Document Document Title
US09077075B1 Asymmetric planar radiator structure for use in a monopole or dipole antenna
The present invention is directed to a monopole/dipole asymmetric radiator structure that includes an asymmetric planar radiator. When the asymmetric is part of an operative monopole or dipole antenna, the antenna exhibits a wide or broad bandwidth, a VSWR of less than about 3:1, a relatively constant gain perpendicular or broad-side to the plane of the radiator, and is vertically polarized. In one embodiment, asymmetric planar radiator has an outer edge that is bilaterally asymmetrical. In another embodiment, the outer edge of the asymmetric planar radiator is symmetric and a closed inner edge of the radiator that defines a void is bilaterally asymmetric.
US09077074B2 Antenna wrapped around to speaker lid
An antenna includes a first portion and a second portion soldered together. The first portion includes conductive traces applied to a first device part. The conductive traces may wrap from one side of the first device part to another side. A second device part is attached to the first device part to enclose a speaker. The second portion of the antenna comprises FPC attached to the second device part. A section of the FPC portion of the antenna extends beyond an edge of the second part and folds over onto solder applied to a section of first portion of the antenna on the first device part. The solder may be melted to attach the first portion of the antenna on the first device part to the second portion of the antenna on the second device part.
US09077060B2 Microelectromechanical system (MEMS) resonant switches and applications for power converters and amplifiers
A modally driven oscillating element periodically contacts one of more electrical contacts, thereby acting as a switch, otherwise known as a resonant switch, or “resoswitch”, with very high Q's, typically above 10000 in air, and higher in vacuum. Due to periodic constrained contacting of the contacts, the bandwidth of the switch is greatly improved. One or more oscillating elements may be vibrationally interconnected with conductive or nonconductive coupling elements, whereby increased bandwidths of such an overall switching system may be achieved. Using the resoswitch, power amplifiers and converters more closely approaching ideal may be implemented. Integrated circuit fabrication techniques may construct the resoswitch with other integrated CMOS elements for highly compact switching devices. Through introduction of specific geometries within the oscillating elements, displacement gains may be made where modal deflections are greatly increased, thereby reducing device drive voltages to 2.5 V or lower.
US09077047B2 Secondary battery and method of manufacturing the same
A secondary battery according to an embodiment includes a container having a pouring hole through which an electrolyte is poured, and housing the electrolyte, poured through the pouring hole, together with an electrode body; and a sealing lid fixed to the container and closing the pouring hole. The container has a plurality of grooves extending in parallel along the outer edge of the pouring hole, in a predetermined region that surrounds the periphery of the pouring hole, and the sealing lid is provided on the plurality of grooves in such a manner as to close the pouring hole and is fixed to the container.
US09077041B2 Electrode structure for electrochemical cell
The present invention relates to the use of porous structures comprising electrode active materials, which can be used as electrodes in electrochemical cells. In certain embodiments, the electrodes described herein can comprise a first porous support structure (e.g., a plurality of particles, which can be porous in certain cases) in which electrode active material is at least partially contained. The first porous support structure can be, in some embodiments, at least partially contained within the pores of a second porous support structure (e.g., an agglomeration of elongated fibers, a porous web formed by sintered particles, etc.) containing pores that are larger than the components of the first porous support structure.
US09077040B2 Collector having multiple resin layers for bipolar lithium ion secondary battery
To provide a method that is capable of suppressing absorption of lithium ions into the inner portion of a resin collector that is used in a bipolar lithium ion secondary battery. The collector for a bipolar lithium ion secondary battery of the invention has at least two conductive layers. One of the conductive layers that constitute the collector (a first conductive layer) is configured by adding a conductive filler into a base material that contains an imide group-containing resin. The other of the conductive layers that constitute the collector (a second conductive layer) is configured by adding a conductive filler into a base material that contains a polar resin containing no imide group. The collector for a bipolar lithium ion secondary battery is further characterized in that when a bipolar electrode is formed, the first conductive layer is arranged on the positive electrode side.
US09077028B2 Gas diffusion layer for fuel cell, manufacturing method thereof, membrane electrode assembly, and fuel cell
Provided is a gas diffusion layer for a fuel cell, wherein a reactive gas passage groove for distributing a reactive gas is formed in one principal surface of the gas diffusion layer, and a reinforcing member is provided along the reactive gas passage grooves. Thus, the deformation of the gas diffusion layer due to a fastening pressure can be suppressed to improve the power generation performance.
US09077025B2 Method for production of porous film, porous film, separator for non-aqueous electrolyte battery, and non-aqueous electrolyte battery using the separator
The method for producing a porous film of the present invention includes producing a stretched film by stretching a resin sheet containing at least polyolefin, and then irradiating the stretched film with a vacuum ultraviolet ray. The separator for a non-aqueous electrolyte battery of the present invention is composed of the porous film obtained by the production method of the present invention. The non-aqueous electrolyte battery of the present invention is provided with the separator for a non-aqueous electrolyte battery of the present invention.
US09077023B2 Cathode active material having manganese oxide and boron, cathode and lithium battery including cathode active material, and method of preparing the cathode active material
A cathode active material including: a lithium manganese oxide of which primary particles has a diameter of 1 μm or more and which has a spinel structure in which an X-ray diffraction (XRD) peak intensity ratio of I(111)/I(311) is 1.0 or more; and a boron element disposed at least one position selected from the group consisting of inside the primary particles and on surfaces of the primary particles.
US09077020B2 Battery module
A battery module including a plurality of sub battery modules stacked together, each sub battery module comprising a plurality of battery cells, each of the battery cells having terminals and a vent portion on a first side of the sub battery modules; a pair of end plates, one of the ends plates located at each end of the battery module; a top plate on the first side of the sub battery modules; and a controller configured to control the battery cells for each of the sub battery modules, wherein each of the sub battery modules has an individual degassing region controlled by the controller.
US09077019B2 Electricity storage device and vehicle
An electricity storage device includes a first battery stack (15), a second battery stack (11 to 14), and a case (22) that accommodates the first battery stack and the second battery stack. Each of the first battery stack and the second battery stack includes a plurality of cells (151) that are aligned and the second battery stack is placed under the first battery stack. The supporting member (80) that supports the first battery stack is placed between the first battery stack and the second battery stack and is fixed to the case.
US09077012B2 Membrane electrode assembly and biofuel cell using the same
A membrane electrode assembly includes a proton exchange membrane, an anode and a cathode. The proton exchange membrane has two opposite surfaces, a first surface and a second surface. The anode is located adjacent to the first surface of the proton exchange membrane, and the cathode is located adjacent to the second surface of the proton exchange membrane. The anode includes a diffusion layer and a catalyst layers. The diffusion layer includes a carbon nanotube structure. A biofuel cell using the membrane electrode assembly is also provided.
US09077011B2 Redox flow batteries based on supporting solutions containing chloride
Redox flow battery systems having a supporting solution that contains Cl− ions can exhibit improved performance and characteristics. Furthermore, a supporting solution having mixed SO42− and Cl− ions can provide increased energy density and improved stability and solubility of one or more of the ionic species in the catholyte and/or anolyte. According to one example, a vanadium-based redox flow battery system is characterized by an anolyte having V2+ and V3+ in a supporting solution and a catholyte having V4+ and V5+ in a supporting solution. The supporting solution can contain Cl− ions or a mixture of SO42− and Cl− ions.
US09077004B2 Extended valve orifice for fuel cell
An improved fuel cell system comprising a component designed to minimize or otherwise prevent the collection of water (and thus formation of ice at low temperatures) at valves or other anode exhaust flowpath control points. Thus, such system is configured to be operable under at least freeze start conditions. Also provided, in various embodiments, are methods of controlling ice blockage in a fuel cell system by, among other things, providing such a component.
US09076998B2 Fuel-cell membrane-subgasket assemblies comprising coated subgaskets, and fuel-cell assemblies and fuel-cell stacks comprising the fuel-cell membrane subgasket assemblies
Fuel-cell membrane-subgasket assemblies may include an electrolyte membrane and a coated subgasket overlying the electrolyte membrane around a perimeter of the electrolyte membrane so as to define an active area inside the perimeter. The coated subgasket may comprise a subgasket body formed from a subgasket material. At least one side of the coated subgasket includes a subgasket coating layer containing or formed from a coating material such as metals, ceramics, polymers, polymer composites, or other hard coatings. Fuel-cell assemblies may include gas diffusion media, a bipolar plate, and a fuel-cell membrane-subgasket assembly having a coated subgasket. Fuel-cell stacks may include clamping plates, unipolar endplates, and a plurality of individual fuel-cell assemblies, at least one of which includes a fuel-cell membrane-subgasket assembly having a coated subgasket.
US09076996B2 Liquid metal alloy energy storage device
An electrochemical battery that exchanges energy with an external device. The battery includes a container containing a positive electrode, a negative electrode and an intervening electrolyte, the electrodes and electrolyte existing as liquid material layers in the container at the operating temperature of the battery so that adjacent layers form respective electrode-electrolyte interfaces. Positive and negative current collectors are in electrical contact with the positive and negative electrodes, respectively, both collectors being adapted for connection to the external device to create a circuit through which current flows. A circulation producer in the battery causes circulation within at least one of the layers to increase the flux of material in one layer to an interface with an adjacent layer, thereby giving the battery a greater current/power capability.
US09076995B2 Secondary battery
A secondary battery according to the present exemplary embodiment is a secondary battery including a laminated electrode body provided with at least one pair of positive and negative electrodes and an outer enclosure that accommodates the laminated electrode body, wherein the outer enclosure includes one or more concave portions, inside a border corresponding to an outer edge of an electrode surface of an outermost layer of the laminated electrode body, on a surface facing the electrode surface, and wherein, when a band-shaped outer circumferential region having an area that is a half of an area inside the border is set inside the border, at least one of the concave portions is located inside the outer circumferential region.
US09076993B2 Organic light emitting display device and method for manufacturing the same
Provided are an organic light emitting display device and a method for manufacturing the same. The organic light emitting display device comprises at least a first pixel area and a second pixel area. A partition is disposed between the first pixel area and the second pixel area. An auxiliary electrode is disposed between the first pixel area and the second pixel area and over the partition. Additionally, a first conductive element is disposed over the first pixel area, the second pixel area, and the auxiliary electrode and the first conductive element is electrically connected to the auxiliary electrode.
US09076992B2 Method for preventing short circuit between metal wires in organic light emitting diode display device
Disclosed is a method for preventing a short circuit between metal wires in an organic light emitting diode display device. The method includes: forming an inorganic layer on a substrate; forming a metal layer including two metal wires on the inorganic layer; forming an organic layer on the two metal wires; forming an indium tin oxide layer on the organic layer; coating a photoresist layer; performing an exposure step by utilizing a photo mask having a transparent area, an opaque material disposed in the transparent area, wherein a width of the opaque material is less than a width of the transparent area; performing a development step to the photoresist layer; and performing an etching step to remove a part of the indium tin oxide layer and a part of the organic layer. The present invention can prevent the short circuit between the metal wires.
US09076990B2 Method of manufacturing organic el device, organic el device and electronic apparatus
A method of manufacturing an organic EL device according to the present application example includes forming a sealing layer by covering multiple organic EL elements and a connection terminal, forming a color filter as an organic layer that covers the sealing layer, patterning the color filter in such a manner that an opening extending up to the sealing layer is formed in a portion of the color filter, which overlaps the connection terminal, and etching the sealing layer in such a manner as to expose at least one part of the connection terminal with the pattern-formed color filter serving as a mask.
US09076983B2 Organic light-emitting display device and method of manufacturing the same
An organic light-emitting display device and a method of manufacturing the organic light-emitting display device are provided. The organic light-emitting display device includes: a substrate including first and second areas; a pixel electrode formed in the first area of the substrate; an auxiliary electrode formed in the second area of the substrate; an intermediate layer including an organic emission layer and formed on the pixel electrode and the auxiliary electrode; a first common electrode formed on the intermediate layer; and a second common electrode formed on the first common electrode, where the second common electrode and the auxiliary electrode contact each other through a contact hole which penetrates the first common electrode and the intermediate layer formed on the auxiliary electrode.
US09076977B2 Substrate to which film is formed and organic EL display device
On the TFT substrate (10), a vapor deposition layer is formed by use of a vapor deposition device (50) which includes (i) a vapor deposition source (85) having injection holes (86) and (ii) a vapor deposition mask (81) having openings (82) through which vapor deposition particles injected from the injection holes (86) are deposited so as to form the vapor deposition layer. The TFT substrate (10) has a plurality of pixels two-dimensionally arranged in a pixel region (AG), and terminals of a plurality of wires (14), which are electrically connected with the plurality of pixels, are gathered outside a vapor deposition layer formation region.
US09076970B2 Foil shaped electro-optical product, semi-finished product and method and apparatus for manufacturing the same
A curved foil-shaped electro-optical product (1) is provided having at least a first region with a basis substrate layer (10) of a shrunken organic substance, having a convex side and a concave side and comprising at the convex side (12) of the basis substrate layer at least a further layer (20), the electro-optical product further comprising at least a second region with an electro-optical structure (20).
US09076959B2 Manufacturing method of nonvolatile memory device and nonvolatile memory device
A method of manufacturing a non-volatile memory device comprises: forming a first electrode layer; a variable resistance material layer, a second electrode layer; and a hard mask layer, forming a first resist mask extending in a first direction on the hard mask layer; forming a first hard mask extending in the first direction by etching the hard mask layer using the first resist mask; forming a second resist mask extending in a second direction, on the first hard mask such that the width of the second resist mask is greater than the width of the first resist mask; forming a second hard mask by etching the first hard mask using the second resist mask; and forming a variable resistance element by patterning, by etching the second electrode layer, the variable resistance material layer and the first electrode layer using the second hard mask.
US09076958B2 Resistive memory device and method of manufacturing the same
A resistive memory device includes word lines stacked on top of one another, at least one first selection line formed over the word lines, a first channel layer passing through the word lines and the first selection line, a first phase change material layer formed in the first channel layer and overlapping the word lines, and a first insulating layer formed in the first channel layer and overlapping the first selection line.
US09076956B2 Saw array sensor
A surface acoustic wave (SAW) array sensor having an input interdigital transducer (IDT); first and second output IDTs that are disposed at both sides of the input IDT, respectively; a first delay line between the input IDT and the first output IDT; and a second delay line between the input IDT and the second output IDT, wherein the first and second delay lines have different lengths; and related devices.
US09076946B2 Light-emitting element
A light-emitting element comprises: a light-emitting semiconductor stack comprising a first semiconductor layer; a second semiconductor layer on the first semiconductor layer; and a light-emitting layer between the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer; a first electrode on the first semiconductor layer; a first protection layer on the light-emitting semiconductor stack and comprising a first through hole; and a conductive contact layer on the first protection layer and electrically connected to the first electrode through the first through hole.
US09076945B2 Nanowire LED structure and method for manufacturing the same
A method for ablating a first area of a light emitting diode (LED) device which includes an array of nanowires on a support with a laser is provided. The laser ablation exposes a conductive layer of the support that is electrically connected to a first conductivity type semiconductor nanowire core in the nanowires, to form a first electrode for the LED device. In embodiments, the nanowires are aligned at least 20 degrees from the plane of the support. A light emitting diode (LED) structure includes a first electrode for contacting a first conductivity type nanowire core, and a second electrode for contacting a second conductivity type shell enclosing the nanowire core, where the first electrode and/or at least a portion of the second electrode are flat.
US09076941B2 Method of producing at least one optoelectronic semiconductor chip
A method of producing at least one optoelectronic semiconductor chip includes providing at least one optoelectronic structure, including a growth support and a semiconductor layer sequence with an active region, the semiconductor layer sequence being deposited epitaxially on the growth support, providing a carrier, applying the at least one optoelectronic structure onto the carrier with its side remote from the growth support, coating the at least one optoelectronic structure with a protective material, the protective material covering the outer face, remote from the carrier, of the growth support and side faces of the growth support and of the semiconductor layer sequence, and detaching the growth support from the semiconductor layer sequence of the at least one optoelectronic structure.
US09076939B2 Reflective pockets in LED mounting
An LED device with improved LED efficiency is presented. An LED die is positioned within a pocket formed by a substrate and an opening in a supporting layer arranged thereon. The increase in the LED efficiency is achieved by providing a device where at least a portion of the pocket surface is reflective. This portion of the pocket surface is reflective because it is covered by either a reflective layer of foil or film, or a reflective coating, or it is polished.
US09076938B2 Semiconductor light-emitting device
A semiconductor light-emitting device includes a substrate, an LED chip mounted on the substrate, and a resin package covering the LED chip. The substrate includes a base and a wiring pattern formed on the base. The resin package includes a lens. The base includes an upper surface, a lower surface and a side surface extending between the upper surface and the lower surface. The LED chip is mounted on the upper surface of the base. The side surface of the base is oriented in a lateral direction. The wiring pattern includes a pair of first mount portions and a pair of second mount portions. The paired first mount portions are formed on the lower surface of the base. The paired second mount portions are oriented in the lateral direction and offset from the side surface of the base in the lateral direction.
US09076927B2 (In,Ga,Al)N optoelectronic devices grown on relaxed (In,Ga,Al)N-on-GaN base layers
A method of fabricating a heterostructure device, including (a) obtaining a first layer or substrate; (b) growing a second layer on the first layer or substrate; and (c) forming the second layer that is at least partially relaxed wherein (1) the first layer and the second layer have the same lattice structure but different lattice constants, (2) the first layer and the second layer form a heterojunction, and (3) the heterojunction forms an active area of a device or serves as a pseudo-substrate for the device.
US09076922B2 Method for fitting contact wires to a surface of a photovoltaic cell, photovoltaic cell, photovoltaic module, arrangement for fitting contact wires to a surface of a photovoltaic cell
In various embodiments, a method for fitting contact wires to a surface of a photovoltaic cell is provided. The method may include: feeding the contact wires to a contact wire positioning and placement device, wherein the contact wire positioning and placement device comprises a plurality of nozzles or eyes, wherein at least one contact wire is in each case passed through a respective nozzle or eye, for positioning and placement thereof onto the surface of the photovoltaic cell; positioning and placing the contact wires on the surface of the photovoltaic cell by means of the contact wire positioning and placement device; and attaching the contact wires to the surface of the photovoltaic cell.
US09076921B2 Dark current reduction for large area photodiodes
A method of fabricating a large area photodiode is provided. The method includes providing a substrate having a first contact layer formed thereon. Also, the method includes forming a dielectric layer on the first contact layer and patterning selective areas of the dielectric layer to form a plurality of dielectric windows. Each of the dielectric windows has an open region exposing the first contact layer. Furthermore, the method includes epitaxially growing photodiode material(s) in the dielectric windows, wherein each of the dielectric windows are individualized photodiode structures.
US09076915B2 Boron, bismuth co-doping of gallium arsenide and other compounds for photonic and heterojunction bipolar transistor devices
Isoelectronic co-doping of semiconductor compounds and alloys with acceptors and deep donors is sued to decrease bandgap, to increase concentration of the dopant constituents in the resulting alloys, and to increase carrier mobilities lifetimes. For example, Group III-V compounds and alloys, such as GaAs and GaP, are isoelectronically co-doped with, for example, B and Bi, to customize solar cells, and other semiconductor devices. Isoelectronically co-doped Group II-VI compounds and alloys are also included.
US09076909B2 Photoelectric conversion device and method for manufacturing the same
A photoelectric conversion device having a new anti-reflection structure is provided. The photoelectric conversion device includes a first-conductivity-type crystalline semiconductor region, an intrinsic crystalline semiconductor region, an intrinsic semiconductor region, and a second-conductivity-type semiconductor region that are stacked over a first electrode. An interface between the first electrode and the first-conductivity-type crystalline semiconductor region is flat. The intrinsic crystalline semiconductor region includes a crystalline semiconductor region, and a plurality of whiskers that are provided over the crystalline semiconductor region and include a crystalline semiconductor. In other words, the intrinsic crystalline semiconductor region includes the plurality of whiskers; thus, a surface of the second electrode is uneven. Further, a concentration gradient of an impurity element imparting the first conductivity type is formed from the first-conductivity-type crystalline semiconductor region toward the intrinsic crystalline semiconductor region.
US09076903B2 Forming high-efficiency silicon solar cells using density-graded anti-reflection surfaces
A method (50) is provided for processing a graded-density AR silicon surface (14) to provide effective surface passivation. The method (50) includes positioning a substrate or wafer (12) with a silicon surface (14) in a reaction or processing chamber (42). The silicon surface (14) has been processed (52) to be an AR surface with a density gradient or region of black silicon. The method (50) continues with heating (54) the chamber (42) to a high temperature for both doping and surface passivation. The method (50) includes forming (58), with a dopant-containing precursor in contact with the silicon surface (14) of the substrate (12), an emitter junction (16) proximate to the silicon surface (14) by doping the substrate (12). The method (50) further includes, while the chamber is maintained at the high or raised temperature, forming (62) a passivation layer (19) on the graded-density silicon anti-reflection surface (14).
US09076897B2 Optoelectronic semiconductor device and method for producing an optoelectronic semiconductor device
An optoelectronic semiconductor device includes an optoelectronic semiconductor layer sequence on a metal carrier element, which includes as a first component silver and as a second component a material having a lower coefficient of thermal expansion than silver, wherein the first and second components are intermixed in the metal carrier element.
US09076895B2 Stereoscopic image display substrate
A stereoscopic image display substrate includes a base substrate, a data line, a plurality of gate line parts and a pixel electrode part. The data line is disposed on the base substrate. The data line extends in a first direction. The gate line parts are disposed on the base substrate. Each gate line part includes a plurality of gate lines extending in a second direction different from the first direction. The gate lines are adjacent to each other. The pixel electrode part is disposed between the gate line parts. The pixel electrode part includes at least three pixel electrodes connected to the data line.
US09076893B2 Task-lit cabinet
Methods, apparatuses, and products passively generate electrical energy from waste heat. Electronic components in cabinets generate waste heat that is used to illuminate an interior of a cabinet. A thermovoltaic semiconductor detects a temperature differential between a pair of terminals installed in the cabinet. The thermovoltaic semiconductor generates a low voltage output in response to the temperature differential. A power supply receives the low voltage output and produces a higher voltage for low-wattage light sources installed in the cabinet.
US09076889B2 Replacement gate semiconductor device
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device including providing a semiconductor substrate having a first opening and second opening. A dielectric layer is formed on the substrate. An etch stop layer on the dielectric layer in the first opening. Thereafter, a work function layer is formed on the etch stop layer and fill metal is provided on the work function layer to fill the first opening.
US09076888B2 Silicided recessed silicon
Methods and structures are provided for full silicidation of recessed silicon. Silicon is provided within a trench. A mixture of metals is provided over the silicon in which one of the metals diffuses more readily in silicon than silicon does in the metal, and another of the metals diffuses less readily in silicon than silicon does in the metal. An exemplary mixture includes 80% nickel and 20% cobalt. The silicon within the trench is allowed to fully silicide without void formation, despite a relatively high aspect ratio for the trench. Among other devices, recessed access devices (RADs) can be formed by the method for memory arrays.
US09076884B2 Compliant printed circuit semiconductor package
A method of making a package for a semiconductor device having electrical terminals. At least one semiconductor device is located on a substrate. A first dielectric layer is printed on at least a portion of the semiconductor device to include first recesses aligned with a plurality of the electrical terminals. A conductive material is deposited in the first recesses forming contact members. A second dielectric layer is printed on at least a portion of the first dielectric layer to include second recesses aligned with a plurality of the first recesses. A conductive material is deposited in at least a portion of the second recesses to include a circuit geometry and a plurality of exposed terminals. A compliant material is deposited in recesses in one or more of the first and second dielectric layers adjacent to a plurality of the exposed terminals.
US09076874B2 Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
An object is to provide a structure of a transistor which has a channel formation region formed using an oxide semiconductor and a positive threshold voltage value, which enables a so-called normally-on switching element. The transistor includes an oxide semiconductor stack in which at least a first oxide semiconductor layer and a second oxide semiconductor layer with different energy gaps are stacked and a region containing oxygen in excess of its stoichiometric composition ratio is provided.
US09076866B2 Semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate including a plurality of pillars, a gate electrode formed to surround a lower portion of the pillar and having a top surface lower than a top surface of the pillar, a salicide layer formed to cover the top surface of the pillar and surround an upper portion of the pillar, and an electrode formed to cover a top surface and a lateral surface of the salicide layer.
US09076865B2 Non-volatile memory device, method of operating the same and method of fabricating the same
A non-volatile memory device includes a semiconductor substrate having active regions formed of a p-type semiconductor, first and second vertical strings disposed on the active regions, channels extending vertical to the semiconductor substrate, and a plurality of memory cells stacked along the channels, wherein the active regions are directly connected to the channels of the first and second vertical strings.
US09076849B2 Semiconductor devices and methods of fabricating the same
Semiconductor devices, and methods of fabricating a semiconductor device, include forming a via hole through a first surface of a substrate, the via hole being spaced apart from a second surface facing the first surface, forming a first conductive pattern in the via hole, forming an insulating pad layer on the first surface of the substrate, the insulating pad having an opening exposing the first conductive pattern, performing a thermal treatment on the first conductive pattern to form a protrusion protruding from a top surface of the first conductive pattern toward the opening, and then, forming a second conductive pattern in the opening.
US09076834B2 Spacer for thermal plate in semiconductor processing
A spacer for a thermal plate in semiconductor processing includes a base substrate having a top surface defined thereon, a wafer having a bottom surface covering a portion of the base substrate, and a plurality of air passages formed in between the bottom surface of the wafer and the base substrate. The air passages connect the bottom surface of the wafer to an ambience.
US09076820B2 Method for manufacturing semiconductor device and semiconductor device
According to one embodiment, a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a plurality of insulating isolation sections provided so as to extend in a first direction, isolate the stacked body in a second direction, and have a projection projecting from the stacked body. Each insulating isolation section has a side wall including recessed sections and projected sections repeated along the first direction. The method includes forming a sidewall film on a side wall of the projection of the insulating isolation section, and forming a plurality of first holes surrounded by the sidewall film and isolated by the sidewall film in the first direction, between the plurality of insulating isolation sections. The method includes forming a second hole in the stacked body provided under the first hole by etching with the insulating isolation section and the sidewall film used as a mask.
US09076806B1 Device and method for reduction of overstress in soldering process
A device and a method of reducing high-frequency currents between the tip of the soldering iron and the circuit board are described. In one embodiment, a special EMI filter and a method of it implementation in soldering process is described. This device and this method of implementation provide significant reduction of high-frequency current to the sensitive components. Another embodiment describes an implementation of EMI-reducing filter inside the soldering iron. Yet other embodiments include implementation of EMI-reducing filter as a part of the solder station, of the vise holding the circuit board, of the solder spool holder and as a stand-alone device.
US09076803B2 Semiconductor device and method of dual-molding die formed on opposite sides of build-up interconnect structure
A semiconductor device has a first interconnect structure. A first semiconductor die has an active surface oriented towards and mounted to a first surface of the first interconnect structure. A first encapsulant is deposited over the first interconnect structure and first semiconductor die. A second semiconductor die has an active surface oriented towards and mounted to a second surface of the first interconnect structure opposite the first surface. A plurality of first conductive pillars is formed over the second surface of the first interconnect structure and around the second semiconductor die. A second encapsulant is deposited over the second semiconductor die and around the plurality of first conductive pillars. A second interconnect structure including a conductive layer and bumps are formed over the second encapsulant and electrically connect to the plurality of first conductive pillars and the first and second semiconductor die.
US09076802B1 Dual-sided film-assist molding process
Simultaneous semiconductor packages can be produced using a dual-sided film-assist molding process. The process involves using a film or membrane having opposing surfaces for receiving un-encapsulated semiconductor packages on both surfaces. A slot can be formed in the film or membrane to facilitate introduction and passage of the encapsulation therethrough such that upon removal of the film or membrane, increased throughput and productivity of the completed semiconductor packages can be carried out to achieve considerable cost savings.
US09076800B2 Method for forming identification marks on silicon carbide single crystal substrate, and silicon carbide single crystal substrate
A method for forming an identification mark on a silicon carbide single crystal substrate according to the present invention includes: (a) scanning a principal surface of a silicon carbide single crystal substrate with a laser beam at a first energy density such that a groove is formed in the principal surface of the silicon carbide single crystal substrate, thereby forming an identification mark which is constituted of one or more grooves in the principal surface of the silicon carbide single crystal substrate; and (b) scanning an inside of the groove formed in the principal surface of the silicon carbide single crystal substrate with a laser beam at a second energy density that is lower than the first energy density.
US09076784B2 Transistor and semiconductor structure
A semiconductor structure includes a work function metal layer, a (work function) metal oxide layer and a main electrode. The work function metal layer is located on a substrate. The (work function) metal oxide layer is located on the work function metal layer. The main electrode is located on the (work function) metal oxide layer. A semiconductor process forming said semiconductor structure is also provided.
US09076781B2 Support device for a semiconductor chip and optoelectronic component with a carrier device and electronic component with a carrier device
A carrier device for a semiconductor chip includes a bondable and/or solderable metallic carrier having a mounting region for the semiconductor chip and a soldering region. The carrier is at least partly covered with a covering material. A solder barrier is arranged between the soldering region and the mounting region at an interface between the carrier and the covering material. An electronic component and an optoelectronic component are furthermore specified.
US09076773B2 Wire bondable surface for microelectronic devices
The present invention concerns thin diffusion barriers in metal and metal alloy layer sequences of contact area/barrier layer/first bonding layer type for metal wire bonding applications. The diffusion barrier is selected from Co-M-P. Co-M-B and Co-M-B—P alloys wherein M is selected from Mn, Zr, Re, Mo, Ta and W having a thickness in the range 0.03 to 0.3 μm. The first bonding layer is selected from palladium and palladium alloys.
US09076772B2 Semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same
A semiconductor device and a method of fabricating the same. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a P-type region, on at least one main surface of which integrated circuits are formed; one or more via electrodes inserted into the P-type region of the semiconductor substrate; a dielectric layer formed between the semiconductor substrate and the via electrodes; an N-type region, which is formed in the semiconductor substrate to contact a portion of the dielectric layer and to expose other portion of the dielectric layer; and a power circuit, which is electrically connected to the N-type region and apply a bias voltage or a ground voltage thereto, such that electric signals flowing in the via electrodes form an inversion layer on a surface of the semiconductor substrate facing the exposed portion of the dielectric layer.
US09076764B2 Tunneling transistor with asymmetric gate
An asymmetric gate tunneling transistor includes a substrate, a first-polarity portion, a second-polarity portion, a channel portion, a gate structure and an insulation body. The first-polarity portion and the second-polarity portion are disposed on the substrate. The channel portion is connected with the first-polarity portion and the second-polarity portion, and includes a first section and a second section. The gate structure includes an enveloping portion surrounding the first section, and a flat portion covering one side of the second section away from the substrate. The insulation body includes a first insulation portion disposed between the first section and the enveloping portion, and a second insulation portion disposed between the second section and the flat portion. Through the asymmetric design of the gate structure, the tunneling transistor is offered with features of a high ON current and a low OFF current.
US09076758B2 Rectangular capacitors for dynamic random access (DRAM) and dual-pass lithography methods to form the same
A rectangular capacitor for dynamic random access memory (DRAM) and a dual-pass lithography method to form the same are described. For example, a capacitor includes a trench disposed in a first dielectric layer disposed above a substrate. A cup-shaped metal plate is disposed along the bottom and sidewalls of the trench. A second dielectric layer is disposed on and conformal with the cup-shaped metal plate. A trench-fill metal plate is disposed on the second dielectric layer. The second dielectric layer isolates the trench-fill metal plate from the cup-shaped metal plate. The capacitor has a rectangular or near-rectangular shape from a top-down perspective.
US09076732B2 Method to prepare semi-conductor device comprising a selective etching of a silicium—germanium layer
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device by wet-process chemical etching, the device comprising at least one layer of silicon (Si) and at least one layer of silicon-germanium (SiGe) and at least one layer of photosensitive resin forming a mask partly covering the layer of silicon-germanium (SiGe) and leaving the layer of silicon-germanium uncovered in certain zones, characterized in that it comprises a step of preparation of an etching solution, having a pH between 3 and 6, from hydrofluoric acid (HF), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), acetic acid (CH3COOH) and ammonia (NH4OH), and a step of stripping of the layer of silicon-germanium (SiGe) at least at the said zones by exposure to the said etching solution. The invention will be applicable for the manufacture of integrated circuits and more precisely of transistors. In particular, for optimization of CMOS transistors of the latest generation.
