element for use in underground detection applications includes a metallic wire, a non-fibrous insulating jacket integral with the wire, and a flexible, cut-resistant, non-electrically shielding woven protective tube surrounding the wire and jacket combination. The woven protective tube includes a plurality of non-metallic fibers woven around the wire and jacket combination such that the combination is disposed within the interior of the protective tube. In one configuration of the invention, the woven protective tube defines a substantially oval or circular tube weave. The substantially oval or circular tube weave is woven, such that, the tube weave is pulled or stitched into a flattened configuration for use in underground applications.
US09054502B1 Ceramic for ignition device insulator with low relative permittivity
A ceramic insulator for surrounding an electrode of an ignition device, such as a corona igniter or spark plug, is provided. The insulator is formed of a ceramic material including alumina in an amount of 28 to 38 wt. %, silica in an amount of 57 to 67 wt. %, and calcium oxide in an amount of 3 to 7 wt. %, based on the total weight of the ceramic material. The ceramic insulator is typically formed by firing a mixture of Kaolin, calcium carbonate, and silica, wherein the calcium carbonate acts as a flux during firing. The ceramic material has a relative permittivity of about 5.5 to 6.5 and thus improves the electrical efficiency of the ignition device. The ceramic material is also capable of withstanding temperatures of 900 to 1000° C. and has excellent thermal shock resistance, making it suitable for use in internal combustion engines.
US09054501B2 Spark plug
A spark plug includes: a center electrode including a rod portion and a head portion and having a diameter larger than the diameter of the rod portion; an insulator having an axial bore, the center electrode being disposed in the axial bore at its front end; and a seal portion for fixing the center electrode in the axial bore. The insulator comprises: a leg portion inner circumferential surface; a cylindrical trunk portion inner circumferential surface which surrounds the head portion; and a support surface which supports the head portion. The seal portion has: a seal portion outer circumferential surface; a seal portion abutment surface; and a connecting surface. In a cross section of the seal portion, a curve, which is part of the contour of the seal portion and is included in the connecting surface, has a radius of curvature R of 0.1 mm or more.
US09054497B2 Quantum cascade lasers with improved performance using interface roughness scattering
A quantum cascade laser and method of making are disclosed. The quantum cascade laser includes a plurality stages configured in a cascade structure, each stage having a quantum well emission layer and an injection layer, each stage having an upper laser level and a lower laser level. A scattering barrier is located in the quantum well emission layer, the scattering barrier being positioned such that interface roughness (IFR) scattering at the lower laser level is greater than IFR scattering at the upper laser level. The scattering barrier may be located to maximize IFR scattering for the lower laser level and/or minimize IFR scattering for the upper laser level.
US09054496B2 Vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser and method of fabricating the same
Provided are a wavelength swept vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser and a method of fabricating the same. The laser may include a substrate, a lower reflection layer on the substrate, an active layer on the lower reflection layer, a sacrificial layer disposed on a first side of the active layer, a stopper disposed on a second side of the active layer that may be spaced apart from the sacrificial layer, and an upper reflection layer fixed on the sacrificial layer, the upper reflection layer extending over the stopper and the active layer. The stopper defines a minimum separation distance between the upper reflection layer and the active layer.
US09054494B2 Pulsed laser oscillator and method for controlling pulsed laser oscillation
A pulsed laser oscillator includes at least one first electrooptical element that polarizes light according to an applied voltage and a voltage control unit that applies a voltage to the first electrooptical element and controls the voltage. The voltage control unit changes over time a voltage value applied to the first electrooptical element, to control a pulse width of laser light.
US09054493B2 Multiple-wavelength laser
In a multiple-wavelength laser source, a multiple-mode laser outputs a set of wavelengths in a range of wavelengths onto an optical waveguide, where a spacing between adjacent wavelengths in the set of wavelengths is smaller than a width of channels in an optical link. Furthermore, a set of ring-resonator filters in the multiple-wavelength laser source, which are optically coupled to the optical waveguide, output corresponding subsets of the set of wavelengths for use in the optical link based on free spectral ranges and quality factors of the set of ring-resonator filters. These subsets may include one or more groups of wavelengths, with another spacing between adjacent groups of wavelengths that is larger than the width of the given channel in the optical link. In addition, the one or more groups of wavelengths may include one or more wavelengths, with the spacing between adjacent wavelengths in the given group of wavelengths.
US09054490B2 Tunable laser and photoacoustic device including the same
A tunable laser includes a resonator including a highly reflecting mirror and a partially reflecting mirror; a gain medium disposed in the resonator; a birefringence filter disposed in the resonator; and an excitation device that excites the gain medium. In the tunable laser, light that passes through the birefringence filter oscillates between the highly reflecting mirror and the partially reflecting mirror. An oscillation wavelength is switched by rotating the birefringence filter. The birefringence filter includes a first birefringent plate and a second birefringent plate, which have principal dielectric axes parallel to optical surfaces thereof. An absolute value of an angle formed by the principal dielectric axis of the first birefringent plate and the principal dielectric axis of the second birefringent plate is larger than zero.
US09054482B1 Laser diode stack assembly and method of manufacturing
A laser diode sub-assembly includes a plurality of laser diode bars, electrically conductive spacers and electrically insulative heat spreaders. The spacers and laser diode bars are arranged by alternating to affix each other via the solder preforms and aligned on the front surfaces, while the back surfaces of the spacers affix the top metalized surfaces of the heat spreaders via the same type of solder preforms. Specially designed fixtures can hold all the components in positions and go through the reflowing. The subassembly can be formed by one heating step. The laser diode stack can be formed by soldering the bottom metalized surfaces of the heat spreaders, via a lower melting temperature solder preform, to a heat sink.
US09054481B2 Cooling device and semiconductor laser device
There is provided a semiconductor laser device including a plurality of members constituting a first group and a second group in each of which a semiconductor laser element is incorporated, a cooling jacket having, on a surface of the cooling jacket, a first region in which the member of the first group is disposed and a second region in which the member of the second group is disposed, and a cooling medium channel which is disposed in a portion close to the first region and separate from the second region inside the cooling jacket and through which a cooling medium passes.
US09054474B2 Wire harness including short circuit and production method therefor
A wire harness capable of forming a short circuit by use of a plurality of electric wires and a joint connector while being slenderized and reduced in weight. The wire harness includes a plurality of circuit modules each forming a short circuit. Each of the circuit modules, includes a plurality of electric wires, and a plurality of external-connection connectors, connected to respective first ends of the electric wires, and a joint connector, connected to respective second ends of the electric wires to short-circuit the electric wires. The electric wires constituting the circuit modules are bundled together so that the joint connector of each of the circuit modules is discretely disposed so as to be located in a vicinity of at least one of the external-connection connectors included in the circuit module, around which electric wires a binding tape is wound.
US09054471B2 Coaxial angled adapter
A coaxial angled adapter includes a first adapter body, a first dielectric disposed within the first adapter body and a first inner contact within the first dielectric. An outer contact is attached to the first adapter body outside the first dielectric and provides electrical shielding and mechanical retention of components. A second adapter body may be attached to the first adapter body such that an axis of the first adapter body and an axis of the second adapter body form a non-zero angle therebeween. A second dielectric may be provided within the second adapter, and a second inner contact may be provided within the second dielectric. The second dielectric and second inner contact may engage the first dielectric and first inner contact, respectively.
US09054469B1 Electrical power outlet
An electrical power outlet having an outlet box and an electrical connector insert attached to the outlet box. The electrical connector insert has a frame and a powerpole connector assembly attached to the frame. The powerpole connector assembly has a plurality of powerpole connectors. The electrical power outlet includes a face plate that is attached to the frame of the electrical connector insert. The faceplate has an opening through which the powerpole connectors protrude. In one embodiment, the plurality of powerpole connectors has four powerpole connectors arranged in two columns, wherein each column has two powerpole connectors. The opening in the face plate is substantially rectangular in shape. In a preferred embodiment, the face plate is configured as a Decora® style face plate.
US09054468B2 Electrical connector structure
The present invention relates to an electrical connector structure, wherein the electrical connector structure according to the present invention includes: a housing, a plurality of electrical modules, and a plurality of LED modules, and the plurality of electrical modules and the plurality of LED modules are disposed in the housing. Moreover, the primary objective of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector structure, which reduces the difficulty of assembling and manufacturing costs for an electrical connector by improving the structure inside the electrical connector; moreover, the present invention increases the production efficiency and the safety of the product so as to improve the assembly quality and the process of production.
US09054464B1 Power supply connection structure device
A power supply connection structure device for electrically connecting an electrical appliance to a power source includes a live wire connection unit, a neutral wire connection unit and a control unit. The control unit is switched between an activation state and an idle state. When the control unit is in the idle state, the live wire and neutral wire connection units are not electrically connected to the power supply. When the control unit is in the activation state, the control unit electrically connects the live wire and neutral wire connection units to the power supply. Therefore, by means of the control unit, the power supply connection structure device is safe to use and waterproof and prevents individual from electric shock.
US09054456B2 Power connector assembly having an alignment body
Power connector assembly including a power contact having a base portion and opposing contact springs that project from the base portion along a mating axis. The contact springs oppose each other across a receiving space and are configured to engage a common conductive component that is inserted into the receiving space in a direction along the mating axis. The power connector assembly also includes an alignment body that has a support plate and a coupling member that engages and holds the power contact. The support plate includes an elongated slot and a contact window. The coupling member holds the power contact in a designated position relative to the support plate, wherein the base portion extends into the contact window when in the designated position and the contact springs extend along and substantially parallel to the elongated slot when in the designated position.
US09054450B2 Connector
A connector adapted to: (a) extend through an opening in a board to protrude from both a top surface of the board and a bottom surface of the board, (b) secure the connector to the board, and (c) electrically connect a power supply to a terminal on the board. The connector includes a housing having: (a) a leg section, (b) a head section at a first end of the leg section of the housing, and (c) a receiving recess at a second end of the leg section adapted to receive the power supply board. This connector also includes an elastically deformable retainer piece having: a) a cantilever spring section fixed at a first end to the leg section of the housing and adapted to be below the bottom surface of the board, and (b) an apex section at a second end of the cantilever spring section adapted to bear against the bottom surface of the board. This connector further includes an elastically deformable contact protruding from the head section of the housing adapted to contact the terminal of the board.
US09054446B2 Electrical connectors and methods for using same
An electrical connector for forming a mechanical and electrical coupling with an electrical conductor includes a tubular housing, at least one jaw member, a sealant containment membrane, and a sealant. The tubular housing has a connector axis. The housing defines a conductor receiving opening and an interior cavity each configured to receive the conductor along the connector axis. The at least one jaw member is configured to clamp the conductor within the interior cavity. The sealant containment membrane is disposed in the interior cavity and defines a sealant chamber. The sealant is contained in the sealant chamber in the interior cavity to environmentally protect an electrical contact engagement between the conductor and the electrical connector when the conductor is clamped in the interior cavity by the at least one jaw member.
US09054445B2 Electrical connectors and methods for using same
An electrical connector for forming a mechanical and electrical coupling with an electrical conductor includes a tubular housing, at least one jaw member, a sealant containment membrane, and a sealant. The tubular housing has a connector axis. The housing defines a conductor receiving opening and an interior cavity each configured to receive the conductor along the connector axis. The at least one jaw member is configured to clamp the conductor within the interior cavity. The sealant containment membrane is disposed in the interior cavity and defines a sealant chamber. The sealant is contained in the sealant chamber in the interior cavity to environmentally protect an electrical contact engagement between the conductor and the electrical connector when the conductor is clamped in the interior cavity by the at least one jaw member.
US09054436B2 Method of fabricating stimulation lead for applying electrical stimulation to tissue of a patient
In one embodiment, a method of fabrication of a stimulation lead for electrical stimulation of tissue of a patient, the method comprises: providing a substrate of non-conductive material for a stimulation portion of the stimulation lead; processing the substrate to create a plurality of recessed features into a surface of the substrate, wherein the plurality of recessed features comprise a plurality of paths for electrical traces and a plurality of surfaces for electrodes with each of the surfaces being connected to one of the traces; providing first conductive material over the surface of the substrate; subjecting the surface of the substrate to mechanical processing to remove conductive material from portions of the substrate disposed above the plurality of recessed features, wherein each respective connected electrode and trace is electrically isolated from the other electrodes and traces after the mechanical processing; electrically plating second conductive material over the first conductive material; providing insulative material over the plurality of electrical traces; and electrically connecting conductive material of electrical traces with conductor wires of a lead body.
US09054433B2 Junction box fitting for marine cables
An electrical conduit ground assembly is provided for electrically and environmentally shielding an electric cable that inserts into a junction box via a through-hole. The assembly includes an adapter flange, first and second annular gaskets, first and second annular washers, a slip-ring, a ground adapter, first and second lock-nuts and a gland nut. The adapter flange has an internally threaded proximate end, an externally threaded mezzanine, a hexagonal seat, and an externally threaded distal end insertable into the through-hole. The first annular gasket inserts into the proximate end. The first and second washers insert into the proximate end. The annular ground adapter electrically connects the cable and the annular conduit between the first and second washers. The second annular gasket has an annular shaft and a circular brim. The gland nut screws into the proximate end of the adapter flange.
US09054422B2 Antenna
An antenna includes a base, a ground layer printed on the base, a first antenna portion, a second antenna portion, and an isolation slot defined in the grounded layer. The isolation slot is arranged between the first antenna portion and the second antenna portion to reduce the interference between the first antenna portion and the second antenna portion.
US09054417B2 Manufacturing method of antenna structure
A manufacturing method of an antenna structure includes the following steps: producing a main body by injection molding of a first plastic, wherein the first plastic is a plating grade plastic; covering the main body by a second plastic to form a covering layer, wherein plating can not be done for the first and second plastics concurrently; removing a pre-determined portion of the covering layer, wherein a patterned layer is defined by the unremoved portion of the covering layer, wherein at least one trench is formed by the exposed portion of the main body and surrounding patterned layer; and plating an antenna material in the trench to form an antenna. Thus, the instant disclosure can reduce the manufacturing cost of the antenna structure. Based on the preceding manufacturing method, an antenna structure is also disclosed.
US09054415B2 Phase calibration and erroneous cabling detection for a multi-antenna radio base station
A radio base station has at least two radio chains and a precoder for precoding information symbols by a precoding matrix for multi-antenna transmission to a number of user equipment terminals. Precoding matrix statistics representative of phase coherency between at least two radio chains is compiled based on feedback information representative of preferred precoding matrix from one or more user equipment terminals (S1). A relative phase error is then detected between radio chains based on the compiled precoding matrix statistics (S2). It is then possible to compensate or otherwise adjust for the detected relative phase error (S3) based on the compiled precoding matrix statistics.