US09076730B2 Metal silicide thin film, ultra-shallow junctions, semiconductor device and method of making
A metal silicide thin film and ultra-shallow junctions and methods of making are disclosed. In the present disclosure, by using a metal and semiconductor dopant mixture as a target, a mixture film is formed on a semiconductor substrate using a physical vapor deposition (PVD) process. The mixture film is removed afterwards by wet etching, which is followed by annealing to form metal silicide thin film and ultra-shallow junctions. Because the metal and semiconductor dopant mixture is used as a target to deposit the mixture film, and the mixture film is removed by wet etching before annealing, self-limiting, ultra-thin, and uniform metal silicide film and ultra-shallow junctions are formed concurrently in semiconductor field-effect transistor fabrication processes, which are suitable for field-effect transistors at the 14 nm, 11 nm, or even further technology node.
US09076729B2 Method of forming interconnection structure having notches for semiconductor device
A semiconductor device is disclosed. The device includes a substrate, a first dielectric layer disposed over the substrate and a metal structure disposed in the first dielectric layer and below a surface of the first dielectric layer. The metal structure has a such shape that having an upper portion with a first width and a lower portion with a second width. The second width is substantially larger than the first width. The semiconductor device also includes a sub-structure of a second dielectric positioned between the upper portion of the metal structure and the first dielectric layer.
US09076720B2 Magnetic random access memory and a method of fabricating the same
An aspect of the present embodiment, there is provided magnetic random access memory device including a semiconductor substrate, a selection transistor on the semiconductor substrate, the selection transistor including a diffusion layer, a contact plug on diffusion layer, an amorphous film on the contact plug, a lower electrode provided on the amorphous film, a first magnetic layer, a nonmagnetic layer, a second magnetic layer, an upper electrode stacked in an order and a sidewall contact film on the contact plug, the sidewall contact film being in contact with a sidewall of the upper electrode.
US09076718B2 Oxide semiconductor, thin film transistor array substrate and production method thereof, and display device
The present invention provides an oxide semiconductor capable of achieving a thin film transistor having stable transistor characteristics, a thin film transistor having a channel layer formed of the oxide semiconductor and a production method thereof, and a display device equipped with the thin film transistor. The oxide semiconductor of the present invention is an oxide semiconductor for a thin film transistor. The oxide semiconductor includes indium, gallium, zinc, and oxygen as constituent atoms, and the oxygen content of the oxide semiconductor is 87% to 95% of the stoichiometric condition set as 100%, in terms of atomic units.
US09076713B2 Locally passivated germanium-on-insulator substrate
The invention relates to a method for fabricating a locally passivated germanium-on-insulator substrate wherein, in order to achieve good electron mobility, nitridized regions are provided at localized positions. Nitridizing is achieved using a plasma treatment. The resulting substrates also form part of the invention.
US09076712B2 Solid state cloaking for electrical charge carrier mobility control
An electrical mobility-controlled material includes a solid state host material having a controllable Fermi energy level and electrical charge carriers with a charge carrier mobility. At least one Fermi level energy at which a peak in charge carrier mobility is to occur is prespecified for the host material. A plurality of particles are distributed in the host material, with at least one particle disposed with an effective mass and a radius that minimize scattering of the electrical charge carriers for the at least one prespecified Fermi level energy of peak charge carrier mobility. The minimized scattering of electrical charge carriers produces the peak charge carrier mobility only at the at least one prespecified Fermi level energy, set by the particle effective mass and radius, the charge carrier mobility being less than the peak charge carrier mobility at Fermi level energies other than the at least one prespecified Fermi level energy.
US09076700B2 Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing same
In a semiconductor device in which a plurality of semiconductor chips are stacked, performance is enhanced without deteriorating productivity. The semiconductor device has a plurality of elements, an interlayer insulating film, a pad, and a bump electrode electrically connected with the pad sequentially formed on a main surface of a silicon substrate and has a back-surface electrode formed on a back surface of the silicon substrate and electrically connected with the bump electrode. The bump electrode has a protruding portion penetrating through the pad and protruding toward the silicon substrate side. The back-surface electrode is formed so as to reach the protruding portion of the bump electrode from the back surface side of the silicon substrate toward the main surface side and to cover the inside of a back-surface electrode hole portion which does not reach the pad, so that the back-surface electrode is electrically connected with the bump electrode.
US09076699B2 TSV backside reveal structure and exposing process
A TSV exposing process is provided, including: performing a mechanical grinding process on the substrate back surface of a substrate with a TSV conductive column, a liner between the substrate and the TSV conductive column; performing a first and a second chemical mechanical polishing process on the grinded substrate back surface; then performing an etching on the substrate back surface, and making the TSV backside reveal more than 10 μm.
US09076693B2 Display signal lines and methods of fabricating the same
Display substrates are disclosed. In one aspect, display substrates include a first signal line, a second signal line, a first detour signal line and a second detour signal line. The first signal line includes a first region and a pair of second regions disposed on opposite sides of the first region. The pair of second regions are spaced apart from the first region. The second signal line crosses the first signal line. The second signal line includes a third region and a pair of fourth regions disposed on opposite sides of the third region. The pair of fourth regions are spaced apart from the third region. The first detour signal line electrically connects the pair of second regions to each other. The second detour signal line electrically connects the pair of fourth regions to each other. Related methods are also disclosed.
US09076684B1 3D memory structure and manufacturing method of the same
A 3D memory structure and a manufacturing method of the same are provided. The 3D memory structure includes a substrate, a plurality of stacked structures, a plurality of charge trapping layers, a plurality of bit lines, and a plurality of stair structures. The stacked structures are formed on the substrate, and each of the stacked structures includes a plurality of gates and a plurality of gate insulators alternately stacked on the substrate. The charge trapping layers are formed on the sidewalls of the stacked structures. The bit lines are arranged orthogonally over the stacked structures, the surfaces of the bit lines crossing the stacked structures for forming a plurality of memory elements. The stair structures, each electrically connected to the different gates, are stacked on the substrate.
US09076670B2 Integrated circuit and method of forming the integrated circuit with improved logic transistor performance and SRAM transistor yield
In an integrated circuit that includes an NMOS logic transistor, an NMOS SRAM transistor, and a resistor, the gate of the SRAM transistor is doped at the same time that the resistor is doped, thereby allowing the gate of the logic transistor to be separately doped without requiring any additional masking steps.
US09076642B2 High-Throughput batch porous silicon manufacturing equipment design and processing methods
This disclosure enables high-productivity fabrication of porous semiconductor layers (made of single layer or multi-layer porous semiconductors such as porous silicon, comprising single porosity or multi-porosity layers). Some applications include fabrication of MEMS separation and sacrificial layers for die detachment and MEMS device fabrication, membrane formation and shallow trench isolation (STI) porous silicon (using porous silicon formation with an optimal porosity and its subsequent oxidation). Further, this disclosure is applicable to the general fields of photovoltaics, MEMS, including sensors and actuators, stand-alone, or integrated with integrated semiconductor microelectronics, semiconductor microelectronics chips and optoelectronics.
US09076639B2 Transmissive-reflective photocathode
The present invention includes a transmissive-reflective photocathode including a membrane configured to absorb photons from an illumination source via a first surface of the membrane, the membrane further configured to emit photoelectrons in a reflection mode via the first surface, the membrane further configured to emit photoelectrons in a transmissive mode via a second surface, the first surface and the second surface being substantially parallel, and a membrane support structure configured to mechanically secure the membrane, the membrane support structure further configured to provide at least a first pathway between the first surface and free space and a second pathway between the second surface and free space.
US09076636B2 Plasma processing apparatus, plasma processing method and storage medium for storing program for executing the method
There is provided a plasma processing apparatus including a susceptor 114, having a substrate mounting portion for mounting thereon a substrate, to which a high frequency power is applied; a focus ring 210, disposed to surround the substrate mounted on the substrate mounting portion, including an outer ring 214 having a top surface higher than a top surface of the substrate and an inner ring 212 extending inwardly from the outer ring so as to allow at least a part of the inner ring to be positioned below a periphery of the substrate, the outer ring and the inner ring being formed as a single member; a dielectric ring 220 positioned between the focus ring and the susceptor; a dielectric constant varying device 250 for varying a dielectric constant of the dielectric ring.
US09076628B2 Variable radius taper x-ray window support structure
A support structure for an x-ray window comprising a support frame defining a perimeter and an aperture, a plurality of ribs extending across the aperture of the support frame and carried by the support frame, and openings between the plurality of ribs. A rib taper region can extend from a central portion of the ribs to the support frame. The taper region can include a non-circular, arcuate pair of fillets on opposing sides of the ribs and an increasing of rib width from the central portion to the support frame.
US09076613B2 Method of thermally operating an electrical interrupt switch
A thermally activated electrical interrupt device incorporates a thermally activated portion engaging with an electrical interrupt portion. The thermally activated material expands when heated, causing an interrupt control rod to open an electrical contact. When the interrupt device is placed into an interrupt state, a reset mechanism maintains the interrupt control rod in the interrupt state until specifically reset. An actuating shaft is in operational communication with at least one electrical contact. The actuating shaft is maintained in a thermal monitoring position until an interrupt control rod is moved via a thermally expanding material and engages with the actuating shaft, releasing it from the thermal monitoring position. The actuating shaft is projected via a biasing member to cause a change in state of the electrical contact. The actuating shaft remains in the interrupt state until the user resets the switch.
US09076605B2 Touch panel
The Present Disclosure provides a touch panel, which consists of a main panel and a light-emitting touch module mounted under the main panel. The light-emitting touch module consists of a first circuit board provided with a plethora of touch sensors and light-emitting devices under the main panel. These touch sensors are used to induce the approaching signals of the operator, and transmit the induction signals to a touch control circuit for controlling the light-emitting status of the corresponding light-emitting device. The light-emitting touch module also consists of a second circuit board, electrically connected with the first circuit board. The touch control circuit is provided on the second circuit board, spatially separated from the first circuit board by a certain distance, so that the electromagnetic interferences of the touch control circuit on the touch sensors may be reduced.
US09076599B2 Laminated ceramic electronic parts
A compact laminated ceramic electronic component having superior moisture resistance and electrical properties is provided.A laminated ceramic electronic component 1 includes an inner layer portion that contains a plurality of dielectric layers 2a and internal electrode layers 3 comprising Ni as a main component that are laminated alternately, and a pair of dielectric outer layer portions 2b which sandwich the inner layer portions. And Ni particles are segregated in the dielectric outer layer portions 2b. And the amount of Ni particles existing in the dielectric layers 2a is smaller than that in the dielectric outer layer portions 2b.
US09076597B2 Monolithic ceramic capacitor
A monolithic ceramic capacitor includes an element body including a multilayer portion including a plural conductor layers and plural ceramic dielectric layers alternately stacked in a thickness direction. The element body is divided in the thickness direction into thickness-direction first and outer layer portions made of the ceramic dielectric layers, and a thickness-direction inner layer portion including the multilayer portion. The element body bulges to the outer side at a center portion in a length direction, and center portions in the length direction of the plural conductor layers are curved to the outer side. The thickness of a portion of the first outer layer portion adjacent to a first extension portion is larger than the thickness of a center portion thereof, and the thickness of a portion of the second outer layer portion adjacent to a second extension portion is larger than the thickness of a center portion thereof.
US09076596B2 Laminated ceramic electronic component having a cover layer with dielectric grains and method of fabricating the same
There are provided a laminated ceramic electronic component and a method of fabricating the same. The laminated ceramic electronic component include a ceramic body including a dielectric layer; and first and second internal electrodes disposed to face each other, having the dielectric layer interposed therebetween within the ceramic body, wherein the ceramic body includes an active layer that is a capacitance forming part and a cover layer that is a non-capacitance forming part formed on at least one of a top surface and a bottom surface of the active layer, and when a thickness of the ceramic body is t and a thickness of the cover layer is T, T≦t×0.05 is satisfied and when an average particle diameter of a dielectric grain in the active layer is Da and an average particle diameter of a dielectric grain in the cover layer is Dc, 0.7≦Dc/Da≦1.5 is satisfied.
US09076595B2 Capacitor
A capacitor includes a dielectric layer having a first plane, a second plane opposite to the first plane, and first and second through-holes communicated with the first plane and the second plane; a first external conductor layer disposed on the first plane; a second external conductor layer disposed on the second plane; a first internal electrode formed in the first through-hole, connected to the first external electrode layer, disposed in the second hole diameter part at a tip and separated from the second external electrode layer; and a second internal electrode formed in the second through-hole, connected to the second external electrode layer, and separated from the first external electrode layer.
US09076594B2 Capacitors using porous alumina structures
Capacitors and methods of making the same are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a capacitor comprises a structure having first and second oppositely facing surfaces and a plurality of pores each extending in a first direction from the first surface towards the second surface, and each having pore having insulating material extending along a wall of the pore; a first conductive portion comprising an electrically conductive material extending within at least some of the pores; and a second conductive portion comprising a region of the structure consisting essentially of aluminum surrounding individual pores of the plurality of pores, the second conductive portion electrically isolated from the first conductive portion by the insulating material extending along the walls of the pores.
US09076592B2 Wet capacitor cathode containing a conductive coating formed anodic electrochemical polymerization of a microemulsion
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 microemulsion on the surface of the metal substrate. The microemulsion is a thermodynamically stable, isotropic liquid mixture that contains a precursor monomer, sulfonic acid, nonionic surfactant, and solvent.
US09076591B2 High energy density electrochemical capacitors
Electrochemical capacitors and methods for producing such electrochemical capacitors. The electrochemical capacitor can have an initial charged state and a cycled charged state and can include an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte. The anode can include a first mixture having a first plurality of electrically conductive carbon-comprising particles having a first average porosity. The cathode can include a second mixture having a second plurality of electrically conductive carbon-comprising particles having a second average porosity greater than said first average porosity. The electrolyte can be physically and electrically contacting said anode and said cathode, and the first mixture in the cycled charged state can be substantially free of lithium metal particles and can further include a plurality of lithium ions intercalating the first plurality of carbon comprising particles. The mass ratio of the cathode and the electrolyte can be less than 1.
US09076588B2 Dielectric fluids comprising estolide compounds and methods of making and using the same
Provided herein are dielectric fluids comprising at least one estolide compound of formula: in which n is an integer equal to or greater than 0; m is an integer equal to or greater than 1; R1, independently for each occurrence, is selected from optionally substituted alkyl that is saturated or unsaturated, and branched or unbranched; R2 is selected from hydrogen and optionally substituted alkyl that is saturated or unsaturated, and branched or unbranched; and R3 and R4, independently for each occurrence, are selected from optionally substituted alkyl that is saturated or unsaturated, and branched or unbranched. Also provided herein are uses of dielectric fluids and electrical devices such as transformers that comprise a dielectric fluid comprising at least one estolide compound.
US09076586B2 Coil component
A coil component includes a coil element, a body having a square pole shape which accommodates the coil component therein, and a pair of terminals. The first ends of the terminals are respectively fixed to the side surfaces, opposite to each other, of the body. The terminals are bent from the side surfaces toward the bottom surface of the body. The second end of each of the terminals includes corner parts at the both side portions thereof. The bottom surface of the body is provided with recesses at locations not overlapping with the coil component, viewed from the bottom surface. The recesses are recessed from the bottom surface of the body and penetrating to one of the side surfaces. The corner parts of the terminals are locked on the bottom surface of the body, by being bent along inner walls of the recesses.
US09076578B2 Dielectric composition and ceramic electronic component including the same
There is provided a dielectric composition, including; a base powder including BamTiO3 (0.995≦m≦1.010); a first sub-component including 0.05 to 4.00 moles of an oxide or carbonate containing at least one rare-earth element based on 100 moles of the base powder; a second sub-component including 0.05 to 0.70 moles of an oxide or carbonate containing at least one transition metal; a third sub-component including 0.20 to 2.00 moles of a Si oxide; a fourth sub-component including 0.02 to 1.00 mole of an Al oxide; and a fifth sub-component including 20 to 140% of an oxide containing at least one of Ba and Ca, based on the third sub-component.
US09076572B2 Conductive paste
A conductive paste is provided, which includes 3 wt % to 20 wt % of epoxy resin, 10 wt % to 25 wt % of solvent, 0.3 wt % to 5 wt % of latent curing agent, 3.5 wt % to 35 wt % of flaky metal powder surface-treated by saturated fatty acid, and 35 wt % to 75 wt % of flaky metal powder surface-treated by unsaturated fatty acid.
US09076565B2 Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and program
There is provided an image processing apparatus including a processing unit configured to superimpose a plurality of X-ray images that are based on X-ray detection data representing detection results obtained by detecting a plurality of times in a time-division manner parallel beam X-rays output from a ray source including a plurality of X-ray sources that output parallel beam X-rays.
US09076563B2 Anti-scatter collimators for detector systems of multi-slice X-ray computed tomography systems
A detector system for multi-slice X-ray Computed Tomography (CT) system is disclosed. The detector system comprises a plurality of X-ray detector modules for detecting X-ray photons; wherein each detector module is divided into individual detector elements organized in a matrix fashion with element rows (z-axis for row direction) and element columns (x-axis for column direction) for detecting X-ray photons; wherein the individual detector elements are interspaced by gaps (areas that do not detect radiation), which are also organized in a matrix fashion with gap rows and gap columns; and an anti-scatter collimator comprising a plurality of anti-scatter plates, which is placed above the detector modules and aligned to focus on an X-ray source of the CT system; wherein some or all of the anti-scatter plates are placed above the detector elements; wherein those anti-scatter plates that are placed above the detector elements block a portion of primary X-ray photons from the X-ray source in addition to scattered X-ray photons from reaching the detector elements.
US09076562B2 Phase plate
A phase plate for a charged particle beam system, such as a transmission electron microscope (TEM), is described. The phase plate comprises a support having a through-hole and an elongate member which is magnetisable in a direction along its length and which extends partially across the through-hole and which is narrower than the through-hole.
US09076557B2 Read margin measurement in a read-only memory
Read margin measurement circuitry for measuring the read margin of floating-gate programmable non-volatile memory cells. In some embodiments, the read margin of a cell with a floating-gate transistor in a non-conductive state is measured by periodically clocking a counter following initiation of a read cycle; a latch stores the counter contents upon the cell under test making a transition due to leakage of the floating-gate transistor. Logic for testing a group of cells in parallel is disclosed. In some embodiments, the read margin of a cell in which the floating-gate transistor is set to a conductive state is measured by repeatedly reading the cell, with the output developing a voltage corresponding to the duty cycle of the output of the read circuit.
US09076553B2 SPSRAM wrapper
Among other things, one or more techniques or systems for facilitating access operations to a single port memory device are provided. Multiple access operations to a single port memory device, such as a 6 transistor bitcell array of an SPSRAM, are performed during a single clock period of a system clock. In an embodiment, a wrapper controller initiates a first access operation during a first clock period of the system clock based upon a rising edge of the system clock. Responsive to receiving an operation complete signal during the first clock operation, the wrapper controller initiates a second access operation to the single port memory device during the first clock period. In this way, multi-port access functionality is implemented, such as in a serial manner to mitigate operation disturbs, for a single port memory device that occupies a relatively smaller area than a multi-port memory device for improved storage density.
US09076547B2 Level compensation in multilevel memory
Some embodiments include apparatuses and methods having a compensation unit to provide a compensation value based at least in part on a threshold voltage value of a memory cell. At least one of such embodiments includes a controller to select a code during an operation of retrieving information from the memory cell to represent a value of information stored in the memory cell. Such a code can be associated with an address having an address value based at least in part on the compensation value. Additional apparatuses and methods are described.
US09076544B2 Operation for non-volatile storage system with shared bit lines
A non-volatile storage system is disclosed that includes pairs of NAND strings (or other groupings of memory cells) in the same block being connected to and sharing a common bit line. To operate the system, two selection lines are used so that the NAND strings (or other groupings of memory cells) sharing a bit line can be selected at the block level. Both selection lines are connected to a selection gate for each of the NAND strings (or other groupings of memory cells) sharing the bit line. One set of embodiments avoid unwanted boosting during read operations by keeping the channels of the memory cells connected to word lines on the drain side of the selected word line biased at a fixed potential.
US09076542B2 Memory system having variable operating voltage and related method of operation
A magneto-resistive random access memory (MRAM) including an MRAM cell array having an MRAM cell, and a control and voltage generation unit configured to generate a back bias voltage for the MRAM cell. The control and voltage generation unit including a command decoder configured to generate a decoding signal in response to a command output from a memory controller, and a voltage controller and generator configured to generate the back bias voltage with a magnitude based on the decoding signal and a reset signal output from the memory controller.
US09076530B2 Non-volatile write buffer data retention pending scheduled verification
Method and apparatus for managing data in a memory. In accordance with some embodiments, a non-volatile (NV) buffer is adapted to store input write data having a selected logical address. A write circuit is adapted to transfer a copy of the input write data to an NV main memory while retaining the stored input write data in the NV buffer. A verify circuit is adapted to perform a verify operation at the conclusion of a predetermined elapsed time interval to verify successful transfer of the copy of the input write data to the NV main memory. The input write data are retained in the NV buffer until successful transfer is verified.
US09076524B2 Method of accessing a memory device
A method is provided for accessing a memory device. The method includes programming data in a plurality of cells of the memory device in a first programming operation. The first programming operation uses a first memory instruction including at least one first parameter representative of at least one first threshold voltage value for said programming. The method further includes re-programming at least a portion of the data in the plurality of cells in a second programming operation. The second programming operation uses a second memory instruction including at least one second parameter representative of at least one second threshold voltage value for said re-programming, wherein said re-programming provides bit manipulation of the portion of the data.
US09076522B2 Memory cells breakdown protection
A method is disclosed that includes the operations outlined below. A first voltage is applied to a gate of an access transistor of each of a row of memory cells during a reset operation, wherein a first source/drain of the access transistor is electrically connected to a first electrode of a resistive random access memory (RRAM) device in the same memory cell. An inhibition voltage is applied to a second electrode of the RRAM device or to a second source/drain of the access transistor of each of a plurality of unselected memory cells when the first voltage is applied to the gate of the access transistor.
US09076521B2 Method and apparatus for decoding memory
A thin-film memory may include a thin-film transistor-free address decoder in conjunction with thin-film memory elements to yield an all-thin-film memory. Such a thin-film memory excludes all single-crystal electronic devices and may be formed, for example, on a low-cost substrate, such as fiberglass, glass or ceramic. The memory may be configured for operation with an external memory controller.
US09076519B2 Reram device structure
A resistive random access memory (ReRAM) device can comprise a first metal layer and a first metal-oxide layer on the first metal layer. The first metal-oxide layer comprises the first metal. A second metal layer can comprise a second metal over and in physical contact with the first metal-oxide layer. A first continuous non-conductive barrier layer can be in physical contact with sidewalls of the first metal layer and sidewalls of the first metal-oxide layer. A second metal-oxide layer can be on the second metal layer. The second metal-oxide layer can comprise the second metal layer. A third metal layer can be over and in physical contact with the second metal-oxide layer. The first and second metal-oxide layers, are further characterized as independent storage mediums.
US09076518B2 Three-dimensional memory structures having shared pillar memory cells
A three-dimensional non-volatile memory system is disclosed including a memory array utilizing shared pillar structures for memory cell formation. A shared pillar structure includes two non-volatile storage elements. A first end surface of each pillar contacts one array line from a first set of array lines and a second end surface of each pillar contacts two array lines from a second set of array lines that is vertically separated from the first set of array lines. Each pillar includes a first subset of layers that are divided into portions for the individual storage elements in the pillar. Each pillar includes a second subset of layers that is shared between both non-volatile storage elements formed in the pillar. The individual storage elements each include a steering element and a state change element.
US09076511B2 Nonvolatile memory device and memory system including the same
A nonvolatile memory device includes a memory cell array; and a high voltage generator arranged to generate a high voltage to be supplied to the memory cell array. The high voltage generator includes a pump unit block having a plurality of pump units supplied with an external voltage and at least one of the pumps is engaged in pumping the external voltage to a higher, output, voltage, at a steady clock rate. The number of pumps engaged in pumping is increased until a predetermined period has elapsed. The rate at which the number of pumps is increased depends upon the value of the external voltage.
US09076507B2 Nonvolatile memory and method of operating nonvolatile memory
A nonvolatile memory includes multiple banks, control logic and multiple read and write (RW) circuits. Each bank includes multiple memory cells. The control logic includes multiple storage units corresponding to the banks, respectively, and configured to output write enable signals and read enable signals to respective banks based on mode information stored in respective storage units. The RW circuits are connected to the banks, respectively, and are configured to independently enable or disable write and read operations of the respective banks in response to the write enable signals and the read enable signals of the respective banks. In an initial state after the mode information is stored in the respective storage units, the control logic activates the write enable signals and the read enable signals of the respective banks regardless of the mode information stored in the respective storage units.
US09076498B1 Mobile hard disk drive
A mobile hard disk drive includes an electrical module including a circuit board, a face panel and a holder box, and a hard disk tray detachably insertable through an insertion slot in the face panel into a receiving chamber in the holder box to force arched spring plates thereof into friction engagement with two opposite inner lateral walls in the receiving chamber of the holder box and lockable to the face panel by two hand screws that are mounted at an end plate of the hard disk tray for threading into respective locating screw holes at the face panel to lock the hard disk tray to the face panel of the electrical module.
US09076489B1 Circular timeline for video trimming
Methods and apparatus provide for a self-enclosed timeline trimmer to create a circular timeline placed over a video that graphically represents the entire duration of a video. The self-enclosed timeline trimmer generates a self-enclosed timeline to represent a duration of the video incremented according to a first unit of time. The self-enclosed timeline is layered over at least a portion of the video. The self-enclosed timeline trimmer represents a start of the video on the self-enclosed timeline and an end of the video on the self-enclosed timeline. The self-enclosed timeline trimmer displays the duration of the video in its entirety by connecting the start and the end of the video on the self-enclosed timeline. Further, the self-enclosed timeline trimmer is well suited for video editing on mobile computer devices, wireless computer devices, and for portable computer devices.
US09076482B1 Multi-directional media element magazine for media element storage library
Utilities that increase the volume of media elements that can be simultaneously loaded and/or unloaded into or from a storage library, facilitate mounting of media element magazines into a storage library, and limit access to an interior of a storage library by users during operation of robotics assemblies of the storage library. One disclosed utility includes a cartridge access port for use with a storage library that has a storage container that is pivotable (e.g., swingable) between at least first and second positions. In the first position, the storage container is adjacent an opening in the housing of the library for loading and unloading of media elements by a user into or from the container via the opening. After the storage container has swung into the second position, the storage container is spaced from the opening and faces the interior of the library for access by a robotics assembly.
US09076479B2 Magnetic recording medium
A magnetic recording medium includes a substrate having sequentially formed thereon (a) a magnetic layer; (b) a protective layer having a thickness ranging from 1.0 nm to 2.5 nm and being composed of an amorphous metal layer having a thickness of at least 0.3 nm, the amorphous metal layer being composed of a metal selected from the group consisting of Si, Al, Ge, Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo and W that is in an amorphous state; (c) a carbon layer formed on the amorphous metal layer and having a thickness of at least 0.3 nm, the carbon layer including amorphous carbon; and (d) a lubricating layer, wherein the carbon layer includes nitrogen atoms in a surface thereof in which a ratio of number of nitrogen atoms to total number of carbon atoms, nitrogen atoms, and oxygen atoms is 14 atomic % or less.
US09076478B2 Binder resin composition for magnetic recording medium, method of manufacturing the same, and magnetic recording medium
An aspect of the present invention relates to a binder resin composition for a magnetic recording medium, which comprises a vinyl chloride resin containing a radiation-curable functional group, and a methacrylate compound denoted by formula (A): in an amount of equal to or more than 0.3 weight percent but equal to or less than 10 weight percent relative to a content of the vinyl chloride resin.
US09076470B2 Suspension substrate, suspension, head suspension, hard disk drive, and method for manufacturing suspension substrate
A suspension substrate of the present invention includes an insulating layer, a spring material layer, and a plurality of wirings, wherein one wiring of the plurality of wirings includes a head-side wiring part and a plurality of division wiring parts, respectively bifurcated from the head-side wiring part. The spring material layer includes a spring-material-layer main body, a first spring-material-layer separated body and a second spring-material-layer separated body. The division wiring parts of the one wiring are respectively connected with the first spring-material-layer separated body, via a pair of conductive connection parts, respectively extending through the insulating layer. The first spring-material-layer separated body is located on one side relative to the longitudinal axis, while the second spring-material-layer separated body is located on the other side relative to the longitudinal axis.
US09076469B1 Head assembly
A head assembly includes: a first link that is disposed to interconnect between a first joint connected to a slider support plate and a second joint connected to a first fixing unit; a second link that is disposed to interconnect between a third joint connected to the slider support plate and a fourth joint connected to a second fixing unit; a first drive unit that drives the first link; and a second drive unit that drives the second link.
US09076468B1 Scissor magnetic read sensor with shape enhanced soft magnetic side shield for improved stability
A scissor type magnetic sensor having a soft magnetic side shields for improved sensor stability. The soft magnetic side shield structure extends from the side of the sensor and although being constructed of a low coercivity soft magnetic material it has a shape the causes the magnetization of the side shield layer to remain oriented in a desired direction parallel to the media facing surface. The side shields include first and second magnetic layers with an antiparallel coupling layer sandwiched between them. Each of the magnetic layers of the side shield structure has a width measured perpendicular to the media facing surface and a thickness measured perpendicular to the width and parallel with the media facing surface, both the width and the thickness being less than 10 times an intrinsic exchange length of the magnetic layer.
US09076448B2 Distributed real time speech recognition system
A real-time system incorporating speech recognition and linguistic processing for recognizing a spoken query by a user and distributed between client and server, is disclosed. The system accepts user's queries in the form of speech at the client where minimal processing extracts a sufficient number of acoustic speech vectors representing the utterance. These vectors are sent via a communications channel to the server where additional acoustic vectors are derived. Using Hidden Markov Models (HMMs), and appropriate grammars and dictionaries conditioned by the selections made by the user, the speech representing the user's query is fully decoded into text (or some other suitable form) at the server. This text corresponding to the user's query is then simultaneously sent to a natural language engine and a database processor where optimized SQL statements are constructed for a full-text search from a database for a recordset of several stored questions that best matches the user's query. Further processing in the natural language engine narrows the search to a single stored question. The answer corresponding to this single stored question is next retrieved from the file path and sent to the client in compressed form. At the client, the answer to the user's query is articulated to the user using a text-to-speech engine in his or her native natural language. The system requires no training and can operate in several natural languages.
US09076447B2 Acoustic activity detection apparatus and method
Streaming audio is received. The streaming audio includes a frame having plurality of samples. An energy estimate is obtained for the plurality of samples. The energy estimate is compared to at least one threshold. In addition, a band pass estimate of the signal is determined. An energy estimate is obtained for the band-passed plurality of samples. The two energy estimates are compared to at least one threshold each. Based upon the comparison operation, a determination is made as to whether speech is detected.
US09076443B2 Device and method for quantizing the gains of the adaptive and fixed contributions of the excitation in a CELP codec
A device and method for quantizing a gain of a fixed contribution of an excitation in a frame, including sub-frames, of a coded sound signal. The gain is estimated in a sub-frame using a frame classification parameter, and is then quantized in the sub-frame using the estimated gain. The device and method can be used in jointly quantizing gains of adaptive and fixed contributions of an excitation. For retrieving a quantized gain of a fixed contribution of an excitation in a sub-frame, the gain of the fixed excitation contribution is estimated using a frame classification parameter, a gain codebook supplies a correction factor in response to a received, gain codebook index, and a multiplier multiplies the estimated gain by the correction factor to provide the quantized gain.
US09076435B2 Apparatus for text-to-speech delivery and method therefor
A method and apparatus for determining the manner in which a processor-enabled device should produce sounds from data is described. The device ideally synthesizes sounds digitally, and reproduces pre-recorded sounds, together with an audible delivery thereof, a memory in which is stored a database of a plurality data at least some of which is in the form of text-based indicators, and one or more pre-recorded sounds. The device is further capable of repeatedly determining one or more physical conditions, e.g. current GPS location, which is compared with one or more reference values provided in memory such that a positive result of the comparison gives rise to an event requiring a sound to be produced by the device.
US09076429B2 Acoustic metamaterials
Metamaterial members for absorbing sound and pressure, and modular systems built of metamaterial members are provided. The metamaterial member includes an outer mass. The outer mass can have a cavity formed therein in which a stem coupled to an inner mass is disposed, or the outer mass can be solid and contain an inner mass embedded therein. The inner mass can include an inner core and an outer shell. Multiple metamaterial members can be attached to form a modular system for absorption of sound and pressure.