US09054411B2 Antenna component and electronic communication device
The embodiments of the invention discloses an antenna component and an electronic communication device. The antenna component comprises a plate-shaped front cover made of a transparent plastic material and at least one antenna made of a conductor material. The front cover comprises an antenna accommodation part and a circuit accommodation part. One end of the antenna is embedded in the antenna accommodation part via an injection molding process, and the other end of the antenna extends to the circuit accommodation part and is exposed out of the circuit accommodation part. The electronic communication device comprises a housing, a circuit board, and an antenna component disclosed in the present invention. The present invention is applied to reduce the volume of the antenna component.
US09054410B2 Dipole strength clip
An antenna comprising PCB elements mechanically secured by a clip is provided. The antenna has a feedboard printed circuit board having a feed network, at least one radiating element, and the clip. The radiating element includes first and second printed circuit boards, each having a base disposed on a surface of the feedboard printed circuit board. In one example, the printed circuit boards each further include a dipole disposed above the feedboard. In another example, the PCBs are supports and a cross-polarized radiating may be mounted on top. The first and second PCBs may include slots so that the boards may be assembled together. The PCBs also include an extension extending through a first slot on the feedboard PCB, and indentations disposed on the first extension. The clip may have retainers that engage the indentations of the extensions.
US09054404B2 Multi-layer circuit board with waveguide to microstrip transition structure
A multi-layer circuit board with a waveguide to microstrip transition structure includes a laminated structure having a plurality of dielectric layers, a top metal frame disposed over the laminated structure, a microstrip line disposed over the laminated structure, a bottom metal frame underlying the laminated structure, and a plurality of conductors electrically connecting the top metal frame and the bottom metal frame. The top metal frame defines a top cavity, the bottom metal frame defines a bottom cavity corresponding to the top cavity, and the microstrip line extends into the top cavity. The laminated structure includes an upper dielectric layer and at least one lower dielectric layer, wherein top cavity exposes a top surface of the upper dielectric layer, and the bottom cavity exposes a bottom surface of the at least one lower dielectric layer.
US09054403B2 Coaxial-to-stripline and stripline-to-stripline transitions including a shorted center via
A stripline includes a first ground plane; a second ground plane; a first signal trace located between the first ground plane and the second ground plane; and a center via that extends through the stripline and is in electrical contact with the first ground plane and the first signal trace.
US09054402B1 Electric vehicle battery pack protection system
A battery pack protection system is provided for use with an electric vehicle in which the battery pack is mounted under the car. The system utilizes a plurality of deformable cooling conduits located between the lower surface of each of the batteries and the lower battery pack enclosure panel, with a thermal insulator interposed between the conduits and the lower enclosure panel. A layer of thermally conductive material may be included which is interposed between the cooling conduits and the thermal insulator and in contact with a lower surface of each of the cooling conduits. The cooling conduits are configured to deform and absorb impact energy when an object, such as road debris, strikes the lower surface of the lower battery pack enclosure panel. Further protection may be achieved by positioning a ballistic shield, alone or with a layer of compressible material, under the bottom surface of the battery pack.
US09054399B2 Cooling device of vehicle battery
A vehicle battery cooling device including a battery case containing a battery for generating a high voltage and disposed in a space between a pair of right and left side panels at a rear side of a vehicle, a cooling fan disposed at a location overlapping the battery case in a vertical direction of the vehicle and configured to send cooling air to the battery case, and a duct placed in a space between the battery case and the side panels in a width direction of the vehicle so as to communicate the cooling fan and the battery case with each other. The duct is fastened to the battery case via a bracket, the bracket has an inner space having a U-shaped cross section, and the duct is disposed inside the inner space.
US09054388B2 Energy storage device, winding apparatus, and winding method
Provided is an energy storage device which employs the use of a separator provided with a layer having poor thermal properties such as a heat resistant coated layer and is capable of inhibiting a decrease in performance. The energy storage device includes: a wound body including a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and separators which are layered and wound, the separators being interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode and having a first surface and a second surface, the first surface having thermal bonding properties superior to thermal bonding properties of the second surface; and an insulation sheet wound around an outermost layer of the wound body. At least one of the separators is bonded to the insulation sheet via the first surface thereof.
US09054386B2 Electrode for secondary battery, preparation thereof, and secondary battery and cable-type secondary battery comprising the same
The present disclosure provides a sheet-form electrode for a secondary battery, comprising a current collector; an electrode active material layer formed on one surface of the current collector; a porous polymer layer formed on the electrode active material layer; and a first porous supporting layer formed on the porous polymer layer.The sheet-form electrode for a secondary battery according to the present disclosure has supporting layers on at least one of surfaces thereof to exhibit surprisingly improved flexibility and prevent the release of the electrode active material layer from a current collector even if intense external forces are applied to the electrode, thereby preventing the decrease of battery capacity and improving the cycle life characteristic of the battery.
US09054384B2 Electrode catalyst with improved longevity properties and fuel cell using the same
Disclosed is a method for preventing metal catalyst particles supported on a support and formed of a catalytically active metal or metal-containing alloy from coarsening, the method comprising: dispersing an anti-coarsening compound having a coarsening temperature higher than that of the metal catalyst, in at least one region selected from the group consisting of interstitial spaces among the metal catalyst particles and contact sites between the support and the metal catalyst particles. The electrode catalyst is structurally stable while not causing degradation of electrochemical quality, and thus can improve the longevity properties of a fuel cell.
US09054378B2 Positive plate material and cell comprising it
Provided are a cathode material capable of achieving a higher discharge capacity and a higher discharge voltage, and obtaining superior charge-discharge characteristics, and a battery using the cathode material. A separator (15) is disposed between a cathode (12) and an anode (14). The cathode (12) comprises a lithium composite oxide represented by LiaMIbMIIcOd. MI represents at least two kinds selected from the group consisting of Mn, Ni and Co, and MII represents at least one kind selected from the group consisting of Al, Ti, Mg and B. Further, a, b, c and d are within a range satisfying 1.0b+c, 1.8
US09054358B2 Battery assembly method comprising a separate battery connector and a flex circuit for use in an electronic device
A battery assembly for use in an electronic device is provided. The battery assembly may include a battery cell (e.g., a rechargeable battery cell), a battery connector for providing power from the battery cell to the electronic device, and a flex circuit electrically coupling the battery cell to the electronic device. The battery connector may be located adjacent the battery cell, and may include one or more alignment mechanisms for ensuring that conductive pads of the battery connector align properly with corresponding conductive elements of the electronic device. The battery cell may be fixed to the electronic device using an adhesive layer (e.g., double sided tape) placed between the cell and the electronic device. A tab may extend beyond the periphery of the battery cell to allow a user to pull or peal the battery cell from the electronic device for replacement or repair. In some embodiments, a tool may be used to grasp the tab.
US09054357B2 Reinforced composite electrolyte membrane for fuel cell
Disclosed is a composite electrolyte membrane comprising a microporous polymer substrate and a sulfonated polymer electrolyte. The composite electrolyte membrane comprises: a first polymer electrolyte layer formed of a first non-fluorinated or partially-fluorinated sulfonated polymer electrolyte; a non-fluorinated or partially-fluorinated microporous polymer substrate stacked on the first polymer electrolyte layer, wherein pores of the microporous polymer substrate are impregnated with a second non-fluorinated or partially-fluorinated sulfonated polymer electrolyte, and the first polymer electrolyte and the second polymer electrolyte are entangled with each other on an interface thereof; and a third polymer electrolyte layer formed on the microporous polymer substrate impregnated with the second polymer electrolyte by a third non-fluorinated or partially-fluorinated sulfonated polymer electrolyte, wherein the second polymer electrolyte and the third polymer electrolyte are entangled with each other on an interface thereof. A method for manufacturing the composite electrolyte membrane, and a membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) and a fuel cell comprising the composite electrolyte membrane are also disclosed.
US09054356B2 Battery pack
A battery pack having at least two battery cells arranged parallel to each other, a protection circuit module adjacent to at least one of the battery cells, and a temperature measuring member attached to the protection circuit module and extending between, and in contact with, the two battery cells, the temperature measuring member measuring a temperature of one of the battery cells, the temperature measuring member being fixedly and removably attached to the at least one of the battery cells.
US09054355B2 Catalyst with metal oxide doping for fuel cells
The invention relates to a catalyst for fuel cells which comprises a support, at least one catalytically active metal from the platinum group or an alloy comprising at least one metal of the platinum group and also at least one oxide of at least one metal selected from among Ti, Sn, Si, W, Mo, Zn, Ta, Nb, V, Cr and Zr. The invention further relates to a process for producing such a catalyst and its use.
US09054354B2 Fuel cell water disposal
Automated systems and methods remove water from a fuel cell powered vehicle and eliminate the need for one or more separate steps to discharge the water. The water may be simultaneously drained or discharged from the vehicle holding tank while the fuel cell powered vehicle is being refueled.
US09054353B2 Supply assembly for coupling to a fuel cell device and fuel cell system having the supply assembly
A supply assembly and a fuel cell system having a supply assembly that demonstrates a cost-effective and/or resilient design in operation. A supply assembly for coupling to a fuel cell device is proposed, having a gas-to-gas humidifier that is designed and/or arranged in order to humidify the oxidation means A for the fuel cell device by means of the humidity from the exhaust gases B of the fuel cell device has an exhaust gas region and an oxidation means region that are separated from one another by a separation layer. The separation layer enables a transmission of the humidity from the exhaust gas region into the oxidation means region for humidification of the oxidation means A, wherein the gas-to-gas humidifier has a monolithic honeycomb structure for fowling the exhaust gas region and the oxidation means region.
US09054351B2 System and method for cooling a fuel cell-powered vehicle
A fuel cell system, including a plurality of bipolar plate assemblies, each assembly including a first plate and a second plate with an internal coolant flow path disposed therebetween, a flow path for a first reactant gas on a side of the first plate opposite the internal coolant flow path, and a flow path for a second reactant gas on a side of the second plate opposite the internal coolant flow path, and a cooling system configured to place coolant in thermal communication with the plurality of bipolar plate assemblies, wherein cycling pressure differentials between the internal coolant flow path and the external reactant gas flow paths cause expansion and contraction of a volume of coolant disposed within the bipolar plate assembly, thereby pumping coolant through the cooling system. A method of cooling a fuel cell-powered vehicle is also provided.
US09054348B2 Protective coatings for metal alloys and methods incorporating the same
An electrochemical device having one or more solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), each of the SOFCs including a cathode, an anode, and an electrolyte layer positioned between the cathode and anode; and at least one additional component comprising a metallic substrate having an electronically conductive, chromium-free perovskite coating deposited directly thereon. The perovskite coating has the formula ABO3, wherein A is a lanthanide element or Y, and B is a mixture of two or more transition elements, with the A site undoped by any alkaline earth element, and the perovskite coating exhibits limited or no ionic transport of oxygen.
US09054346B2 Lithium ion battery and charger thereof
A lithium ion battery and a charger thereof are provided. The lithium ion battery comprises a shell (1), a locating seat (2), an end cover (3), a battery cell (4), a positive contact (51), a positive plate (52), a negative plate (53), a positive connecting plate (61) and a negative connecting plate (62). The shell (1) is a one-step-molding cylinder with an upper opening. The positive contact (51) extends out from a contact extending hole (11) of the shell (1). A lower end face of the end cover (3) is tightly pressed on the negative plate (53) and the locating seat (2), where the end cover (3) is detachably connected with the upper opening of the shell (1). A cover edge of the end cover (3) cooperates with an end face of the upper opening of the shell (1). The lithium ion battery is conveniently detachable with the charger thereof.
US09054340B2 Flexible display device and manufacturing method of the same
A flexible display device includes: a display panel including a display substrate, an organic light emitting element formed on the display substrate, and a thin film encapsulation layer covering the organic light emitting element; a first insulation layer formed under the display panel; a lower protection film formed under the first insulation layer; and a reinforcement layer formed under the lower protection film, between the lower protection film and the first insulation layer, or on the display panel, wherein the reinforcement layer is configured to prevent damage to the display panel due to bending stress.
US09054333B2 Organic light emitting diode and circuit board for control thereof
The invention relates to a lighting element, wherein at least one organic light-emitting diode is formed at an optically transparent substrate as a layer structure. In the lighting element in accordance with the invention, at least one organic light-emitting diode is formed at an optically transparent substrate as a layer structure. The at least one organic light-emitting diode and the substrate are connected to a circuit board and electric contact elements for the connection of the electrodes of the organic light-emitting diode(s) are present at the surface of the circuit board. The surface of the circuit board facing in the direction of the organic light-emitting diode(s) is provided over its full area with a metallic coating as a permeation barrier. The metallic coating is only breached by electric insulators formed about the contact elements.
US09054323B2 Secondary hole transporting layer with diarylamino-phenyl-carbazole compounds
Novel diarylamino phenyl carbazole compounds are provided. By appropriately selecting the nature of the diarylamino substituent and the substitution on the carbazole nitrogen, compounds with appropriate HOMO and LUMO energies can be obtained for use as materials in a secondary hole transport layer.
US09054302B2 Perpendicular spin transfer torque memory (STTM) device with enhanced stability and method to form same
Perpendicular spin transfer torque memory (STTM) devices with enhanced stability and methods of fabricating perpendicular STTM devices with enhanced stability are described. For example, a material layer stack for a magnetic tunneling junction includes a fixed magnetic layer. A dielectric layer is disposed above the fixed magnetic layer. A free magnetic layer is disposed above the dielectric layer. A conductive oxide material layer is disposed on the free magnetic layer.
US09054299B2 Registering a common information model provider to a common information model object manager
A mechanism is provided for registering a Common Information Model (CIM) provider to at least one Common Information Model Object Manager (CIMOM). The CIMOM pre-stores at least one class definition. The CIMOM sends information to the Common Information Model (CIM) provider in order for the CIM provider to determine the at least one CIMOM existing in a network. The CIMOM sends the at least one class definition stored in the CIMOM in order for the CIM provider to determine if the CIMOM comprises a class definition suitable for the CIM provider to operate. Responsive to the CIM provider determining that the CIMOM comprises a suitable class definition, the CMOM registers the CIM provider by recording an identifier of the CIM provider under the name of the class definition suitable to the CIM provider in the at least one CIMOM.
US09054297B2 Magnetic random access memory integration having improved scaling
A conductive via for connecting between a digit line and one side of the magnetic device is positioned beneath, and aligned with, each magnetic device. Other contacts may satisfy the same design rules, using the same process step. An electrode formed on the conductive via is polished to eliminate step functions or seams originating at the conductive via from propagating up through the various deposited layers. This integration approach allows for improved scaling of the MRAM devices to at least a 45 nanometer node, a cell packing factor approaching 6F2, and a uniform thickness of material between the bit lines and the underlying memory elements.
US09054294B2 Soft mechanical stops to limit over-travel of proof masses in cantilevered piezoelectric devices
A piezoelectric device is disclosed which has a built-in soft stop which serves for protection against excessive force.
US09054292B2 Memory circuit and method of forming the same using reduced mask steps
Disclosed is a memory circuit and method of forming the same. The memory circuit comprises a lower metallization layer defining first conducting lines. A continuous magnetic storage element stack is atop the lower metallization layer wherein a bottom electrode of the stack is in direct contact with the first conducting lines. An upper metallization layer is atop the continuous magnetic storage element stack, the upper metallization layer defining second conducting lines, which are in direct contact with said continuous magnetic storage element stack. Localized areas of the continuous magnetic storage element stack define discrete magnetic bits, each energizable through a selected pair of the first and second conducting lines. In a second aspect and a third aspect, the continuous magnetic storage element stack is respectively partially and fully etched through a single mask, to define the discrete magnetic bits.
US09054275B1 Light emitting diode
A light emitting diode includes an epitaxial substrate, an active layer, a tunneling layer, a current spreading layer, and an electrode unit. The active layer includes a first conductive type film, a quantum well structure, and a second conductive type film that is made from AlyInzGa(1-y-z)N, wherein 0y. The tunneling layer has a band gap greater than that of the second conductive film. The current spreading layer is stacked on the tunneling layer.
US09054274B2 Thermoelectric conversion element, method for manufacturing same, and communication device
A thermoelectric conversion element includes a p-type metal thermoelectric conversion material containing a metal as its main constituent, an n-type oxide thermoelectric conversion material containing an oxide as its main constituent, and a composite oxide insulating material containing a composite oxide as its main constituent. The p-type metal thermoelectric conversion material and the n-type oxide thermoelectric conversion material are directly bonded in a region of a junction plane between the p-type metal thermoelectric conversion material and the n-type oxide thermoelectric conversion material, and the p-type metal thermoelectric conversion material and the n-type oxide thermoelectric conversion material are bonded to each other with the composite oxide insulating material interposed therebetween so as to define a pn conjunction pair in the other region of the junction plane. A perovskite-type oxide is used as the n-type oxide thermoelectric conversion material.
US09054271B2 Method for manufacturing substrate for semiconductor light emitting element and semiconductor light emitting element using the same
A light emitting element having a recess-protrusion structure on a substrate is provided. A semiconductor light emitting element 100 has a light emitting structure of a semiconductor 20 on a first main surface of a substrate 10. The first main surface of the substrate 10 has substrate protrusion portion 11, the bottom surface 14 of each protrusion is wider than the top surface 13 thereof in a cross-section, or the top surface 13 is included in the bottom surface 14 in a top view of the substrate. The bottom surface 14 has an approximately polygonal shape, and the top surface 13 has an approximately circular or polygonal shape with more sides than that of the bottom surface 14.
US09054267B2 Method of manufacturing light absorbing layer for solar cell using selenization process under element selenium vapor ambience and thermal treatment apparatus for manufacturing light absorbing layer
A method of manufacturing a light absorbing layer for a solar cell by performing thermal treatment on a specimen configured to include thin films of one or more of copper, indium, and gallium on a substrate and element selenium, includes steps of: heating a wall of a chamber up to a predefined thin film formation temperature in order to maintain a selenium vapor pressure; mounting the specimen and the element selenium on the susceptor at the room temperature and loading the susceptor in the chamber; and heating the specimen in the lower portion of the susceptor and, at the same time, heating the element selenium in the upper portion of the susceptor.
US09054266B2 IR sensing transistor and manufacturing method of display device including the same
An IR sensing transistor according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: a light blocking layer formed on a substrate; a gate insulating layer formed on the light blocking layer; a semiconductor formed on the gate insulating layer; a pair of ohmic contact members formed on the semiconductor; a source electrode and a drain electrode formed on respective ones of the ohmic contact members; a passivation layer formed on the source electrode and the drain electrode; and a gate electrode formed on the passivation layer, wherein substantially all of the gate insulating layer lies on the light blocking layer.
US09054257B2 Water resistant LED devices and an LED display including same
The disclosure provides an LED package including a first plastic portion having a mounting surface and a lower surface. In some embodiments, the LED package includes a second portion surrounding the first plastic portion and exposing the mounting surface and the lower surface of the first plastic portion. In other embodiments, the first plastic portion includes at least one of a hole or a protrusion and the second portion includes corresponding structure filing the hole or surrounding the protrusion of the first plastic portion. The first plastic portion and the second portion have different optical properties.
US09054256B2 Tunneling-junction solar cell with copper grid for concentrated photovoltaic application
One embodiment of the present invention provides a photovoltaic module. The photovoltaic module includes an optical concentrator and a tunneling-junction solar cell. The tunneling junction solar cell includes a base layer, a quantum-tunneling-barrier (QTB) layer situated above the base layer, an emitter layer, a front-side electrode, and a back-side electrode.
US09054252B1 Two-axis tracking Fresnel lens solar oven and stove
A two-axis tracking solar concentrator system includes a sunlight concentrator, a Fresnel lens, a two-axis solar tracker, sunlight reflectors, an enclosure, a sunlight conversion device, and other components. The lens has very long focal length so that all concentrated sunlight will enter the sunlight conversion device through a small window. The elevation rotation axis goes through the focal point so that the sunlight conversion device will remain at the same horizontal level all the time. The concentrated sunlight makes it easy to achieve a needed temperature. The two-axis tracking design eliminates the need of frequent adjustment. An offset design permits having the sunlight conversion device under shade, so that people do not have to expose themselves to sunlight to do solar cooking. The enclosure significantly reduces the risk of burns and fires. It also makes it very easy to control the heating or cooking process.
US09054238B1 Semiconductor with silver patterns having pattern segments
A photovoltaic cell and method of forming the cell includes providing an electroformed metallic article having a plurality of electroformed elements that form a free-standing, unitary piece. The metallic article has gridlines that are spaced apart at a pitch PM. A semiconductor substrate has a top surface with a plurality of silver, where at least one of the silver patterns comprises pattern segments spaced apart at a pitch PS. The pattern segments have a length LS defined by the equation LS=PM−k*PS/2, k being a value from 1.0 to 1.4. The metallic article is coupled to the semiconductor substrate, in which a first electroformed element in the plurality of electroformed elements is coupled to a first silver pattern in the plurality of silver patterns.
US09054235B2 Solid-state transducer devices with optically-transmissive carrier substrates and related systems, methods, and devices
Semiconductor device assemblies having solid-state transducer (SST) devices and associated semiconductor devices, systems, and are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method of forming a semiconductor device assembly includes forming a support substrate, a transfer structure, and a plurality semiconductor structures between the support substrate and the transfer structure. The method further includes removing the support substrate to expose an active surface of the individual semiconductor structures and a trench between the individual semiconductor structures. The semiconductor structures can be attached to a carrier substrate that is optically transmissive such that the active surface can emit and/or receive the light through the carrier substrate. The individual semiconductor structures can then be processed on the carrier substrate with the support substrate removed. In some embodiments, the individual semiconductor structures are singulated from the semiconductor device assembly and include a section of the carrier substrate attached to each of the individual semiconductor structures.
US09054234B2 Method of manufacturing nitride semiconductor device
A nitride semiconductor device may include a substrate, a dislocation control layer formed on the substrate and including a plurality of hollow structures including a nitride, and a nitride semiconductor layer formed on the dislocation control layer.
US09054231B2 Method of fabricating semiconductor device using gang bonding and semiconductor device fabricated by the same
A method of fabricating a semiconductor device using gang bonding and a semiconductor device fabricated by the same, the method comprising preparing a support substrate having a plurality of semiconductor stack structures aligned on a top thereof. Each of the semiconductor stack structures comprises a first conductive semiconductor layer, a second conductive semiconductor layer and an active region interposed between the first and second conductive semiconductor layers. A member having first lead electrodes and second lead electrodes is prepared to correspond to the plurality of semiconductor stack structures. Then, the semiconductor stack structures are bonded to the member while maintaining the semiconductor stack structures on the support substrate. After the semiconductor stack structures are bonded to the member, the member is divided.
US09054228B2 Semiconductor packages including a heat spreader and methods of forming the same
Semiconductor packages including a heat spreader and methods of forming the same are provided. The semiconductor packages may include a first semiconductor chip, a second semiconductor chip, and a heat spreader stacked sequentially. The semiconductor packages may also include a thermal interface material (TIM) layer surrounding the second semiconductor chip and directly contacting a sidewall of the second semiconductor chip. An upper surface of the TIM layer may directly contact a lower surface of the heat spreader, and a sidewall of the TIM layer may be substantially coplanar with a sidewall of the heat spreader. In some embodiments, a sidewall of the first semiconductor chip may be substantially coplanar with the sidewall of the TIM layer.
US09054226B2 Semiconductor devices and methods of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device includes a plurality of lower electrodes on a substrate, with each of the lower electrodes extending in a height direction from the substrate and including sidewalls, the lower electrodes being spaced apart from each other in a first direction and in a second direction, a plurality of first supporting layer patterns contacting the sidewalls of the lower electrodes, the first supporting layer patterns extending in the first direction between ones of the lower electrodes adjacent in the second direction, a plurality of second supporting layer patterns contacting the sidewalls of the lower electrodes, the second supporting layer pattern extending in the second direction between ones of the lower electrodes adjacent in the first direction, the plurality of second supporting layer patterns being spaced apart from the plurality of first supporting layer patterns in the height direction.
US09054225B2 Integrated capacitor having a non-uniform thickness
An embodiment of an electronic device integrated in a chip of semiconductor material and an embodiment of a corresponding production method are proposed. The electronic device includes a capacitor having a first conductive plate, a second conductive plate, and an insulating layer for insulating the first plate from the second plate. In an embodiment of the disclosure, at least a selected one between the first plate and the second plate has a non-uniform thickness.
US09054215B2 Patterning of vertical nanowire transistor channel and gate with directed self assembly
Directed self-assembly (DSA) material, or di-block co-polymer, to pattern features that ultimately define a channel region a gate electrode of a vertical nanowire transistor, potentially based on one lithographic operation. In embodiments, DSA material is confined within a guide opening patterned using convention lithography. In embodiments, channel regions and gate electrode materials are aligned to edges of segregated regions within the DSA material.
US09054214B1 Methodology of forming CMOS gates on the secondary axis using double-patterning technique
An integrated circuit containing core transistors and I/O transistors oriented perpendicular to the core transistors is formed by exposing a gate etch mask layer stack through a gate pattern photomask including core transistor gates and oversized I/O transistor gates. Core transistor gate lengths are defined by the gate pattern photomask. A first gate hardmask etch process removes the gate hardmask layer in exposed areas. The process continues with exposing a gate trim mask layer stack through a gate trim photomask. I/O gate lengths are defined by the gate trim photomask. A second gate hardmask etch process removes the gate hardmask layer in exposed areas. A gate etch operation removes polysilicon exposed by the gate hardmask layer to form gates for the core transistors and I/O transistors. The integrated circuit may also include I/O transistors oriented parallel to the core transistors, with gate lengths defined by the gate pattern photomask.
US09054212B2 Fin etch and Fin replacement for FinFET integration
A method and device are provided for etching and replacing silicon fins in connection with a FinFET integration process. Embodiments include providing a first plurality and a second plurality of silicon fins on a silicon wafer with an oxide between adjacent silicon fins; forming a first nitride liner on an upper surface of the first plurality of silicon fins and the oxide therebetween; etching the second plurality of silicon fins, forming trenches; removing the first nitride liner; depositing a second nitride liner on an upper surface of the first plurality of silicon fins and the oxide therebetween and in the trenches; removing the second nitride liner down to the upper surface of the first plurality of silicon fins; and recessing the oxide.
US09054209B2 Compact charge trap multi-time programmable memory
A method for enabling fabrication of memory devices requiring no or minimal additional mask for fabrication having a low cost, a small footprint, and multiple-time programming capability is disclosed. Embodiments include: forming a gate stack on a substrate; forming a source extension region in the substrate on one side of the gate stack, wherein no drain extension region is formed on the other side of the gate stack; forming a tunnel oxide liner on side surfaces of the gate stack and on the substrate on each side of the gate stack; forming a charge-trapping spacer on each tunnel oxide liner; and forming a source in the substrate on the one side of the gate stack and a drain in the substrate on the other side of the gate stack.
US09054201B2 Semiconductor device
An object of the present invention is to provide a semiconductor device having a novel structure in which in a data storing time, stored data can be stored even when power is not supplied, and there is no limitation on the number of writing. A semiconductor device includes a first transistor including a first source electrode and a first drain electrode; a first channel formation region for which an oxide semiconductor material is used and to which the first source electrode and the first drain electrode are electrically connected; a first gate insulating layer over the first channel formation region; and a first gate electrode over the first gate insulating layer. One of the first source electrode and the first drain electrode of the first transistor and one electrode of a capacitor are electrically connected to each other.
US09054195B2 Array substrate, method for fabricating the same, and display device
Embodiments of the present application provide an array substrate and a method for fabricating the same. The array substrate comprises: a base substrate, a plurality of thin film transistors formed on the base substrate; the array substrate also comprising: a buffer layer formed on the substrate between the substrate and the film transistors; wherein, the buffer layer is a metal oxide film layer. Embodiments of the present application also provide a display device having such array substrate.
US09054194B2 Non-planar transistors and methods of fabrication thereof
Non-planar transistors and methods of fabrication thereof are described. In an embodiment, a method of forming a non-planar transistor includes forming a channel region on a first portion of a semiconductor fin, the semiconductor fin having a top surface and sidewalls. A gate electrode is formed over the channel region of the semiconductor fin, and an in-situ doped semiconductor layer is grown on the top surface and the sidewalls of the semiconductor fin on opposing sides of the gate electrode using a selective epitaxial growth process. At least a part of the doped semiconductor layer is converted to form a dopant rich region.
US09054193B2 Fin field-effect transistors
A method is provided for fabricating a fin field-effect transistor. The method includes providing a semiconductor substrate; and forming a plurality of fins on top of the semiconductor substrate. The method also includes forming isolation structures between adjacent fins; and forming doping sidewall spacers in top portions of the isolation structures near the fins. Further, the method includes forming a punch-through stop layer at the bottom of each of the fins by thermal annealing the doping sidewall spacers; and forming a high-K metal gate on each of the fins.
US09054180B2 Semiconductor devices including a guard ring and related semiconductor systems
Semiconductor devices are provided. The semiconductor devices may include a substrate and a transistor on the substrate. The semiconductor devices may include a first guard ring of first conductivity type in the substrate adjacent the transistor. The semiconductor devices may include a second guard ring of second conductivity type opposite the first conductivity type in the substrate adjacent the first guard ring. Related semiconductor systems are also provided.
US09054179B2 Wafer processing method
A wafer processing method divides a wafer into a plurality of individual devices along a plurality of crossing division lines formed on the front side of the wafer. The method includes a functional layer removing step of applying a CO2 laser beam to the wafer along each division line with the spot of the CO2 laser beam, having a width corresponding to the width of each division line set on the upper surface of each division line, thereby removing a functional layer along each division line to form a groove along each division line where the functional layer has been removed, and a groove shaping and debris removing step of applying a laser beam having a wavelength in the ultraviolet region to the wafer along each groove, thereby removing debris sticking to the bottom surface of each groove and also shaping the side walls of each groove.