US09076416B2 Polyphonic tuner
The present invention relates to a musical instrument tuner, e.g. a guitar tuner, featuring tuning as a part of a user session.
US09076415B2 Musical percussion support stands having three supporting contact points and related systems and methods
In some aspects, a hi-hat musical cymbal set support stand includes a vertical stand tube defining a stand axis, and three support members associated with a lower end of the stand tube and disposed in a tripod arrangement for supporting engagement of the stand upon a supporting surface. Each supporting member defines a contact point with the supporting surface, and the three supporting members supporting the lower end of the stand tube in a position spaced apart from the supporting floor surface. At least one of the three supporting members includes a foot pedal cymbal operating device having an outward heel end defining one of the three contact points and an inward toe end suspended from the lower end of the stand tube, the heel end being disposed in engagement with the supporting surface, and the toe end being spaced from contact with the supporting surface.
US09076410B2 Fallboard arrangement for keyboard instrument and opening and closing device for fallboard
A fallboard arrangement for a keyboard instrument, which makes it possible to make flat the entire upper surface of a keyboard instrument in a closed state. A fallboard back section is immovably provided in a rear part of the body, in a horizontal state. A fallboard is movable between a closed position where it is forward of the fallboard back section and has an upper surface thereof made flush with that of the fallboard back section in a state closing the performance section and an open position where it is upward of the fallboard back section so as to open the performance section. A hinge connects the fallboard to the fallboard back section in a manner pivotally movable between the closed position and the open position and is disposed downward of the fallboard in the closed position and the upper surface of the fallboard back section.
US09076408B2 Frame data shrinking method used in over-driving technology
A frame data shrinking method is disclosed. The method is to divide frame data into data of target pixel and neighbor pixels, and select one data combination set from a plurality of data combination sets provided from the data neighbor pixels as encoded data of the target pixel; and the data combination set are to be compressed and recovered as decoded data of the target pixel of the current frame for being used to be compared with the decoded data of a target pixel of a previous frame; and then the data of the neighbor pixels are compressed and stored along with the selection information about the target pixel in a memory. Because the usage of memory is relatively lower, the cost of driving chips can be effectively reduced.
US09076402B2 Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device includes a pixel array substrate having signal lines and scan lines arranged in a matrix, and pixel circuits arranged at intersections of the signal and scan lines. A touch panel is attached on the counter substrate to draw pictures or characters on a display panel. A first voltage generation circuit generates an analog pixel voltage applied to the signal lines and a second voltage generation circuit generates a counter electrode voltage applied to the counter electrode. A settling adjustment circuit adjusts a settling time of at least one of the analog pixel voltage and the counter electrode voltage.
US09076400B2 Liquid crystal display device and method for driving same
A memory-type liquid crystal display device includes transistors (N1, N2), retention electrodes (MRY), refresh output control sections (RS1), and capacitors (Cb1). In a data retention period, an electric potential of each of the retention electrodes (MRY) is changed via a corresponding one of the capacitors (Cb1) by changing an electric potential level of a retention capacitor wire signal that is supplied to a corresponding CS line (CSL(i)). Each of the refresh output control sections (RS1) receives the electric potential thus changed of a corresponding one of the retention electrodes (MRY) via the input section and controls an electric potential of a corresponding pixel electrode (PIX) in accordance with the electric potential thus changed.
US09076398B2 Display and operating method thereof
A display and an operating method thereof are provided. The display includes a display panel, a timing controller, and a plurality of source drivers. The timing controller has a plurality of signal output terminals. The source drivers are coupled to the timing controller and the display panel. The timing controller outputs a plurality of training packets to the source drivers. When the source drivers lock a clock of the timing controller according to the training packets, the timing controller outputs a plurality of control packets and a plurality of color data packets to the source drivers. The source drivers respectively output a plurality of pixel voltages corresponding to the color data packets to the display panel according to the corresponding control packets. The training packets, the control packets, and the color data packets are serially transmitted to the source drivers via the signal output terminals.
US09076393B2 Timing controller and liquid crystal display device comprising the same
Disclosed are a timing controller and an LCD device including the same. The timing controller sequentially drives a plurality of sub-pixels, which are arranged in parallel on the same horizontal line, during a plurality of horizontal period. The timing controller includes a timing signal generation unit generating a first data enable signal on the basis of an active period of a data enable input signal supplied from the reception unit, generating a second data enable signal on the basis of an abnormal period generated during the active period, and generating a data enable output signal on the basis of the first and second data enable signals, and a data processing unit selecting display data corresponding to sequential driving of the horizontal periods among from the temporarily stored data according to the data enable output signal, and outputting the selected display data.
US09076391B2 High dynamic range display with rear modulator control
Embodiments of the invention relate generally to computer-based image processing, and more particularly, to systems, computer-readable mediums, methods, and apparatuses to operate a rear modulator in a high dynamic range display to, among other things, characterize input images into pixel characteristics which may be data-reduced representations of a group of pixels corresponding to the input image, and to relate a modulation value intensity image to a weighted combination of the pixel characteristics. The modulation value intensity image may be used to derive a rear modulator drive signal, which, turn, may be configured to control one or more modulating elements to generate a low resolution image of the input image at the rear modulator.
US09076390B2 Display device and display device driving method
A display device includes a display unit including pixels, each of which emits light according to data voltages, respectively; and a timing controller which divides an area of the display unit into an upper, center and bottom portions, divides one frame time into light emission sub-frames of a light emission period and a blank sub-frame of a blank period in which is supplied a black data signal, divides the upper, center and the bottom portions into groups, differentiates a scan start time of a light emission sub-frame and a scan start time of the blank sub-frame of each group, and increases the light emission period and decreases the blank period in proportional to an increase ratio of the light emission period as a group is closer to a middle of the center portion.
US09076386B2 Pixel, display device including the same, and driving method thereof
A display device is disclosed. In one aspect, the device includes a plurality of pixels, a scan driver sequentially applying scan signals at a gate-on voltage to a plurality of scan lines connected to a plurality of pixels and a data driver applying data signals to a plurality of data lines connected to a plurality of pixels in response to the scan signals at the gate-on voltage. The device also includes a power supply unit sequentially changing first power voltages at a high level voltage into a low level voltage and applying the changed voltages, and sequentially changing second power voltages at the low level voltage into the high level voltage and applying the changed voltages. The device further includes a light-emitting signal unit sequentially applying light-emitting signals at the gate-on voltage to a plurality of light-emitting lines connected to a plurality of pixels.
US09076382B2 Pixel, organic light emitting display device having data signal and reset voltage supplied through demultiplexer, and driving method thereof
A method for driving an organic light emitting display device capable of reducing the number of output lines in a data driver, as well as ensuring a sufficient driving time. The method for driving the organic light emitting display device includes steps of supplying a data signal and a reset voltage to an output line during a horizontal period; supplying the data signal and the reset voltage, supplied to the output line, to a plurality of data lines using a demultiplexer; charging a voltage corresponding to the data signal in a pixel connected with one of the data lines during a period when a scan signal is supplied to a current scan line of the pixel; and allowing the pixel to emit light corresponding to the charged voltage.
US09076379B2 Display module
A display module including a substrate having a plurality of pixels, a data line that supplies a data signal to a pixel, a current supply line that supplies electric current to the pixel, a data driving circuit that supplies a data signal to the data line, and a gate driving circuit thereon. The plurality of pixels are arranged in a display area of the substrate, and each of the plurality of pixels includes a light emitting device, a first thin film transistor connected to the data line that supplies the data signal, a second thin film transistor connected to the current supply line, and a capacitor. The light emitting device includes a first electrode layer connected to the second thin film transistor, an organic layer formed on the first electrode layer, and a second electrode layer formed on the organic layer.
US09076378B2 Method of driving an electro-wetting display panel and electro-wetting display apparatus for performing the same
A method of driving an electro wetting display panel includes applying a first data voltage to a pixel part of the display panel during a first section of a frame and applying a second data voltage different from the first data voltage to the same pixel part during a second section of the frame. The first data voltage is converted from display data based on a first gamma curve. The second data voltage is converted from the display data based on a second gamma curve. Light transmittance through the pixel part is changed based on movement of a fluid within the pixel part.
US09076373B2 Display apparatus and method of controlling images
A display apparatus for displaying a three-dimensional image using a parallax barrier scheme includes a display module having a display region in which a plurality of pixels are arranged, and a parallax barrier facing the display region. In the parallax barrier, a plurality of aperture regions are formed as light-transmissive regions so that each one of the aperture regions corresponds to a predetermined number of the pixels. In one embodiment, each of the aperture regions is in a shape that exhibits an identical shape when rotated by 90 degrees.
US09076364B2 Electronic device and method for adjustting display screen
In a method for adjusting a display screen of an electronic device, the method obtains a current image and a previous image of a user captured by an image capturing device, detects a first face area from the current image and a second face area from the previous image. The method further rotates the display screen according to the movements of the user's face, and stops rotating the display screen when rotation angles of the display screen are equal to movement angles of the user's face.
US09076361B2 Display apparatus and controlling method thereof
An image processing apparatus and a method of controlling the same are provided. The image processing apparatus includes: one or more receiving units which receive a plurality of contents; a signal processing unit which outputs a first image frame by processing first content of the plurality of contents and outputs a second image frame by processing second content of the plurality of contents; an output unit which outputs a plurality of contents views by combining the first image frame and the second image frame; and a control unit which, if a sharing restriction command regarding a first contents view from among the plurality of contents views is obtained, restricts matching of a glasses apparatus with the first contents view.
US09076355B2 Crutch decoration
The present invention provides crutch decorations that when applied to a crutch form a substantially flat surface between two opposing crutch columns. The flat surface is optimally used for placing printed advertising, designs, pictures, and the like, on the crutch.
US09076340B2 Vehicle detecting system and method
A vehicle detecting system, a vehicle detecting method adapted for a vehicle, and a computer-readable storage medium encoded with a computer program are disclosed. The system controls two cameras to capture images in the front of the vehicle and at the back of the vehicle respectively, according to a speed and a direction of the vehicle. The system further determines whether or not two images from each camera are the same, if the two images from each camera are different, the vehicle is in a dangerous driving condition, and when times of the dangerous driving condition within a preset time period reaches a preset value, the system outputs a warning to prompt a driver.
US09076338B2 Travel control plan generation system and computer program
A travel control plan generating system 1 includes: upper level plan generating means 22a for generating an upper level plan corresponding to a travel policy of a vehicle A; lower level plan generating means 22b for generating a lower level plan, which is a plan for achieving the upper level plan and includes at least a travel course; lower level plan obtaining means 16, 30 for obtaining a lower level plan including at least a travel course of a peripheral vehicle B, C; evaluating means 24 for evaluating the lower level plan of the vehicle A in accordance with a predetermined index, taking into account the lower level plan of the peripheral vehicle B, C; and lower level plan selecting means 26 for selecting a lower level plan to be executed by the vehicle A on the basis of an evaluation performed by the evaluating means 24.
US09076333B2 Driving support device, driving support method, and driving support program
Information specifying an initial motion of a vehicle when travel is started on a road in a predetermined section is obtained, and information specifying an estimated motion, which is associated in advance with the initial motion, of the vehicle on the road in the predetermined section subsequent to the initial motion is also obtained. Based on the estimated motion, a guidance unit mounted in the vehicle provides guidance for supporting driving when traveling on the road in the predetermined section.
US09076332B2 Multi-objective optimization for real time traffic light control and navigation systems for urban saturated networks
A multiobjective management system for saturated traffic road networks comprising: green wave coordination of locally adaptive traffic control units, traffic movement optimization and live traffic route guidance. Current traffic congestion measurements on intersections are generated from local traffic cameras and remote air-borne conventional cameras and thermal sensing imaging cameras or satellite radar such as SAR/ISAR using optical image brightness analysis. At the first stage of traffic optimization, individual local intersection green times are computed based on current traffic congestion level. At the second stage optimization, the central traffic server uses a multiobjective approach to coordinate the current locally-optimized green times of the first stage and create input constraints for green-way coordination of plurality of traffic lights. The server updates dynamically current cycle start and green times on all network-connected traffic light controllers and also broadcasts recommended travel times, green times and green waves to all on-line client vehicle navigation units. Traffic server and individual client guidance units utilize novel time-dependent modifications of an A*-type algorithm to update current travel and recommended travel times and to execute fastest route searches.
US09076326B2 Systems and methods for traffic prioritization
Methods and apparatus are provided for traffic prioritization of surrounding air traffic for display onboard an aircraft. The apparatus includes a traffic data source configured to supply surrounding traffic data. The apparatus includes a traffic control module coupled to receive user selection data from the user input device and the surrounding traffic data. The traffic control module can be configured to determine a prioritization zone for prioritizing the surrounding air traffic to identify air traffic preceding the aircraft based on the user selection data, the range and the vertical speed of the surrounding air traffic, and set first traffic data that includes the surrounding air traffic within the prioritization zone listed by priority and second traffic data that includes the surrounding air traffic outside of the prioritization zone listed in received sequence. The apparatus displays a graphical user interface that includes the first traffic and the second traffic data.
US09076325B1 Wireless sensor with digital detector
A wireless sensor with digital detector for monitoring the environment surrounding the sensor. The wireless sensor with digital detector comprises a configurable wireless transceiver with quadrature down and up converters, memory to store the real time received in phase and quadrature phase samples, a bank of phase rotators to phase rotate the received stored samples and a bank of in phase and quadrature phase constellation level slicers to detect the received bits. A control processor utilizes the received information, received signal strength and timing information to estimate and calculate various environmental parameters which can be used to activate different devices.
US09076324B2 Remote control system for in-vehicle device
A remote control system includes an in-vehicle controller that is installed in a vehicle and controls in-vehicle devices installed in the vehicle; a mobile communication device that remotely controls the in-vehicle devices via the in-vehicle controller; and a wireless communication device that is installed in the vehicle and intervenes and establishes wireless communication between the in-vehicle controller and the mobile communication device, wherein the wireless communication device includes a reception-mode switching unit that switches between a reception standby mode with consumption of a standby current to prepare for reception from the mobile communication device and a reception dormant mode without consumption of a standby current in accordance with a time schedule.
US09076320B2 Apparatus and method for processing sensor signal
A sensor signal processing apparatus receives a sensor signal from a sensor in order to detect an object, determines whether an object exists from the received sensor signal, and if an object exists, the sensor signal processing apparatus generates an alarm signal, and it removes an alarm signal corresponding to a false alarm signal from the alarm signal based on at least one of a length and energy of the alarm signal.
US09076319B2 User interface broker for fire alarm systems
An interface system for providing a comprehensive user interface for alarm systems. The interface system may include two or more alarm system workstations, each having a user interface application installed thereon. One or more alarm panels may be connected to each of the alarm system workstations, and one or more points may be connected to each of the alarm panels. A broker workstation may be connected to the two or more alarm system workstations, and one or more client workstations may be connected to the broker workstation. A user interface broker may be installed on the broker workstation, wherein the user interface broker is configured to provide the one or more client workstations with a user interface that presents the status of, and that provides control over, all of the points.
US09076307B2 Methods and apparatus for an EGM bonus feature
A method of incorporating a bonus symbol into a plurality of symbols to be displayed in a display of an electronic gaming machine, the display adapted to display at least a selected portion of a plurality of standard symbols, the method including the steps of: determining a number of bonus symbols to be displayed; for each bonus symbol to be displayed, determining a location at which the bonus symbol is to be displayed within the plurality of standard symbols; incorporating a bonus symbol with a corresponding standard symbol for the determined location; whereby the bonus symbol is incorporated into the plurality of symbols without affecting the standard symbol probabilities.
US09076294B2 System and method of revealing the outcomes of real world wagers through timed reveals and reveal decay
The invention relates to systems and methods of selecting and placing real-world wagers responsive to one or more wager triggers, obtaining outcomes of the real-world wagers, facilitating user interactions with various interactive media, and revealing the outcomes of the real-world wagers through the interactive media to give an appearance that the outcomes of the real-world wagers resulted from the user interactions even though the outcomes resulted from the real-world wagers. The system may provide a time-conditioned reveal such that a certain action must be performed within some period of time (or by a deadline) to claim a potential payout. The system may provide a reveal decay, where the user may be given an opportunity to complete an action such that the longer it takes to complete the action, the payout amount that is revealed decreases to zero.
US09076287B2 Gaming device for wagering on multiple game outcomes
Systems and methods for wagering on game outcomes allow a player to wager on game outcomes resulting from linked gaming devices linked to a primary gaming device being played by the player. A primary game display shows game plays and outcomes and allows wagering on a primary game and a linked game display shows game plays and outcomes and allows wagering on linked games. Both the primary and linked gaming devices may be the same type of gaming device, or they may be two different types of gaming devices, such as gaming devices for playing slot games, card games, keno, and the like. Further, either or both of the primary and linked games may allow bonus game outcomes resulting in a bonus game having bonus game awards.
US09076285B2 Simulation of mechanical reels on a gaming machine
A spinning reel slot machine has increased versatility, while having reels that are aesthetically similar to traditional mechanical reels. In one embodiment, the slot machine includes a plurality of optical fibers having first ends optically coupled to a surface of an image display device and seconds ends defining a curved display surface for displaying simulated mechanical reels to a player. In another embodiment, one or more of the mechanical reels has a transparent window at a location where a symbol would normally be present. A video display displays a video symbol in the transparent window. In yet a further embodiment, one of the plurality of mechanical reels has a miniature image display located at selected ones of the symbol regions for providing video symbols for the game. In yet further embodiments, a symbol region can produce more than one symbol in response to exposure at certain wavelengths or polarizations of light.
US09076281B2 Cashless gaming system and method with monitoring
A wagering game system is described herein. In embodiments the wagering game system comprises a plurality of player terminals configured to present wagering games and to collect player activity information associated with the wagering games, the player activity information indicating player inputs and financial transactions. In embodiments, the wagering game system further comprises one or more account servers configured to receive the player activity information and to perform the financial transactions on player accounts and a monitoring system configured to receive the player activity information and to remotely disable ones of the plurality of player terminals.
US09076275B2 Vehicle measurement apparatus having a system-on-a-chip device and a sensor
A vehicle measurement apparatus and a method for measuring vehicle data are provided. For example, the vehicle measurement apparatus includes a system-on-a-chip (SoC) device configured to integrate a programmable module with a microcontroller unit to receive vehicle data, process the vehicle data, and communicate the processed vehicle data to a remote computer.
US09076269B2 Method and electronic device for creating a combined image
An object of the present invention is to provide a way of improving the stitching procedure.The object is achieved by a method in an electronic device for creating a combined image. The method comprises obtaining (701) a first set of at least two sub-images recorded by an array camera. The method further comprises obtaining (702) a second set of at least two sub-images recorded by the array camera. A first depth map is calculated for the first set of sub-images. The first depth map comprises information about a first plane of the sub-images and a second plane of the sub-images. The first plane being at a first distance from the point where the sub-images have been recorded, and the second plane being at a second distance from the point where the sub-images have been recorded. A second depth map is calculated for the second set of sub-images. The second depth map comprises information about the first plane and the second plane. The method further comprises stitching the first set of sub-images and the second set of sub-images in the first plane, and thereby obtaining a first stitched image. The first set of sub-images and the second set of sub-images are stitched in the second plane, and thereby obtaining a second stitched image. Finally the method comprises combining the first stitched image with the second stitched image and thereby creating the combined image.
US09076261B2 Virtual drafting tools
Various disclosed embodiments include methods and systems for creating a virtual geometric model. According to disclosed embodiments, a data processing system for creating a virtual geometric model includes at least one processor and a memory connected to the processor. The data processing system is configured to generate a virtual drafting tool and a virtual marking device. The data processing system is configured to position the virtual drafting tool on a page and to position the virtual marking device relative to the virtual drafting tool. The data processing system is configured to draw the geometric model on the page by laying down ink by the virtual marking device using the virtual drafting tool and to store the geometric model in the memory.
US09076259B2 Geospatial multiviewer
A geospatial multiviewer can include a geospatial application that provides geospatial data responsive to a user input, the geospatial data corresponding to a representation of at least one geographical region. A request engine is configured to provide a search query for requesting content from at least one data source. The search query is based at least in part on the geospatial data from the geospatial application. A graphics pipeline is configured to dynamically generate at least one transformation for adjusting objects in an output presentation in response to the user input. The output presentation is rendered based on the at least one transformation. The objects in the output presentation comprise received content and the representation of at least one geographical region.
US09076248B2 Display apparatus
According to one embodiment, a display apparatus includes an image projection unit, an information acquisition unit and a data supply unit. The image projection unit projects a light flux including an image toward a projection layer which is reflective and transmissive. The information acquisition unit acquires information relating to a position of a three-dimensional object superimposing portion of three-dimensional objects positioned at a road. The road extends from a proximal region of the external environment proximal to the projection layer toward a distal region of the external environment distal to the projection layer. The three-dimensional object superimposing portion is higher than a ground surface and viewable via the projection layer. The data supply unit supplies data relating to the image including a display object to the image projection unit based on the information. The display object is displayed along the three-dimensional object superimposing portion.
US09076244B2 Managing web page data in a composite document
A composite document system is implemented as instructions stored on a computer-readable medium. When executed on a processor, the instructions cause the processor to receive model data that describes a three-dimensional model of an object, where the three-dimensional model is generated using a modeling software, and where the model data conforms to a non-image format of the modeling software. The instructions further cause the processor to receive web page data that includes content and description of the content in a mark-up language, generate a composite document that includes the model data and the web page data, interpret the model data in the composite document to generate a visual representation of the three-dimensional model, and interpret the web page data in the composite document to generate a visual representation of the web page data.
US09076242B2 Automatic correction of skew in natural images and video
An electronic device and method use a camera to capture an image of an environment outside followed by identification of regions therein. A subset of the regions is selected, based on attributes of the regions, such as aspect ratio, height, and variance in stroke width. Next, a number of angles that are candidates for use as skew of the image are determined (e.g. one angle is selected for each region. based on peakiness of a histogram of the region, evaluated at different angles). Then, an angle that is most common among these candidates is identified as the angle of skew of the image. The just-described identification of skew angle is performed prior to classification of any region as text or non-text. After skew identification, at least all regions in the subset are rotated by negative of the skew angle, to obtain skew-corrected regions for use in optical character recognition.
US09076241B2 Methods and systems for detecting patch panel ports from an image having perspective distortion
A method of estimating one or more dimensions of a patch panel may include receiving an image of a patch panel that comprises a plurality of ports and one or more gaps, extracting, by a computing device, a region of interest from the received image, detecting, by the computing device, one or more possible port edges from the region of interest, fitting the detected possible port edges to a cross-ratio constancy model to determine a port-to-gap-length ratio associated with the patch panel, using the port-length-to-gap-length ratio to determine a location of one or more final port edges, and determining a location of one or more final ports based on the location of the final port edges.
US09076240B2 System, method and computer program for automated window memoization
The present invention provides a system, method and computer program providing automated window memoization which is an automated optimization of image processing. The method comprises inputting to a memoization compiler an image set, hardware or software code implementing one or more image processing algorithms, and one or more design parameters. The memoization compiler processes the image set for the image processing algorithms and implements hardware or software code for optimizing the image processing algorithms based on the design parameters.
US09076216B2 Method of image segmentation
A method of processing of photo and video images is disclosed which searches for a minimum of cost functions carried out at an N-number of image detail levels, from coarser to finer, and at each image detail level the image is divided into regions; each region is assigned a single segmentation value by a η-number of successive iterations. The value of the cost function for the seams at the region boundaries is calculated with different types of image segmentation, and for every region a segmentation value is chosen which minimizes the sum of the cost functions of the seams and data. The technical result is the segmentation of an image with little use of the memory resources of a mobile device while maintaining both resistance to image noise and operating speed.
US09076212B2 Motion tracking system for real time adaptive imaging and spectroscopy
This invention relates to a system that adaptively compensates for subject motion in real-time in an imaging system. An object orientation marker (30), preferably a retro-grate reflector (RGR), is placed on the head or other body organ of interest of a patient (P) during a scan, such as an MRI scan. The marker (30) makes it possible to measure the six degrees of freedom (x, y, and z-translations, and pitch, yaw, and roll), or “pose”, required to track motion of the organ of interest. A detector, preferably a camera (40), observes the marker (30) and continuously extracts its pose. The pose from the camera (40) is sent to the scanner (120) via an RGR processing computer (50) and a scanner control and processing computer (100), allowing for continuous correction of scan planes and position (in real-time) for motion of the patient (P). This invention also provides for internal calibration and for co-registration over time of the scanner's and tracking system's reference frames to compensate for drift and other inaccuracies that may arise over time.
US09076202B2 Systems and methods for improved visualization during minimally invasive procedures
Systems and methods are provided for performing a minimally invasive procedure in an automated or semi-automated fashion, where an imaging probe having an imaging modality compatible with the presence of an intraluminal medium is employed to record images that are processed to identify regions of interest and direct a medium displacement operation during a subsequent minimally invasive operation that benefits from the displacement of the intraluminal medium. The minimally invasive operation may include recording images with a second imaging modality, or may be a therapeutic treatment. The method is may be performed in real-time, where images obtained from the first imaging modality are processed in real time to determine whether or not the minimally invasive operation is to be performed at a given position.
US09076198B2 Information processing apparatus, information processing system, information processing method, program and recording medium
The present invention provides an information processing apparatus capable of accurately separating parenchymal cells and stromal cells from each other regardless of the staining intensity of the cells. The information processing apparatus is an information processing apparatus 100 including: an image processing unit 110 for smoothing a tissue sample image 150 obtained by staining and then imaging a biological tissue containing parenchymal cells 151 and stromal cells 152 so that luminance values of cell components of each of the parenchymal cells 151 become less than those of each of the stromal cells 152; and a mask generation unit 120 for generating, through generating a binary image by binarizing the tissue sample image 115 smoothed by the image processing unit 110, a mask 125 for removing a region of the stromal cells from the tissue sample image 115.
US09076196B2 Iron quantification of brain microbleeds
An automatic method for detection and quantification of localized sources of magnetic susceptibility in images using a computer with instructions for a parameter module; an image input and filtering module; a second image filtering module; and a pattern quantification module.
US09076192B2 Method of detecting and quantifying blur in a digital image
Method of detecting and quantifying blur in a digital image implementing a computer and comprising: —a step a) of obtaining a digital image; a step b) of obtaining a brightness parameter for each pixel on the basis of the digital image, the step b) comprising an operation of convolution with an edge detection matrix; a step c) of calculation of a score S1 comprising the maximum, calculated over all the pixels, of the brightness parameter obtained in step b); and a step d) a step of evaluating the digital image, the digital image being considered to be blurred if the score S1 obtained in step c) is strictly less than a first predetermined threshold, the score S1 providing a first quantity of blur present in the digital image.
US09076185B2 System and method for managing electronic real estate registry information
Electronic real estate registration systems include property transaction and location characteristic databases communicating via computer networks providing information related to transactions associated with registered real property interests linked to publicly recorded documentation that protect legal interests of parties and counterparties engaged in the public exchange of real property rights. Real property rights can be held or owned by a managed asset-titling entity thus share a registered asset identifier providing locational coordinates identifying real property interest assignments and transactional documentation in association with asset underwriting, asset performance, and asset class rating systems. Electronic real estate registry database devices capture, process, store, retrieve, transmit, and report useful and timely information concerning registered property interests, responding in a manner typically associated with exchange traded securities, providing borrowers, creditors, investors and governing regulators ready access to fair and clear valuation, underwriting and transactional records delineated by time, apportionments, and pricing of real property interests.
US09076178B2 System for tracking the successful recommendation of a good or service
A system for tracking the successful recommendation of a good/service comprising a mobile phone possessed by a receiver, a second mobile phone possessed by a recommender, the mobile phones send and receive communication messages; at least one database; and an intermediary system. The recommender composes a first communication message to the intermediary system including the mobile phone number of the mobile phone, a unique identifier of the recommender and a reference code for a good/service associated with the selected good/service. The intermediary system receives the first communication message; parses the message to identify separate information included therein; creates a new referral record including the unique identifier of the recommender, the mobile phone number of the mobile phone and the reference code for the recommended good/service; composes a recommendation message recommending the recommended good/service and sends the recommendation message to the mobile phone using a phone number having a unique identification.
US09076177B2 System and method for providing commodity information, and storage medium containing related program
According to one embodiment, A system for providing commodity information includes a storage module configured to store a plurality of data files, each data file corresponding to a commodity and including a plurality of data fields, each of the data fields comprising: commodity identification information data, symbol identification data, detailed commodity information data, and producer information data, a first recognition module configured to identify the commodity by comparing an input commodity image to the commodity identification information data, a second recognition module configured to identify a symbol on the commodity by comparing an input symbol image to the symbol identification data, and an output module. The output module outputs the detailed commodity information data based on the identified commodity, and outputs the producer information data based on the identified symbol.
US09076173B2 Product identification using multiple services
A method and a system to determine a product identification of an item for sale in an online publication system is shown and described. For example, the method may be initiated when an input identifying an item is received from a user. An input type (e.g., image, text, audio recording, etc.) may be determined and one or more identification services may be selected based on the input type. At least a portion of the input is transmit to the selected one or more identification services. A product identification is received from each of the one or more identification services. Based on the received product identifications, a recommended product identification is determined. The recommended product identification is transmitted to the user.
US09076171B2 Automatic electronic payments via mobile communication device with imaging system
A graphical payment identifier is used to facilitate the automatic processing of an electronic payment. A graphical identifier payment system receives a request from a payment processing entity for a onetime use graphical payment identifier. In response, a onetime use graphical payment identifier to be displayed by the payment processing entity is generated. A request for user payment information by the payment processing entity is encoded in the graphical payment identifier, which is transmitted to the payment processing entity for display. The graphical payment identifier being displayed by the payment processing entity is captured by a registered user operated computing device. In response, the requested user payment information is transmitted to the payment processing entity, such that the electronic payment is executed automatically, without the user manually entering the requested payment information or providing a credit card.
US09076163B1 User ad creation
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, are provided for handling user-created advertisements. In one aspect, a method includes receiving data from a first end user to create a first advertisement; receiving targeting criteria associated with the first advertisement, the targeting criteria indicating a second end user to whom the first advertisement is to be shown: receiving, from a client device, a first indication of the second end user browsing a webpage; and providing the first advertisement to be displayed to the second user on the webpage upon receiving the first indication.
US09076161B2 System for printing advertisements on a ticket
Systems and methods for printing tickets are provided. In some embodiments, the printed ticket is a lottery ticket. According to a particular system provided in the present disclosure, the system comprises a server configured to manage the printing of tickets and advertisements. The system also comprises a ticket printing device operating in a predetermined location, the ticket printing device configured to print an advertisement on a ticket. A network is configured to enable communication between the server and the ticket printing device. The ticket printing device is configured to print the advertisement based at least on time parameters, the time parameters including at least a time period when an advertiser intends for the advertisement to be printed.
US09076160B2 System and method for suggesting recommended keyword
Provided are a system and method of suggesting at least one recommended keyword. The recommended keyword suggestion system may include a database storage device, the system including a keyword extracting unit to extract at least one keyword associated with a certain keyword from a related search word database stored in the database storage device, a display score providing unit to provide at least one display score for the at least one extracted keyword, each of the at least one display score being associated with an expected revenue from advertisement of each of the at least one extracted keyword, and a recommended keyword determining unit to determine at least one recommended keyword to be displayed for the certain keyword among the at least one extracted keyword, based on the provided at least one display score.
US09076142B2 Smart electronic wallet or smart e-wallet
The electronic wallet comprises a card duplicator, an electronic wallet or e-wallet, and an e-card. The card duplicator and the electronic wallet or e-wallet comprises a personalized authentication security card. Each electronic wallet or e-wallet has only one e-card. Single users are only required to have the electronic wallet or e-wallet. Business and family plans are required to have both the card duplicator and the electronic wallet or e-wallet. The card duplicator and the electronic wallet or e-wallet store credit card and personal data into the system. The e-card works as an interface device for the consumers. The e-card functions like normal credit card however the e-card is equipped with superior security system compared to a normal credit card.
US09076129B2 Methods and systems for managing group chats among team members
A computer system for hosting electronic group chat is provided. The computer system includes a memory device for storing data and a processor coupled in communication with the memory device. The processor is programmed to electronically host a plurality of chat rooms, associate a first chat room of the plurality of chat rooms with a first element inputted into the computer system, and transmit chat communications between a plurality of users of the chat rooms.