US09054168B2 Field-effect transistor
A field-effect transistor includes a channel layer in which a two-dimensional electron gas is formed, an electron supply layer located on the channel layer, a source electrode located on the electron supply layer, a drain electrode located on the electron supply layer, a gate electrode located on the electron supply layer between the source electrode and the drain electrode, and an embedded layer embedded in the channel layer deeper than a two-dimensional electron gas region where the two-dimensional electron gas is formed, directly opposite an edge of the gate electrode on a side of the gate electrode toward the drain electrode. The embedded layer is a material that increases potential of the two-dimensional electron gas region.
US09054167B2 High electron mobility transistor structure and method
Embodiments of the present disclosure describe structural configurations of an integrated circuit (IC) device such as a high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) switch device and method of fabrication. The IC device includes a buffer layer formed on a substrate, a channel layer formed on the buffer layer to provide a pathway for current flow in a transistor device, a spacer layer formed on the channel layer, a barrier layer formed on the spacer layer, the barrier layer including aluminum (Al), nitrogen (N), and at least one of indium (In) or gallium (Ga), a gate dielectric directly coupled with the spacer layer or the channel layer, and a gate formed on the gate dielectric, the gate being directly coupled with the gate dielectric. Other embodiments may also be described and/or claimed.
US09054166B2 Through silicon via keep out zone formation method and system
Keep out zones (KOZ) are formed for a through silicon via (TSV). A device can be placed outside a first KOZ of a TSV determined by a first performance threshold so that a stress impact caused by the TSV to the device is less than a first performance threshold while the first KOZ contains only those points at which a stress impact caused by the TSV is larger than or equal to the first performance threshold. A second KOZ for the TSV can be similarly formed by a second performance threshold. A plurality of TSVs can be placed in a direction that the KOZ of the TSV has smallest radius to a center of the TSV, which may be in a crystal orientation [010] or [100]. A plurality of TSV stress plug can be formed at the boundary of the overall KOZ of the plurality of TSVs.
US09054158B2 Method of forming a metal contact opening with a width that is smaller than the minimum feature size of a photolithographically-defined opening
The width of a metal contact opening is formed to be smaller than the minimum feature size of a photolithographically-defined opening. The method forms the metal contact opening by first etching the fourth layer of a multilayered hard mask structure to have a number of trenches that expose the third layer of the multilayered hard mask structure. Following this, the third, second, and first layers of the multilayered hard mask structure are selectively etched to expose uncovered regions on the top surface of an isolation layer that touches and lies over a source region and a drain region. The uncovered regions on the top surface of the isolation layer are then etched to form the metal contact openings.
US09054155B2 Semiconductor dies having substrate shunts and related fabrication methods
Die structures for electronic device packages and related fabrication methods are provided. An exemplary die structure includes a substrate having a first layer of semiconductor material including a semiconductor device formed thereon, a handle layer of semiconductor material, and a buried layer of dielectric material between the handle layer and the first layer. The die structure also includes a plurality of shunting regions in the first layer of semiconductor material, wherein each shunting region includes a doped region in the first layer that is electrically connected to the handle layer of semiconductor material, and a body region underlying the doped region that is contiguous with at least a portion of the first layer underlying a semiconductor device.
US09054150B2 Chip edge sealing
The invention relates to a semiconductor component comprising a semiconductor body, an insulation on the semiconductor body and a cell array arranged at least partly within the semiconductor body. The cell array has at least one p-n junction and at least one contact connection. The insulation is bounded in lateral direction of the semiconductor body by a circumferential diffusion barrier.
US09054146B2 Substrate transfer equipment and high speed substrate processing system using the same
There are provided a substrate transferring apparatus for continuously loading/unloading a plurality of substrates in and from a process chamber to reduce time spent on transferring the substrates and to improve productivity and a substrate processing system using the same. The substrate transfer apparatus is installed in the transfer chamber and transfers substrates between first and second process chambers which is positioned lateral sides of the transfer chamber and a load rock chamber. The substrate transfer apparatus includes a driving unit to supply a rotational force, a spindle connected to the driving unit, first swivel plate arms to load/unload substrate to/from first process chamber, and second swivel plate arms to load/unload substrate to/from second process chamber. Since substrates before and after being processed are rapidly exchanged during the simultaneous or continuous process of plural substrates, processing rate increases and overall productivity can be increased.
US09054142B2 Data collection system for vacuum processing apparatus
A control device of a transfer module and a process module in a vacuum processing apparatus collects state data from the modules. The control device has a state data set including data on the entire module, updates its own state data in the set of its own state data acquired at acquisition timing and transmits it to a data collection device at transmission timing. A plurality of control devices is connected in a loop or in a chain to the data collection device; a data transmission interval is shorter than a data collection interval, and entire transmission synchronization is set to be less than twice an interval of acquisition timing.
US09054140B2 Substrate holder system, substrate holder, fastening mechanism, substrate bonding apparatus and method for manufacturing devices
Provided is a substrate holder system comprising a first substrate holder that holds a first substrate; an engaging member provided on the first substrate holder; a second substrate holder that holds a second substrate and can, together with the first substrate holder, sandwich the first substrate and the second substrate; an engagement receiving member that is provided on the second substrate holder and engages with the engaging member; and a dust restricting means for restricting generation of dust caused by the engagement of the engaging member and the engagement receiving member.
US09054135B2 Methods for fabricating integrated circuits with a high-voltage MOSFET
Methods for fabricating integrated circuits are disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, a method for fabricating an integrated circuit includes forming a silicon material layer over a semiconductor substrate. The method further includes forming a capping layer over the silicon material layer and over the memory gate stack, removing the capping layer from over the memory array region and the high-voltage MOSFET region, forming a second silicon material layer over the capping layer and over the first silicon material layer, and removing the second silicon material layer. The method further includes removing the capping layer from over the first silicon material layer in the logic device region and removing the first and second silicon material layers from the high-voltage MOSFET region. Still further, the method includes forming a photoresist material layer over the memory array region and the logic device region and exposing the semiconductor substrate to an ion implantation process.
US09054132B2 Method for manufacturing semiconductor device and semiconductor device
According to one embodiment, a method is disclosed for manufacturing a semiconductor device. The second insulating film seals the hole near an interface of the insulating layer and the select gate. The second insulating film is provided on a side wall of the channel body with a space left in the hole above the select gate. The method can include burying a semiconductor film in the space, in addition, forming a conductive film in contact with the channel body.
US09054130B2 Bottle-neck recess in a semiconductor device
The present disclosure provides a method for fabricating a semiconductor device that includes providing a silicon substrate, forming a gate stack over the silicon substrate, performing a biased dry etching process to the substrate to remove a portion of the silicon substrate, thereby forming a recess region in the silicon substrate, performing a non-biased etching process to the recess region in the silicon substrate, thereby forming a bottle-neck shaped recess region in the silicon substrate, and epi-growing a semiconductor material in the bottle-neck shaped recess region in the silicon substrate. An embodiment may include a biased dry etching process including adding HeO2 gas and HBr gas. An embodiment may include performing a first biased dry etching process including N2 gas and performing a second biased dry etching process not including N2 gas. An embodiment may include performing an oxidation process to the recess region in the silicon substrate by adding oxygen gas to form silicon oxide on a portion of the recess region in the silicon substrate. As such, these processes form polymer protection to help form the bottle-neck shaped recess.
US09054128B2 Plasma doping method and method for fabricating semiconductor device using the same
A doping method that forms a doped region at a desired location of a three-dimensional (3D) conductive structure, controls the doping depth and doping dose of the doped region relatively easily, has a shallow doping depth, and prevents a floating body effect. A semiconductor device is fabricated using the same doping method. The method includes, forming a conductive structure having a sidewall, exposing a portion of the sidewall of the conductive structure, and forming a doped region in the exposed portion of the sidewall by performing a plasma doping process.
US09054125B2 Method for making semiconductor device with gate profile control
A method for forming a semiconductor device includes forming a gate structure over a semiconductor substrate. The gate structure includes a gate electrode, at least two hard mask (HM) layers over the gate electrode, and a spacer abutting a side wall of the gate electrode and the at least two hard mask layers. The method further comprises forming a contact etch stop layer (CESL) over the gate structure, exposing at least one of the HM layers after forming the CESL, and removing the exposed at least one of the HM layers.
US09054119B2 Dual compartment semiconductor package
According to an exemplary embodiment, a dual compartment semiconductor package includes a conductive clip having first and second compartments. The first compartment is electrically and mechanically connected to a top surface of the first die. The second compartment electrically and mechanically connected to a top surface of a second die. The dual compartment semiconductor package also includes a groove formed between the first and second compartments, the groove preventing contact between the first and second dies. The dual compartment package electrically connects the top surface of the first die to the top surface of the second die. The first die can include an insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) and the second die can include a diode. A temperature sensor can be situated adjacent to, over, or within the groove for measuring a temperature of the dual compartment semiconductor package.
US09054109B2 Corrosion/etching protection in integration circuit fabrications
A method of producing reduced corrosion interconnect structures and structures thereby formed. A method of producing microelectronic interconnects having reduced corrosion begins with a damascene structure having a first dielectric and a first interconnect. A metal oxide layer is deposited selectively to metal or nonselective over the damascene structure and then thermally treated. The treatment converts the metal oxide over the first dielectric to a metal silicate while the metal oxide over the first interconnect remains as a self-aligned protective layer. When a subsequent dielectric stack is formed and patterned, the protective layer acts as an etch stop, oxidation barrier and ion bombardment protector. The protective layer is then removed from the patterned opening and a second interconnect formed. In a preferred embodiment the metal oxide is a manganese oxide and the metal silicate is a MnSiCOH, the interconnects are substantially copper and the dielectric contains ultra low-k.
US09054101B2 Multi-dimensional integrated circuit structures and methods of forming the same
An embodiment is method comprising attaching a first die and a second die to a first surface of a first interposer using respective ones of first conductive connectors coupled to respective first surfaces of the first die and the second die; attaching a third die and a fourth die to a second surface of the first interposer using respective ones of second conductive connectors, the second surface of the first interposer being opposite the first surface of the interposer; and attaching the first die and the second die to a substrate using respective ones of third conductive connectors coupled to respective second surfaces of the first die and the second die.
US09054100B2 Semiconductor die and method of forming sloped surface in photoresist layer to enhance flow of underfill material between semiconductor die and substrate
A semiconductor device has a semiconductor die with composite bump structures over a surface of the semiconductor die. A conductive layer is formed over a substrate. A patterning layer is formed over the substrate. A first portion of the patterning layer is removed to form an opening to expose the substrate and conductive layer. A second portion of the patterning layer is removed to form a sloped surface in the patterning layer extending from a surface of the patterning layer down to the substrate. The sloped surface in the patterning layer can be linear, concave, or convex. The die is mounted to the substrate with the composite bump structures electrically connected to the conductive layer. An underfill material is deposited over the surface of the patterning layer. The sloped surface in the patterning layer aids with the flow of underfill material to cover an area between the die and substrate.
US09054089B2 Lead frame package having discharge holes and method of manufacturing the same
In one embodiment, a lead frame package structure includes a lead frame having sides that surround a die paddle and on which a plurality of leads are formed. An electronic chip is attached to the die paddle and a case is attached to the lead frame to seal the leads and the electronic chip. One or more discharge holes are formed on and extending through one or more specific leads and/or on and extending through a predetermined position of the die paddle. The discharge holes are configured to discharge air pressure that forms during the assembly process thereby improving the reliability of the packaged electronic chip.
US09054085B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a fin-shaped silicon layer on a semiconductor substrate and extending in a first direction and a first insulating film around the fin-shaped semiconductor layer. A pillar-shaped silicon layer resides on the fin-shaped silicon layer. A width of the pillar-shaped semiconductor layer, perpendicular to the first direction is equal to a width of the fin-shaped semiconductor layer perpendicular to the first direction. A gate insulating film is around the pillar-shaped semiconductor layer and a metal gate electrode is around the gate insulating film. A metal gate line extends in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction of the fin-shaped semiconductor layer and is connected to the metal gate electrode. A metal gate pad is connected to the metal gate line, where the width of the metal gate electrode and the width of the metal gate pad are larger than the width of the metal gate line.
US09054081B2 Semiconductor device having through-substrate via with insulating portion
A semiconductor device includes an isolation portion penetrating a semiconductor substrate from a first surface to a second surface positioned opposite the first surface. The isolation portion includes a first insulating film and a second insulating film. The first insulating film has a slit portion at a side of the first surface and the slit portion is buried with the second insulating film. The semiconductor device further includes an electrode penetrating the semiconductor substrate that is surrounded by the isolation portion.
US09054077B2 Package having spaced apart heat sink
An integrated circuit (IC) package that includes a lead frame, and a die affixed to a first surface of a pad of the lead frame. The die is wire bonded to the lead frame. The package includes a heat sink spaced apart from a second surface of the pad, where the second surface opposes the first surface. Molding compound encapsulates the lead frame and the die. The molding compound is disposed between the heat sink and the second surface of the pad and is enabled access between the heat sink and the second surface through protruding features disposed on the heat sink, the second surface, and/or some combination of the two.
US09054074B2 One-dimensional hierarchical nested channel design for continuous feed manufacturing processes
A series of hierarchical channels are formed in a first member surface of a first member using a continuous-feed manufacturing process. The channels are configured to control particle stacking. The first member is pressed to a second member with a layer of particle-filled viscous material between the first member surface and a second member surface of the second member. An inventive assembly includes mating surfaces with at least one surface formed with a series of parallel hierarchical channels configured to control stacking of the particles during pressing together of the surfaces. The surface is substantially free of any other hierarchical channels formed thereon.
US09054072B2 Chip diode and diode package
[Theme] To provide a chip diode, with which a p-n junction formed on a semiconductor layer can be prevented from being destroyed and fluctuations in characteristics can be suppressed even when a large stress is applied to a pad for electrical connection with the exterior, and a diode package that includes the chip diode.[Solution] A chip diode 15 includes an epitaxial layer 21 with a p-n junction 28, constituting a diode element 29, formed therein, an anode electrode 34 disposed along a top surface 22 of the epitaxial layer 21, electrically connected to a diode impurity region 23, which is the p-side pole of the p-n junction 28, and having a pad 37 for electrical connection with the exterior, and a cathode electrode 41 electrically connected to the epitaxial layer 21, which is the n-side pole of the p-n junction 28, and the pad 37 is provided at a position separated from a position directly above the p-n junction 28.
US09054066B2 Semiconductor device
According one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes: a first electrode; a second electrode; a first semiconductor layer provided between the first electrode and the second electrode and being in contact with the first electrode; a second semiconductor layer including a first part and a second part, and the second part being contact with the first electrode, and the second semiconductor layer having an effective impurity concentration lower than an effective impurity concentration in the first semiconductor layer; a third semiconductor layer provided between the second semiconductor layer and the second electrode, and having an effective impurity concentration lower than an effective impurity concentration in the second semiconductor layer; and a fourth semiconductor layer provided between the third semiconductor layer and the second electrode, and being in contact with the second electrode.
US09054062B2 Systems and methods for current sensing over an extended area
Methods and systems for providing current sensing over an extended area, such as a substrate of an integrated circuit, are described. The described methods and systems particularly describe a circuit layout procedure and configuration that can be used to carry out current sensing at diverse locations in the extended area.
US09054052B2 Methods for integration of pore stuffing material
A process is provided for methods of reducing damage to an ultra-low k layer during fabrication. In one aspect, a method includes: providing a cured ultra-low k film containing pores filled with a pore-stuffing material; and modifying an exposed surface of the ultra-low k film to provide a modified layer in the ultra-low k film. In another aspect, a semiconductor device comprising a modified layer on a surface of an ultra-low k film is provided.
US09054049B2 Driving substrate and display device
A driving substrate includes: a protective layer including an etching surface; and a film layer including one or more convex portions on a surface thereof. The film layer is in contact with a rear surface of the protective layer. The one or more convex portions each have a surface being flush with the etching surface.
US09054048B2 NH3 containing plasma nitridation of a layer on a substrate
Methods and apparatus for forming nitrogen-containing layers are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method includes exposing a first layer of a substrate to a plasma formed from a process gas comprising predominantly a mixture of ammonia (NH3) and a noble gas, wherein ammonia is about 0.5 to about 15 percent of the process gas; and maintaining the process chamber at a pressure of about 10 mTorr to about 80 mTorr while exposing the first layer to the plasma to transform at least an upper portion of the first layer into a nitrogen-containing layer.
US09054047B2 Exposing connectors in packages through selective treatment
A method includes performing an etching step on a package. The package includes a package component, a connector on a top surface of the package component, a die bonded to the top surface of the package component, and a molding material molded over the top surface of the package component. The molding material covers the connector, wherein a portion of the molding material covering the connector is removed by the etching step, and the connector is exposed.
US09054042B2 Surface planarisation
This invention generally relates to planarisation of a surface of a substrate. In an embodiment of planarising a surface region of a substrate, the substrate having a body on a portion of said surface region, the method comprises: modifying the wetability of a surface of said body with respect to a liquid planariser composition by providing a surface modifying layer such as a self-assembled monolayer thereon; and then depositing the liquid planariser composition on said substrate and said body such that the planariser composition wets said surface region, wherein said surface modifying layer determines a contact angle of said liquid planariser composition to said surface of said body such that the deposited liquid planariser composition is repelled from said surface of said body.
US09054037B2 Method of fabricating semiconductor device
A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a trench in a substrate, forming a pre-gate insulating film along side surfaces and a bottom surface of the trench, and oxidizing the pre-gate insulating film through a densification process.
US09054018B2 Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
The present invention discloses a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, which comprises: forming a plurality of fins on a substrate, which extend along a first direction and have rhombus-like cross-sections; forming a gate stack structure on each fin, which traverses the plurality of fins and extends along a second direction; wherein a portion in each fin that is under the gate stack structure forms a channel region of the device, and portions in each fin that are at both sides of the gate stack structure along the first direction form source and drain regions. The semiconductor device and its manufacturing method according to the present invention use rhombus-like fins to improve the gate control capability to effectively suppress the short channel effect, moreover, an epitaxial quantum well is used therein to better limit the carriers, thus improving the device drive capability.
US09054017B2 Thick nitride semiconductor structures with interlayer structures and methods of fabricating thick nitride semiconductor structures
A semiconductor structure includes a substrate, a nucleation layer on the substrate, a compositionally graded layer on the nucleation layer, and a layer of a nitride semiconductor material on the compositionally graded layer. The layer of nitride semiconductor material includes a plurality of substantially relaxed nitride interlayers spaced apart within the layer of nitride semiconductor material. The substantially relaxed nitride interlayers include aluminum and gallium and are conductively doped with an n-type dopant, and the layer of nitride semiconductor material including the plurality of nitride interlayers has a total thickness of at least about 2.0 μm.
US09054015B2 Solid-state imaging device including an imaging photodetecting section with a two dimensional array of pixel units and an operation control section
The solid-state imaging device 1 includes an imaging photodetecting section 10, a trigger photodetecting section 20, a row selection section 30, a column selection section 40, a holding section 50, a pixel data output section 60, a trigger data output section 70, and a control section 80. In a shutter method of the solid-state imaging device 1, the start of a charge accumulation period is common to all rows of the imaging photodetecting section 10, while the end of the charge accumulation period varies row by row of the imaging photodetecting section 10, and there is a signal readout period subsequent to the charge accumulation period in each row of the imaging photodetecting section 10. Accordingly, a solid-state imaging device that can perform high-accuracy imaging even when the incident period of light to be imaged is considerably short is realized.
US09054001B2 Imaging device
An imaging device includes: an R pixel that is made of an organic material and includes a photodiode on which an organic film color filter that transmits red light is formed; a G pixel that is made of an organic material and includes a photodiode on which an organic film color filter that transmits green light is formed; a B pixel that is made of an organic material and includes a photodiode on which an organic film color filter that transmits blue light is formed; and an FPF pixel including a photodiode on which a Fabry-Perot filter in which an intermediate layer interposed between dielectric layers is made of a material that transmits light is formed. The R pixel, the G pixel, the B pixel, and the FPF pixel are periodically arranged.
US09053999B2 A/D converter, A/D conversion method, solid-state imaging element and camera system
A solid-state imaging device having an analog-digital converter, and an analog-digital conversion method are described herein. An example of a solid-state imaging device includes a bit inconsistency prevention section configured to prevent bit inconsistency between output of a low-level bit latch section and a high-level bit counting section.
US09053996B2 Solid-state imaging apparatus with a plurality of processing portions
A solid-state imaging apparatus comprises a plurality of pixel units forming a pixel array, and a plurality of processing portions each corresponding to each column of the pixel array respectively, and each of the plurality of processing portions comprising a first front-side capacitor configured to hold a first signal having a noise component, a second front-side capacitor configured to hold a second signal having the noise component and a signal component, a first transfer portion configured to transfer the first signal from the first front-side capacitor to a first back-side capacitor, and a second transfer portion configured to transfer the second signal from the second front-side capacitor to a second back-side capacitor, wherein positions of the first and the second transfer portions are different from each other in a direction of the column.
US09053994B2 Image pickup unit and image pickup display system
A device for image sensing includes a photoelectric conversion unit and at least one transistor. The photoelectric conversion unit is configured to convert incident electromagnetic radiation into an electric signal. The at least one transistor includes a first gate electrode and a second gate electrode above the first gate electrode. The first gate electrode and the second gate electrode do not overlap each other within a non-overlapping region.
US09053989B2 Elongated bump structure in semiconductor device
A device includes a chip attached to a substrate. The chip includes a conductive pillar having a length (L) measured along a long axis of the conductive pillar and a width (W) measured along a short axis of the conductive pillar. The substrate includes a conductive trace and a mask layer overlying the conductive trace, wherein the mask layer has an opening exposing a portion of the conductive trace. An interconnection is formed between the conductive pillar and the exposed portion of the conductive trace. The opening has a first dimension (d1) measured along the long axis of the conductive pillar and a second dimension (d2) measured along the short axis of the conductive pillar. A ratio of L to d1 is greater than a ratio of W to d2.
US09053984B2 Thin-film transistor, display unit, and electronic apparatus
Provided is a thin-film transistor that includes: a substrate; a first barrier film formed on the substrate; a second barrier film formed in a selective region on the first barrier film, and having a barrier property against hydrogen; an oxide semiconductor layer including a first part formed on the second barrier film and a second part formed on the first barrier film, in which the first part functions as an active layer, and the second part has lower electrical resistance than the first part; a gate electrode formed on the first part of the oxide semiconductor layer with a gate insulating film therebetween; and a source electrode or drain electrode electrically connected to the second part of the oxide semiconductor layer. The first barrier film has a barrier property against an impurity from the substrate and a property of chemically reducing the oxide semiconductor layer.
US09053974B2 SRAM cells with dummy insertions
A device includes a first pull-up transistor, a second pull-up transistor, and a dummy gate electrode between the first and the second pull-up transistors. The first and the second pull-up transistors are included in a first Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) cell.
US09053973B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, an interlayer insulation film, multiple wiring layers, a first hard film, and an electrical pad. The semiconductor substrate has a semiconductor element. The interlayer insulation film is disposed above the semiconductor substrate. The multiple wiring layers are disposed within the interlayer insulation film. The first hard film is disposed above the interlayer insulation film, and the first hard film is harder than the interlayer insulation film. The electrical pad is disposed above the first hard film, and the electrical pad is used for an external connection. The electrical pad includes a lower layer pad, the upper layer pad, and a second hard film.
US09053971B2 Semiconductor devices having hybrid capacitors and methods for fabricating the same
A semiconductor device includes a plurality of capacitors disposed on a substrate and a support pattern supporting upper portions and lower portions of the capacitors. Each of the capacitors includes a lower electrode, an upper electrode, and a dielectric layer between the lower and upper electrodes. The lower electrode includes a first electrode portion electrically connected to the substrate and having a solid shape and a second electrode portion stacked on the first electrode portion and having a shape comprising an opening therein. The support pattern includes an upper pattern contacting sidewalls of top end portions of the lower electrodes and a lower pattern vertically spaced apart from the upper pattern. The lower pattern contacts sidewalls under the top end portions of the lower electrodes.
US09053970B2 Patterned strained semiconductor substrate and device
A device that includes a pattern of strained material and relaxed material on a substrate, a strained device in the strained material, and a non-strained device in the relaxed material. The strained material may be silicon (Si) in either a tensile or compressive state, and the relaxed material is Si in a normal state. A buffer layer of silicon germanium (SiGe), silicon carbon (SiC), or similar material is formed on the substrate and has a lattice constant/structure mis-match with the substrate. A relaxed layer of SiGe, SiC, or similar material is formed on the buffer layer and places the strained material in the tensile or compressive state. Carbon-doped silicon or germanium-doped silicon may be used to form the strained material. The structure includes a multi-layered substrate having strained and non-strained materials patterned thereon.
US09053967B2 Apparatus for testing a wafer in a wafer testing process
An apparatus for testing a wafer includes a wafer chuck on which the wafer is loaded to perform a wafer test process. The wafer chuck is maintained at a high temperature in a predetermined temperature range. The apparatus for testing a wafer further includes a wafer handling arm supporting the wafer and transferring the wafer to the wafer chuck, and a wafer heating module coupled to the wafer handling arm, arranged parallel to the wafer, and preheating the wafer to be loaded on the wafer chuck.
US09053950B2 Electronic circuit
By stacking and mounting a second substrate 20 having the same structure as that of a first substrate 10 on the first substrate upon rotating the second substrate by 180 degrees and sliding the second substrate, an antenna 11 and an antenna 22 overlap each other and an antenna 12 and an antenna 21 overlap each other and communications in each of these combinations are enabled, and a space for wire bondings 16 is secured. Accordingly, communications between the substrates are made via the antennas, and further, a space for wire bondings is secured on each substrate, wireless communications are carried out between substrates which have the same basic structure and are stacked and mounted, and power can be supplied via the wire bondings.
US09053948B2 Semiconductor devices
A semiconductor device can include wiring lines on a substrate and an interlayer insulating structure, between ones of the wiring lines. The wiring lines can include a pore-containing layer that includes a plurality of pores extending away from a surface of the substrate, wherein ones of the pores have respective volumes that increase with a distance from the substrate until reaching an air gap layer above the pore-containing layer and beneath uppermost surfaces of the wiring lines.
US09053946B2 MOSFET with recessed channel film and abrupt junctions
MOSFETs and methods for making MOSFETs with a recessed channel and abrupt junctions are disclosed. The method includes creating source and drain extensions while a dummy gate is in place. The source/drain extensions create a diffuse junction with the silicon substrate. The method continues by removing the dummy gate and etching a recess in the silicon substrate. The recess intersects at least a portion of the source and drain junction. Then a channel is formed by growing a silicon film to at least partially fill the recess. The channel has sharp junctions with the source and drains, while the unetched silicon remaining below the channel has diffuse junctions with the source and drain. Thus, a MOSFET with two junction regions, sharp and diffuse, in the same transistor can be created.
US09053944B2 Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
A semiconductor device has a plurality of closely spaced fins each coated at its top and sidewalls with a SiGe layer used for improving charge carrier mobility in a channel portion of the device. The sidewalls of the closely adjacent Fins are selectively thinned so as to prevent an undesired bridging of SiGe material between immediately adjacent ones of the Fins. A method of manufacturing the same comprises: providing a substrate having a plurality of tri-gate transistors, at least two fins of the tri-gate transistors being closely adjacent to each other, where respective top and sidewall surfaces of the fins are coated with a SiGe layer; performing a tilted ion implantation on the SiGe coated fins so as to partially convert the SiGe material into a predetermined etch resistant material (e.g., and oxide of the SiGe); and etching away the non-converted sidewall parts of the SiGe coating layers so as to provide greater spacing between the immediately adjacent sidewalls of the SiGe coated fins.
US09053942B2 Polycrystalline silicon wafer
A polycrystalline silicon wafer produced based on a melting method and having an outer diameter of 450 mm or more, wherein a depth of scratches on the polycrystalline silicon wafer is 10 μm or less. A polycrystalline silicon wafer produced based on a melting method and having an outer diameter of 450 mm or more, wherein a maximum number of scratches having a width of 40 μm or more and 100 μm or less and a depth of more than 10 μm and 40 μm or less formed on the polycrystalline silicon wafer is one or less per section when the overall polycrystalline silicon wafer is divided into 100 mm-square sections, and a depth of remaining scratches is 10 μm or less. Provided is a large polycrystalline silicon wafer, particularly a silicon wafer having a wafer size in which the outer diameter is 450 mm or more, in which a small number of scratches are generated on the wafer surface and which has mechanical properties similar to those of a monocrystalline silicon wafer.
US09053937B2 Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
Provided is a semiconductor device using a p-type oxide semiconductor layer and a method of manufacturing the same. The device includes the p-type oxide layer formed of at least one oxide selected from the group consisting of a copper(Cu)-containing copper monoxide, a tin(Sn)-containing tin monoxide, a copper tin oxide containing a Cu—Sn alloy, and a nickel tin oxide containing a Ni—Sn alloy. Thus, transparent or opaque devices are easily developed using the p-type oxide layer. Since an oxide layer that is formed using a low-temperature process is applied to a semiconductor device, the manufacturing process of the semiconductor device is simplified and manufacturing costs may be reduced.