US09076126B2 Document management system
A computer-based architecture and system provides operational control of the document management process, permitting a client seamless access to sophisticated document production operations. Direct client control over SEC compliant document management permits faster more accurate document production operations.
US09076125B2 Visualization of participant relationships and sentiment for electronic messaging
Providing for graphical visualization of contextual information pertinent to electronic messaging is described herein. By way of example, contextual network usage information or messaging disposition can be determined for a set of participants to electronic communication. The contextual information is compiled into categories and organized at least as a function of category. The compiled data can be transformed into a visualization of user disposition or context and output to a user device as a multi-dimensional graphical rendering. By rendering contextual data graphically, the rich and diverse information available from usage histories, current user context and user dispositions can be output and consumed rapidly and efficiently, resulting in productive electronic interaction.
US09076120B2 System and method for locating sample vessels
A system and method for locating sample vessels are presented. The system comprises a holder having an array of positions for holding sample vessels. An information tag is attached to the holder for storing and/or retrieving machine-readable information related to the positions of sample vessels with respect to the array of positions. The system further comprises a handheld device capable of reading information on the information tag. The handheld device has an input for inputting information related to a to-be-located sample vessel and an output for outputting a position of the to-be-located sample vessel with respect to the array of positions based on information stored in the information tag. The method comprises inputting information related to a to-be-located sample vessel into the handheld device, reading information stored in the holder's information tag with the handheld device; and outputting a position of the to-be-located sample vessel.
US09076119B2 RFID-based inventory monitoring systems and methods with self-adjusting operational parameters
An inventory monitoring controller maintains information reflecting a current inventory of articles based on radio frequency identification (RFID) tag identifying information received from one or more RFID tag readers in the context of inventory polling operations. In an embodiment, the controller also adjusts an operational parameter (e.g., a missing article detection threshold or a variable polling parameter) based on an analysis of the RFID tag identifying information. For example, a variable polling parameter may be adjusted in response to an occurrence of a triggering event (e.g., an inventory change indicated by the RFID tag identifying information or an occurrence of a temporal event), and a missing article detection threshold may be adjusted based on historical information relating to the detection of (or failure to detect) a particular RFID tag.
US09076118B1 Harvest advisory modeling using field-level analysis of weather conditions, observations and user input of harvest condition states, wherein a predicted harvest condition includes an estimation of standing crop dry-down rates, and an estimation of fuel costs
A modeling framework for evaluating the impact of weather conditions on farming and harvest operations applies real-time, field-level weather data and forecasts of meteorological and climatological conditions together with user-provided and/or observed feedback of a present state of a harvest-related condition to agronomic models and to generate a plurality of harvest advisory outputs for precision agriculture. A harvest advisory model simulates and predicts the impacts of this weather information and user-provided and/or observed feedback in one or more physical, empirical, or artificial intelligence models of precision agriculture to analyze crops, plants, soils, and resulting agricultural commodities, and provides harvest advisory outputs to a diagnostic support tool for users to enhance farming and harvest decision-making, whether by providing pre-, post-, or in situ-harvest operations and crop analyses.
US09076116B2 Alpha-chain constraints for process planning
A method is provided that includes receiving process-related information describing a process for production of a product, including a logical sequence of tasks to produce respective internal products of the process. The method also includes constructing a schedule for the process based on the process-related information, with the process schedule being for execution of at least some of the tasks each of which utilizes or requires inputs including temporally a last input. Construction of the process schedule includes separating each of at least some of the respective tasks into a closure portion that requires availability of the last input of its task before being initiated, and a distinct precursor portion capable of being initiated before the respective last input is available. The closure portions of the respective tasks may be temporally sequenced without intervening precursor portions, and the precursor portions may be prepended to respective, temporally-sequenced closure portions.
US09076105B2 Automated plant problem resolution
The illustrative embodiments provide an apparatus for performing horticultural tasks comprising a number of data storage devices, a diagnostic system, and a processor unit. The number of data storage devices includes a horticultural knowledge base, a logistics database, and a home site database. The processor unit executes the diagnostic system and accesses the horticultural knowledge base, the logistics database, and the home site database on the number of data storage devices to identify a horticultural need for a plurality of plants.
US09076100B2 Image forming apparatus, print system, and recording medium configured to analyze job data of a job and obtaining list display information
An image forming apparatus constituting a print system includes a reception unit configured to receive a job, a determination unit configured to analyze job data of the job, and determine whether or not the job involves a storage job for performing data storage processing to a non-volatile storage unit of the image forming apparatus, an analysis unit, and a communication unit. In a case where the job is determined to involve the storage job, the analysis unit performs simplified analysis processing for obtaining list display information for displaying storage target data stored by the storage job prior to the data storage processing. When the communication unit receives a display request for displaying a list of jobs including the storage job from a second image forming apparatus, the communication unit transmits, to the second image forming apparatus, list information including information about the storage target data.
US09076097B1 Pausing and resuming a three-dimensional printjob
A method comprising beginning a print job on a three-dimensional printer to manufacture an object, pausing the print job while the object is incomplete, determining the state of the print job when the print job was paused, and printing information onto the incomplete object, wherein the information includes an identification of the print job. The information preferably takes the form of a matrix barcode printed on a surface of the incomplete object that will later be overwritten.
US09076093B2 Metal card and manufacturing method thereof
Provided is a metal card including a metal card sheet made of duralumin and an anodized layer formed by anodizing a surface of the metal card sheet, wherein a background color or pattern of the metal card is determined according to a composition of electrolyte of the anodizing for forming the anodized layer.
US09076090B2 Card having structure for detaching and attaching to another card
A card is provided having structure, such as a teeth-like pattern, tongue and groove, etc., along at least one edge thereof. The structure is configured for matching or mating with a corresponding similar pattern along at least one edge of another card for selectively attaching and detaching the two cards. The card can be a credit card or other type of card having at least one magnetic stripe for effecting payment for purchases. The card can also be other types of cards, such as gift cards, library cards, identification cards, etc.
US09076087B2 Electronic apparatus having display function and touch panel function and image forming apparatus having display function and touch panel function
An electronic apparatus includes a display unit that includes a display screen including a touch panel configured to display an image and to accept an input from an operator made by touching the touch panel, a touch position detection unit that detects a position touched by the operator on the display screen of the display unit, upon receipt of a detection signal outputted from the display unit according to detection by the touch panel, a calibration execution unit that executes calibration to correct a shift of the touch position detected by the touch position detection unit, and a human body sensor that outputs a detection signal upon detecting that the operator has come to a position spaced from the electronic apparatus by a predetermined distance. The calibration execution unit executes the calibration upon receipt of the detection signal from the human body sensor.
US09076086B2 Display control apparatus, display control method, and storage medium storing instructions for display control apparatus
A display control apparatus includes a control section which controls a display to display contents in a first display area, a second display area, and a third display area on the display. The control section is configured to: display at least one setting value in the first display area for each of a plurality of setting items; allow a user to select one of the at least one setting value in a particular setting item; receive a user's selection of the setting value for each of the setting items; display the selected setting value in the second display area in receipt of the user's selection; determine whether there is an exclusive setting value in the setting values displayed in the first display area and belonging to any setting item other than the particular setting item, the exclusive setting value being inadequate to be selected with the selected setting value.
US09076084B2 Image forming apparatus having a default mode and method of operating the image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a user interface unit to display a user interface window to receive a user command, a job management unit to perform a job corresponding to the user command, a storage unit to store a plurality of user interface windows and UI information on a user interface window to be displayed at a pre-set point of time among the plurality of user interface windows, and a control unit to control the user interface unit so as to update the UI information stored in the storage unit based on the user command received with respect to the job and display a user interface window corresponding to the updated UI information at the pre-set point of time.
US09076081B2 Multi-class discriminating device
A multi-class discriminating device for judging to which class a feature represented by data falls. The device has a first unit for generating plural first hierarchical discriminating devices for discriminating one from N, and a second unit for combining score values output respectively from the plural first hierarchical discriminating devices to generate a second hierarchical feature vector and for entering the second hierarchical feature vector to generate plural second hierarchical discriminating devices for discriminating one from N. When data is entered, the plural first hierarchical discriminating devices output score values, and these score values are combined together to generate the second hierarchical feature vector. When the second hierarchical feature vector is entered, the second hierarchical discriminating device which outputs the maximum score value is selected. The class corresponding to the selected second hierarchical discriminating device is discriminated as the class, into which the feature represented by the entered data falls.
US09076078B2 Image processing apparatus, method and program for determining arrangement of vectors on a distribution map
There is provided an image processing apparatus that includes a feature data calculating unit, a distribution map generating unit, and a display control unit. The feature data calculating unit calculates feature data of each image contained in a group of sequential images that are taken by an image taking apparatus. The distribution map generating unit includes a representative vector calculating unit and a representative vector arrangement determining unit, and generates a distribution map that represents an overall trend of the group of sequential images. The representative vector calculating unit calculates a predetermined number of representative vectors that represent a plurality of images contained in the group of sequential images. The representative vector arrangement determining unit determines arrangement of the calculated representative vectors on the distribution map. The display control unit displays the distribution map on a display unit.
US09076070B2 Methods and apparatus to detect differences between images
Methods and apparatus to detect differences between images are disclosed. Example methods disclosed herein to recognize different image versions include generating a first signature representative of a sample image, and obtaining a reference image associated with a second signature determined to substantially match the first image signature. Such example methods also include generating a third signature representative of a first region of the sample image corresponding spatially to a first region of the reference image associated with a first version of the reference image, the third signature being different from the first signature. Such example methods further include comparing the generated third signature and a fourth signature representative of the first region of the reference image to determine whether the sample image corresponds to the first version of the reference image.
US09076067B2 Information processing apparatus and method for classifier-based object detection
An information processing apparatus includes an information input section that reads input image information, a cumulative image information generator that generates cumulative image information for pixels corresponding to positions of pixels of a prescribed pixel pattern in the read input image information, and a memory controller that stores in the cumulative image information holding memory the cumulative image information generated in the cumulative image information generator. This configuration allows memory resources necessary for holding the cumulative image information to be reduced.
US09076049B1 Encoding RFID tags of grouped items
Systems, methods of operation, and software are provided, for encoding RFID tags with which a predefined group of items is tagged. Encoding is by writing applicable Electronic Product Codes (EPCs) to the tags, so as to identify the individual items in the group. A base code can be read from each tag, and the applicable EPC is then written to it.
US09076048B2 Biometric identification, authentication and verification using near-infrared structured illumination combined with 3D imaging of the human ear
A biometric identification or authentication images an ear of the user. A source of near-infrared structured light illuminates the ear with at least one structured pattern and an image acquisition device captures a near-infrared image of an ear illuminated with a structured pattern of near-infrared light. An analysis area of the near-infrared image is processed to extract identifying features and it is determined if the identifying features correspond to an authorized user. The analysis area of the near-infrared image is processed to determine a reflectivity of the ear and it is determined if the reflectivity corresponds to an ear of a living person. The user is authenticated if the classified identifying features correspond to an authorized user and the reflectivity corresponds to an ear of a living person.
US09076045B2 Automatic content analysis method and system
A method of analyzing images over time is provided herein. The method includes: capturing a plurality of images each associated with specified objects in specified locations such that a specified area is covered; specifying regions of interest (ROI) in each of the captured images; repeating the capturing with at least one of: a different location, a different orientation, and a different timing such that the captured images are associated with the specified covered area; and comparing the captured imaged produced in the capturing with the captured imaged produced in the repeating of the capturing to yield comparison between the captured objects by comparing specified ROI.
US09076042B2 Method of generating index elements of objects in images captured by a camera system
A camera system comprises an image capturing device, object detection module, object tracking module, and match classifier. The object detection module receives image data and detects objects appearing in one or more of the images. The object tracking module temporally associates instances of a first object detected in a first group of the images. The first object has a first signature representing features of the first object. The match classifier matches object instances by analyzing data derived from the first signature of the first object and a second signature of a second object detected in a second image. The second signature represents features of the second object derived from the second image. The match classifier determine whether the second signature matches the first signature. A training process automatically configures the match classifier using a set of possible object features.
US09076037B2 Image processing apparatus and method
A background image holding unit is configured to hold a background image. A threshold table holding unit is configured to hold a threshold. A previous frame image holding unit is configured to hold a previous frame image. An object extraction unit is configured to perform a background subtraction process of calculating difference values between the background image and a latest image and detecting a pixel whose calculated difference value is equal to or larger than the threshold as an extracted object, and configured to perform a process of judging the magnitude of difference between the background image and latest image. The object extraction unit is configured to update the background image and threshold in accordance with the magnitude of difference between the background image and latest image.
US09076031B2 Image capture apparatus, control method of image capture apparatus, and recording medium
An image capture apparatus include transmission unit for transmitting first feature data concerning a face region included in an image captured by an image sensor to an external apparatus, reception unit for receiving a matching result between the first feature data and second feature data concerning a sub object from the external apparatus, storage unit for storing third feature data concerning a main object in a predetermined storage area in advance, matching unit for matching the first feature data with the third feature data and display unit for identifiably displaying, on a display device, the face region recognized as the sub object in the matching result received by the reception unit and the face region recognized as the main object in the matching result obtained by the matching unit.
US09076030B2 Liveness detection
The present disclosure concerns a method of verifying the presence of a living face in front of a camera (112), the method including: capturing by said camera a sequence of images of a face; detecting a plurality of features of said face in each of said images; measuring parameters associated with said detected features to determine whether each of a plurality of liveness indicators is present in said images; determining whether or not said face is a living face based on the presence in said images of a combination of at least two of said liveness indicators.
US09076029B2 Low threshold face recognition
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, are disclosed for reducing the impact of lighting conditions and biometric distortions, while providing a low-computation solution for reasonably effective (low threshold) face recognition. In one aspect, the methods include processing a captured image of a face of a user seeking to access a resource by conforming a subset of the captured face image to a reference model. The reference model corresponds to a high information portion of human faces. The methods further include comparing the processed captured image to at least one target profile corresponding to a user associated with the resource, and selectively recognizing the user seeking access to the resource based on a result of said comparing.
US09076025B2 Card connector
A card connector includes an insulating body defining at least one receiving cavity for receiving an electronic card, electrical terminals disposed in the insulating body and projecting into the receiving cavity for contacting with the electronic card, and a securing part. One wall of the receiving cavity is opened with a slot and a ring-shaped receiving groove communicated with the slot and penetrating through the wall to communicate with the receiving cavity. A pillar is formed in the receiving groove. The securing part has a semi-ring elastic portion sleeved round the pillar and located in the receiving groove, and a pair of positioning arms parallelly extending from free ends of the elastic portion to be inserted in the slot and elastically abut against two inner sidewalls of the slot. The elastic portion projects into the receiving cavity for elastically resisting against one side edge of the electronic card.
US09076021B2 Encryption/decryption for data storage system with snapshot capability
A method for managing access to encrypted data of a data storage system storing snapshot data, a snapshot providing a previous point-in-time copy of data in a volume of the data storage system, wherein the data storage system utilizes changing encryption keys for write data. For each snapshot, the method stores at least one decryption key identifier for each decryption key corresponding to an encryption key utilized to encrypt data written to a volume since a previous snapshot was committed to disk, and associates the at least one decryption key identifier with the snapshot. A key table associating decryption key identifiers with corresponding decryption keys is provided, and based on the key table and the at least one decryption key identifier associated with the snapshot, one or more decryption keys required for accessing encrypted data associated with the snapshot are determined. Decryption key identifiers may be stored in snapshot metadata.
US09076015B2 Methods for granting access to resources modifiable by users in a computer environment, and resources structured therefore
Method for accessing a resource in a data-processing environment. The resource includes a set of objects. The data-processing environment is capable of storing in association with at least one object of the resource at least one modified object. The data-processing environment is capable of storing in association with such an object information of degree of elaboration. The method performs the steps of identifying, for each object of the resource to which corresponds at least a modified object, by using the information of degree of elaboration, at least a most elaborate version of said object, and assembling the objects thus identified for them to be displayed in the resource.
US09076013B1 Managing requests for security services
Embodiments of systems and methods are described for managing requests for security services to a provider of computing resources. In some implementations, a user can request that security services be provided to analyze or test a target network. For example, the user can request that security services conduct penetration testing of the target network in order to detect vulnerabilities with the target network's security infrastructure or configuration. The computing resource provider can dynamically provide the security services to the target network, for example, by instantiating one or more virtual machines that begin security testing of the target network in response to the user's request. In some embodiments, the provider of the security services may instantiate a security virtual machine instance (VMI) that can be connected to a customer's network using a secure connection, such as a virtual private network. The virtual machine instance can be physically located outside the customer's network while functioning as part of the customer's network. Thus, the security VMI can test security from either outside the network or from inside the network. In some embodiments, the VMI may test at multiple locations of the customer's network, for example, by establishing connections to multiple locations on the customer network.
US09076007B2 Portable data support with watermark function
A portable data carrier (1) includes a non-volatile memory (11), a processor (15) and a watermark application (131) executable by the processor (15) which is also stored on the data carrier (1). The watermark application (131) is configured to check (152) data (110, 140) stored on the data carrier (1) or data intended to be stored on the data carrier (1) as to the presence of a digital watermark, or to mark (151) such data (110, 140) with a digital watermark. The check (152) or marking (151) is carried out on the data carrier (1) and after the check (152) or marking (151) the checked or marked data (110, 140) are stored in the non-volatile memory (11) in order to remain there for an indefinite time.
US09075997B2 Global variable security analysis
A method includes determining selected global variables in a program for which flow of the selected global variables through the program is to be tracked. The selected global variables are less than all the global variables in the program. The method includes using a static analysis performed on the program, tracking flow through the program for the selected global variables. In response to one or more of the selected global variables being used in security-sensitive operations in the flow, use is analyzed of each one of the selected global variables in a corresponding security-sensitive operation. In response to a determination the use may be a potential security violation, the potential security violation is reported. Apparatus and computer program products are also disclosed.
US09075996B2 Evaluating a security stack in response to a request to access a service
A process to evaluate a request to access a service received from a user's computing device having a software stack and a software stack provider over a computer network is disclosed. Prior to providing access to the service, a determination is made as to whether the software stack meets a set of conditions. If the set of conditions are met, the software stack provides verification information. The software stack provider is asked to validate the verification information. Access to the service if the software stack provider validates that the set of conditions are met.
US09075993B2 System and method for selectively grouping and managing program files
A method in one embodiment includes determining a frequency range corresponding to a subset of a plurality of program files on a plurality of hosts in a network environment. The method also includes generating a first set of counts including a first count that represents an aggregate amount of program files in a first grouping of one or more program files of the subset, where each of the one or more program files of the first grouping includes a first value of a primary attribute. In specific embodiments, each program file is unknown. In further embodiments, the primary attribute is one of a plurality of file attributes provided in file metadata. Other specific embodiments include either blocking or allowing execution of each of the program files of the first grouping. More specific embodiments include determining a unique identifier corresponding to at least one program file of the first grouping.
US09075992B2 Systems and methods for identifying, deterring and/or delaying attacks to a network using shadow networking techniques
Systems (100) and methods (2100) for identifying, deterring and/or delaying malicious attacks being waged on a Computer Network (“CN”). The methods involve implementing a Mission Plan (“MP”) at a first Network Node (“NN”). MP (1900, 1902) specifies that: a first IDentity Parameter (“IDP”) for a second NN has numerous possible values associated therewith; and at least two possible values are to be used in communications to and from the second NN in different timeslots of a time frame (2020-2026). At the first NN, a value for the first IDP, which is contained in a received packet, is compared with the possible values specified in MP to determine if the value is a “correct” value for a current timeslot. If it is determined that the value is not “correct” for the current timeslot, then the first NN performs actions to identify, deter or delay a possible malicious attack on CN.
US09075985B2 Restricted transmogrifying driver platform
A restricted transmogrifying driver platform is described herein. In one or more implementations, a platform is provided that enables a restricted execution environment for virtual private network (VPN) drivers and other transmogrifying drivers. The platform may be implemented as an operating system component that exposes an interface through which drivers may register with the platform and be invoked to perform functions supported by the platform. The restricted execution environment places one or more restrictions upon transmogrifying drivers that operate via the platform. For instance, execution may occur in user mode on a per-user basis and within a sandbox. Further, the platform causes associated drivers to run as background processes with relatively low privileges. Further, the platform may suspend the drivers and control operations of the driver by scheduling of background tasks. Accordingly, exposure of the transmogrifying drivers to the system is controlled and limited through the platform.
US09075980B2 Integrity protected smart card transaction
Systems, methods, and technologies for configuring a conventional smart card and client machine, and for performing a smart card authorization using the configured smart card and client. Further, the combination of methods provides for mutual authentication—authentication of the client to the user, and authentication of the user to the client. The authentication methods include presenting a specified token to the user sufficient to authenticate the client to the user and thus protect the user-provided PIN. Security is strengthened by using an integrity key based on approved client system configurations. Security is further strengthened by calculating a PIN′ value based on a user-specified PIN and a modifier and using the PIN′ value for unlocking the smart card.
US09075971B2 Information processing system, image processing apparatus, user device, control method, and storage medium
A mediation service accepts a coordination instruction for coordinating a web application server with a coordination device from a web browser, generates a script to be authenticated by an authentication method corresponding to the server, and transmits the generated script to the coordination destination service providing system indicated by the coordination instruction. The web browser transmits authentication information or an authentication token, which is obtained in response to an input operation on an authentication information input screen displayed by execution of the script, to the coordination device. Then, the coordination device receives and saves the authentication information or the authentication token.
US09075968B2 Dynamic creation of a temporary administrative user
In a computing system environment for administratively installing MSI applications on one or more computing devices of a remote user, methods and apparatus include creating a temporary administrative user on the computing devices. Upon installation, the temporary administrative user is removed and the application is used normally. Preceding installation, however, determinations are made regarding whether the MSI application requires the presence of the user. If so, creation of the temporary administrative user occurs on the fly by software, indicated by way of an administrator of the environment on a computing device other than the one being installed with the application. In this manner, MSI applications, which oftentimes require the presence of an actual user, can be successfully installed without their presence. They can also be installed without the security risks of a generic user common to all computing device or installed immediately without waiting for a first user to log on.
US09075959B2 Application builder for industrial automation
A control system development platform is provided. The platform includes a shell component adapted to support development of a control systems application. An abstract model is associated with the shell component to facilitate development of the control systems applications.
US09075955B2 Managing permission settings applied to applications
Some aspects of what is described here relate to managing permission settings applied to applications on a mobile device. Multiple management policies that apply to an application associated with a perimeter on a device are identified. A priority ranking for each management policy is determined for the application based on the perimeter with which the application is associated. A permission setting based on the priority rankings is applied to the application.
US09075952B2 Controlling bandwidth allocations in a system on a chip (SoC)
In one embodiment, a fabric of a processor such as a system on a chip includes at least one data buffer including a plurality of entries each to store data to be transferred to and from a plurality of agents and to and from a memory, a request tracker to maintain track of pending requests to be output to an ordered domain of the fabric, and an output throttle logic to control allocation into the ordered domain between write transactions from a core agent and read completion transactions from the memory. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09075947B2 Input/output cell design for thin gate oxide transistors with restricted poly gate orientation
An input/output circuit layout has a first section in which first transistors having a thicker gate oxide are located and a second section in which second transistors having a thinner gate oxide are located. Due to process technology constraints, the gates of all of the second transistors are oriented in a single common direction. The second section has a perimeter having a square shape including a first edge and a second edge adjacent to the first edge. First connection pins coupled to the second transistors are provided with an orientation that extends inwardly from and perpendicular to the first edge. Second connection pins coupled to the second transistors are provided with an orientation that extends inwardly from and perpendicular to said second edge. The square shape and presence of pins on adjacent first and second edges permits rotation of the second section to fit within different orientations of the layout.
US09075946B2 Method for designing semiconductor integrated circuit
A semiconductor integrated circuit according to one embodiment includes a plurality of flip-flop groups configured by dividing a plurality of flip-flops, connected in series, for carrying out a serial operation of serially transferring data, a continuous signal determination circuit configured to output a first signal if outputs of the flip-flops contained in the flip-flop group match, and output a second signal in other cases; and a clock gating circuit configured not to provide a clock signal when receiving the first signal and to provide a clock signal when receiving the second signal with respect to the flip-flops other than a head of the flip-flop group.
US09075943B2 Mesh number prediction method, analyzing apparatus and computer-readable storage medium
A mesh number prediction method obtains a mesh length for a case in which a mesh having an arbitrary shape is created by approximating an entire analyzing target by a three-dimensional (3D) mesh model based on data of a 3D surface model of the analyzing target, obtains a mesh number of each part forming the analyzing target for a case in which a mesh having an arbitrary shape is created by approximating each part by a 3D mesh model based on the mesh length, and obtains a predicted total mesh number of the entire analyzing target from a ratio of volumes of the entire analyzing target and each part based on the mesh number.
US09075941B2 Method for optimizing electrodeposition process of a plurality of vias in wafer
The presently claimed invention provides a method for optimizing an electrodeposition process of a plurality of vias in a wafer. Instead of simulating a large number of via on the wafer for via filling, a representative via is selected with the maximum value of critical factor, which is a function of process parameters. The filling of the representative via is simulated with different sampling points to find out the filling goodness in order to find out the optimized process windows of process parameters. An optimizer is also disclosed, which either provides sampling points or reduces sampling points under artificial neural network method. Calculation of filling goodness is used for evaluating via filling quality and further comparing among via fillings simulated at different sampling points. Consequently, the method of present invention is able to shorten the simulation time for via filling as well as provide a process window with high accuracy.
US09075939B2 Method for co-simulation of two or more mathematical models
A method for the co-simulation of two or more interacting mathematical models in which each model has at least one input port and one output port for inputting and outputting values of parameters in a predefined parameter protocol. The unit of measurement is identified for each parameter in the model and a scaling factor is then generated to equalize the units of measurement for each parameter in each model. The parameter protocol for each port is then determined and a virtual bus with unique locations is configured for each parameter in the models. The parameters from the models are then configured as a function of the parameter protocol so that the same parameters from different models are associated with the same location in the virtual bus.
US09075938B2 Method and apparatus for mapping of multiple-floor structures
A method for mapping a multiple-floor structure includes building a plurality of maps that includes one map for each of at least two of the floors, detecting a set of anchor points, where the set of anchor points includes at least one anchor point on each of the maps, linking the anchor points to produce a set of linked anchor points, and aligning the maps around the set of linked anchor points to produce a set of aligned maps. A method for mapping a structure using a single robot includes generating, by the robot, a first map at a first point in time, storing the first map, generating, by the same robot, a second map at a second point in time subsequent to the first point in time, and aggregating the first map and the second map to produce an aggregated map.
US09075934B2 Reticle defect correction by second exposure
Correction of reticle defects, including reticle weak spots or shortcomings, is accomplished with a second exposure. Embodiments include obtaining a reticle with a pattern corresponding to a wafer pattern design, exposing a wafer with the reticle, modifying the design, designating variations between the design and the modified design as reticle defects, and exposing the wafer with correction patterns containing structure corresponding to the modified design at defect positions. Other embodiments include modifying, eliminating, and/or shifting the pattern near a reticle blank defect position, and exposing a wafer with the reticle and with a correction pattern containing structure corresponding to the design at a defect position; modifying a patterned reticle surface layer near a defect forming an expanded defect, exposing a wafer with the modified reticle and with an expanded defect correction pattern; and exposing a wafer with a reticle and with a correction pattern larger than a detected reticle defect.
US09075917B2 Testing framework for dynamic web pages
A system and method for bucket testing includes: retrieving a user's information from a user in a bucket testing group when a request to serve a web page is received; determining from the user's information if the user has an active bucket identifier associated with the user's account in a persistent store; retrieving bucket parameters from the user's information when it is determined that the user has an active bucket identifier; determining if the bucket parameters are within a range assigned to the bucket testing group; passing the bucket parameters to the server; and loading configuration and files associated with the active bucket identifier.
US09075915B2 Managing window focus while debugging a graphical user interface program
An embodiment of the present invention utilizes the abilities of an operating system to manage the window focus while debugging a graphical user interface program. In an example, a debugger program intercepts a breakpoint in the code of a graphical user interface computer program undergoing automated testing by a separate computer program. The debugger program instructs the operating system to save states of the window focus. Responsive to determining the breakpoint condition has ended, the debugger program instructs the operating system to restore saved states of the window that had focus prior to the breakpoint condition. Another embodiment of the present invention arranges similar window focus management where an operating system on its own is unable to save and restore states of the window that had focus prior to the breakpoint condition.
US09075913B2 Validation of applications for graphics processing unit
The techniques described in this disclosure are directed to validating an application that is to be executed on a graphics processing unit (GPU). For example, a validation server device may receive code of the application. The validation server device may provide some level of assurance that the application satisfies one or more performance criteria. In this manner, the probability of a problematic application executing on the device that includes the GPU may be reduced.
US09075911B2 System and method for usage pattern analysis and simulation
Systems and methods are provided for analyzing usage patterns. In certain embodiments, a system includes a scenario observer, a scenario associator, and a scenario analyzer. The scenario observer is configured to acquire event data relating to a plurality of events on a system having software and hardware, wherein the plurality of events comprises user input. The scenario associator is configured to associate the event data with a plurality of scenarios. The scenario analyzer configured to analyze the plurality of scenarios to identify usage patterns of the system.
US09075905B2 Using audio video device as health monitor
An IPTV can receive a user name and present a screen enabling a user by means of a remote control to select health information categories, inputting numeric parameters into the selected categories which can be uploaded to an Internet server for analysis and viewed by the user for subsequent monitoring/charting.
US09075898B1 Generating and ranking incremental search suggestions for personal content
Providing incremental search suggestions from a content database include accessing the content database to determine possible candidates for the search suggestions, scoring each of the candidates based at least partially on a non-monotonic document frequency function, where candidates that appear a first amount corresponding to a relatively frequent occurrence in the content database and candidates that appear a second amount corresponding to a relatively infrequent occurrence in the content database both score lower than candidates that appear in the content database with a frequency that is between the first amount and the second amount, and ordering the possible candidates based on at least the scoring. Possible candidates may include named entities and n-grams. The n-grams may only be unigrams and bigrams. Stop words may be filtered out of the n-grams. Scoring may include taking into account term frequency.
US09075897B2 Storing and searching fingerprints derived from media content based on a classification of the media content
Attributes are identified in media content. A classification value of the media content is computed based on the identified attributes. Thereafter, a fingerprint derived from the media content is stored or searched for based on the classification value of the media content.
US09075888B2 Information processing apparatus
A procedure includes: receiving a request to monitor a target monitored item of the computer from a first information processing apparatus; inquiring the first information processing apparatus for a first monitoring condition; and determining a second information processing apparatus by referring to monitoring information. The monitoring information includes information indicating a specific monitored item and a monitoring condition for monitoring the specific monitored item in association with an identifier for identifying an information processing apparatus. The procedure further includes: instructing one of the first and second information processing apparatuses to monitor the target monitored item of the computer in accordance with the first monitoring condition for monitoring the target monitored item by the other one of the first and second information processing apparatuses; and instructing the other one of the first and second information processing apparatuses not to transmit a request to monitor the target monitored item.
US09075886B2 Systems and methods for detecting the stockpiling of domain names
Systems, methods, and computer program products are provided for detecting the stockpiling of domain names. In one exemplary embodiment, there is provided a method for detecting a status of a domain name. The method may include receiving information related to the domain name from a registrar. The method may include crawling the at least one domain name, wherein the crawling receives first information located on a website associated with the domain name and receives second information related to a registration of the domain name. The method may also include storing the first information and the second information, wherein the crawling is initiated at a first time prior to expiration of the at least one domain name and a second time after expiration of the at least one domain name.
US09075881B2 System and method for identifying the owner of a document on the world-wide web
A method and search engine for classifying a source publishing a document on a portion of a network, includes steps of electronically receiving a document, based on the document, determining a source which published the document, and assigning a code to the document based on whether data associated with the document published by the source matches with data contained in a database. An intelligent geographic- and business topic-specific resource discovery system facilitates local commerce on the World-Wide Web and also reduces search time by accurately isolating information for end-users. Distinguishing and classifying business pages on the Web by business categories using Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes is achieved through an automatic iterative process.
US09075878B2 Information processing apparatus, content item management system, non-transitory computer readable medium, and information processing method
Provided is an information processing apparatus including a data acquisition unit that acquires content item data indicating a content item, an identification information generation unit that generates identification information of the content item on the basis of the content item data acquired by the data acquisition unit according to a predefined rule, and a browsing history extraction unit that extracts a browsing history of a user regarding the content item in correlation with the identification information of the content item generated by the identification information generation unit.