US09053933B2 Method for forming a graphene layer on the surface of a substrate including a silicon layer
The invention relates to a method for forming a graphene layer (105) on the surface of a substrate (100) including a silicon layer (101), the method comprising the consecutive steps of: forming (1) a silicon-carbide film (103) on a free surface of the silicon layer and gradually heating the substrate until the silicon of at least the first row of atoms of the silicon-carbide film is sublimated so as to form the graphene layer on the silicon-carbide film. According to the invention, a silicon layer, the free surface of which is stepped, is used.
US09053929B1 Method and system for integrated MEMS and NEMS using deposited thin films having pre-determined stress states
A method and system are disclosed for controlling the state of stress in deposited thin films on microelectronics wafers for the integration of MEMS and NEMS devices with microelectronics. According to the method and system, various process parameters including: process pressure; substrate temperature; deposition rate; and ion-beam energies (controlled via the ion beam current, voltage, signal frequency and duty cycle) are varied using a step-by-step methodology to arrive at a pre-determined desired state of stress in thin films deposited using PVD at low temperatures and desired stress states onto wafers or substrates having microelectronics processing performed on them.
US09053928B2 Wafer and film coating method of using the same
The present disclosure provides a wafer that can be used in coating films. The wafer includes a front surface, a back surface opposite to the front surface, and a plurality of trenches. The back surface further includes a central region and a surrounding region. The trenches are disposed on the back surface. The spacing between any two adjacent trenches in surrounding region is less than the spacing between any two adjacent trenches in the central region.
US09053927B2 Method of manufacturing semiconductor device and method of processing substrate
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device is provided. The method includes: forming a thin film containing a predetermined element on a substrate by repeating a cycle, the cycle including: forming a first layer containing the predetermined element, nitrogen and carbon by alternately performing supplying a source gas containing the predetermined element and a halogen element to the substrate and supplying a first reactive gas containing three elements including the carbon, the nitrogen and hydrogen and having a composition wherein a number of carbon atoms is greater than that of nitrogen atoms to the substrate a predetermined number of times; forming a second layer by supplying a second reactive gas different from the source gas and the first reactive gas to the substrate to modify the first layer; and modifying a surface of the second layer by supplying a hydrogen-containing gas to the substrate.
US09053923B2 Methods for fabricating integrated circuits including topographical features for directed self-assembly
Methods for fabricating integrated circuits are provided. In one example, a method for fabricating an integrated circuit includes forming etch resistant fill control topographical features that overlie a semiconductor substrate. The etch resistant fill control topographical features define an etch resistant fill control confinement well. A block copolymer is deposited into the etch resistant fill control confinement well. The block copolymer is phase separated into an etchable phase and an etch resistant phase. The etch resistant fill control topographical features direct the etch resistant phase to form an etch resistant plug in the etch resistant fill control confinement well.
US09053916B2 Method to perform beam-type collision-activated dissociation in the pre-existing ion injection pathway of a mass spectrometer
Described herein are methods and systems related to the use of the pre-existing ion injection pathway of a mass spectrometer to perform beam-type collision-activated dissociation, as well as other dissociation methods. The methods can be practiced using a wide range of mass spectrometer configurations and allows MSn experiments to be performed on very basic mass spectrometers, even those without secondary mass analyzers and/or collision cells. Following injection and selection of a particular ion type or population, that population can be fragmented via beam-type collision-activated dissociation (CAD), as well as other dissociation methods, using the pre-existing ion injection pathway or inlet of a mass spectrometer. For CAD applications, this is achieved by transmitting the ions back along the ion injection pathway with a high degree of kinetic energy. As the ions pass into the higher pressure regions located in or near the atmospheric pressure inlet, the ions are fragmented and then trapped. Following fragmentation and trapping, the ions can either be re-injected into the primary ion selection device or sent on to a secondary mass analyzer.
US09053915B2 Radio frequency (RF) ion guide for improved performance in mass spectrometers at high pressure
Ion guides for use in mass spectrometry (MS) systems are described. The ion guides are configured to provide a reflective electrodynamic field and a direct current (DC or static) electric field to provide ion beams that are more spatially confined with a comparatively large mass range. Some ion guides are provided between the ion source and the first stage vacuum chamber of the MS system.
US09053907B2 System and method of ion neutralization with multiple-zoned plasma flood gun
An apparatus comprises a plasma flood gun for neutralizing a positive charge buildup on a semiconductor wafer during a process of ion implantation using an ion beam. The plasma flood gun comprises more than two arc chambers, wherein each arc chamber is configured to generate and release electrons into the ion beam in a respective zone adjacent to the semiconductor wafer.
US09053892B2 Ionization device
An illustrated example ionization device includes a pyroelectric electron accelerator that causes electrons to move away from the accelerator. A silicon target is positioned in a path of the electrons. X-ray radiation results from the electrons colliding with the target. In one example embodiment, the electrons moving between the accelerator and the target have energy up to 60 KeV and the target attenuates the energy so that the x-ray radiation has energy between 1 KeV and 3 KeV.
US09053877B2 Plunger switch and method of using same
A plunger switch and method comprises a multi-action plunger arrangement having first and second plungers in axial alignment such that the first plunger is centrally located about the second plunger. The second plunger has an annular wall for supporting at least one conductive wiper contact. The plunger switch further comprises first and second biasing members having differing load constants, such that the first and second plungers are actuated at different loads during use and a plurality of terminals for communicating an electrical path. The switch also comprises a housing having a central opening for supporting the plunger arrangement. The second plunger and second second biasing member cooperate with the conductive wiper contact such that compressing of the second biasing member from a normal position to a first actuated position results in a change of state of the switch assembly.
US09053876B2 Lockable manually-operated actuator for electrical switching devices
A lockable manually-operated rotary actuator for an electrical switching device includes a turning handle mounted on a housing and connected to an operating axle of the switching device. A pivotably or displaceably mounted locking member in or on the turning handle is configured to lock the turning handle in a locking position via an operative connection with the housing. At least one released locking opening is present in the locked position with at least one padlock. A protective cap is disposed over the turning handle and provides access to the at least one released locking opening, a shape of the protective cap being such that the protective cap conforms to a shape of the turning handle and is fixed to the housing via a positive connection.
US09053872B2 Electric storage apparatus and manufacturing method of electric storage apparatus
An electric storage apparatus has a positive electrode plate, a negative electrode plate, and a separator. Each of the positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate has a collector plate and an active material layer containing an electrolytic solution, and the active material layer is formed in a predetermined width on a partial region of a collector plate. The separator is placed between the positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate and contains an electrolytic solution. At least one of the positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate, an edge of the active material layer in a width direction has a waveform. A set value Wn of the width of the active material layer and a variation ΔW of the width of the active material layer satisfy a condition of 0.03≦Δ/Wn≦0.056.
US09053868B2 Method of manufacturing a graphene-containing electrolyte
A method of manufacturing a graphene-containing electrolyte includes, in the order recited: (a) deoxidizing graphene oxide to form graphene; (b) dissolving the graphene in a carbonate solvent to provide a graphene-containing solution; and (c) adding an oxidation-reduction agent composed of 1-butyl-2,3-dimethylimidazolium iodide (BDI) and optionally iodine (I2) into the graphene-containing solution to provide the graphene-containing electrolyte. Deoxidizing the graphene oxide may be accomplished by dissolving the graphene oxide in an aqueous solvent that is a mixture of water and an alkyl imidazole-based iodine to form a solution; and centrifuging the solution to obtain the graphene. A dye-sensitized solar cell may include the graphene-containing electrolyte to fill a space defined between first and second electrodes.
US09053867B2 Energy storage cell and energy storage module
An energy storage cell includes an energy storage part for storing electric charges, a container for housing the energy storage part, and a pair of electrode terminals connected to the energy storage part and exposed to the outside of the container. The container is formed to have a thick polygonal outer shape and a groove part linearly extending in a direction perpendicular to a thickness direction is provided in each of a pair of mutually facing side surfaces of the polygonal shape. Each of the electrode terminals includes a base end part connected to a corresponding polarity of the energy storage part in the container and an exposed part exposed to the outside of the container, and the exposed part is formed along an inner side of the groove part.
US09053866B2 Solid electrolytic capacitor and method of manufacture
An improved solid electrolytic capacitor and method of forming a solid electrolytic capacitor is described. The method includes forming an anode comprising a valve metal or conductive oxide of a valve metal wherein an anode lead extension protrudes from the anode. A dielectric is formed on the anode and a cathode layer is formed on the dielectric. The anode, dielectric, and cathode layer are encased in a non-conducting material and the anode lead extension is exposed outside of the encasement at a side surface. A conductive metal layer is adhered to the anode lead extension which allows termination preferably by electrically connecting a preformed solid metal terminal, most preferably an L shaped terminal, to the conductive metal layer at the side surface.
US09053861B2 Wet capacitor cathode containing a conductive coating formed anodic electrochemical polymerization of a colloidal suspension
A wet electrolytic capacitor that contains an anodically oxidized porous anode body, a cathode containing a metal substrate coated with a conductive coating, and a working electrolyte that wets the dielectric on the anode. The conductive coating is formed through anodic electrochemical polymerization (“electro-polymerization”) of a precursor colloidal suspension on the surface of the substrate. The colloidal suspension includes a precursor monomer, ionic surfactant, and sulfonic acid, which when employed in combination can synergistically improve the degree of surface coverage and overall conductivity of the coating.
US09053853B1 Method of forming a magnetics package
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a method of forming a magnetics package. The method includes providing a primary coil configured to conduct a current flow; providing a substrate having a surface and a secondary coil extending from the surface, the secondary coil configured to conduct a current flow; encapsulating the secondary coil in a secondary mold compound; removing the substrate from the secondary coil, thereby leaving the secondary coil embedded in the secondary mold compound; and inductively coupling the secondary coil to the primary coil through a magnetic core, the secondary coil is electrically isolated from the primary coil, wherein a current flow in the primary coil produces a magnetic field in the magnetic core, and the magnetic field in the magnetic core induces a current flow in the secondary coil.
US09053837B2 Protected coaxial cable
A guarded coaxial cable assembly includes a micro-coaxial cable and an adjacent structure for protecting the micro-coaxial cable.
US09053836B2 Shielded electric wire
A shielded electric wire that assumes a horizontally long cross sectional wire profile and includes a flat shielded electric wire that has a plurality of sheathed core wires whose core centers are positioned side by side at grade. The shielded electric wire has an electromagnetic shield layer that encloses all of the positioned sheathed core wires, and a pair of additional electromagnetic shield layers laid solely along a pair of mutually-opposed long sides in line with a direction in which the sheathed core wires are arranged in a wire cross section.
US09053833B2 DC high-voltage super-radiant free-electron based EUV source
An array of spatially separated beamlets is produced by a corresponding array of charged particle emitters. Each emitter is at an electrostatic potential difference with respect to an immediately adjacent emitter in the array. The beamlets are converged laterally to form an charged particle beam. The beam is modulated longitudinally with infrared radiation to form a modulated beam. The charged particles in the modulated beam are bunched longitudinally to form a bunched beam. The bunched beam may be modulated with an undulator to generate a coherent radiation output. This abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
US09053826B2 Protective grid attachment
A fuel assembly for a pressurized water reactor that has a protective grid attached to the bottom nozzle through a spacer insert captured between a control rod guide thimble end plug and the bottom nozzle. A thimble screw attaches the bottom nozzle to the control rod guide thimble end plug through a central opening in the spacer insert. The control rod guide thimble end plug is provided with a raised annular boss that encircles the thimble screw shank and rests against the upper surface of the bottom nozzle through the opening in the spacer insert. The opening in the spacer insert is large enough to provide both an axial and radial clearance between the spacer insert and the end plug to accommodate differences in thermal expansion.
US09053825B2 Fuel assembly
A fuel assembly for a nuclear boiling water reactor is provided. The reactor comprises a plurality of such fuel assemblies and a plurality of control rods. Each control rod is insertable between the fuel assemblies. The fuel assembly has a longitudinal center axis and includes a plurality of elongated fuel rods and an elongated channel box. The channel box has inner sides, facing the fuel rods, and outer sides. Each inner and outer side has a longitudinal center line extending in parallel with the center axis and along the length of the channel box. A number of protrusions are distributed along the center line of at least two of the outer sides. The protrusions are configured to ensure a minimum distance between the outer side and an adjacent control rod and to enable the control rod to easily slide over and on top of the protrusions.
US09053824B2 Nuclear control rod with flexure joint
A rod cluster control assembly having a control rod upper end plug formed in two parts and connected together with a flexible joint coupling located at or below a connecting finger on a spider vane. The upper portion of the upper control rod end plug is screwed into the connecting finger on the spider vane and lock welded between a lower portion of the finger and a shoulder on an abutting ledge of the upper portion of the end plug.
US09053819B2 Programming method to tighten threshold voltage width with avoiding program disturb
A non-volatile storage system that performs a multi-stage programming process to program non-volatile storage to a set of data threshold voltage distributions. The multi-stage programming process includes performing a first stage of the multi-stage programming process to change threshold voltages of at least a subset of the non-volatile storage elements from an erased distribution to one or more intermediate distributions, performing an intermediate stage of the multi-stage programming process to change threshold voltages of at least some of the non-volatile storage elements to appropriate distributions of the data threshold voltage distributions, and performing a later stage of the multi-stage programming process, after performing the intermediate stage of the multi-stage programming process, to tighten only a subset of the data threshold voltage distributions.
US09053815B2 Circuit in dynamic random access memory devices
A circuit in dynamic random access memory devices includes a command extension circuit. The command extension circuit is configured to generate at least one multiple-cycle command signal by lengthening a single-cycle clock command signal from a command decoding circuit. Control logic extends and reduces the multiple-cycle command signal to provide additional functions such as burst length and burst chop. Additional control logic is configured to determine whether a clock signal is enabled in output control logic circuitry according to the multiple-cycle command and logic level generated in the output logic circuitry.
US09053814B2 Voltage generators adaptive to low external power supply voltage
Voltage generators may generate a level of a high target voltage with respect to a low external power supply voltage. A reference voltage generator includes a clamp regulator which is driven by a first power supply voltage supplied from an external source and receives a first voltage to generate a clamp voltage, and a level amplifier which is driven by a second power supply voltage that is higher than the first power supply voltage and receives the clamp voltage to generate a reference voltage. The clamp voltage may be set to have a voltage level which results in a successful restore operation with respect to a memory cell array in a dynamic random access memory (DRAM).
US09053810B2 Defect or program disturb detection with full data recovery capability
A programming operation for a set of non-volatile storage elements determines whether the storage elements have been programmed properly after a program-verify test is passed and a program status=pass is issued. Write data is reconstructed from sets of latches associated with the storage elements using logical operations optionally one or more reconstruction read operations. Normal read operations are also performed to obtain read data. A number of mismatches between the read data and the reconstructed write data is determined, and determination is made as to whether re-writing of the write data is required based on the number of the mismatches.