US09075873B2 Generation of context-informative co-citation graphs
Described herein are technologies pertaining to generating co-citation graphs. A context-informative co-citation graph includes a first node that represents a first research document, a second node that represents a second research document, and a third node that represents a third research document that includes a citation to both the first research document and the second research document. The context-informative co-citation graph also includes a first edge that couples the first node and the third node, and a second edge that couples the second node and the third node. The two edges visually indicate that the first research document and the second research document are co-cited by the third research document. The context-informative co-citation graph further includes at least a portion of a sentence in the third research document that includes a citation to at least one of the first research document or the second research document.
US09075871B2 Technique to classify data displayed in a user interface based on a user defined classification
Disclosed are methods and systems for classifying data displayed in a user interface based on a user defined classification and generating the user interface to display the data based on the user defined classification. The method includes importing a folder structure from a folder structure container wherein the folder structure depicts a user defined classification of the data. The data displayed in the user interface is mapped to a folder in the folder structure and a user interface object in the user interface is created for the folder. Furthermore, the mapped data is presented in the user interface object.
US09075870B2 System, method and apparatus for detecting related topics and competition topics based on topic templates and association words
A system for detecting related topics and competition topics for a target topic includes an information extracting apparatus configured to create topic templates and association words from documents created online to generate topic templates and association words. The system also includes a related topic detecting apparatus configured to detect and trace related topics and competition topics for the target topic based on the topic templates and the association words.
US09075861B2 Methods and systems for segmenting relative user preferences into fine-grain and coarse-grain collections
A method of segmenting relative user preferences into fine-grain and coarse-grain collections is provided. The method includes providing a set of content items having associated descriptive terms. The method also includes receiving user search input and, in response thereto, presenting a subset of content items. The method includes receiving user selection actions and analyzing the selections to learn the user's preferred descriptive terms. The method includes expressing the learned preferred descriptive terms as a segmented probability distribution function having at least one fine grain segment and at least one coarse grain segment. In response to subsequent search input, the method calls for selecting and ordering a collection of content items by promoting the ranking of content items associated with the learned preferred descriptive terms of the user according to the differentiation provided by the segmented probability distribution function.
US09075853B1 Attribute category enhanced search
Performing a user initiated search query is disclosed and comprises receiving user input comprising description details of at least one desired object, retrieving a plurality of objects from a database sharing one or more of the description details of the user input, constructing a tree data structure based on the description details of the plurality of objects, the tree data structure comprising one or more attributes related to each of the plurality of objects retrieved, displaying visual images associated with the retrieved plurality of objects, the visual images matching at least one of the attributes related to the plurality of objects, and receiving a user selection of one or more of the visual images.
US09075851B2 Method and apparatus for data retention in a storage system
A system and method are provided for retention of data on a storage system. An application program provides the storage system with data to be stored on the storage system. The application program also provides the storage system with a retention period that indicates a period of time for which the data may not be deleted. When the storage system receives a request to delete the data, it first evaluates the retention period associated with that data to determine if the retention period has expired. If the retention period has not expired, the storage system denies the request to delete the data.
US09075843B2 Authorization check of database query through matching of access rule to access path in application systems
A method is provided to check user authorization to access a database, the method comprising: receiving a database query; producing an execution plan for the query; receiving an access rule applicable to a user associated with the query; determining whether the access rules permits processing of the query according to the plan; and rejecting the query in response to a determination that the access rule does not allow processing of the query according to the plan.
US09075833B2 Generating XML schema from JSON data
A computer receives a first JSON data that includes at least one JSON array or JSON object value. The computer parses a stream of JSON data, wherein the stream of JSON data includes at least a part of the first JSON data. The computer determines the logical structure of the first JSON data using the parsed stream of JSON data. The computer generates an XML schema based on the logical structure of the first JSON data.
US09075832B2 Tenant placement in multitenant databases for profit maximization
A method for database consolidation includes generating a model for expected penalty estimation; determining a tenant's value as a function of query arrival rate and SLA penalty; placing a tenant to minimize a total expected cost in the order of the tenant value; and progressively using additional servers to prevent any server from being saturated to guarantee a tenant placement that costs no more than four times the cost of any other placement.
US09075828B2 Electronic device and method of controlling the same
An electronic device including a communication unit configured to communicate with at least one other party; a display module configured to display a message transmitted/received with the at least one other party in a predetermined area; and a controller configured to search for an image comprising a user of the electronic device and the at least one other party and control the display module to display in the predetermined area an image found in the search.
US09075827B2 Image retrieval apparatus, image retrieval method, and storage medium
An image retrieval apparatus includes a designation unit configured to designate a query area of an image based on a user's designation operation, a display unit configured to display an area where a local feature amount is difficult to be extracted in the query area designated by the designation unit as a feature non-extractable area, and a retrieval unit configured to retrieve, based on a local feature amount extracted from an area which is not displayed as the feature non-extractable area in the query area by the display unit, image feature data with which a local feature amount and the image are associated and which is stored in a storage device.
US09075825B2 System and methods of integrating visual features with textual features for image searching
The present invention includes a system and methods for image searching. Embodiments of the system integrate textual features and visual features for improved search performance. The system represents text terms in the visual feature space and develops a text-guided weighting scheme for visual features. The weighting scheme infers intention from query terms and enhances the visual features that are significant in light of such intention.
US09075824B2 Retrieval system and method leveraging category-level labels
An instance-level retrieval method and system are provided. A representation of a query image is embedded in a multi-dimensional space using a learned projection. The projection is learned using category-labeled training data to optimize a classification rate on the training data. The joint learning of the projection and the classifiers improves the computation of similarity/distance between images by embedding them in a subspace where the similarity computation outputs more accurate results. An input query image can thus be used to retrieve similar instances in a database by computing the comparison measure in the embedding space.
US09075817B2 System, method, and computer readable media for identifying a user-initiated log file record in a log file
A system, a method, and a computer readable media for identifying a user-initiated log file record in a log file are provided. The log file has a user-initiated log file record and a repeating pattern of log file records automatically generated by a software program. The system allows a user to identify first and second timestamp values corresponding to first and second times which identify a time interval of interest in the log file. The system further analyzes the log file to identify the user-initiated log file record having a timestamp value between the first and second timestamp values. The system further identifies the repeating pattern of log file records in the log file.
US09075811B2 Cloud information migration systems and methods
Information migration systems and methods are presented. In one embodiment, a cloud information migration method comprises: performing a migration interpretation process, including interpreting migration initiation information; performing a migration information retrieval process to automatically retrieve information in a first configuration from a first cloud vendor in accordance with the migration initiation information; performing a migration information configuration process, including automatically converting the retrieved information in a first configuration to information in a second configuration, wherein the second configuration is compatible with a second cloud vendor; and performing a migration information forwarding process to automatically forward the information in a second configuration to the second cloud vendor in accordance with the migration initiation information.
US09075803B2 Systems and methods for using machine readable codes to store and retrieve reversible write eraseable paper documents
An embodiment generally relates to systems and methods for electronically auto-filing and retrieving erasable paper document documents configured for ultraviolet (UV) imaging. A device can embed a machine readable code on an erasable paper document, or can detect a machine readable code preprinted on the document. An electronic version of the erasable paper document along with the machine readable code can be stored in a database. When the machine readable code is later detected on a rendered document, the electronic version corresponding to the machine readable code can be retrieved from storage. The erasable paper document can be re-rendered using the retrieved electronic version either as a new erasable paper document, for display to the user, or other renderings.
US09075795B2 Interprocess communication
A system and methods for sending data from one process to another process (i.e., interprocess communication) are disclosed. In accordance with one embodiment, an operating system recognizes a request by a sending process to perform an asynchronous write to a pipe, and a request by a receiving process to perform an asynchronous read from the pipe, occurring in either order. The operating system then selects one of a plurality of mechanisms for providing the data to the receiving process.
US09075793B2 System and method of providing autocomplete recommended word which interoperate with plurality of languages
A system and method of providing an autocomplete recommended word, which classify a recommended word list according to indexes of various languages, store the recommended word list for each index, extract a corresponding autocomplete recommended word according to a user query and a setting mode which is received from a user's web browser, provide the user with the corresponding autocomplete recommended word, and thereby may propose a suitable recommended word according to the user query.
US09075782B2 Mass spectrometry data analysis method and analysis device
A data matrix in which pixel numbers are assigned to the vertical direction, m/z values are assigned to the horizontal direction, and intensity values are used as terms is generated from data obtained by peak detection (S3), and after the standardization of the data is executed so that the norms of the intensities of the pixel space are set to 1 for each m/z, the peaks (m/z values) are classified into a plurality of clusters by performing clustering in the m/z direction (S5 and S6). Since the probability of isotope peaks or adduct ion peaks derived from the same substance being consolidated into the same cluster increases, unnecessary peaks can be accurately removed by removing unnecessary isotope ion peaks and the like using m/z differences or intensities in the clusters (S7 and S8).
US09075780B2 System and method for comparing objects in document revisions and displaying comparison objects
A document comparison system compares revisions of a document by comparing content of a first revision of an object with content of a second revision of the object to produce a comparison object in a comparison document. The system then determines a footprint of the second revision of the object, where the footprint is a dimensional length and width of the object and its position relative to a page boundary of the document. Next, the system determines whether the entire compared content fits within the footprint of the second revision of the object. If the system determines that the entire compared content fits within the footprint of the second revision of the object, the system displays the comparison object having the same footprint as the second revision of the object. If the system determines that the entire compared content does not fit within the footprint of the second revision of the object, the system then displays the comparison object in a second manner.
US09075778B1 Predicting user navigation events within a browser
A method and system for predicting a next navigation event are described. Aspects of the disclosure minimize the delay between a navigation event and a network response by predicting the next navigation event. The system and method may then prerender content associated with the next navigation event. For example, the method and system may predict a likely next uniform resource locator during web browsing to preemptively request content from the network before the user selects the corresponding link on a web page. The methods describe a variety of manners of predicting the next navigation event, including examining individual and aggregate historical data, text entry prediction, and cursor input monitoring.
US09075776B2 Document processing apparatus, document processing method, and program
In a system for displaying, in a text to which only one font can be designated, a character that cannot be output in the font designated in the text in an alternative font, the whole text is changed to the alternative font, so that a rendering result on the display side and a rendering result on the output side differ from each other. The text rendered during the display is acquired, and is divided into texts for each font if it is displayed in an alternative font, and output data are respectively generated as the individual texts.
US09075773B1 Prioritized repair of data storage failures
Embodiments are directed towards managing data storage that may experience a data failure. If a repair event is associated with a data storage failure, a new repair task may be generated and added to a task list. A priority value for each repair task in the task list may be determined based in part on the mean-time-to-data-loss (MTTDL) value associated with each repair task in the task list such that a lower MTTDL may indicate a higher priority value over a lower MTTDL. One or more repair tasks may be promoted to become active repair tasks based on the priority value the repair tasks such that the promoted repair tasks have a higher priority that than other repair tasks in the task list, if any. Each active repair task may be executed to repair one or more associated the storage failures.
US09075770B2 Apparatuses and methods for memory testing and repair
Some embodiments include apparatuses and methods having a first interface to communicate with a processing unit, a second interface to communicate with a memory device, and a module coupled to the first and second interfaces. In at least one of the embodiments, the module can be configured to obtain information stored in the memory device and perform at least one of testing and repairing of a memory structure of the memory device based at least in part on the information.
US09075755B1 Optimizing data less writes for restore operations
A method is used in managing restore operations in storage systems. A state of a logical object is retrieved and a second logical object is placed in a pre-step mode. An instantaneous restore operation between the first logical object and the second logical object is performed. Drivers that are associated with the instantaneous restore and utilize data-less writes are identified. A granularity value representative of a size at which the identified driver tracks changes is determined. Changed data extents in the first logical object are identified. Data-less writes are sent at the lowest determined granularity to any identified extents in the first logical object.
US09075754B1 Managing cache backup and restore
A method is used for managing cache backup and restore. I/O operations are quiesced at a cache module. A first snapshot of a storage object and a second snapshot of an SSD cache object are taken. The I/O operations at the cache module are unquiesced. A single backup image comprising the first snapshot and the second snapshot is created.
US09075751B2 Secure data protection with improved read-only memory locking during system pre-boot
Generally, this disclosure provides methods and systems for secure data protection with improved read-only memory locking during system pre-boot including protection of Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) tables. The methods may include selecting a region of system memory to be protected, the selection occurring in response to a system reset state and performed by a trusted control block (TCB) comprising a trusted basic input/output system (BIOS); programming an address decoder circuit to configure the selected region as read-write; moving data to be secured to the selected region; programming the address decoder circuit to configure the selected region as read-only; and locking the read-only configuration in the address decoder circuit.
US09075750B2 Oracle rewind: metadata-driven undo
Metadata-driven undo is described. In an embodiment, a metadata repository stores metadata that is associated with operations. Attributes associated with each operation are also stored in the metadata. Each operation is associated with an undolet that includes instructions for generating undo entries for operations of a particular operation type. Undo log entries are generated using the metadata and the undolet when a request is intercepted that includes an undoable operation. When an undo command is issued, the instructions in the undo log that are associated with a particular business transaction are executed to “rewind” the transaction.
US09075749B2 Discrete fourier transform in a complex vector space
An image-based phase retrieval technique has been developed that can be used on board a space based iterative transformation system. Image-based wavefront sensing is computationally demanding due to the floating-point nature of the process. The discrete Fourier transform (DFT) calculation is presented in “diagonal” form. By diagonal we mean that a transformation of basis is introduced by an application of the similarity transform of linear algebra. The current method exploits the diagonal structure of the DFT in a special way, particularly when parts of the calculation do not have to be repeated at each iteration to converge to an acceptable solution in order to focus an image.
US09075744B2 Performance and power improvement on DMA writes to level two combined cache/SRAM that is caused in level one data cache and line is valid and dirty
This invention optimizes DMA writes to directly addressable level two memory that is cached in level one and the line is valid and dirty. When the level two controller detects that a line is valid and dirty in level one, the level two memory need not update its copy of the data. Level one memory will replace the level two copy with a victim writeback at a future time. Thus the level two memory need not store write a copy. This limits the number of DMA writes to level two directly addressable memory and thus improves performance and minimizes dynamic power. This also frees the level two memory for other master/requestors.
US09075738B2 Efficient LDPC codes
A method includes accepting a definition of a mother Error Correction Code (ECC) that is represented by a set of parity check equations and includes first code words, and a definition of a punctured ECC that includes second code words and is derived from the mother ECC by removal of one or more of the parity check equations and removal of one or more punctured check symbols selected from among check symbols of the first code words. A mother decoder, which is designed to decode the mother ECC by exchanging messages between symbol nodes and check nodes in accordance with a predefined interconnection scheme that represents the mother ECC, is provided. An input code word of the punctured ECC is decoded using the mother decoder by initializing one or more of the symbol nodes and controlling one or more of the messages, and while retaining the interconnection scheme.
US09075734B2 Method for updating betweenness centrality of graph
The present invention provides a method for updating betweenness centrality of a graph, which obtains the betweenness centrality of an unweighted graph, which is updated when edges are updated. First of all, the method is performed by obtaining a minimum union cycle (an MUC) of the updated graph, and extracting an MUC (MUCU) containing a vertex, which is incident to the updated edge. And a first betweenness centrality due to the shortest paths in the MUCU, and a second betweenness centrality due to the shortest paths, not included in the MUCU, are calculated. And finally, a final betweenness centrality of the graph is obtained by adding the first and second betweenness centralities. By using the method, the search space and calculation cost can be remarkably reduced.
US09075733B1 Selective storage of address mapping metadata in a system having multiple memories
This disclosure is related to systems and methods for selective metadata storage in a system having multiple memories. In one example, a device may include a control circuit configured to selectively store a metadata base map in a first memory or a second memory. The metadata base map may include information to determine a physical memory address from a logical block address. The control circuit may also be configured to store metadata updates separately from the metadata base map. The metadata updates may comprise changes to the metadata base map. The control circuit may also be configured to selectively store the metadata updates in the first memory or the second memory based on characteristics of the device.
US09075732B2 Data caching method
Data caching for use in a computer system including a lower cache memory and a higher cache memory. The higher cache memory receives a fetch request. It is then determined by the higher cache memory the state of the entry to be replaced next. If the state of the entry to be replaced next indicates that the entry is exclusively owned or modified, the state of the entry to be replaced next is changed such that a following cache access is processed at a higher speed compared to an access processed if the state would stay unchanged.
US09075729B2 Storage system and method of controlling data transfer in storage system
An embodiment of the present invention is a storage system including a plurality of non-volatile storage devices for storing user data, and a controller for controlling data transfer between the plurality of non-volatile storage devices and a host. The controller includes a processor core circuit, a processor cache, and a primary storage device including a cache area for temporarily storing user data. The processor core circuit ascertains contents of a command received from the host. The processor core circuit ascertains a retention storage device of data to be transferred in the storage system in operations responsive to the command. The processor core circuit determines whether to transfer the data via the processor cache in the storage system, based on a type of the command and the ascertained retention storage device.
US09075726B2 Conflict resolution of cache store and fetch requests
According to an embodiment, a computer system for cache management includes a processor and a cache, the computer system configured to perform a method including receiving a first store request for a first address in the cache and receiving a first fetch request for the first address in the cache. The method also includes executing the first store request and the first fetch request, latching the first store request in a store write-back pipeline in the cache, detecting, in the processor, a conflict following execution of the first store request and the first fetch request and receiving the first store request from a recycle path including the store write-back pipeline and executing the first store request a second time.
US09075719B2 Computer system and storage system
A storage system is migrated without stopping service provision by a host computer. By this means, in a migration-source storage system, data of the cache memory is destaged, and, next, data received from the host computer is directly written in a logical unit by bypassing the cache memory. On the other hand, in a migration-destination storage system, communication with the migration-source storage system is performed to set setting information of a logical unit of the migration object into a logical unit management table and set a writing mode for the cache memory to a cache-bypass mode. After that, the migration-source storage system blocks a path to the host computer. The migration-destination storage system receives a report of the path block from the migration-source storage system and then opens a path between the own system and the host computer.
US09075718B2 Dynamic field extraction of log data
A log analytics graphical user interface enables a user to dynamically extract and define a field from unstructured log data. The log analytics module automatically determines a definition for a field based on log text selected by the user. A portion of each log message is highlighted to reflect what the extracted field may be to assist users with understanding if input parameters are selected the intended log data. Changes to the definition of the field, by the user, may cause further highlighting that to indicate an incomplete or erroneous field definition.
US09075717B2 Connectivity fault notification
Connectivity fault notification is provided by generating an alarm indication signal at a device that is logically adjacent to the fault, and forwarding the alarm indication signal upward through various levels to at least one client level entity. The alarm indication signal may be suppressed at any level for a service instance if service is restored at that level, or if a protection path prevents disruption of the service instance at that level, or auto-suppressed at an originating node based on number of times transmitted or elapsed time. The alarm indication signal may include a point of failure indicator such as the MAC address of the device that generates the alarm indication signal, or a failed resource identity such as an IEEE 802.1AB LLDP MAC Service Access Point (“MSAP”). Further, the alarm indication signal may be employed to trigger use of the protection path.
US09075716B2 Remote issue logging and reporting of mobile station issues and diagnostic information to manufacturer
A user of a mobile station can report a mobile station issue by transmitting a report including a description of the mobile station issue and other information for rapid troubleshooting and resolution by a manufacturer, through a wireless mobile communication network, to the manufacturer of the mobile station or its software, via a life cycle management tool program at a network. The report sent by the user of the mobile station may include information relating to the description of the mobile station issue, mobile station device information, device operation information, diagnostic logs, or captured screenshots. The life cycle management tool program stores the report including the information and sends an electronic notification to a technical center of a carrier and/or the manufacturer of the mobile station or its software for review and resolution of the reported mobile station issue in real time.
US09075715B2 Isolating and correcting VPD data mismatch and/or corruption
Disclosed is a method of detecting a product data error in a storage system. First and second vital product data (VPD) EEPROMs are read. Indicators of whether wither or both reads failed are received. Based on these indicators, the contents of the VPD EEPROMs may be compared. Based on a result of the comparing indicating a match, an arbitrary one of the VPD EEPROMS is used. Based on an indicator indicating an error with the first VPD EEPROM, the second VPD EEPROM is used.
US09075712B2 Scheduling requests in a solid state memory device
An apparatus and method for a memory controller for managing scheduling requests in a solid state memory device. The memory includes a set of units wherein a unit within the set of units is erasable as a whole by a unit reclaiming process resulting in a free unit available for writing data to. The memory controller further includes a first queue for queuing user requests for reading and/or writing data from/to the memory, and a second queue for queuing unit reclaiming requests for executing the unit reclaiming process. A scheduler is provided for selecting user requests from the first queue and unit reclaiming requests from the second queue for execution according to a defined ratio. The defined ratio is a variable ratio, is dependent on the current number of free units, and permits the memory controller to select requests from both the first queue and the second queue.
US09075704B2 Mitigating risks during a high availibility and disaster recovery (HA/DR) rehearsal
A method of mitigating risks during a high availability and disaster recovery (HA/DR) rehearsal comprises, with a processor, performing a number of checks on a number of applications to determine the operational performance of the applications, and with the processor, determining if the applications comprise design patterns that indicate potential HA/DR risks.
US09075701B2 Apparatus and method for monitoring abnormal state of vehicle using clustering technique
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for monitoring abnormal state of a vehicle. In the method, CAN data collected from an ECU mounted on the vehicle is transformed into coordinates. The coordinates are applied to a distribution map in a specific space, a number of clusters is calculated based on results of the application, and an initial center point corresponding to the number of clusters is selected. Clustering is performed based on the initial center point, and then clusters are generated. At least one piece of data is extracted from each of the clusters, and a state feature of a corresponding cluster is decided on using a difference between maximum and minimum values of attributes constituting the at least one piece of data. A current state of the vehicle is monitored based on current CAN data of the vehicle and state features of the clusters.
US09075691B2 Dynamically loaded plugin architecture
A method and architecture for using dynamically loaded plugins is described herein. The dynamically loaded plugin architecture comprises a parent context and a plugin repository. The parent context may define one or more reusable software components. The plugin repository may store one or more plugins. When a plugin is loaded, a child context may be created dynamically. The child context is associated with the plugin and inherits the one or more reusable software components from the parent context.
US09075686B2 System and method to improve control module reflash time
A control module reflash system includes a control module located in a vehicle that controls at least one function of the vehicle according to stored vehicle software. An external interface module receives a software file from a source external to the vehicle and receives a part number for the stored vehicle software in the control module. The external interface module retrieves a comparison software file from the source external to the vehicle corresponding to the part number and compares the software file and the comparison software file. The external interface module identifies differences between the software file and the comparison software file, generates a compressed file based on the differences, and provides the compressed file to the control module. The control module generates a flash file based on the received compressed file and the stored vehicle software and modifies the stored vehicle software based on the flash file.
US09075684B2 Downtime reduction for integration of customer transport requests into a software architecture update procedure
When customer transport requests are included in an update procedure performed on a customer-customizable business software architecture, versioning of the objects and other features imported via such transport requests can require an extended period of business downtime using conventional methods. Additional downtime can result if the objects of the customer transports are not automatically generated. Consistent with features described herein, versioning can be done for many object types in a second shadow system or instance during uptime. The generation of objects in the customer transports can also done in the second shadow system or instance during uptime.
US09075681B2 Methods and devices for automated loading of software, in an apparatus such as an aircraft, including the updating of the associated documentation
The invention in particular has as an object methods and devices for automated loading of software, in a piece of equipment such as an aircraft, comprising the updating of the associated documentation. After having received an indication relating to a modification of a software application, a command making it possible to perform the required updating automatically is transmitted to a piece of equipment comprising this software application. In response, an indication relating to the execution of the command is received and a report of execution of the command is transmitted to the manufacturer in order to allow it to update the documentation of the piece of equipment accordingly.
US09075679B1 Creating a prerequisite checklist corresponding to a software application
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a computer implemented method, computer program product, and system for creating a prerequisite checklist corresponding to a software application. In one embodiment, in accordance with the present invention, the computer implemented method includes the steps of identifying prerequisites of a software application that are present in source code of the software application, wherein the prerequisites are software and hardware components, and creating a prerequisite checklist that includes the identified prerequisites of the software application, wherein the prerequisite checklist is in a file format that is compatible with prerequisite checking software. In another embodiment, the computer implemented method includes the steps of analyzing a computer system utilizing the created prerequisite checklist as an input file into prerequisite checking software, and determining whether the computer system is capable if installing and running the software application.
US09075668B1 Method, apparatus and system for integrating dynamic recognition of complex events with case-based processing
In one aspect, an apparatus for integrating dynamic recognition of complex events with case-based processing comprises at least one processing platform. The processing platform comprises at least one server, computer or other processing device having a processor coupled to a memory. The processing platform implements a plurality of modules for integration of dynamic recognition of complex events with case-based processing, the modules comprising at least a complex event processing module and a case-based processing module coupled to the complex event processing module. Event recognition in the complex event processing module triggers one or more case-based activities in the case-based processing module. The plurality of modules may further include an event preprocessing module, a proactive risk assessment and forecasting module, and a temporal associative reasoning module.
US09075664B2 Application dependent data center integration
A method and apparatus for integrating a converged infrastructure platform in a data center is provided. The described apparatus configures the physical and virtual resources that run on the converged infrastructure to communicate with the rest of the data center. The network integration process understands the data center network already in place and extends the set up into the converged infrastructure to enable communication between the converged infrastructure and the rest of the network in the data center. The apparatus uses an infrastructure template that describes the data center and that may be pre-defined for a specific application deployed within the converged infrastructure platform.
US09075651B2 Methods and apparatus for efficient complex long multiplication and covariance matrix implementation
Efficient computation of complex long multiplication results and an efficient calculation of a covariance matrix are described. A parallel array VLIW digital signal processor is employed along with specialized complex long multiplication instructions and communication operations between the processing elements which are overlapped with computation to provide very high performance operation. Successive iterations of a loop of tightly packed VLIWs may be used allowing the complex multiplication pipeline hardware to be efficiently used.
US09075649B1 Exposing a proprietary image backup to a hypervisor as a disk file that is bootable by the hypervisor
Exposing a proprietary image backup to a hypervisor as a disk file that is bootable by the hypervisor. In one example embodiment, a method of exposing a proprietary image backup to a hypervisor as a disk file that is bootable by the hypervisor may include identifying the proprietary image backup having a proprietary format and storing an operating system, creating a plugin file corresponding to the proprietary image backup, reconfiguring the operating system to cause the operating system to be bootable when using hardware emulated by the hypervisor, gathering operating system data from the proprietary image backup, reformatting, using a filter module, the operating system data into a native format of the hypervisor, booting the operating system in a virtual machine of the hypervisor, and storing the reformatted operating system data in a replacement disk file formatted in the native format of the hypervisor.
US09075628B2 Electronic system and communication control method for transmitting and receiving data by serial communication
Provided is an electronic system capable of dynamically switching a communication speed among a plurality of electronic devices connected in series. A first communication device and a second communication device are connected in series to a host controller. After controlling the communication speed of the second communication device to be a communication speed defined in advance, the host controller controls the communication speed of the first communication device to be the same communication speed as the communication speed of the second communication device.
US09075626B2 Computing device and product report method
A method for programming a measuring program into a computing device. The computing device selects a partial drawing from a panoramic drawing of a product using a frame, and marks the frame in the panoramic drawing. The computing device sets a pattern of a report and shows the partial drawing and the panoramic drawing in the report. The computing device adjusts a size of the panoramic drawing and the size of the panoramic drawing in the report until the panoramic drawing does not superpose on the partial drawing in the report. The computing device generate a measuring program which is capable of executing the procedure mentioned above.
US09075614B2 Managing power consumption in a multi-core processor
A processor may include a core and an uncore area. The power consumed by the core area may be controlled by controlling the Cdyn of the processor such that the Cdyn is within an allowable Cdyn value irrespective of the application being processed by the core area. The power management technique includes measuring digital activity factor (DAF), monitoring architectural and data activity levels, and controlling power consumption by throttling the instructions based on the activity levels. As a result of throttling the instructions, throttling may be implemented in 3rd droop and thermal design point (TDP). Also, the idle power consumed by the uncore area while the core area is in deep power saving states may be reduced by varying the reference voltage VR and the VP provided to the uncore area. As a result, the idle power consumed by the uncore area may be reduced.
US09075613B2 Low power consumption circuit and method for reducing power consumption
An exemplary low power consumption circuit includes a microprocessor, a power supply switch module and a main circuit module. The microprocessor is capable of outputting a power control signal and changing a pulse characteristic of the power control signal when the microprocessor switches from a first working mode to a second working mode. The power supply switch module is capable of outputting a power supply signal. The power supply switch module is electrically coupled to the microprocessor to receive the power control signal and thereby modulates a duty cycle of the power supply signal according to a change of the pulse characteristic of the power control signal. The main circuit module is electrically coupled to the power supply switch module to receive the power supply signal and operative with energy provided by the power supply signal. Moreover, a method for reducing power consumption is also provided.
US09075606B2 Storage apparatus and method of determining device to be activated
In a storage apparatus, a calculation unit calculates first power consumption by adding the power consumption of a first storage device not in use to the total power consumption of a plurality of storage devices in operation, and calculates second power consumption by adding the power consumption of a second storage device not in use to the total power consumption of the plurality of storage devices in operation, and subtracting therefrom the power consumption of one of the plurality of storage devices in operation, from which data is movable to the second storage device. A determination unit determines to activate the first storage device when the second power consumption is not lower than the first power consumption, and determines to activate, the second storage device when the second power consumption is lower than the first power consumption.
US09075598B2 Productized approach for developing multi instance single code base product/application with centralized management
The embodiments herein relate to product/application customization and, more particularly, to develop multi instance single code base product/application with centralized management. The central repository present in the system fetches and holds all differentiation information for various instances of the application. Then the synchronization framework allows the differentiation data to be available to the individual instances. Further, the application archetype provides all the services needed to adhere to the principles of externalizing require facets of each instance and ensures the right configurations are fetched from the central repository. Finally, the application is executed with required configuration data.
US09075593B2 Multiple voltage generator and voltage regulation methodology for power dense integrated power systems
An integrated power system suitable for simultaneously powering marine propulsion and service loads. The system includes: (a) at least one generator configured with at least first and second armature windings configured to output respective first and second alternating current power signals of different voltages, the at least two armature windings positioned within the same stator slots so that they magnetically couple; (b) at least first and second rectifier circuits coupled to said generator to convert said first and second alternating current power signals into first and second direct current power signals; (c) a first load to which said first direct current power signal is coupled and a second load to which said second direct current power signal is coupled.
US09075587B2 Induction type power supply system with synchronous rectification control for data transmission
An induction type power supply system with synchronous rectification control for data transmission is disclosed to include a supplying-end module with a supplying-end coil and a receiving-end module with a receiving-end coil for receiving power supply from the supplying-end coil and providing a feedback data signal to the supplying-end coil during power supply transmission subject to the operation of a rectifier and signal feedback circuit of the receiving-end module that breaks off electric current transiently to change the load characteristics of the receiving-end coil, assuring a high level of data signal transmission stability and a high level of power transmission efficiency.
US09075580B2 Tool-free fixation structure for data storage device
A tool-free fixation structure for a data storage device includes: a tray, a front end, center and rear end thereof being respectively formed with a position limiting portion, pressing portion, and elastic propping portion, an accepting space being formed between the position limiting portion and elastic propping portion, two propping sheets being respectively disposed on two sides of the elastic propping portion, and positioning columns being disposed on the tray at a lower side of the accepting space, an outer threaded portion being disposed on a circumference of each positioning column; a data storage device, threaded holes adapted to accept the corresponding positioning columns therein, being on a lower side thereof, an inner threaded portion being disposed in each threaded hole, thereby allowing the propping sheets to press against the data storage device, and achieving a tight engagement of the inner threaded portions with the corresponding outer threaded portions.
US09075579B2 Mounting apparatus for expansion card
A mounting apparatus for an expansion card includes a bracket, a circuit board mounted in the bracket, and a latching member. The bracket includes a bottom wall, a supporting wall perpendicularly mounted on the bottom wall, and a first end wall and a second end wall extending from two opposite ends of the supporting wall along the same direction. The circuit board includes a connector. The latching member includes a first hook and a mounting piece. The latching member is slidably installed to the first end wall. The mounting piece is exposed out of the bottom wall of the bracket. The expansion card is inserted into the connector of the circuit board, a front end of the expansion card is mounted to the second end wall, and a rear end of the expansion card is latched to the first hook of the latching member.