US09053805B2 Semiconductor memory device
A semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of memory cells, a plurality of bit lines, each of which is electrically connected to a string of the memory cells, and a sense module provided for each of the bit lines. Each sense module includes a sense transistor that is configured to turn on and off to indicate whether or not data is stored in a memory cell that is targeted by a reading operation, the sense transistor having a threshold voltage level and a gate that is connected to a sense node, the sense node being connected to a discharge line through a series of transistors including the sense transistor so that prior to a sensing operation the sense node can be discharged to a level that is set in accordance with a threshold voltage thereof.
US09053800B2 Memory element and memory apparatus
There is provided a memory element having a layered structure, including a memory layer having magnetization perpendicular to a film face in which a magnetization direction is changed corresponding to information, and including a Co—Fe—B magnetic layer and at least on non-magnetic layer; the magnetization direction being changed by flowing a current in a lamination direction of the layered structure to record the information in the memory layer, a magnetization-fixed layer having magnetization perpendicular to the film face that becomes a base of the information stored in the memory layer, and an intermediate layer that is formed of a non-magnetic material and is provided between the memory layer and the magnetization-fixed layer, further including a laminated structure where an oxide layer, the Co—Fe—B magnetic layer and the non-magnetic layer are laminated is formed.
US09053795B2 Solid state drive encountering power failure and associated data storage method
A solid state drive and its associated data storage method are provided. The data storage method comprising steps of: receiving data-for-writing from a host, and transforming the data-for-writing to data-for-storage; comparing a supply voltage and a predetermined voltage; and when the supply voltage is lower than the predetermined voltage, proceeding a strong-page programming procedure for storing the data-for-storage to a blank area of a multi-level cell flash memory.
US09053793B2 Semiconductor memory device and method of operating the same
The semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array configured to include a plurality of blocks, wherein each of the blocks has pages and each of the pages includes memory cells, and a peripheral circuit configured to program the memory cells to target program states. Here, the peripheral circuit programs the memory cells to temporary program states by applying program voltages increasing step-by-step by a first incremental value, and then programs the memory cells to the target program states by applying program voltages increasing step-by-step by a second incremental value.
US09053788B2 Cross-point variable resistance nonvolatile memory device
A cross-point memory device including memory cells each includes: a variable resistance element that reversibly changes at least between a low resistance state and a high resistance state; and a current steering element that has nonlinear current-voltage characteristics, and the cross-point memory device comprises a read circuit which includes: a reference voltage generation circuit which comprises at least the current steering element; a differential amplifier circuit which performs current amplification on an output voltage in the reference voltage generation circuit; a feedback controlled bit line voltage clamp circuit which sets the low voltage side reference voltage to increase with an output of the differential amplifier circuit; and a sense amplifier circuit which determines a resistance state of a selected memory cell according to an amount of current flowing through the selected memory cell.
US09053780B2 Measuring electrical resistance
In at least one embodiment, a method includes applying an input voltage external to a semiconductor chip to a first circuit of the semiconductor chip to generate an output voltage external to the semiconductor chip. The first circuit is electrically coupled to a resistive device. A logic state of the resistive device is determined based on a logic state of the external output voltage.
US09053777B1 Methods and apparatus for memory interface systems
Methods and systems for memory interface systems are provided. A first command from control circuitry is received by bridge circuitry at a first clock rate. The control circuitry is configured to operate at the first clock rate. A second command is generated by the control circuitry on the received first command. The second command is transmitted to memory circuitry at a second clock rate. The memory circuitry is configured to operate at the second clock rate, and the second clock rate is greater than the first clock rate.
US09053776B2 Setting information storage circuit and integrated circuit chip including the same
A setting information storage circuit includes first decoders configured to generate first input enable signals, respectively, in response to selection codes and a first set signal, first register sets configured to correspond to the first decoders, respectively, and to receive setting data when first input enable signals generated from the first decoders corresponding to the first register sets, respectively, are enabled, and store the received setting data, a second decoders configured to generate a second input enable signals, respectively, in response to the selection codes and a second set signal, and a second register sets configured to correspond to the second decoders, respectively, and to receive the setting data when second input enable signals generated from the second decoders corresponding to the second register sets, respectively, are enabled, and store the received setting data.
US09053762B2 Pipeline-controlled semiconductor memory device with reduced power consumption and memory access time
A semiconductor device includes a memory cell array including a plurality of memory array basic units. A first bus for transfer of address/control signals, includes a first buffer circuit operating as a pipeline register. A second bus for bidirectional transfer of write/read data, includes a second buffer circuit operating as a pipeline register. A first control circuit sequentially sends the address/control signals on the first bus, and a second control circuit sequentially sends/receives write/read data on the second bus.
US09053761B2 Circuit and method for improving sense amplifier reaction time in memory read operations
A sense amplifier circuit, a method of modifying a differential voltage in a sense amplifier circuit and a memory system incorporating the sense amplifier circuit or the method are described. The sense amplifier circuit is described to include: (1) a differential amplifier having first and second inputs respectively couplable to first and second complimentary bit lines and configured to receive a differential voltage therefrom representing a current logic value to be read and (2) a sense speed alteration circuit having first and second outputs respectively coupled to the first and second inputs via respective first and second capacitors and configured to cause one of the first and second capacitors to discharge to increase the differential voltage when a previously read logic value is opposite the current logic value to be read.
US09053755B2 Method and apparatus for active noise shedding
A method for reducing audible noise in a vehicle audio component includes steps of: determining that the audio component is or is about to be operating in a susceptible mode wherein it is likely to receive electrical interference caused by an electrical component operating in an interfering operating state; communicating to the electrical component that the audio component is operating in the susceptible mode; and changing operation of the electrical component from the interfering operating state to a non-interfering operating state less likely to generate electrical signals causing audible noise.
US09053753B2 Method and system for a flexible multiplexer and mixer
Certain aspects of a method and system for a flexible multiplexer and mixer (FMM) are disclosed. Aspects of one method may include mixing primary audio information and secondary audio information of sampled received audio data based on corresponding metadata information to generate mixed output audio data. The generated mixed output audio data may be pulled through a plurality of pipeline stages.
US09053752B1 Architecture for multiple graphics planes
Systems and methods for layering a graphics plane on top of a compressed video signal are disclosed herein. A processed video stream is received from a video processing path, wherein the processed video stream comprises a stream of video macroblocks. A graphics plane is received from a graphics processing path, wherein the graphics plane comprises a set of graphics macroblocks. The graphics plane is layered on top of the processed video stream to generate an output video stream. Layering comprises blending a video macroblock from the stream of video macroblocks with a graphics macroblock from the set of graphics macroblocks. By layering one macroblock at time, graphics overlay can occur in real time or faster than real time as the compressed input stream is received.
US09053751B2 Sound and image segment sorting device and method
A sound segment sorting unit (103) sorts the sound segments of a video. An image segment sorting unit (104) sorts the image segments of the video. A multiple sorting result generation unit (105) generates a plurality of sound segment sorting results and/or a plurality of image segment sorting results. A sorting result pair generation unit (106) generates a plurality of sorting result pairs of the sorting results as the candidates of the optimum segment sorting result of the video. A sorting result output unit (108) compares the sorting result comparative scores of the sorting result pairs calculated by a sorting result comparative score calculation unit (107) and thus outputs a sound segment sorting result and an image segment sorting result having good correspondence. This allows to accurately sort, for each object, a plurality of sound segments and a plurality of image segments contained in the video without adjusting parameters in advance.
US09053749B1 Disk drive comprising a per-drive and per-head fly height filter
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a plurality of disk surfaces, and a head actuated over each disk surface, where each head comprises a fly height actuator (FHA) operable to control a fly height of the head over the corresponding disk surface. A fly height is measured for each head to generate a plurality of fly height measurements. An average value is generated in response to the plurality of fly height measurements, and a first control value is generated for a first head based on the average value and the fly height measurement for the first head. The first FHA of the first head is controlled in response to the first control value.
US09053737B2 Heat assisted magnetic recording devices
Devices having an air bearing surface, the device including a magnetic write pole positioned adjacent the air bearing surface; a near field transducer including a peg region and an adjacent disk region, wherein the peg region is adjacent the air bearing surface; a heat sink; and an optical waveguide including a top cladding layer and a core layer, wherein the heat sink is positioned between the magnetic write pole and the near field transducer and the near field transducer is positioned between the optical waveguide and the heat sink, and wherein at least a portion of at least one of the heat sink, the optical waveguide, or the write pole includes beryllium oxide (BeO).
US09053733B2 Magnetic recording medium with magnetic portions of different orientations and method of manufacturing the same
According to one embodiment, a magnetic recording medium includes a data region and a servo region adjacent to the data region and including a magnetic recording layer, the magnetic recording layer including first and second patterned regions adjacent to each other, the first patterned region including a first nonmagnetic matrix and first magnetic particles dispersed in the first nonmagnetic matrix and having magnetization oriented in a first direction, the second patterned region includes a second nonmagnetic matrix and second magnetic particles dispersed in the second nonmagnetic matrix and having magnetization oriented in a second direction opposite to the first direction, sizes of the first magnetic particles being smaller than sizes of the second magnetic particles.
US09053727B1 Disk drive opening spiral crossing window based on DC and AC spiral track error
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk comprising a plurality of spiral tracks including a first spiral track. A DC spiral track error common to the spiral tracks is measured relative to an ideal slope for the spiral tracks, and an AC spiral track error is measured for each spiral track relative to the ideal slope. As the head approaches the first spiral track, a spiral crossing window is opened based on the measured DC spiral track error and the measured AC spiral track error for the first spiral track, and the first spiral track is detected after opening the spiral crossing window.
US09053716B1 Spot size converter with a plurality of branches for HAMR heads
Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to a magnetic write head including a media facing surface and a surface opposite the media facing surface. The magnetic write head also includes a SSC having a first end extending to the surface opposite the media facing surface. The first end of the SSC has at least two tips. The multiple-tipped first end of the SSC is configured to receive a laser beam and the laser beam coupling efficiency is improved by having the multiple-tipped first end.
US09053715B1 System for providing a transducer having a split main pole
A method and system for providing a magnetic recording head is described. The magnetic recording head has an air-bearing surface (ABS) configured to reside in proximity to a media during use. The magnetic recording head includes a main pole, at least one auxiliary pole, a nonmagnetic spacer, and at least one coil. The main pole includes a first main pole piece and a second main pole piece. The first main pole piece includes a pole tip occupying a portion of the ABS and a back edge distal from the ABS. The second main pole piece has a front surface. The auxiliary pole(s) have a front recessed from the ABS and are magnetically coupled with the main pole. The nonmagnetic spacer is between the back edge of the first main pole piece and the front surface of the second main pole piece. The coil(s) are for energizing the main pole.
US09053714B2 Information recording medium including a first resonance enhancing film and recording layer, information device, and method for producing information recording medium
An information device is an information device that records information on or reproduces information from an information recording medium (3). The information device includes a light source (14) and a near-field light generating element (9) including a resonating section (22) configured such that plasmon resonance occurs between the resonating section (22) and a recording region (4). The resonating section (22) causes the plasmon resonance when emission light from the light source is irradiated on the near-field light generating element (9). A resonance enhancing film enhances the plasmon resonance between the resonating section (22) and the recording region (4). The resonating section (22) generates near-field light and irradiates the near-field light on the recording region (4) from a recording layer side.
US09053705B2 Flexible and scalable combined innovation codebook for use in CELP coder and decoder
In a CELP coder, a combined innovation codebook coding device comprises a pre-quantizer of a first, adaptive-codebook excitation residual, and a CELP innovation-codebook search module responsive to a second excitation residual produced from the first, adaptive-codebook excitation residual. In a CELP decoder, a combined innovation codebook comprises a de-quantizer of pre-quantized coding parameters into a first excitation contribution, and a CELP innovation-codebook structure responsive to CELP innovation-codebook parameters to produce a second excitation contribution.
US09053687B1 Drum restraint device
A bass drum is precluded from progressive movement from the hammer or bass drum beater impact by a strap connecting it to the drummer's seat. The strap is preferably connected to the foot pedal by a coupling plate that is seated there under or forms part of the foot pedal base.
US09053681B2 Real-time video frame pre-processing hardware
A dynamically reconfigurable heterogeneous systolic array is configured to process a first image frame, and to generate image processing primatives from the image frame, and to store the primatives and the corresponding image frame in a memory store. A characteristic of the image frame is determined. Based on the characteristic, the array is reconfigured to process a following image frame.
US09053673B2 Scalable intra-panel interface
A system and a method are disclosed for an intra-panel communication interface which, among other advantages, enhances system reliability and reduces bus width. A timing controller initializes communication with a plurality of source drivers by transmitting link data through a plurality of data channels and monitors source driver status through an auxiliary status channel. The plurality of source drivers share the auxiliary status channel to indicate their status. The timing controller transmits display data to a source driver through a data channel. The display data includes a request for status data from the source driver. The source driver transmits the requested status data to the timing controller via the auxiliary status channel.
US09053661B2 Display device and driving method thereof
A gate-off voltage generator provides a gate-off voltage to a gate line of a display panel. The gate-off voltage generator includes a transistor having a base terminal, a collector terminal, and an emitter terminal, the emitter terminal configured to output the gate-off voltage to the gate line. A controller is connected to the base terminal. A feedback circuit is connected between the gate line and the controller, the feedback circuit configured to provide to the controller a feedback voltage based upon the gate-off voltage outputted from the emitter terminal. The gate-off voltage from the emitter terminal is compared with a desired gate-off voltage in the controller and the voltage at the base terminal is controlled by the controller to provide the desired gate-off voltage to gate line.
US09053652B2 Display control device, display control method, and program
A display control device includes a cabinet, a detection unit configured to detect an orientation of the cabinet, a display screen, and a display control unit configured to control display of the display screen in accordance with the orientation of the cabinet detected by the detection unit.
US09053644B2 Arrangement of identification plates
The invention relates to an arrangement of multiple identification plates (10) for identifying objects. Each identification plate (10) has a flat material strip which has a front surface and a rear surface, which extends in a longitudinal direction between two ends, and which has at least one fixing tab (16), the tab being connected to the front surface and extending at a distance from the front surface in some sections. According to the invention, a base (40) is provided on which the identification plates (10) are removably fixed, the identification plate front surfaces and rear surfaces each lying on one plane, and the base (40) has a number of fixing openings (42), the number corresponding to the number of fixing tabs. One of the fixing tabs (16) protrudes through each of the fixing openings, and the fixing tabs (16) are removably fixed to the base (40).
US09053636B2 Management center module for advanced lane management assist for automated vehicles and conventionally driven vehicles
The automated lane management assist method, data structure and system receive unprocessed lane-specific limited-access highway information, including lane use and speed limits, from freeway transportation management centers or traffic management centers, process and convert the unprocessed information to a form that assists in the selection of driving lanes and target speeds for vehicles, and communicate the processed information to the vehicles by suitable means.