US09075573B2 Dock with moveable connector for display device
Docking stations with a moveable connector that is more durable are provided. For example, when a portable electronic device, coupled with the connector, is pushed forward, the connector is designed to move (e.g. rotate), thereby reducing an impact of strain resulting from such a push. The rotatable connector may be biased to keep the portable electronic device in an upright position such that the electronic device is supported by a rear reference surface of the docking station, thereby preventing undue strain on the rotatable connector in the upright position and inhibiting movement forward. The rotatable connector may be partly below an outer shell of the docking station, and pivot at the outer shell, thereby reducing possible damage to parts below the outer shell. The rotatable connector may also retract when rotated, thereby removing a force that can break the connector at a position of full rotation forward.
US09075571B2 Memory lock system with manipulatable input device and method of operation thereof
A memory lock system is provided that includes: providing a controller; providing a connector connected to the controller for providing data to the controller; providing a memory connected to the controller for receiving and storing information from the controller; and manipulating an input device connected to the controller to unlock or lock data transfer between the connector and the controller, in the controller, between the connector and the memory, or in the memory.
US09075570B2 Protective case with heat dissipation structure for electronic products
A protective case with multiple air tunnels for the protective case, so the heat absorbed by contact blocks from the electronic equipment is radiated rapidly out of the protective case through vent pipes. When the electronic equipment is supported up to watch movie or play games, because the hot air will raise and be exhausted from the upper part, and the fresh cool air will come inside from lower part of the protective case, as a result, the ventilation is accelerated and the heat dissipation performance is greatly improved.
US09075568B1 Dynamic device skins
Themes or other groups of content or settings can be applied to change various aspects of a computing device. In addition to changing aspects of a user interface, additional display elements, lights, and other components can be updated as well to give the appearance of customizable hardware. For example, display elements on the back and/or sides of a device can be updated with colors, graphics, or animations that enable the device to appear as if it has a new skin or casing. The user can customize, create, and/or share these themes, and the themes can be configured to automatically rotate or change over time.
US09075564B2 Electronic device with input device
An electronic device includes a main body, an input device, a latching mechanism, at least one first driving device, and at least one support mechanism. The main body includes a housing defining a recess therein. The input device is rotatably received in the recess and rotatable between a first position where a top surface of the input device is substantially coplanar with a top surface of the housing, and a second position where the input device is inclined with respect to the top surface of the housing. The latching mechanism is configured to latch the input device in the first position. The first driving device is configured to rotate the input device to the second position when the input device is released by the latching mechanism. The support mechanism is configured to support the input device, thereby maintaining the input device in the second position.
US09075549B2 Printing system
A printing system according to an embodiment includes: plural printers connected to a network; a user terminal connected to the network; and a print server which receives and saves a print job from the user terminal, and which determines plural printer candidates suitable for executing the print job from among the plural printers connected to the network, monitors an operation mode of the plural printer candidates that are determined, and when plural printer candidates include a printer in a sleep mode, shifts the printer from the sleep mode to an normal operating mode via the network.
US09075543B2 Method of application memory preservation for dynamic calibration of memory interfaces
A method for calibrating a memory interface circuit is described wherein prior to a calibration operation at least a portion of application information contained in a memory circuit is moved or copied to an alternate location to preserve that information. At the completion of the calibration operation, the information is restored to the same location of the memory circuit. Thus, the calibration operation can be performed from time to time during normal operation of a system containing the memory circuit. Non-limiting examples of calibration operations are described including operations where a capture clock for a memory read circuit is calibrated, and operations where CAS latency compensation is calibrated for a DDR memory interface.
US09075542B2 Storage system
A storage system 300a that has a volume, manages the volume as a plurality of logical volumes, and can operate as a plurality of logical storage systems having at least one logical volume. The storage system comprises an IO transmission-reception unit 1320a that communicates with a management computer 100, a host computer 200, and a storage system 300b and a processor 1310a that causes the IO transmission-reception unit 1320a to perform transmission to the management computer 100 and storage system 300b by using an identifier of the storage system 300a as an identifier indicating a representative logical storage system that is one predetermined logical storage system from among a plurality of the logical storage system when the storage system operates as a plurality of the logical storage systems.
US09075540B2 Virtualizing storage for WPAR clients
Systems, methods and media for providing to a plurality of WPARs private access to physical storage connected to a server through a VIOS are disclosed. In one embodiment, a server is logically partitioned to form a working partition comprising a WPAR manager and individual WPARs. Each WPAR is assigned to a different virtual port. The virtual ports are created by using NPIV protocol between the WPAR and VIOS. Thereby, each WPAR has private access to the physical storage connected to the VIOS.
US09075531B2 Storage device
A storage device is provided which includes a nonvolatile memory device and a controller configured to write meta information, indicating that a transfer of unit data is completed, in a buffer memory when the unit data is transferred to the buffer memory from the nonvolatile memory device.
US09075520B2 Apparatus and method for representing an image in a portable terminal
An apparatus for displaying an image in a portable terminal includes a camera to photograph the image, a touch screen to display the image and to allow selecting an object area of the displayed image, a memory to store the image, a controller to detect at least one object area within the image when displaying the image of the camera or the memory and to recognize object information of the detected object area to be converted into a voice, and an audio processing unit to output the voice.
US09075517B2 Web input through drag and drop
A system for enabling the drag and drop behavior detects a cursor over a non-input element and creates a container to receive an object dragged by the cursor. When the cursor drops an object on the non-input element, the container receives and stores the dropped object. The system then removes the container and provides the stored object to input field associated with the non-input element.
US09075516B2 Graphical user interface, display control device, display method, and program
There is provided a graphical user interface that displays information on a plurality of different types of content on a single screen. The graphical user interface includes an overview display area and a detail display area. The overview display area displays an overview of the information on the content in chronological order, based on time information for the plurality of the different types of content. The detail display area displays, in greater detail, the information on the content that corresponds to the time information that is selected in the overview display area. Scrolling the information that is displayed in the overview display area causes the information on the content that is displayed in the detail display area to be scrolled.
US09075512B2 Display controlling device, display controlling method, and computer readable medium therefor
A display controlling device, including a setting window displaying unit to control a display device to display a setting window with a plurality of display areas, an input receiving unit to receive input of a setting value for the setting item, and a display controlling unit to display one of the display areas in a distinguishable appearance, in which the one of the display areas is presented to be distinguishable from the remainder of the display areas, is provided. The display controlling unit switches the distinguishable appearance of the display areas in accordance with a predetermined switching manner each time the input of the setting value for the setting item displayed in one of the display areas being displayed in the distinguishable appearance is received.
US09075502B2 Techniques for generating and displaying a visual flow of user content through a social network
A computer-implemented technique for generating a visual display illustrating the flow of user content in a social network is described. The technique can include determining a user content associated with a plurality of users. The technique can further include generating a visual display that includes a region for each user of the plurality of users. The technique can also include generating arranging the regions in the visual display according to a set of layout rules, and aligning a directional indicator in the visual display. The technique can include providing the visual display to a user via a display.
US09075501B1 Visual planner for strategic planning
In certain embodiments, a method includes accessing planning information, the planning information comprising information associated with an overall plan and sub-plans of the overall plan. The method further includes generating a visual planner comprising nodes arranged in an organogram structure. The nodes comprise a parent node and child nodes. The parent node comprises an identification of a first portion of the overall plan, a goal amount corresponding to the first portion of the plan, and a plan amount. Each child node comprises an identification of a corresponding portion of the overall plan, a corresponding plan amount for the corresponding portion of the plan, and a corresponding goal amount for the corresponding portion of the plan. The plan amount of the parent node comprises the sum of the plan amounts of the child nodes.
US09075490B2 Display with dual-function capacitive elements
A touch screen including display pixels with capacitive elements is provided. The touch screen includes first common voltage lines connecting capacitive elements in adjacent display pixels, and a second common voltage line connecting first common voltage lines. Groups of pixels can be formed as electrically separated regions by including breaks in the common voltage lines. The regions can include a drive region that is stimulated by stimulation signals, a sense region that receives sense signals corresponding to the stimulation signals. A grounded region can also be included, for example, between a sense region and a drive region. A shield layer can be formed of a substantially high resistance material and disposed to shield a sense region. A black mask line and conductive line under the black mask line can be included, for example, to provide low-resistance paths between a region of pixels and touch circuitry outside the touch screen borders.
US09075483B2 Negative pixel compensation
Compensation of pixels that generate erroneous readings (so-called “negative pixels”), produced when multiple touch events are generated by the same poorly grounded object on a touch sensor panel is disclosed. To minimize negative pixels, a thicker cover material and/or a lower dielectric constant can be used. Alternatively, narrower drive and sense lines can be employed. To compensate for negative pixels, a predicted negative pixel value can be computed as an indicator of pixels that are likely to be distorted. The negative pixel value for any particular pixel can be computing by summing up the touch output values for pixels in the drive line of that pixel, summing up the touch output values for pixels in the sense line of that pixel, and then multiplying these two sums. The predicted negative pixel value is added to the measured touch output value for the pixel to compensate for artificially negative readings.
US09075479B2 Input device and method using an optical touch panel and a contact touch panel
There is a conventional input device wherein a blind operation is easy because a touch panel type operation unit and a display unit are separately arranged at locations distant from each other, but such a conventional input device requires a camera for photographing a user's hand on the operation unit, and image processing for converting the photographed image of the hand and combining the image on the display unit, and thus, simplification of the processing method has been desired. Further, reducing the number of components used for such a device has been desired. Disclosed are an input device using a touch panel and an input method thereof, wherein the input device (1) which uses a touch panel is configured by an optical touch panel (3) provided with a touch-type touch panel (2), a retroreflection film (31) covering a surface of the touch-type touch panel (2), and a pair of detection units (34) located on the upper portions of the opposite ends of a side of the touch-type touch panel (2), and wherein two types of detection which are recognition of the shape of the operating body and detection of coordinate positions can be performed by the optical touch panel.
US09075478B2 Reflective touch display and fabrication method thereof
The present disclosure relates to a display device, and more particularly to a reflective touch display and a fabrication method thereof. The reflective touch display comprises a reflective display device, a first bonding layer, a light guiding plate, a second bonding layer, and a touch screen. The light guiding plate is laminated to top surface of the reflective display through the first bonding layer. The touch screen is laminated to top surface of the light guiding plate through the second bonding layer. The first bonding layer and the second bonding layer are formed by a liquid bonding material that transforms from a liquid state to a solid state, wherein refraction index of each of the first and second bonding layer is less than that of the light guiding plate. In accordance with the present disclosure, yield rate can be increased and production cost can be reduced.
US09075471B2 Mobile terminal and controlling method thereof
A mobile terminal including a touchscreen configured to receive an input of a first touch gesture and a second touch gesture; a memory configured to store a discrimination value for determining if the first or second touch gesture is by a touch pen; and a controller configured to compare an attribute of the first touch gesture with the discrimination value, receive the first touch gesture as being from the touch pen when the attribute of the first touch gesture is within a predetermined value or range of the discrimination value, and execute an operation corresponding to the touch pen based on the first touch gesture being received as the touch pen.
US09075466B2 Touch panel with single electrode layer
The invention provides a touch panel with a single electrode layer, which has a plurality of sensing channels. Each of the sensing channels includes a plurality of first transmission lines, a second transmission line and a plurality of first and second sensing electrodes on a substrate. The routing path of the first and second transmission lines routed on the substrate is non-straight. And, the first sensing electrodes and the second sensing electrodes include a plurality of first holes and second holes, respectively. The second sensing electrodes and the first sensing electrodes are disposed on the same side of the substrate. The geometric shapes of the first holes and the second holes correspond to the geometric shapes of the routing path of the first transmission lines and the second transmission line routed on the substrate. Thereby, the display quality can be improved by the touch panel of the present invention.
US09075463B2 Display device with an integrated touch screen and method for driving the same
A display device with an integrated touch screen including a panel including electrodes divided into n number of groups, where n is an integer more than or equal to two; a display driver IC configured to apply a common voltage to the n divided groups when a driving mode of the panel is a display driving mode, and to selectively apply a touch scan signal or the common voltage to the n divided groups when the driving mode of the panel is a touch driving mode; and a touch IC configured to generate the touch scan signal to apply the touch scan signal to the display driver IC.
US09075461B2 Processing method for touch signal and computing device thereof
A processing method for touch signal includes the steps of loading a palm rejection program staying resident on a computing device, and receiving a touch input signal from a touch device by the computing device. The palm rejection program performs a palm rejection process to the touch input signal in real time or instructs the touch device to output the touch input signal after performing the palm rejection process.
US09075455B2 Method for determining the relative position of an object in an area, and optical input system
A method for determining the relative position of an object in an area in six spatial degrees of freedom is provided. A marker pattern with at least three markers is applied on the object, and an optical detecting device is provided with a two-dimensional sensor surface. The object is moved in the detection region of the optical detecting device such that the marker pattern can be detected by the detecting device, images of the markers are projected onto image positions on the sensor surface, and the image coordinates of the markers are ascertained. The relative position of the marker pattern is determined by analyzing the image coordinates. The position of an invariant point is ascertained on a reference circle on a reference plane, and describes a unique relationship between a coordinate system assigned to the marker pattern and a coordinate system assigned to the detecting device.
US09075451B2 Handheld device with notification message viewing
Displaying information related to a message on a display screen of a handheld electronic device. In response to a movement of the handheld electronic device from an initial position to a first orientation, displaying on the display screen a first notice related to the message.
US09075444B2 Information input apparatus, information input method, and computer program
An information input apparatus includes an observation unit that observes an environment including a user and one or more apparatuses to be controlled and includes a sensor; a learning unit that separates a foreground including the user and the one or more apparatuses to be controlled and a background including the environment except for the foreground from observation data obtained by the observation unit and learns three-dimensional models of the foreground and the background; a state estimation unit that estimates positions and postures of already modeled foregrounds in the environment; a user recognition unit that identifies fingers of the user from the foreground and recognizes a shape, position, and posture of the fingers; and an apparatus control unit that outputs a control command to the one or more apparatuses to be controlled on the basis of the recognized shape, position, and posture of the fingers.
US09075436B1 Motion-based interface control on computing device
A computer-implemented user interface method include displaying an image on a graphical user interface of a mobile computing device, receiving a first user input indicating an intent to perform a zooming operation on the graphical user interface, transitioning the mobile computing device into a zooming mode in response to the user input, sensing motion of the mobile computing device in one or more of a plurality of directions, correlating the sensed motion in one or more of a plurality of directions with either a zooming in or a zooming out zooming direction, and changing a zoom level of the display of the image on the graphical user interface to correspond to the correlated zooming direction.
US09075434B2 Translating user motion into multiple object responses
A system for translating user motion into multiple object responses of an on-screen object based on user interaction of an application executing on a computing device is provided. User motion data is received from a capture device from one or more users. The user motion data corresponds to user interaction with an on-screen object presented in the application. The on-screen object corresponds to an object other than an on-screen representation of a user that is displayed by the computing device. The user motion data is automatically translated into multiple object responses of the on-screen object. The multiple object responses of the on-screen object are simultaneously displayed to the users.
US09075431B2 Display apparatus and control method thereof
A display apparatus and control method are provided. The display apparatus includes a storage unit which is provided to store biometric information of an individual user and metadata corresponding to the biometric information; a biometric information input unit through which biometric information of a plurality of users is input; a display unit; and a controller which determines metadata corresponding to a first user by comparing the input biometric information of the first user with the stored biometric information, determines metadata corresponding to a second user by comparing the input biometric information of the second user with the stored biometric information, and generates information of a user group comprising the first and second users based on common metadata between the metadata of the first user and the metadata of the second user.
US09075424B2 Compensation scheme to improve the stability of the operational amplifiers
A right-half plane (RHP) zero (RHZ) compensation scheme to improve the stability of the operational amplifier. A resistance RZ is implemented by a transistor. This transistor tracks process variations of the transistor drive by the op-amp to achieve better stability without requiring a bandwidth reduction. As a current source is not available to bias this transistor, a local bias circuit is used to provide this.
US09075418B2 Vibration damping device and method for canceling out a vibration at a damping position based on a phase difference
A damping device includes a calculator calculating a pseudo vibration to cancel a source vibration transmitted from a vibration source to a position to be damped, using an adaptive control algorithm. The canceling vibration is generated according to the pseudo vibration. A vibration detector detects an error vibration remaining at the position. The adaptive control algorithm is adapted by learning to reduce the error vibration. A frequency recognizer recognizes a frequency of the source vibration from a signal related to the vibration source. The frequency of the vibration is used to determine a frequency of the pseudo vibration. A phase difference identifier identifies a phase difference between the error vibration and the canceling vibration according to the pseudo vibration, and a frequency corrector corrects, according to the phase difference, the frequency of the vibration to eliminate the phase difference.
US09075415B2 Unmanned aerial vehicle and methods for controlling same
One variation of a method for imaging an area of interest includes: within a user interface, receiving a selection for a set of interest points on a digital map of a physical area and receiving a selection for a resolution of a geospatial map; identifying a ground area corresponding to the set of interest points for imaging during a mission; generating a flight path over the ground area for execution by an unmanned aerial vehicle during the mission; setting an altitude for the unmanned aerial vehicle along the flight path based on the selection for the resolution of the geospatial map and an optical system arranged within the unmanned aerial vehicle; setting a geospatial accuracy requirement for the mission based on the selection for the mission type; and assembling a set of images captured by the unmanned aerial vehicle during the mission into the geospatial map.
US09075414B2 Pressure control device, flow rate control device and recording medium having programs used for pressure control device, recording medium having programs used for flow rate control device
To provide a pressure control device that can prevent ringing and overshoot without changing gain even with a high gain setting, can quickly change pressure to a steady state even with a large set pressure value, and can equalize the time required from an initial to steady state regardless of the set pressure value, a valve control part is provided that includes an open degree operated amount output part that outputs an open degree operated amount based on a measured pressure value and a set pressure value, and a limiter part that sets an upper limit value of the open degree operated amount according to the set pressure value and that controls a pressure control valve by the open degree operated amount of the upper limit value when the open degree operated amount exceeds the upper limit value.
US09075413B2 Engaging and disengaging for autonomous driving
Aspects of the present disclosure relate switching between autonomous and manual driving modes. In order to do so, the vehicle's computer may conduct a series of environmental, system, and driver checks to identify certain conditions. The computer may correct some of these conditions and also provide a driver with a checklist of tasks for completion. Once the tasks have been completed and the conditions are changed, the computer may allow the driver to switch from the manual to the autonomous driving mode. The computer may also make a determination, under certain conditions, that it would be detrimental to the driver's safety or comfort to make a switch from the autonomous driving mode to the manual driving mode.
US09075412B2 Self-propelled robotic pallet vehicle
Various aspects of the present disclosure provide a robotic pallet system that provides the ability to move palletized cargo without requiring the use of additional material handling equipment such as forklifts and K-loaders, for example. In some aspects, an integrated system may be used to interact with and control a number of robotic pallets. Such an integrated system may be used to deliver palletized cargo without additional equipment through self-propelled pallets, thereby reducing the number of personnel required to load palletized cargo by reducing the size of the team required to position the pallet inside of the aircraft and removing the need for a k-loader operator.
US09075406B2 Control device for internal combustion engine
A control device for internal combustion engine including: a corrector for correcting an target value of each object to be controlled; a predictor for predicting a future state of each of the objects when the objects are controlled according to an initial-target-value or a corrected-target-value of each object; and a determiner for determining whether or not the future state of each object satisfies a constraint condition for the internal combustion engine, wherein the correction of the target value of each object, the prediction of the future state of each object based on the corrected target value corrected by the correction, and the determination whether or not the predicted future state of each object satisfies the constraint condition are repeated until determined so that the predicted future state satisfies the constraint condition. Furthermore, the state of the object to be predicted is the state in the future after a limited predetermined period.
US09075393B2 Method of displaying elapsed time on a wristworn device and wristworn device displaying same
Methodologies and constructions of displaying elapsed time on a wristworn device, which include among other things, having at least two display hands one of which that will rotate faster or stop so that they become coincident with each other, then rotate together and then reassume their normal and accurate positions. Such is particularly important with respect to one of the hands that is preferably a seconds hand that might otherwise be displaying seconds of the time of day (“TOD”).
US09075381B2 Image forming device and charging method for secondary battery
The image forming device includes a reception unit, an image forming unit, a switching unit, a detection unit, and a charging unit. The switching unit switches the image forming device between a first mode in which the reception unit is not supplied a voltage from a power source, is supplied power from a secondary battery, and receives image forming requests, and a second mode in which the image forming unit is supplied the voltage and performs image forming. The detection unit detects a value of an amount of energy of the secondary battery. In the second mode, the charging unit charges the secondary battery by supplying the voltage to the secondary battery when the value is equal to or less than a threshold value, and the charging unit boosts the voltage and supplies the boosted voltage to the secondary battery when the value is greater than the threshold value.
US09075378B2 Fixing device and image forming apparatus with heated fixing device exit rollers
Provided is a fixing device that includes a first rotating member that rotates while pinching a sheet which holds an image on a first surface of the sheet and is transported, fixes the image to the sheet, and heats the image while coming into contact with the first surface. Further provided is a second rotating member that comes into contact with a second surface that is a back surface of the first surface, a third rotating member that guides the sheet by rotating while coming into contact with the first surface of the sheet fed from a gap between the first and second rotating members, and a support member that supports the first, second, and third rotating members with a space through which the heat of the first rotating member is transferred to the third rotating member interposed between the first and third rotating members.
US09075370B2 Color image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a process unit arranged in the vicinity of the circumference of each photosensitive member and the process unit is configured to act on the photosensitive member in forming a toner image thereon. The image forming apparatus detects a time period since a laser beam emission unit emits a laser beam to the photosensitive member to form an electrostatic latent image for detection until the formed electrostatic latent image for detection or a toner image based on the electrostatic latent image for detection reaches the process unit, and performs color misregistration correction control based on the result of detection. In this case, a control unit at least decreases the light amount of a pre-exposure LED when the electrostatic latent image for detection passes through a position facing the pre-exposure LED.
US09075365B2 Fixing device
A fixing device includes a rotatable fuser member, a rotatable pressure member, a heater, and a controller. The rotatable fuser member is subjected to heating. The rotatable pressure member is disposed opposite the fuser member. The pressure member presses against the fuser member to form a fixing nip therebetween, through which multiple recording media, each spaced apart from each other by an interval distance in a conveyance direction, are sequentially conveyed at a conveyance speed. The heater is disposed adjacent to the fuser member to heat the fuser member. The controller is operatively connected to the heater to control power supply to the heater through a series of on-off switching control cycles, each including an on-time during which the heater power supply is on, and an off-time during which the heater power supply is off, in synchronization with conveyance of the recording medium.
US09075333B2 Charging member, process cartridge, and electrophotographic apparatus
Provided is a charging member for suppressing the vibration of a charging roller which occurs owing to a difference in circumferential speed in a longitudinal direction when the roller is rotated to follow a photosensitive member, and suppressing a banding image caused by the vibration of the charging roller over a long period of time. The charging member includes a substrate and an elastic layer. The elastic layer contains a rubber having a polar group and hollow particles each having a shell containing a crystal of calcium carbonate.
US09075331B2 Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus which may include an apparatus main body and a module unit. The module unit may include a communication member having an opening that allows communication between inside and outside of the module unit and a unit-side positioning portion located adjacent to the opening of the communication member. Further, the apparatus main body may include a ventilation member having an opening located so as to oppose the opening of the communication member. Further, the apparatus main body may include a main body-side positioning portion located adjacent to an opening of the ventilation member. Also, the apparatus main body may include an urging member that is configured to urge the module unit so as to bring the unit-side positioning portion into contact with the main body-side positioning portion.
US09075326B2 Electrophotographic photoreceptor, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus
Provided is an electrophotographic photoreceptor including a conductive substrate and a photosensitive layer provided on the conductive substrate, wherein an uppermost surface layer thereof is constituted with a cured film of a composition that contains at least two kinds of reactive charge transporting materials selected from a first reactive charge transporting material having an —OH group as a reactive functional group and a second reactive charge transporting material having an —OCH3 group as a reactive functional group, fluororesin particles, and an alkyl fluoride group-containing copolymer having repeating units represented by the following Structural Formulae A and B, and a relative dielectric constant ∈r of the uppermost surface layer satisfies the following Formula (1):
US09075323B2 Exposure device, photo-mask, and method for manufacturing liquid crystal display
The present invention is directed to an exposure apparatus and photo-mask, and method for manufacturing liquid crystal display using the same. An exposure apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides an exposure apparatus which includes: a first photo-mask comprising a plurality of transmission parts; and a second photo-mask comprising a plurality of transmission parts, the first photo-mask and the second photo-mask comprising an overlapping region where the first photo-mask and the second photo-mask are partially overlapped, wherein at least one transmission part included in at least one of the first photo-mask and the second photo-mask in the overlapping region comprises a semi-transmission section, and a transmittance of the semi-transmission section is greater than or equal to 0% and less than 100%.
US09075322B2 Reflective imaging optical system, exposure apparatus, and method for producing device
An reflective imaging optical system of the far pupil type, which is applicable to an exposure apparatus using for example the EUV light, forms on a second plane an image of a predetermined area on a first plane and is provided with first to eighth reflecting mirrors arranged in an order of reflection from the first plane toward the second plane. An entrance pupil of reflective imaging optical system is positioned on a side opposite to the reflective imaging optical system with the first plane intervening therebetween; and the following condition is fulfilled provided that PD represents a distance along an optical axis between the entrance pupil and the first plane, TT represents a distance along the optical axis between the first plane and the second plane, and R represents an angle of incidence of a main light beam coming into the first plane: −14.3<(PD/TT)/R<−2.5.
US09075311B2 Manufacturing method of microstructure
A manufacturing method of microstructure comprises steps of: a motion determination step which determines the motion of a substrate relative to at least a photomask; a microlens determination step which determines the profile of a microlens unit on the substrate; an analysis step which calculates the feature of the photomask according to the motion of the substrate and the profile of the microlens unit by using a numerical analysis method; a production step which produces the photomask according to the feature of the photomask; driving the substrate to do the motion determined in the motion determination step, and meanwhile making a laser light illuminate the substrate through the photomask to manufacture the microlens unit on the substrate by the superposition effect of the laser light; and performing a photolithography process by using the microlens unit to produce a microstructure on a photoresist substrate.
US09075308B2 Positive resist composition and patterning process
A positive resist composition comprises a polymer having a carboxyl group substituted with an acid labile group having formula (1) wherein R1 and R2 are alkyl or alkenyl, R3 and R4 are a single bond, methylene, ethylene or propylene, R5 and R6 are hydrogen or alkyl. The composition has a high dissolution contrast, high resolution, and suppressed acid diffusion rate, and forms a pattern of good profile and minimal edge roughness.
US09075302B2 Computing device, storage medium, and method for calibrating light channels of light source device
In a method of a computing device for calibrating light channels, one or more channel options of an illumination selecting unit of the computing device are selected to turn on the one or more light channels of a light source device. A camera unit captures a first image of the light source device. A zone and a serial number of each light channel are marked on the first image. Each channel option of the illumination selecting unit is eliminated. The camera unit captures a second image of the light source device when a light channel is turned off. The first image and the second image are compared, and a correlation between the light channel that is turned off and the eliminated channel option is determined. The serial numbers of the channel options are modified and remapped according to correlations between each light channel and each channel option.
US09075300B2 Projector
A projector is provided with an image forming device, a light path switching element, a polarization control element, and a polarization plate. The image forming device emits first image light and second image light. The light path switching element shifts a light path of the first image light and a light path of the second image light from each other. The polarization control element controls a polarization direction of the first image light to have a first polarization direction in a first display period, controls polarization directions of the first image light and the second image light to have a second polarization direction different from the first polarization direction in a transition period, and controls the polarization direction of the second image light to have the first polarization direction in a second display period. The polarization plate is disposed on the light exit side of the polarization control element.
US09075295B2 Devices and method for stopping trapezoidal distortion correction during user interaction
A projector device, a method of correcting trapezoidal distortion, and a distortion correction program stored in a recording medium are provided, each of which projects an image onto a projection surface, detects inclination of the projector device with respect to a horizontal surface to output an inclination angle value of the projector device, corrects trapezoidal distortion in an image to be projected based on the inclination angle value, determines whether an operation device of the projector device is being operated by a user to generate a determination result, and prohibits the projector device from performing trapezoidal distortion correction when the determination result indicates that the operation device is being operated by the user.
US09075290B1 Mounting bracket for surveillance cameras
Universal L shaped brackets, supports, apparatus, systems and methods for mounting surveillance cameras that form enclosure systems, mounting systems, and pedestal system for the cameras to be mounted on structures, such as but not limited to under a ceiling, a shelf, a wall, inside a pedestal and the like. Another embodiment covers brackets, supports, apparatus, systems and methods for mounting surveillance cameras with a universal mount for inside of vehicles, such as automobiles, and the like. The mounts can include mounting cameras on the backs of seats or door edges. The mounts can mount the cameras inside of pedestals.
US09075289B2 Roll-tilt ball turret camera having coiled data transmission cable
In one embodiment, a ball turret assembly for supporting a camera includes a first shaft rotatable about a first axis relative to a first fixed point, the first shaft having an axially-extending interior region in communication with an exterior of the first shaft by way of a first exit port. A first guide disposed at least partially circumferentially on the first shaft proximally to the first exit port is provided, and a cable extends along the interior region of the first shaft and exits the first shaft at the first exit port, the cable looping at least partially around the first shaft and affixed at the first fixed point.
US09075276B2 Electro-optical device and electronic apparatus with a pixel that transmits light with peak transmittances in the wavelength ranges of red, green, and blue
A liquid crystal device as an electro-optical device of a present application example includes an element substrate, a translucent pixel electrode disposed on the pixel, a storage capacitor which is provided between the element substrate and the pixel electrode and has a pair of translucent electrodes disposed to face each other through a dielectric layer, and a third interlayer insulator film provided between the storage capacitor and the pixel electrode, and each of film thicknesses of the pixel electrode, a first electrode and a second electrode as the pair of translucent electrodes and the third interlayer insulator film are set so that a spectral distribution of light which transmits the pixel has peak transmittances corresponding to each of wavelength ranges of at least red, green and blue.
US09075272B2 Liquid crystal display panel having positive blue phase liquid crystal layer
A liquid crystal display panel including a first substrate, a second substrate, pixel structures and a positive blue phase liquid crystal layer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate is provided. The second substrate is disposed opposite to the first substrate. The pixel structures are disposed on the first substrate and between the first substrate and the second substrate. Each pixel structure includes a first electrode, a dielectric layer, a second electrode, and a third electrode. The first electrode is disposed on the first substrate. The dielectric layer covers the first electrode. The second electrode is disposed on the dielectric layer, overlapped with the first electrode and electrically connected to the first electrode. The third electrode is disposed on the dielectric layer and overlapped with the first electrode. The third electrode substantially surrounds the second electrode. The third electrode is spaced apart a distance from the second electrode.
US09075268B2 LCD device including a repair region with a metal pattern capable of being burnt down
A method for adjusting an amount of liquid crystal in a liquid crystal display (LCD) device includes injecting a liquid crystal into a liquid crystal receiving space. The liquid crystal receiving space is disposed between a first substrate, a second substrate that faces the first substrate, and a sealing member interposed between the first and second substrates. The method for adjusting an amount of liquid crystal in an LCD device further includes irradiating a light to a portion of the sealing member while varying an irradiating angle of the light so as to form a repair region at the sealing member that has a thickness smaller than that of the sealing member. The method for adjusting an amount of liquid crystal in an LCD device also comprises pressurizing the liquid crystal to form an opening in the repair region of the sealing member and discharge some of the liquid crystal from the liquid crystal receiving space through the opening formed in the repair region, and sealing the opening of the repair region.
US09075263B2 Display apparatus
A display apparatus includes a display panel disposed between a first polarizer and a second polarizer and having at least one first area and at least one second area. A first light-transmission axis direction of the first polarizer is substantially perpendicular to a second light-transmission axis direction of the second polarizer. The first light-transmission axis direction intersects a horizontal axis direction by about 45 degrees. When the display panel is in a narrow viewing angle display mode, the first and second areas have different brightness in a side viewing angle direction but have the same brightness in and around a normal viewing angle direction. When the display panel is in a wide viewing angle display mode, the first and second areas have substantially the same brightness in various viewing angle directions.
US09075259B2 Display device and touch sensing method thereof
Disclosed is a display device. The display device includes a timing controller and a touch sensing unit. The timing controller temporally divides one frame period and drives a display panel such that a display mode for displaying an image in the display panel and a touch mode for sensing a user's touch are alternately driven. The touch sensing unit detects the user's touch with a DTX compensation value calculated by multiplying a DTX weight value and a maximum DTX amplitude of a touch sensing block which is obtained when a maximum grayscale value is applied to a plurality of pixels corresponding to the touch sensing block, in the touch mode. The DTX weight value is calculated by substituting an average value of grayscale values applied to the plurality of pixels corresponding to the touch sensing block into a normalization curve.
US09075254B2 Optical waveguide device module
An optical waveguide device module is provided, wherein a control electrode includes a signal electrode and ground electrodes disposed to sandwich the signal electrode, a connection substrate is provided with a signal line and ground lines disposed to sandwich the signal line, the distance W1 between the ground electrodes in the input end or the output end of the control electrode is larger than the distance W2 between the ground lines on the optical waveguide device side of the connection substrate, the control electrode has a portion of which the distance between the ground electrodes is smaller than the distance W2 in a portion away from the input end or the output end thereof, and interconnections of which the distance W between ground interconnections connecting the optical waveguide device and the connection substrate is at least smaller than the distance W1.
US09075252B2 Remote work methods and systems using nonlinear light conversion
A disclosed remote work system includes a light source and a nonlinear converter optically coupled to and remote from the light source. The nonlinear light converter converts a narrowband light pulse received from the light source to a converted spectrum light pulse. The system also includes a work element coupled to the nonlinear light converter. The work element performs a work operation using the converted spectrum light pulse. A related remote work method includes generating a narrowband light pulse and conveying the narrowband light pulse to a remote location. The method also includes converting the narrowband light pulse to a converted spectrum light pulse at the remote location. The method also includes performing a sense operation or work operation at the remote location using the converted spectrum light pulse.
US09075219B2 Connector device and method for producing a furcated fibre optic cable
A connector device (203) for connecting a first fiber optic cable (1;101) to a plurality of second fiber optic cables (9′;220). The connector device (203) includes a casing (205) having a first opening (204) arranged to receive the first fiber optic cable (1;101), a second opening (206) arranged to receive the plurality of second fiber optic cables (9′;222), a cavity that connects the first and second openings (204, 206) such that a fiber connection can be made between the first fiber optic cable (1;101) and the plurality of second cables (9′;220), and first and second parts (205a, 250b) that are connectable to each other; and securing means for securing the casing (205) to the first fiber optic cable (1;101) and to the plurality of second fiber optic cables (9′;220) such that when secured thereto the casing (205) transfers tensile loads between the cables (1;101, 9′;220), wherein the securing means includes a furcation member (209) that is arranged to receive and support the plurality of second fiber optic cables (9′;220). A method for producing a furcated fiber optic cable is also disclosed.
US09075216B2 Fiber optic housings configured to accommodate fiber optic modules/cassettes and fiber optic panels, and related components and methods
Fiber optic housings configured to accommodate fiber optic modules/cassettes and fiber optic panels are disclosed. In one embodiment, a fiber optic apparatus is provided and comprised of a fiber optic housing and one or more removable panel clips. Each of the one or more removable panel clips includes at least one receptacle configured to receive an insert of a fiber optic panel to support the fiber optic panel in the fiber optic housing. In another embodiment, a fiber optic shelf configured to be supported in a fiber optic housing is provided. The fiber optic shelf comprises a mounting surface and one or more removable panel clips attached to the mounting surface that each includes at least one receptacle configured to receive an insert of a fiber optic panel to support the fiber optic panel in the mounting surface. Related components and methods are also disclosed.
US09075215B2 Duplex cables and zipcord cables and breakout cables incorporating duplex cables
Interconnect cables utilize bend-insensitive fibers and relatively large free space areas in the cable jackets to reduce bend-induced delta attenuation. Tensile yarns can be included as strain-relief components, but can be relatively loosely packed in order to inhibit bend-induced attenuation.
US09075206B2 Optical waveguide device
There is provided an optical waveguide device. The device includes: a wiring substrate having a first opening portion therein and including: a substrate having an upper surface and a lower surface opposite to the upper surface; an upper side wiring layer formed on the upper surface of the substrate, and a lower side wiring layer formed on the lower surface of the substrate, an optical waveguide formed on the lower side wiring layer; a first optical element connected to the upper side wiring layer; a first circuit element electrically connected to the first optical element through the upper side wiring layer; a second optical element connected to the lower side wiring layer through the first opening portion; and a second circuit element electrically connected to the second optical element through the lower side wiring layer.
US09075200B2 Birefringent crystal polarization beam splitter assembly
An optical apparatus, comprising a polarization beam splitter (PBS) comprising a birefringent crystal having a front-end and a back-end, and an optical rotator positioned on the back-end of the birefringent crystal. Included is an optical apparatus comprising a PBS comprising a birefringent crystal and an optical rotator, wherein the PBS is configured to receive a multiplexed optical signal comprising a first polarized optical signal and a second polarized optical signal, wherein the second polarized optical signal is orthogonal to the first polarized optical signal, separate the first polarized optical signal from the second polarized optical signal using the birefringent crystal, and rotate the second polarized optical signal using the optical rotator such that the rotated second polarized optical signal is parallel to the first polarized optical signal. The PBS may further comprise only one lens, wherein the lens is positioned on the front-end of the birefringent crystal.
US09075185B2 Hole-assisted optical fiber
A hole-assisted optical fiber includes a core portion and a cladding portion that includes an inner cladding layer, an outer cladding layer, and holes formed around the core portion. A diameter of the core portion is 3 μm to 9.8 μm, a relative refractive index difference of the core portion relative to the outer cladding layer is 0.11% to 0.45%, an outside diameter of the inner cladding layer is 53 μm or less, a relative refractive index difference of the inner cladding layer relative to the outer cladding layer is a negative value, −0.30% or more, a diameter of each hole is 2.4 μm to 4.0 μm, a hole occupancy rate is 17% to 48%, a bending loss at a wavelength of 1625 nm when bent at a radius of 5 mm is 1 dB/turn or less, and a cut-off wavelength is 1550 nm or less.
US09075181B2 Backlight assembly and display apparatus having the same
A display apparatus with at least two light guide plates, each including a light incident surface and a light exiting surface, the light guide plates being spaced apart from each other so as to form a gap therebetween. The display apparatus also has a light source disposed adjacent to at least one side portion of the light guide plates to emit light to the light incident surface, a display panel positioned to receive light from the light exiting surfaces to facilitate display of an image, and a diffusion member. The diffusion member covers the gap, so as to diffuse light directed toward the display panel.
US09075173B2 Display device
Disclosed is a display device. The display device includes a light source, a light guide part to receive a light emitted from the light source, a light conversion member between the light source and the light guide part, and a spacer between the light source and the light conversion member.
US09075163B2 Interferometric seismic data processing
Implementations of various technologies for a method for generating a seismic image of a subsurface are described herein. Seismic data may be received from two sensors in a seismic survey. The seismic data below and equal to a predetermined frequency may be classified as low-frequency seismic data. The low-frequency seismic data may be re-sampled based on the predetermined frequency. A set of low-frequency Green's functions may be calculated using interferometry on the re-sampled low-frequency seismic data. High-frequency seismic data of the seismic data may be processed to create a set of high-frequency Green's functions at one or more source locations of the seismic survey. The set of high-frequency Green's functions may be merged with the set of low-frequency Green's functions to create a set of broad-band Green's functions. The seismic image may be generated using the set of broad-band Green's functions at the source locations.
US09075158B2 Using a drill bit as a seismic source for SET velocity analysis
Disclosed are various embodiments of methods for determining the velocity of seismic energy in geologic layers using Seismic Emission Tomography (SET) imaging of drill bit noise, by recording microseismic data during a drilling operation, recording the time and the position of a drill bit in a well bore during the drilling operation, processing the microseismic data using SET software to image microseismic events proximate a known time and position of the drill bit using an estimated velocity model, computing the difference between the known time and position of the drill bit and the time and position of the microseismic event determined from the SET data, varying the estimated velocity model to minimize the difference between the known time and position of the drill bit and the time and time and position of the microseismic event determined from the SET data.
US09075156B2 Light curtain
A light curtain for the optical detection of shading objects in an area to be monitored, wherein the area to be monitored is repeatedly swept over by a collimated light beam of variable direction. The power of the light crossing the area is measured, shadow boundaries, position and size of a shading object are deduced by an evaluating control from the temporal profile of the measured power with knowledge of the temporal profile of the direction of the light beam. An optical detector area embodied as a planar optical waveguide is arranged along the edge of the area to be monitored, photoluminescent particles being integrated into said optical detector area and one or more photoelectric sensors being fitted to the optical detector area. Using the light curtain, shading objects can be detected with very good resolution, the light curtain can be robust and can have a low production cost.
US09075149B2 Detector with a conical scintillator
A detector of ionizing radiation comprises a photodetector and a scintillator in the shape of truncated cone comprising a large base, a small base and a lateral surface, the large base of the scintillator being coupled to the photodetector, any half-angle at the apex of the cone being in the range between 5° and 35°, the lateral face being coated with a black coating. The detector in accordance with an embodiment can produce a very short pulse.
US09075148B2 Nano structural anodes for radiation detectors
Anodes for proportional radiation counters and a process of making the anodes is provided. The nano-sized anodes when present within an anode array provide: significantly higher detection efficiencies due to the inherently higher electric field, are amenable to miniaturization, have low power requirements, and exhibit a small electromagnetic field signal. The nano-sized anodes with the incorporation of neutron absorbing elements (e.g., 10B) allow the use of neutron detectors that do not use 3He.
US09075146B1 Wireless, motion and position-sensing, integrating radiation sensor for occupational and environmental dosimetry
Described is a radiation dosimeter including multiple sensor devices (including one or more passive integrating electronic radiation sensor, a MEMS accelerometers, a wireless transmitters and, optionally, a GPS, a thermistor, or other chemical, biological or EMF sensors) and a computer program for the simultaneous detection and wireless transmission of ionizing radiation, motion and global position for use in occupational and environmental dosimetry. The described dosimeter utilizes new processes and algorithms to create a self-contained, passive, integrating dosimeter. Furthermore, disclosed embodiments provide the use of MEMS and nanotechnology manufacturing techniques to encapsulate individual ionizing radiation sensor elements within a radiation attenuating material that provides a “filtration bubble” around the sensor element, the use of multiple attenuating materials (filters) around multiple sensor elements, and the use of a software algorithm to discriminate between different types of ionizing radiation and different radiation energy.
US09075145B2 Combining data from multiple radar signals on a single plan position indicator (PPI) display
In certain embodiments, a method for combining data from multiple radar signals on a single PPI includes receiving, from a first radar device having a first angular range of visibility, first radar signal data corresponding to the first angular range of visibility. The method further includes receiving, from a second radar device having a second angular range of visibility, second radar signal data corresponding to the second angular range of visibility. The method further includes performing compensation processing on at least a portion of the second radar signal data to form modified second radar signal data that is correlated to the first radar signal data. The method further includes combining at least a portion the first radar signal data with at least a portion of the modified second radar signal data to form combined radar signal data and generating, based on the combined radar signal data, a display on a radar PPI display.
US09075144B1 Digital radar altimeter
A method for determining a height above ground of an aircraft broadly comprises the steps of generating a transmit signal with a transmitter, transmitting the transmit signal with a first antenna, generating a local oscillator signal with a local oscillator, receiving a receive signal with a second antenna, mixing the receive signal with the local oscillator signal to generate a baseband signal, determining a frequency of interest of the baseband signal, and calculating an aircraft altitude corresponding to the frequency of interest.
US09075140B2 GNSS ephemeris with graceful degradation and measurement fusion
A method for providing an extended propagation ephemeris model for a satellite in Earth orbit, the method includes obtaining a satellite's orbital position over a first period of time, applying a least square estimation filter to determine coefficients defining osculating Keplarian orbital elements and harmonic perturbation parameters associated with a coordinate system defining an extended propagation ephemeris model that can be used to estimate the satellite's position during the first period, wherein the osculating Keplarian orbital elements include semi-major axis of the satellite (a), eccentricity of the satellite (e), inclination of the satellite (i), right ascension of ascending node of the satellite (Ω), true anomaly (θ*), and argument of periapsis (ω), applying the least square estimation filter to determine a dominant frequency of the true anomaly, and applying a Fourier transform to determine dominant frequencies of the harmonic perturbation parameters.
US09075137B2 Method and system for determining the position of a GNSS receiver arranged in a motor vehicle
Method and system for determining, via sensor network, position of GNSS receiver arranged in a motor vehicle intentionally is impaired in a targeted manner by interference source. Sensor network includes traffic route points having at least one sensor to detect a presence of interference source. Method includes detecting, as motor vehicle passes one of traffic route points, an interference signal emitted by interference source and/or a received signal of GNSS receiver impaired by interference source by the at least one sensor of the one traffic route point; processing the detected signals to establish whether interference source is present in passing motor vehicle; and when the presence of interference source established, generating information that signals at least a location of the one traffic route point and the interference source in the motor vehicle. A position of the motor vehicle is determined from the location of the traffic route point.
US09075134B2 Radar system
A radar system for detecting positions of targets using a high resolution algorithm is presented. The number of incorrect target detections due to incorrect estimation of the number of radar reflections is reduced. A two-dimensional (azimuth and distance) peak having maximum power is detected, and a virtual beam formed centering on that peak. If that two-dimensional peak is buried in the virtual beam it is assumed to be a noise peak and removed. This is repeated for all two-dimensional peaks, thereby removing noise peaks and reducing the number of unnecessary target detections. The system can also correctly detect peaks that are close together at a certain resolution but have a power larger than the virtual beam.
US09075127B2 Head tracking system
A head tracking system for determining a head position of a user may include a light source configured to emit light onto a rectangular position sensitive device supported by a support structure such as headphones. The light emitted by the light source may generate a light spot on the position sensitive device. A head position determining module may determine the head position using the position of the light spot on the position sensitive device. The support structure may be configured to support the position sensitive device such that a head rotation results in rotation of the position sensitive device and a displacement of the light spot toward a corner of the rectangular position sensitive device.
US09075126B2 Ground location inertial navigation geopositioning system (groundlings)
A ground location inertial navigation geopositioning system (GROUNDLINGS) end receiver (GER) can include a GROUNDLINGS module. The GROUNDLINGS module can be configured to generate a GER position using a time of flight (TOF) of a downlink pseudo-random noise (PRN) signal and a Doppler shift of at least one of the downlink PRN signal and a downlink tone signal on a common frequency carrier. The downlink PRN signal sent from a GROUNDLINGS satellite (GRS) to the GER can include a copy of an uplink PRN signal from a ground located transceiver (GLT) to the GRS. When used, the downlink tone signal can be received from the GRS.
US09075124B2 Apparatus for arrow locating and game tracking
A signal-transmitting arrow operable to transmit an encoded RF signal, an arrow locating and game tracking receiver system for use with the signal-transmitting arrow, and a transmitter-nock unit for installation on an arrow to construct a signal-transmitting arrow. The arrow includes an arrow shaft, an arrow head disposed at an arrow shaft forward end, and a nock disposed at an arrow shaft rearward end. A transmitter unit includes a transmitter housing that is removably mounted in interior chamber at the rearward end of the arrow shaft, and is rigidly connected to the nock to provide the transmitter-nock unit. The transmitter unit has an RF transmitter with a rigid antenna that extends rearwardly into the nock. The receiver system includes omnidirectional and directional antennas and RF receivers, a processor for generating direction indicating signal, and a user interface that indicates arrow location.
US09075116B2 Method and circuit for testing a power producer or a power consumer which can be connected to a power grid
Described is a method for testing a power producer or a power consumer that can be connected to a power grid. The power producer or the power consumer is connected to a terminal point. A converter circuit is provided for influencing a voltage that is present at the terminal point. The converter circuit is connected via a transformer to the terminal point. In at least one embodiment, a series connection is configured with a choking coil and a first switch and connected to the terminal point. In a time coordinated manner, the first switch is initially closed and the converter circuit is influenced such that the voltage has the desired value at the terminal point, whereupon the second switch is then opened.
US09075111B2 Generalized modular redundancy fault tolerance method for combinational circuits
A fault tolerance method for combinational circuits is provided. In order to increase reliability of combinational circuits, extra redundant modules are added to the circuit logic. The method further utilizes redundancy techniques to improve soft error reliability, and is based on probability of occurrence for combinations at the outputs of circuits, thus enhancing the reliability of the combinational circuits.
US09075108B2 Method and a device for preventing signal-edge losses
A method for marking a signal edge, which has been removed from at least one decimated binary signal after the decimation of an associated binary signal, within the decimated binary signal, establishes successive signal portions of the respective binary signal, in each case with a number of sampled values corresponding to a decimation factor of the decimation. It detects a signal edge removed through decimation from each signal portion if the number of signal edges determined in each signal portion of the respective binary signal is greater than one. Then, the sampled values of the respective decimated binary signal are determined through decimation of the sampled values of the associated binary signal with the decimation factor, and the removed signal edge at the sampling time of the decimated binary signal which corresponds to the signal portion of the associated binary signal with the signal edge removed through decimation is marked.
US09075102B2 Magnetic resonance imaging system comprising a power supply unit adapted for providing direct current electrical power
A MRI system for acquiring MRI image data comprising a data acquisition means comprising a plurality of subunits for acquiring MRI image data, a power distribution means for providing the means for acquiring MRI image data with electrical power, the power distribution means comprising: a power supply unit adapted for providing direct current electrical power from an alternating current electrical mains, a power bus adapted for supplying the subunits with the direct current electrical power, control means for controlling the supply of direct current electrical power by the power bus to the subunits.
US09075101B2 Method and apparatus for testing a semiconductor device
The present disclosure provides a method for testing a semiconductor device. The method includes providing a testing unit and an electronic circuit coupled to the testing unit and applying a first electrical signal to the testing unit. The method includes sweeping a second electrical signal across a range of values, the second electrical signal supplying power to the electronic circuit, wherein the sweeping is performed while a value of the first electrical signal remains the same. The method includes measuring a third electrical signal during the sweeping, the measured third electrical signal having a range of values that each correspond to one of the values of the second electrical signal. The method includes adopting an optimum value of the second electrical signal that yields a minimum value of the third electrical signal. The method includes testing the testing unit while the second electrical signal is set to the optimum value.
US09075098B2 Plug-in electric vehicle charger validation and test device
A process and apparatus for performing a ground fault test of a device is disclosed. A current level may be selected from a plurality of predetermined current levels. A ground fault current may be generated between a first power line and a ground at the selected current level until a ground fault interrupter within the device trips, or until expiration of an on-time period associated with the selected current level. The ground fault current may then be set to zero for an off-time period associated with the selected current level. The process may be repeated for each of the plurality of current levels. When the ground fault interrupter within the device trips, the current level and a time interval from an onset of the ground fault current at the selected level and a time when the ground fault interrupter tripped may be recorded.
US09075091B2 Sensor devices and methods for use in sensing current through a conductor
Sensor devices and related methods disclosed. One example sensor device includes a non-magnetic substrate defining an aperture structured to receive a conductor therein, a coil including a plurality of coil turns wound about at least a portion of the substrate, a first shield between the substrate and the plurality of coil turns, a second shield disposed proximate to the plurality of coil turns, opposite the first shield, such that the plurality of coil turns is disposed between the first shield and the second shield, and a filter element coupled to at least one of the first and second shields.
US09075083B2 Probe card
An electrode and wiring can be provided on an FPC board without restriction by a through hole. A probe card in which an FPC board of a probe assembly is fixed to the main board side by a clamp mechanism is provided. The clamp mechanism is provided with a fixing ring fixed to the main board side and on which the FPC board is mounted and a rotating ring screwed into the fixing ring and pressing a peripheral edge portion of the FPC board. In the fixing ring, a pressing ring pressed by screwing of the rotating ring for pressing the peripheral edge portion of the FPC board to the main board side is provided.
US09075082B2 Fluid delivery for scanning probe microscopy
A gas (or fluid) is introduced around an SPM probe or Nanotool™ to control chemical activity e.g., oxygen to promote oxidation, argon to inhibit oxidation or clean dry air (CDA) to inhibit moisture to control static charging due to the action of the probe or nanotools and to provide vacuum at and around the tip and substrate area. Electrical current can be produced for use with active electronic devices on, in or near the body of the device. In addition by use of a fluid like water, certain oils, and other liquids in conjunction with specific tip structure either electric discharge machining can be used at the tip area on the tip itself (in conjunction with a form structure on the work piece) or on a work piece beneath the tip to shape, polish and remove material at very small scales (10 microns to 1 nm or less).
US09075081B2 Method and means for coupling high-frequency energy to and/or from the nanoscale junction of an electrically-conductive tip with a semiconductor
A method for coupling high-frequency energy, in particular for microwave circuits, to a nanoscale junction involves placing a bias-T outside of the tip and sample circuits of a scanning probe microscope and connecting a portion of a sample of analyzed semi-conductor through an outer shielding layer of coaxial cable so as to complete a circuit with minimal involvement of the sample. The bias-T branches into high and low-frequency circuits, both of which are completed and, at least the high-frequency circuit, does not rely on grounding of implements or other structure to accomplish said completion.
US09075078B2 Microelectromechanical accelerometer with wireless transmission capabilities
In various embodiments, a microelectromechanical system may include a mass element; a substrate; a signal generator; and a fixing structure configured to fix the mass element to the substrate; wherein the mass element is fixed in such a way that, upon an acceleration of the microelectromechanical system, the mass element can be moved relative to the substrate in at least two spatial directions, and wherein a signal is generated by the movement of the mass element by means of the signal generator.
US09075062B2 Identification of biomarkers by serum protein profiling
The present invention relates to methods of determining colorectal cancer status in a subject. The invention further relates to kits for determining colorectal cancer status in a subject. The invention further related to methods of identifying biomarker for determining colorectal cancer status in a subject.
US09075058B2 Coelenterazine analogues and coelenteramide analogues
Coelenterazine analogs with different luminescence properties from conventional ones and coelenteramide analogs with different fluorescence properties from conventional ones have been desired. The invention provides coelenterazine analogs modified at the 8-position of coelenterazine and coelenteramide analogs modified at the 2- or 3-position of coelenteramide.
US09075056B2 Reagents and methods for phosphorylation/dephosphorylation analyses
Disclosed herein are reagents that include a moiety that includes a metal such as titanium and that readily binds to phosphorylated molecules the reagents also include at least one moiety that produces a signal or that binds to a molecule that produces a signal. The reagent may also include a moiety that binds to a larger molecule or to a surface. Some forms of the reagent include a dendrimer that can simultaneously bind to multiple metal moieties that include a metal such as titanium and multiple moieties that can be used to detected bound molecules. These reagents can be used in detection and/or measurement and/or at least partial purification of phosphorylated molecules. These reagents and methods using them are used to analyze proteins, polypeptides, nucleic acids, phospholipids and the like. They are readily adapted for use in gels, blots, plate based high through put assays and for mass spectrometry.
US09075050B2 Methods for assessing atherogenesis by determining oxidized phospholipid to apolipoprotein B ratios
The present invention provides methods to analyze oxidized phospholipids (OxPL) on apolipoprotein B-100 in patients at high risk or with documented coronary artery disease (CAD) or acute coronary syndromes (ACS) such as unstable angina and acute myocardial infarction or suspected of being at risk for ACS. Such methods are useful for diagnostic purposes and for monitoring the effects of dietary interventions or with drugs such as statins. More particularly, the disclosure provides methods for determining OxPL/apoB ratios as indices of atherosclerosis regression and plaque stability.
US09075049B2 Immunoassay method and reagent therefor
[Problems] An object of the present invention is to provide a novel method which can expand the measurement range in an immunoassay method.[Means for Solution] The immunoassay method according to the present invention comprises allowing a polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfate and a polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid ester to coexist in a reaction system.[Effects] According to the method of the present invention, variation (standard deviation) in blank measurement values in particular can be reduced, so that measurement values are stabilized. By this, a significant difference can be obtained in measurement values even in a low-concentration range where conventional immunoassay methods have difficulty in performing measurements; therefore, the measurement accuracy in such low-concentration range can be improved.
US09075045B2 Cell-based detection of APF through its interaction with CKAP4 for diagnosis of interstitial cystitis
An assay system designed to detect a protein biomarker in urine that is diagnostic for interstitial cystitis (IC). The presence of a 9 amino acid glycopeptide, antiproliferative factor (APF), in urine is unique to patients with IC. Urine samples from patients who exhibit symptoms consistent with IC are added to the assay system. Binding of APF to the cytoskeletal associated protein 4 (CKAP4) is positive for the presence of APF in urine and diagnostic for IC. The diagnostic system is a significant and surprising advance in diagnosis of IC and has commercial applications relevant to women and men who suffer from symptoms consistent with IC.
US09075044B2 Compositions and methods for detection and modulation of T cell mediated immune responses against viral vectors utilized for gene therapy
Compositions and methods are provided for inhibiting T cell mediated destruction of virally transduced, trangene containing cells.
US09075040B2 Method and system for verifying the age of an animal providing meat
The invention provides a method for verifying the age of an animal providing meat using volatile profiles that comprises the step of providing a sample of animal meat. The method uses one or more chemical analyzes to obtain a profile of a set of volatile organic compounds from a sample of meat from an animal. The profile is fit to a mathematically discriminating function resulting. The data obtained is analyzed in order to establish a correlation between the age of the animal (tooth development) and volatiles exuded by meat.
US09075029B2 System and method for automatically adjusting gas sensor settings and parameters
A system and method are disclosed including an automatic sensor excitation voltage adjustment feature, a multi-range concentration feature, and a single calibration feature. The automatic sensor excitation voltage adjustment feature may include a transmitter having an associated microprocessor that provides an initial voltage to an associated sensor. The sensor may include a microprocessor, and as the voltage changes a correction signal may be relayed from the sensor microprocessor to the transmitter microprocessor. The correction signal may be used by the transmitter microprocessor to adjust the voltage applied to the sensor. The multi-range concentration sensor feature may include an amplifier associated with the sensor/microprocessor to create gain settings used to optimize sensor resolution by changing a gain value associated with the sensor. This, in turn, enables a single sensor to be used for a variety of different concentration ranges, as desired by a user. The single calibration feature enables a sensor to be calibrated at a single gas concentration value, and thereafter be used for a variety of different concentration range applications. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09075027B2 Apparatus and methods for detecting defects in vertical memory
Disclosed are methods and apparatus for inspecting a vertical memory stack. On an inspection tool, incident light having a first wavelength range is used to detect defects on a surface of the vertical memory stack. On the inspection tool, incident light having a second wavelength range is used to detect defects on both the surface and throughout a depth of the vertical memory stack. The defects detected using the first and second wavelength range are compared to detect defects only throughout the depth of the vertical memory stack, excluding defects on the surface.
US09075024B1 Methods for determining wear volume of a tested polycrystalline diamond element
Embodiments of methods are disclosed for characterizing a tested polycrystalline diamond (“PCD”) element, such as a PDC cutting element. In an embodiment, a method for characterizing a tested PCD element is disclosed. An initial volume of a PCD element is measured using a coordinate measuring machine (“CMM”). A workpiece is cut with the PCD element so that the PCD element develops a wear flat. A post-cut volume of the PCD element is measured after cutting the workpiece using the CMM. A wear volume of the PCD element is determined at least partially based on the post-cut volume and the initial volume of the PCD element.
US09075008B2 Plant treatment based on a water invariant chlorophyll index
A method and system of treating plants is provided. The method includes measuring optical properties of a plant using a plurality of spectral bands. The method further includes calculating in a computational device at least two vegetative indexes using the optical properties, each of the at least two vegetative indexes correlating to one or more plant growth parameters. The method further includes calculating in the computational device a water invariant chlorophyll index from at least two vegetative indexes using the plurality of spectral bands. The also provides for treating one or more of the plants based on the water invariant chlorophyll index.
US09075004B2 Electrochemical cell
Devices and methods are provided for determining the concentration of a reduced form of a redox species. For example, a device can include a working electrode and a counter electrode spaced by a predetermined distance so that reaction produces from the counter electrode arrive at the working electrode. An electric potential difference can be applied between the electrodes, and the potential of the working electrode can be selected such that the rate of electro-oxidation of the reduced form of the species is diffusion controlled. Current as a function of time can be determined, the magnitude of the steady state current can be estimated, and a value indicative of the diffusion coefficient and/or of the concentration of the reduced form of the species can be obtained from the change in current with time and the magnitude of the steady state current. Other embodiments of apparatuses, devices, and methods are also provided.
US09075002B2 TeraHertz probe array imaging system
A probe array (1) for an imaging system for examining an object (19) comprising at least one emitter (7) for emitting radiation, a plurality of detectors (9) for detecting radiation and means for directing radiation emitted by the at least one emitter (7) to the object (19) and for directing radiation reflected from the object (19) to at least two of the plurality of detectors (9) wherein in use the emitted radiation is scanned by means (21) across the object (19).
US09074999B2 Biosensor, biosensor chip and biosensor device
A biosensor includes a working electrode 101, a counter electrode 102 opposing the working electrode 101, a working electrode terminal 103 and a working electrode reference terminal 10 connected to the working electrode 101 by wires, and a counter electrode terminal 104 connected to the counter electrode 102 by a wire. By employing a structure with at least three electrodes, it is possible to assay a target substance without being influenced by the line resistance on the working electrode side.
US09074998B2 Biosensor, biosensor chip and biosensor device
A biosensor includes a working electrode 101, a counter electrode 102 opposing the working electrode 101, a working electrode terminal 103 and a working electrode reference terminal 10 connected to the working electrode 101 by wires, and a counter electrode terminal 104 connected to the counter electrode 102 by a wire. By employing a structure with at least three electrodes, it is possible to assay a target substance without being influenced by the line resistance on the working electrode side.
US09074995B2 Magnetostrictive phased array transducer for transducing shear horizontal bulkwaves
A magnetostrictive phased array transducer for transducing shear horizontal bulkwaves including a plurality of magnetostrictive members each having a bottom surface of a plate-shaped structure made of a ferromagnetic material, which is mounted to be adhered closely to the surface of a mounting place; an insulator disposed on a side surface of each magnetostrictive member; a meander coil having a plurality of coil lines extended in the direction parallel with the bottom surface on each insulator, wherein adjacent coil lines are connected so that current flows in the opposite directions to each other, thereby generating a dynamic magnetic field with respect to each magneto strictive member; and a magnet mounted to generate a static magnetic field perpendicular to the dynamic magnetic field. When the current is supplied to the meander coil, a plurality of magnetostrictive members generate a plurality of shear horizontal bulkwaves while being deformed by the magnetostriction effect.
US09074987B2 Lubricant distribution acquisition device and lubricant distribution acquisition method
The direction of the main axis of a bearing is adjusted by turning a supporting base (12a) that is supporting the bearing, and by then receiving a neutron beam that has been transmitted through the bearing from the direction of the main axis thereof, and converting it into an electromagnetic wave, and by then forming images using the received electromagnetic wave, lubricant distribution data that shows the distribution of a lubricant inside the bearing is acquired.
US09074986B2 System and method for reducing high density artifacts in computed tomography imaging
An imaging system includes a rotatable gantry for receiving an object to be scanned, a generator configured to energize an x-ray source to generate x-rays, a detector positioned to receive the x-rays that pass through the object, and a computer. The computer is programmed to obtain knowledge of a metal within the object, scan the object using system scanning parameters, reconstruct an image of the object using a reconstruction algorithm, and automatically select at least one of the system scanning parameters and the reconstruction algorithm based on the obtained knowledge.
US09074985B2 Method and device for acoustic analysis of microporosities in a material such as concrete using multiple cMUTs transducers incorporated in the material
The invention concerns a device for analysing the microporosities of a given material including at least two phases, one of which is a fluid phase, including: multiple sensors (100) incorporated in the given material (M), where each of the sensors includes one or more cMUT acoustic and capacitive transducers.
US09074983B2 Deposition of sensing layers for surface acoustic wave chemical sensors based on supra-molecular chemistry
The design and deposition of a sensing layer for room temperature SAW/BAW chemical sensors utilizing macrocyclic compounds in accordance with supra-molecular chemistry principles. The gas to be sensed is attached to the organic sensing film thus changing its visco-elastic properties and creating a mass increase of the film deposited on the surface of SAW/BAW devices. A direct printing method can be used as an additive, mask-less procedure to deposit metallic interdigital transducers and electrodes required for SAW/BAW devices, along with the deposition of a guiding layer and the organic films only on the location required by the sensing SAW/BAW principle of the sensor. Different thermal treatment solutions can be used for the consolidation of the gelly organic films deposited by the direct printing methods.