US09053631B2 Method for transmitting route data for traffic telematics
A method for providing traffic telematics information about the travel route of a vehicle traveling on a road system having multiple roads interconnected between road junctions includes: determining a probability of the vehicle approaching a road junction and assigning the probability to the respective road junction, and transmitting information regarding the road junctions for which the probability of being driven through is above a specified threshold.
US09053626B2 Programmable carbon monoxide safety device
A programmable toxic gas safety device for detecting a toxic gas, such as carbon monoxide, is provided. The programmable safety device is preferably used in an enclosed area for monitoring the levels of gas emitted by a device that can produce a toxic gas. The device contains a controller which is operably coupled to at least one transmitter and at least one sensor for sensing the level of the toxic gas in the enclosed area, and is operable to provide a signal to remotely operate the toxic gas producing device. The device further contains one or more receivers for learning a command signal which actuates a specific functionality to the toxic gas producing device.
US09053624B2 System and method for tracking in multi-story buildings
System and method to locate a person in a multi-level building, including: a portable transmitter coupled to the person, the portable transmitter configured to transmit a signal comprising an identification code; a plurality of receivers located in a multi-level building to receive the signal, substantially each receiver producing a received signal, wherein at least a first receiver is located on a first level and at least a second receiver is located on a second level, wherein the second level is different than the first level; a signal strength estimator coupled to at least one receiver, the signal strength estimator configured to produce a signal strength estimation of the received signal received by the at least one receiver; and a processor configured to receive the signal strength estimations, and from the signal strength estimations calculate a level of the multi-level building on which the person is located.
US09053623B2 Security tag for delicate articles
A security tag is configured to releasably attach to an article. The security tag includes a tack in which the tack includes a tack head and a pin shank extending from the tack head. The pin shank has a maximum diameter less than 0.9 millimeters. The security tag further includes a housing in which the housing includes an electronic article surveillance (EAS) element. The housing further includes a clutch that is configured to releasably retain the pin shank after insertion into the housing. The clutch retaining the pin shank if up to an eighty pound pull force is applied to the tack.
US09053620B2 Scattered-light fire detector with a device for suppressing an acoustic warning in the event of a low battery voltage
A fire detector has a detection unit working on the optical scattered-light principle, as well as an electronic evaluation unit. An acoustic and/or optical warning device outputs an acoustic and/or optical alarm when a fire is detected. The fire detector has an energy storage device, in particular a battery, for the autarkic supply of electrical power to the fire detector as well as a voltage measuring unit for measuring a battery voltage present at the energy storage device. A warning device outputs an acoustic warning if the battery voltage falls below a first voltage threshold. The fire detector also has a sensor sensitive to ambient light and a device for suppressing the output of the acoustic warning if the ambient light falls below a predefinable brightness threshold. The detection unit is an open scattered-light detection unit with a detection space outside the fire detector and the sensor sensitive to ambient light is at the same time an optical receiver of the scattered-light detection unit.
US09053617B2 Systems including electromechanical polymer sensors and actuators
A localized multimodal haptic system includes one or more electromechanical polymer (EMP) transducers, each including an EMP layer, such as an electrostrictive polymer active layer. In some applications the EMP transducer may perform an actuator function or a sensor function, or both. The EMP polymer layer has a first surface and a second surface on which one or more electrodes are provided. The EMP layer of the EMP actuator may be 5 microns thick or less. The EMP transducers may provide local haptic response to a local a stimulus. In one application, a touch sensor may be associated with each EMP transducer, such that the haptic event at the touch sensor may be responded to by activating only the associated EMP transducer. Furthermore, the EMP transducer may act as its own touch sensor. A variety of haptic responses may be made available. The EMP transducers may be used in various other applications, such as providing complex surface morphology and audio speakers.
US09053608B2 Methods and apparatus for parimutual historical gaming
A system for parimutuel wagering on actual past events includes, in one embodiment, a video server including a database having video images of gaming events stored therein, a game server including a computer system configured to facilitate pari-mutuel wagering on actual past events and to permit a player to select a percentage weight for each of a plurality of handicapping factors, and a plurality of terminals. The video server and plurality of terminals are communicatably coupled to the game server.
US09053601B2 Progressive gaming device and method of use
A gaming apparatus includes a gaming device that is adapted to accept a wager and allow a player to play a game. A controller is in communication with the gaming device. The controller maintains a progressive jackpot and randomly determines a contribution amount from the wager placed on each game cycle by each participating player. The contribution amount is collected from the wager and added to the progressive jackpot. A gaming method using the gaming apparatus is also disclosed.
US09053594B2 Monitoring objects in motion along a static route using sensory detection devices
A system for monitoring a plurality of objects in motion (OIMs) along a static route using a plurality of sensory detection devices, the static route having a plurality of route portions, each route portion having an entering boundary and an exiting boundary, at least one OIM being a designated OIM and having a tag indicating the location of the designated OIM along the route, the system comprising a plurality of sensory detection devices corresponding to the plurality of route portions for monitoring activity in each of the plurality of route portions and for providing monitor output representing activity within each of the plurality of route portions, a plurality of data stores corresponding to each of the plurality of route portions for receiving and storing the monitor output for each of the plurality of route portions, and a plurality of location detectors communicative with the tag of the designated OIM for identifying the location of the designated OIM, each location detector providing output when the designated OIM is located within a route portion.
US09053576B2 Identifying reroutable data columns in an ETL process
Reroutable data columns are identified in an ETL process by receiving an ETL process definition describing a set of processing stages and how each processing stage output data column is a result of a function that operates on a set of input data columns, representing the ETL process definition as a directed graph with nodes representing processing stages and links representing data flow between processing stages, traversing at least part of the directed graph and identifying a set of subsequent nodes of the directed graph where at least one data column is involved only as input data in identity functions, the at least one data column being reroutable between outmost nodes of the set of subsequent nodes, and in connection with traversing the at least part of the directed graph, maintaining information about reroutable data columns and the respective outmost nodes.
US09053572B2 Densifying and colorizing point cloud representation of physical surface using image data
Image data obtained from an image sampling of a physical surface is integrated with position data obtained from a three-dimensional surface sampling of the same physical surface by combining data from the images with the measured surface points from the surface sampling to create additional “implied” surface points between the measured surface points. Thus, the originally obtained point cloud of measured surface points is densified by adding the implied surface points. Moreover, the image data can be used to apply colors to both the implied data points and the measured data points, resulting in a colored three-dimensional representation of the physical surface that is of higher resolution than a representation obtained from only the measured surface points.
US09053565B2 Interactive selection of a region of interest in an image
A system for selecting a region of interest in an image is provided. A user interface (1) is applied for receiving user input indicative of a region of interest (504) in an image (502). A slab selector (2) is provided for selecting a position and a thickness of a slab (503) of the image (502), based on a position and a size of the region of interest (504), the slab (503) comprising at least part of the region of interest (504). A visualization subsystem (3) is provided for visualizing the slab (503). The slab selector (2) is arranged for selecting the position and thickness of the slab (503) such that the slab (503) comprises the region of interest (504) and a thickness of the slab (503) corresponds to a size of the region of interest (504) in a thickness direction of the slab (503). The image comprises a dynamic image. The projection image (505) is obtained by processing voxel values of the dynamic image both along a ray and temporally.
US09053558B2 Method and system for fusing multiple images
A method and system is provided for combining information from a plurality of source images to form a fused image. The fused image is generated by the combination of the source images based on both local features and global features computed from the source images. Local features are computed for local regions in each source image. For each source image, the computed local features are further processed to form a local weight matrix. Global features are computed for the source images. For each source image, the computed global features are further processed to form a global weight vector. For each source image, its corresponding local weight matrix and its corresponding global weight vector are combined to form a final weight matrix. The source images are then weighted by the final weight matrices to generate the fused image.
US09053542B2 Image resampling by frequency unwrapping
A method determines at least one image value of a corresponding desired output position of an output image from an input image. An orientation of an edge passing through the output position is determined in a localised region of the input image. A frequency spectrum for the region of the input image is extended. A main frequency band of the edge is aligned in the extended frequency spectrum parallel to a first sampling axis of a grid based on the orientation of the edge. The grid is selected from a set of the input and output grids. The aligned main frequency band is filtered along a second sampling axis of the grid, orthogonal to the first sampling axis, the filter removing frequencies associated with replica bands and maintaining the main frequency band. The image value is determined from the filtered edge at the desired output position.
US09053540B2 Stereo matching by census transform and support weight cost aggregation
An image matching apparatus includes a bilateral filter that filters a left image and a right image to output a second left image and a second right image; a census cost calculation unit performing census transform on a window based on a first pixel of the second left image and a window based on a second pixel of the second right image to calculate a census cost corresponding to a pair of pixels of the first and second pixels; a support weight calculation unit obtaining support weights of the left and right images or the second left and second right images; a cost aggregation unit obtaining energy values of nodes corresponding to the pair of pixels of the first and second pixels using the census cost and the support weights; and a dynamic programming unit performing image matching using dynamic programming by the energy values of each node obtained.
US09053531B2 Multi layered image enhancement technique
A system for enhancing an input image including receiving an input image and filtering the input image with a plurality of non-linear smoothing filters providing a respective plurality of filtered outputs. The system processes a plurality of the filtered outputs with respect to at least one of another of the filtered outputs and the input image to determine a plurality of detail layers. The system filters the plurality of detail layers with a plurality of non-linear smoothing filters providing a respective plurality of smoothed layers. The system adjusts the plurality of smoothed layers in such a manner that regions closer to an edge are enhanced to a lesser extent than regions farther from an edge and combining the adjusted the smoothed layers to provide an enhanced output image.
US09053530B2 Method for sliced inpainting
A method for replacing image data in a destination region that is divided into sub-pieces along one or more cutting paths, which start and end at two different points on the border, and finding replacement data for the sub-pieces. The cutting paths may be determined as a function of the type of image structured at the start and the end points. The cutting paths may also be determined as a function of the area of the sub-pieces and the lengths of the cutting paths. Optionally, the destination region may be determined by a spot detection algorithm. Further optionally, the spot detection algorithm may comprise calculation of a high pass filter, or detection of areas of luminosity and border-to-volume ratios. A method for moving an image element within an image is also provided.
US09053525B2 Entropy coding method using an index mapping table, and image-encoding/decoding apparatus and method using said entropy coding method
Disclosed is an entropy coding method using an index mapping table, and an apparatus using the method. An imagedecoding method comprises: a step of mapping an inputted codeword to a code number with reference to an inverse codeword mapping table, and calculating the mapped code number in a table index; and a step of updating the inverse mapping table based on the accumulated number of occurrences of the code number, the number of sequential occurrences of the code number, neighbor block encoding/decoding information, and/or threshold value information for updating the inverse index mapping table. According to the present invention, an index mapping table is realigned based on a certain condition, thereby improving encoding/decoding efficiency.
US09053524B2 Eye beautification under inaccurate localization
Sub-regions within one or more face images are identified within a digital image, and enhanced by applying an artificial glint symmetrically and/or synchronously to image data corresponding to sub-regions of eyes within the face image. An enhanced face image is generated including an enhanced version of the face that includes certain original pixels in combination with pixels corresponding to the one or more eye regions of the face with the artificial glint.
US09053504B2 Method and system to automatically qualify a party to participate within a network-based commerce transaction
A system to facilitate computer-based commerce includes receiving information relating to an item to be transacted via a computer-based commerce system from a first party. Criterion information specifying at least one criterion to be satisfied by a second party in order for the second party to be qualified to transact for the item via the computer-based commerce system is received from the first party. An automatic determination is made as to whether the second party satisfies the at least one criterion and if so, then the second party is automatically qualified to transact for the item via the computer-based commerce system.
US09053503B2 Fueling environment wireless architecture
A method and system for transmitting data between devices within a fueling environment comprising a wireless mesh network wherein the devices are configured to communicate via the wireless mesh network. A wireless communication device is connected to each device, and a middleware executed by the wireless communication device handles communications between the devices and the wireless mesh network.
US09053499B1 Follow-up determination
The transmission of a review request to a potential author of a review on a review site is facilitated. A determination is made that the potential reviewer has not, subsequent to the transmission, authored a review on the review site. A follow-up action to take with the potential reviewer regarding the review request is determined.
US09053496B2 System, method and computer program product for extracting user profiles and habits based on speech recognition and calling history for telephone system advertising
A system, method and computer program product for providing targeted messages to a person using telephony services by generating user profile information from telephony data and using the user profile information to retrieve targeted messages.
US09053495B1 Geographical targeting for content management of campaigns
Configurations for geographical targeting for managing content of campaigns are disclosed. In one example, the subject technology provides a user interface including controls for enabling selection of targeting criteria by a content sponsor. The user interface includes a campaign tool for receiving input on campaign details to be executed by a content delivery system. The campaign tool includes a search control for receiving search strings and responsive thereto providing search completions that represent one or more geographic areas and reach information for each geographic area. The campaign tool also includes a control for adding a geographic area to a campaign, excluding the geographic area from the campaign, or presenting a map of the geographic area.
US09053493B2 Affecting display of content based on negative reactions
Techniques for affecting display of content may include receiving a request for content to supplement a response to an input initiated by a first user; outputting first content in response to the request, where the first content includes a control feature that is displayable along with the first content, and where the control feature enables the first user to register a negative reaction to the first content; obtaining information relating to the first content based on the negative reaction; identifying second content having one or more characteristics in common with the first content; identifying one or more second users having one or more characteristics in common with the first user; and using the information relating to the first content in determining whether to provide the second content to the one or more second users.
US09053492B1 Calculating flight plans for reservation-based ad serving
The disclosure provides various embodiments of systems, methods, and software for supporting server-side product catalogs. Software for managing ad serving may comprise computer readable instructions embodied on media and be operable to identify a logically local directed graph representing a logically remote network property associated with a publisher. The network property is associated with at least one product catalog representing a package of network ad slots. The software may then generate an ad service flight plan for serving various ones of a plurality of ads associated with a first of the network ad slots using an iterative solution on the directed graph.
US09053489B2 Facilitating presentation of ads relating to words of a message
Targeted delivery of contextually relevant ad impressions to a mobile device is provided. The ad impressions are delivered within text messages and/or instant message chat threads. Monetizing of text messaging and instant messaging by providers of such services is achieved, while providing unobtrusive and contextually relevant information to users of such services.
US09053487B2 Methods, systems, and products for notifying of enhancements to quality of service and experience
Methods, systems, and products notify users when changes in a communication network improve quality of service. When a service provider changes a configuration parameter in the communications network, a change to the configuration parameter is compared to a rule. When the change to the configuration parameter results in a perceivable improvement in quality of service, a notification is sent to a user's device. The notification informs the user's device of the improvement in quality of service caused by the change to the configuration parameter.