US09074973B2 Cloth evaluation apparatus
A cloth evaluation apparatus can grasp the piercing property and the cutting property with a cloth in advance. The cloth evaluation apparatus includes a measuring member having, on its distal side, a measuring part to pass through a cloth; a cloth/measuring part moving means for moving the cloth or the measuring member so that the measuring part passes through the cloth; a cloth supporting means for supporting the cloth at around a passing-through point, in the cloth, of the measuring part from both sides of the cloth when the measuring part passes through the cloth; and a load detecting means for detecting a load being applied to the measuring member while the measuring part passes through the cloth.
US09074962B2 Liquid leakage detector, liquid transport apparatus and method of detecting liquid leakage
A liquid leakage detector includes: a first liquid detection unit provided at a member to be detected, the first liquid detection unit being configured to detect a liquid leaked from the member to be detected; a liquid impermeable member which covers the first liquid detection unit to protect the same from the ambient air; and a determining unit configured to determine whether the liquid is leaking from the member to be detected in response to a signal from the first liquid detection unit.
US09074960B2 Method and apparatus for checking syringe bodies
Described is a method for checking syringe bodies of the type comprising a hollow body, a seal for closing the hollow body and a dose of a liquid product enclosed by the hollow body and by the seal, the method comprising the steps of applying a pneumatic negative pressure to the syringe body and moving a stop body towards the syringe body in such a way that, during at least a part of the step of applying the pneumatic negative pressure, the stop body obstructs withdrawal of the seal towards a rear end of the syringe body opposite the liquid.
US09074942B2 On-chip temperature sensor
A method and apparatus for determining a temperature of a semiconductor device is provided herein. One aspect of the disclosed subject matter is seen in a temperature sensing device. The temperature sensing device comprises a diode and a circuit. The diode is adapted to be reverse biased by a charging voltage applied thereto. The circuit determines a temperature of the diode based on a rate that the voltage on the diode discharges in response to the charging voltage being uncoupled from the diode.
US09074941B1 Systems and methods for measuring ambient and laser temperature in heat assisted magnetic recording
Systems and methods for measuring ambient and laser temperature in heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) systems are provided. One such system includes a slider having a write head, a laser diode coupled to the slider and configured to direct energy to a magnetic medium, and a preamplifier circuit including a voltage measurement circuit configured to measure a voltage drop across the laser diode, and a current measurement circuit configured to measure a current through the laser diode, where the preamplifier circuit is configured to store calibration information including a plurality of temperatures corresponding with measurements of the voltage drop across the laser diode and measurements of the current through the laser diode, and calculate a temperature based on the measured voltage drop across the laser diode, the measured current through the laser diode, and the calibration information.
US09074939B2 Ambient luminosity level detection based on discharge times
A method wherein the updating of a counter is triggered when a photodiode reaches a discharge threshold.
US09074929B2 Image display apparatus having a light guide unit refracting incident light from a screen to a sensor
An image display apparatus according to the present invention, comprises: a display panel displaying an image on a screen; and a photometric unit measuring light incident from the screen, wherein the photometric unit includes: a sensor measuring the incident light; and a light guide unit refracting the incident light and guiding the refracted light to the sensor.
US09074917B2 Apparatus for measurement of ducted air
Apparatus and methods for measurement of airflow in a duct are described. The apparatus combines a Pitot tube, sensing apparatus, control apparatus, a display, control switches and carry apparatus arranged into a unitary structure.
US09074909B2 Navigation system, navigation method, and navigation program
Systems, methods, and programs detect a current position of a movable body, identify a destination for the moveable body, and search for a going route from a departure point to the destination. The systems, methods, and programs search for a returning route from the destination to the departure point and select a landmark for a branch point along the returning route. While the current position is moving along the going route, the systems, methods, and programs provide returning-route guidance regarding the branch point using the selected landmark.
US09074901B1 System and method for automatically generating an electronic journal
A system and method of the subject technology automatically generates an electronic journal of a series of events based on input from data sources already used to record the series of events, and then displays those events in an electronic publication representative of the series of events. A GPS track may be used in connection with the series of events to generate the electronic journal in connection with an interactive map.
US09074900B2 System and method for displaying address information on a map
A method of displaying a map on a device includes determining position information of a position on the map, displaying a graphical position indicator representing the position on the map, determining address information corresponding to the position on the map, and presenting the address information via a user interface of the device by displaying a street number on the map adjacent to the graphical position indicator.
US09074889B2 Vibration gyro having bias correcting function
A vibration gyro having a structure for canceling a quadrature error generated by structural asymmetricity due to production tolerance and a means for correcting a bias value when an angular velocity is zero. In order to apply a counter torque to a sense mass for canceling the quadrature error, left correction comb electrodes are fixed to a substrate adjacent to a left drive mass, and comb electrodes opposed to the correction comb electrodes are arranged on an inner portion of a frame member which constitutes the left drive mass. By applying DC voltage to the correction electrodes, electrostatic force, for canceling the leakage rotational displacement of the sense mass generated when the input angular velocity is zero, is generated.
US09074886B2 Line-width measurement device and measurement method using the same
A line-width measurement device and a measurement method using the same are disclosed. The line-width measurement device has a platform, an image capturing device and a color-mixing light source device. The image capturing device captures an image of a pattern under measurement in a measurement area of the platform. The color-mixing light source device correspondingly provides illumination to the measurement area. The color-mixing light source device has a plurality of monochromatic light sources and adjusts the brightness scale of each monochromatic light source according to the matching rate of the pattern under measurement and a standard pattern to provide suitable color-mixed lights for illumination. Therefore, the present invention can provide a better measurement environment to further enhance accuracy of line-width measurement.
US09074880B2 Measuring probe for non-destructive measuring of the thickness of thin layers
The invention relates to a measuring probe for non-destructive measuring of the thickness of thin layers, in particular in cavities, which are accessible by an opening or on curved surfaces, with a measuring head, which comprises at least one sensor element and at least one contact spherical cap, assigned to the sensor element on a surface, to be checked, of the cavity, and with a gripping element for positioning and guiding the measuring probe on and/or along the surface to be measured, wherein on the gripping element, a long, elastically yielding guide bar is provided, which accepts the at least one measuring head on its end opposing the gripping element, in such a way that it is moveable with at least one degree of freedom in relation to the guide bar.
US09074878B2 Laser scanner
A laser scanner for optically scanning and measuring an environment is provided. The laser scanner includes a light transmitter for emitting a light beam to measure a plurality of points in the environment, the light transmitter coupled to the rotating unit. A receiver is provided for receiving a reflected light beam reflected from the plurality of measurement points, the receiver being coupled to the rotating unit. A first image acquisition unit is configured to record a visible image of an area of the environment that includes the plurality of points. A sensing device is configured to record data of the area. A processor is operably coupled to the receiver, the first image acquisition unit and the sensing device, the processor is configured to associate a color value from the visible image and a recorded data value from the sensing device with each of the plurality of points.
US09074871B1 Pipe measuring system
A pipe measuring system provides means for tallying a set of pipes, each of which has a threaded coupling at one end. The system includes a handheld laser instrument and target that are manually and sequentially placed at opposite ends of each pipe to measure its length. However, to measure the pipe's effective assembled length, rather than its actual length, the laser instrument has an adjustable backstop for engaging one end of the pipe. To use the system, a manufacture of the pipe first provides a specified make-up dimension that says how far the coupling should overlap the pipe when properly tightened. A manufacturer and/or end-user of the laser instrument establish the instrument with a zero reference. Then, based on the pipe manufacturer's specified make-up dimension and the location of the zero reference, the end-user adjusts the position of the backstop to be a certain distance from the zero reference.
US09074869B2 Method for measuring 3D coordinates of a spherically mounted retroreflector from multiple stations
A method of measuring spherically mounted retroreflector (SMR) with a 3D coordinate measurement device such as a laser tracker. The SMR includes an open-air cube corner retroreflector having a vertex point located near a sphere center of the SMR. Measurements of the SMR to the vertex point are corrected to indicate 3D coordinates of the SMR sphere center by accounting for SMR depth error and SMR runout error.
US09074867B2 Flatness measuring apparatus
A flatness measuring apparatus includes a measuring assembly and a movable assembly. The measuring assembly includes a measuring unit. The measuring unit includes a supporting base, a loading block, and a limiting block mounted above the supporting base. The supporting base defines a receiving hole. The loading block is removably received in the receiving hole. The loading block is coplanar with the supporting base and cooperatively defines a limiting channel. A distance between the limiting block and the supporting base is substantially the same as a maximum allowable height of a workpiece, thereby only allowing qualified workpieces to slide therethrough and catching unqualified workpieces. The movable assembly connects to the measuring assembly to drive the loading block to disengage from the receiving hole and make the unqualified workpieces drop down from the measuring unit.
US09074863B2 Height measuring device for workpieces
A height measuring includes a mounting base, a measuring mechanism, and a controller. The measuring mechanism includes a driving member, a measuring member, and a sensor. The driving member is mounted onto the mounting base. The sensor is positioned on the driving member. The measuring member is movably positioned on the driving member and passes through the sensor. The driving member is configured to drive the measuring member to move until it contacts a workpiece in a jig. The controller is electrically connected to the sensor and prestores a moving distance range. The sensor is configured to sense a moving distance of the measuring member and transmit the moving distance to the controller. The controller is configured to judge whether or not the workpiece reaches a proper height relative to the jig by comparing the moving distance data with the prestored distance range.
US09074846B2 Scope cap
A scope cap includes memory storage for recording and recalling bullet drop compensation data and a visual display. A protective lid pivotably attaches to the scope cap by a hinge to protect the scope cap. The protective lid includes a flange to manually pivot the protective lid about the hinge. The scope cap is mounted to a scope of cylindrical shape; the scope cap is circular in shape to slidably attach over the cylindrical shape of the scope. The scope cap presents an opening which surrounds an ocular lens for viewing a selected target. The scope cap defines a top having a first protrusion and a bottom having a second protrusion. The first protrusion includes a set of scroll keys, a power button, and a backlight button. The second protrusion includes an input button and a gun button.
US09074845B2 Fire-control system
A fire-control system comprising a housing, a light channel, through which a user may directly observe a target and receive visually displayed information simultaneously, where the light channel comprises partially reflective optics, a light source adapted to emit light to the partially reflective optics via an optical path, providing light for a reticle visible for a user, and a control unit for receiving a measure of the distance to the target and for determining the adequate position of the reticle, based on the distance to the target, wherein at least one tiltable mirror is arranged in the optical path such that the position of the reticle in controllable by the tilt of the mirror.
US09074843B1 Payload delivery device
There is a payload delivery device and system configured for projectile dispersion over a defined area. The device includes a launching platform configured to provide structural support. The device also includes a two-dimensional array of launching guides extending upwardly from the launching platform. Each launching guide of the array is fixed at a specific inclination angle and at a specific horizontal direction angle. The device includes a plurality of vessels functionally connected to the array of launching guides and is configured to launch therefrom. The launching platform includes a symbolic indicator associated with an operational characteristic of the device. The launching platform includes a mating structure configured to mate to another similar launching platform.
US09074839B2 Interchangeable buttstock system for rifles
A modular buttstock system for firearms includes user replaceable and interchangeable buttstock modules. The modules include a comb portion and butt portion which may be provided in a variety of configurations, sizes, and materials. The modules and firearm buttstock each include complementary configured mounting portions and a mounting system designed to provide interchangeable and removable attachment of the modules to the buttstock. In some non-limiting embodiments, the buttstock and modules may be formed of synthetic materials.
US09074832B1 Shotgun insert
A device configured for insertion in the barrel of a shotgun for firing a rimfire ammunition round, and in particular, a .22 magnum rimfire round, in the shotgun. The device includes a carrier defining a bore that receives at least one rimfire ammunition round and a spring-biased extractor connected to the carrier and constructed to automatically withdraw a rimfire ammunition round from the bore upon the action of the shotgun being opened. The present invention may also include the spring-biased extractor being configured to automatically move to a retracted position relative to the carrier upon the action of the shotgun being closed and to automatically move to an extended position when the action of the shotgun is opened.
US09074830B2 Driving apparatus for one or more cleaning lances
A driving apparatus can be utilized to control the cleaning movements of one or more cleaning lances with respect to certain industrial equipment such as a heat exchanger. For example, driving apparatus can be utilized to feed an additional length of cleaning lance to the tubes of exchanger, or to retract cleaning lance from the tubes of exchanger as desired. In general, driving apparatus can be used to clean a variety of types of pipes, tubing and equipment used in industrial facilities.
US09074825B2 Heatsink apparatus and electronic device having the same
A heatsink apparatus performs cooling by circulating a working fluid and causing a phase change between a liquid phase and a gas phase. The heatsink apparatus is provided on an external wall with a heat-generating body. The heatsink apparatus includes a box-shaped heat-receiving unit transferring heat to a heat-receiving plate; an inlet pipe supplying the working fluid to the heat-receiving unit; an outlet pipe discharging vapors into which the working fluid supplied to the heat-receiving plate is evaporated by heat; and a heat dissipater provided at a location higher than the heat-receiving unit and dissipating heat of the vapor passing through the outlet pipe. Slits are provided to the heat-receiving plate on a surface surrounded by an external circumference of the inlet pipe toward outside of the heat-receiving plate.
US09074824B2 Low-profile heat transfer device
A low-profile heat transfer device includes a main body and at least one wick structure. The main body extends from a first end to a second end and defines an inner space, in which the wick structure is provided. The wick structure also extends from the first end toward the second end, such that at least one channel is defined in the inner space by the main body and the wick structure. The low-profile heat transfer device can be flexibly designed into any desired shape according to actual need, and is able to absorb heat from a heat-producing element and quickly transfer the absorbed heat to a distant location for dissipation, and therefore enables highly efficient vapor-liquid circulation therein and allows an electronic device to have excellent heat dissipation efficiency.
US09074823B2 Thermal siphon structure
A thermal siphon structure includes a main body, a chamber disposed therein, an evaporation section, a condensation section and a connection section positioned between the evaporation section and condensation section. The evaporation section and condensation section are respectively arranged in the chamber on two sides thereof. The connection section has a set of first communication holes and a set of second communication holes in communication with the evaporation section and condensation section. The evaporation section and condensation section respectively have multiple first and second flow guide bodies, which are arranged at intervals to define therebetween first and second flow ways. Each of the first and second flow ways has a narrower end and a wider end. The first flow ways communicate with a free area. The condensation section is designed with a low-pressure end to create a pressure gradient for driving a working fluid to circulate without any capillary structure.
US09074821B2 Heat exchanger for cooling reaction gas, including a tubular connection between a cooled tube and an uncooled tube
A heat exchanger for cooling reaction gas. A cooled tube receives hot reaction gas from a hot, uncooled tube. The cooled tube comprises a cooled inner tube and a tubular jacket that extends about the inner tube. A tubular connection is disposed between the uncooled and the cooled tubes, and includes a fork-shaped inlet head via which the inner tube is in communication with the uncooled tube. The inlet head is provided with an outer tubular section and an inner tubular section between which is disposed an intermediate space filled with heat-insulating material. The outer tubular section is connected to the tubular jacket. The inner tubular section is spaced slightly axially from the inner tube and is provided with an edge region that juts outwardly and is spaced slightly axially from the inner tube, this slight axial spacing being equal to or less than a maximum thermal expansion of the inlet head. A U-shaped sealing ring is disposed between facing end faces of the inner tube and the inner tubular section, and is disposed in a recess formed in the end face of the inner tubular section, the recess being disposed radially outwardly of the edge region of the inner tubular section.
US09074812B2 Drain pan with integrated riser
A drain pan for an air handling unit including a base, a lip attached to the base wherein the lip extends substantially vertically from the base, and a riser affixed to the base wherein the riser extends substantially vertically from the base to support the air handling unit. The drain pan may further include a riser that is preformed with the base to form a unibody drain pan.
US09074798B2 Tubular thermal switch for the cryo-free magnet
When cooling a superconducting magnet for use in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device, a two-stage cryocooler (42) employs a first stage cooler (52) to cool a working gas (e.g., Helium, Hydrogen, etc.) to approximately 25 K. The working gas moves through a tubing system by convection until the magnet (20) is at approximately 25K. Once the magnet (20) reaches 25 K, gas flow stops, and a second stage cooler (54) cools the magnet (20) further, to about 4 K.
US09074796B2 Photovoltaic module support clamp assembly
Apparatus and techniques for mounting frameless photovoltaic modules reduce module stress induced by the mounting configuration. Mounting clamps and rail/clamp spacing configured to relieve module stress by reducing or eliminating module sag are used.
US09074795B2 Solar collector and conversion array
A solar array for collecting sunlight that is converted into electricity. The array includes an arrangement of solar collectors strategically positioned on a frame to maximize the amount of sunlight collected in relation to the size of the array. The collectors are plate like members with a reflective side and shaped so that sunlight collected by the reflective side is concentrated at a location away from the reflective side. The collectors are recumbently positioned in rows with their respective reflective sides directed away from the array frame. The collectors are spaced apart so that no collector casts shade on any part of another collector and substantially no sunlight between adjacent collectors.
US09074779B2 Distribution module for water heater
A distribution module for a boat or vehicle which distribution module includes at least one heat exchanger and inlet and outlet fittings for a plurality of water or coolant circuits. A pump is conveniently provided with the distribution module for zone heating and a mixing valve may be further provided for adjusting the temperature of potable water heated within the heat exchanger.
US09074778B2 Cooking appliance surfaces having spill containment pattern
A pattern of high temperature hydrophobic surfaces for use with cooking and baking appliances, such as kitchen cooktops, stoves and oven interior walls. The pattern of hydrophobic surfaces confines overflowed liquids to the enclosed non-hydrophobic surface areas and away from protected areas, such as around burner control knobs, burner surfaces, cal rods, fan and vent openings, countertops, and the like. The hydrophobic materials used are able to withstand and effectively repel liquids at high operating temperatures.
US09074776B2 Convection oven
A convection oven having a vapor collection system; water injection system; easily accessible electrical components; and a variable-speed, reversible blower is disclosed. The vapor collection system collects vapor from the cooking chamber during a cooking event, condenses the vapor, and drains the condensed vapor. The water injection system injects water for impact against a blower wheel for dispersion into the air circulating through the cooking chamber. The electrical components are housed within a housing that in a closed position conceals the components and in a closed position exposes the components for easy access. The rotational speed and direction of the variable-speed, reversible blower is controlled during a cooking event according to predetermined speed curves which may include one or more reversal events to achieve more uniform cooking of food. A main controller is programmable via an operator input (e.g., liquid crystal display touch screen) to control operating parameters of the oven.
US09074765B2 Gas burner
The invention provides a gas burner (10) with a high power burner unit and a low power burner unit.
US09074759B2 Candle stand with faux flame
A candle stand with faux flame is disclosed, including a lamp stand, power supply, support frame, holder, flame decorative element, light-emitting body, motor, driving element, first resistive magnet body, and at least a second resistive magnet body. The support frame is fixedly standing upon lamp stand; the flame decorative element is suspended at top of holder; the light-emitting body emits light towards flame decorative element. The power supply and motor are inside lamp stand for driving the driving element. The first resistive magnet body is disposed at lower end of flame decorative element. The second resistive magnet body is disposed on the driving element. When the motor drives the driving element, the second resistive magnet body moves close to or away from first resistive magnet body so as to sway flame decorative element. With projected light, the swaying flame decorative element emulates a flame.
US09074748B2 Backlight module
A backlight module is disclosed in the present invention. The backlight module includes a light guiding plate, a light source, a transformer and a constrainer. The transformer is disposed between the light guiding plate and the light source. The transformer is for transforming a first beam emitted from the light source into a second beam, so as to transmit the second beam to the light guiding plate, wherein a spectrum of the first beam is different from a spectrum of the second beam. The constrainer is connected to the light source for constraining a movement of the transformer. The constrainer includes a first fixing portion disposed on the light source and a second fixing portion connected to the first fixing portion, the second fixing portion being disposed on the transformer to fix the transformer relative to the light source.
US09074736B2 Power outage detector and transmitter
In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for systems and methods that employ a control component and/or power source integrated in an LED based light source to control and/or power the LED light source wirelessly. In embodiments, the LED based light source may take the form of a standard light bulb that plugs into a standard lighting socket or fixture.
US09074729B2 Method and filling installation for filling a hydrogen gas into a vessel
Method and filling installation for filling a hydrogen gas into a vessel (1) having a first port (2) for passing the hydrogen gas and a second port (3) for passing a fluid, wherein the second port (3) is separate from the first port (2). In a first phase a hydraulic fluid is introduced into the vessel (1) through the second port (3) by applying pressure to the hydraulic fluid, such that the hydraulic fluid in the vessel (1) causes a hydrostatic pressure having a pre-determined value. In a second phase the hydrogen gas is introduced into the vessel (1) through the first port (2) by controlling a difference of pressure relative to a current pressure in the vessel (1) for controlling expansion of the hydrogen gas and thereby temperature inside the vessel (1), such that the vessel (1) is filled with the hydrogen gas. To that end the hydraulic fluid is removed from the vessel (1) through the second port (3).
US09074724B2 Docking station for electronic device
A docking station for an electronic device, includes a base for supporting a bottom of the electronic device, a supporting portion secured to the base for abutting a rear portion of the electronic device; and two clipping portions rotatably coupled to opposite ends of the supporting portion. The clipping portions respectively clip opposite sides of the electronic device and cooperate with the base and the supporting portion to hold the electronic device in the docking station.
US09074720B2 Apparatus and method for repairing pipes
An apparatus and method that accelerates curing of resin in a liner for a buried pipe includes an air inversion unit connected to an air compressor. The apparatus includes an inversion head with an interior inflatable plug. The plug, when inflated, creates a substantially airtight seal thereby maintaining pressure within the liner tube. The inversion head can then be removed from the liner inversion apparatus and a curing cap can be installed. To improve the wetting process, a vacuum head is installed at the inversion head and connected to a vacuum source. One end of the liner tube is attached to the inversion head and curable resin is poured into the opposite end. Vacuum pressure is applied to assist in the movement of the resin through the liner tube, ensuring uniform saturation. The resin is mechanically manipulated through the liner tube as the vacuum pressure is applied.
US09074707B2 Flexible cable management system
A cable support apparatus is provided. The cable support apparatus includes an elongate spine member, and a plurality of support members each attached to the elongate spine member, each of the plurality of support members defining at least one cable receiving portion therein, wherein at least one of the plurality of support members further includes a hanger for retaining one or more cables separate from the at least one cable receiving portion.
US09074705B2 Exhaust pipe and method for manufacturing exhaust pipe
An exhaust pipe includes a base material, a surface coating layer, and an information display. The base material is made of a metal. The surface coating layer is provided on a surface of the base material. The surface coating layer includes an amorphous inorganic material. The information display includes a character portion and a background portion. At least one of the character portion and the background portion is located in the surface coating layer.
US09074689B2 Arrangement of a wheel hub connected to a constant velocity joint provided with a low friction seal device
An arrangement including a first and second sealing assembly disposed between an inner ring and an outer ring of the wheel hub and straddling the wheel hub and an outer ring of a constant velocity joint, and an annular step formed on the side of the constant velocity joint on a radially outer lateral surface of the inner ring, in a position adjacent to a sleeve portion of a first shield of the first sealing assembly from a flange portion radially extends so as to protrude towards the outer ring, the flange portion being provided towards the constant velocity joint with a signal generating element (19) consisting of an annular insert; an end of a tubular core of the second sealing assembly is fitted angularly onto the step and is radially externally provided with an L-shaped edge arranged within the step and radially under the annular insert.
US09074686B2 Ring seal retainer assembly and methods
An example sealing system includes a retainer for a gasket wherein the retainer protects the polished sealing surface of the seal gasket from scratches before assembly by suspending the gasket inside the retainer, regardless of orientation. A gap in the circumference of the retainer allows the retainer to flex open for insertion of the seal gasket. A small chamfer on the inner diameter of the retainer aids the insertion of the seal into the retainer. The gap in the circumference of the retainer also allows the retainer to compress to a smaller circumference for a tight fit inside the sealing counterbore. A groove in the inner diameter of the retainer includes a protruding portion for the seal to engage. The depth of this groove is configured to provide some clearance inside the retainer for the protruding edge of the seal during a complete compression of the retainer.
US09074684B2 Transmission gear shift indication techniques
Transmission gear shift control techniques can include calculating, at a controller of a vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine, the controller including one or more processors, brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC) for each of: (i) a current gear of a transmission of the vehicle, (ii) a lower gear than the current gear of the transmission, and (iii) a higher gear than the current gear of the transmission, wherein the transmission is one of a manual transmission and an automatic transmission operating in a manual mode. The techniques can include determining, at the controller, which of the current gear, the lower gear, and the higher gear has a smallest BSFC to obtain a desired gear of the transmission. The techniques can also include outputting, from the controller, an indication to shift the transmission to the desired gear.
US09074683B2 Gear shift indication device
In a hybrid vehicle provided with a continuously variable electric transmission mechanism capable of sequential shift mode, a minimum engine rotational speed is specified for each gear specified in the sequential shift mode so that the lower the gear, the greater the minimum engine rotational speed. When the engine rotational speed has decreased to the minimum rotational speed while driving in the sequential shift mode, an upshift lamp of a gear shift indication device is turned on to prompt the driver to manually shift to a higher gear. As the driver shifts to a higher gear in response to the prompt, the minimum engine rotational speed is specified to a lower value. That allows for further decrease of the engine rotational speed and improves fuel consumption rate.
US09074682B2 Asymmetric elliptical chain gear for a bicycle
According to the present invention, an asymmetric elliptical chain gear (10) is characterized by having a shape formed by a combination of: a first ellipse (1) the major axis of which is located on the X-axis of a vertical coordinate system and the minor axis of which is located on the Y-axis of the vertical coordinate system; a first straight line (3) which is perpendicular to the minor axis, and which intersects the first ellipse (1); and a second ellipse (2) which exists on the first straight line (3) and which passes first inflection points (A, A′) that form a fixed angle (a) with respect to the minor axis in the clockwise direction, and which contacts ellipse contact points (B, B′) on the first ellipse (1) that are located at points forming a fixed angle (b) in the clockwise direction. The asymmetric elliptical chain gear (10) of the present invention has a shape formed by a combination of a straight line section ranging from a second reflection point (C), which is a cross point between the first straight line (3) and the first ellipse (1), to the first inflection point (A); a second ellipse section ranging from the first inflection point (A) to the ellipse contact point (B); and a first ellipse section ranging from the ellipse contact point (B) to the second inflection point (C′).
US09074681B2 Hardened silver coated journal bearing surfaces and method
An article comprises a metal alloy substrate and a plated wear interface layer disposed over a surface of the metal alloy substrate. The wear interface layer has a chemical composition including between about 0.005 wt % and about 0.050 wt % of antimony (Sb), and the balance silver (Ag) and incidental impurities.
US09074679B2 Lubricating oil collecting and guiding device
An oil path (9) as a lubricating oil collecting and guiding device is provided with a long gutter-shaped main unit (9A), a press-in pin part (21) pushed into a press-in hole (22) formed on an open side end face (4a) of a transmission case (4), and an insertion pin part (24) inserted into an insertion hole (25) formed on a bottom part side of the transmission case (4). By this, the operation of installation on the bottom part side of the transmission case (4) during installation of the oil path (9) on the transmission case (4) includes only inserting the insertion pin part (24) into the insertion hole (25) of the transmission case (25), the operator therefore no longer needs to insert a hand deeply inside the transmission case (4) for the operation, and the operability of installation of the oil path (9) on the transmission case is improved.
US09074678B1 Axle assembly with housing portion configured for use in front and rear axle assemblies
An axle assembly having an axle housing assembly that is configured to house an input pinion, a differential assembly and a ring gear. The axle housing assembly defines first and second lubricant galleries that provide lubricant to one or more bearings that support the input pinion relative to the axle housing assembly. The first lubricant gallery is configured to receive lubricant slung from the ring gear when the ring gear is rotated in a first rotational direction relative to the axle housing assembly. The second lubricant gallery is configured to receive lubricant slung from the input pinion when the ring gear is driven in a second, opposite direction.
US09074664B2 Nine speed transmission with latching mechanism
A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, four planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes first, second and third members. The torque transmitting devices include clutches and brakes including a selectable one-way clutch actuatable in combinations of two to establish a plurality of forward gear ratios and one reverse gear ratio. The transmission also includes a transmission auto start/stop enabler which includes a latch mechanism. The latch mechanism readies one of the plurality of torque transmitting devices during an engine auto stop/start event or in preparation for a stop of the motor vehicle.
US09074662B2 Binary and friction clutch assembly
A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, four planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes first, second and third members. The torque transmitting devices include clutches and brakes actuatable in combinations of two to establish a plurality of forward gear ratios and one reverse gear ratio. One of the torque transmitting devices includes a friction clutch and a binary clutch which have a spring-ball structure disposed therebetween.
US09074651B2 Dual range damping system for a shock absorber
A shock absorber includes a piston assembly which includes separate flow paths. Each flow path is controlled by a valve assembly and each flow path is in parallel with the other two flow paths. One flow path will generate firm damping characteristics. A second flow path opens depending on either the frequency of the shock absorber movement or the amount of movement or stroke of the shock absorber. The third flow path includes an on/off control valve and generates a soft damping characteristic when the control valve is activated. The soft damping characteristic can be generated by a tunable bleed restriction or by a passive valve assembly.
US09074646B2 Sealed high capacity overrunning roller clutch
A clutch assembly includes an inner race, an outer race and a plurality of roller elements positioned radially therebetween. The clutch assembly also includes a cage assembly, a seal and a retaining ring. The cage assembly includes a skeleton coupled to a spring ring having a plurality of radially extending guides arranged to circumferentially space apart each roller element in alignment with cam surfaces formed on the outer race. The guides are resiliently deformable to allow concurrent engagement of each roller element with both the inner and outer races. The seal engages an inner surface of the outer race and an outer surface of the inner race, and is positioned axially outboard of the roller elements. The retaining ring is positioned within ring grooves formed on each of the inner and outer races to restrict movement of the cage.
US09074645B2 Driving force transmission control system
A driving force transmission control system includes: an electric motor; a multi-disc clutch; a cam mechanism that converts rotation output from the electric motor into cam thrust force that is axial force in the axial direction of the multi-disc clutch; a pressure-conversion mechanism that converts reaction force against the cam thrust force into pressure of a fluid; a pressure sensor that detects the pressure; and a control unit that computes a command value of a current supplied to the electric motor. The control unit stores the pressure of the fluid during disengagement of the multi-disc clutch, and computes the current command value based on the pressure of the fluid to which the reaction force against the cam thrust force has been applied, and the stored pressure of the fluid.
US09074644B2 Clutch unit
A clutch unit includes a lever-side clutch portion for controlling transmission and interruption of rotational torque to an output side through lever operation, and a brake-side clutch portion for transmitting torque input from the lever-side clutch portion to the output side and for interrupting torque reversely input from the output side. The lever-side clutch portion has an outer centering spring provided between a lever-side outer ring to be rotated through the lever operation and a cover restricted in rotation, for accumulating an elastic force obtained by torque input from the lever-side outer ring and for restoring the lever-side outer ring to a neutral state with the accumulated elastic force through releasing of the torque input from the lever-side outer ring.
US09074633B2 Bearing
A bearing rotatably supports an axle and is held by an axle support. The bearing includes a bearing body having an oil groove, an inlet and an outlet. Lubricating oil is supplied into and held in the oil groove through the inlet. The oil groove is formed in an inner circumferential surface of the bearing body so as to extend in a circumferential direction of the bearing body. The bearing body is held by an inner circumferential surface of the axle support with an outer circumferential surface of the bearing body in contact with the inner circumferential surface of the axle support. The outlet is opened to an axial end of the bearing body for allowing the lubricating oil in the oil groove to be discharged from the bearing body.
US09074629B2 Multi-layer slide member
A multi-layer slide member has a back metal layer mainly composed of a steel plate and a porous layer having a metallic porous member and a resin composition filled in the metallic porous member. The metallic porous member has granular portions and narrow portions and includes a structure, in which the granular portions are connected with each other through the narrow portion. Parts or the entirety of the narrow portions have a Bi phase and a Sn—Ni—Cu intermetallic compound phase.
US09074627B2 Anti-friction coating
The invention relates to an anti-friction coating (4) for a multi-layered friction bearing (1) made from a tin-based alloy which, in addition to tin, contains at least one element from the group comprising antimony and copper as the main alloying element, optionally lead and/or bismuth, and unavoidable impurities originating from the elements during the manufacturing process, and the proportion of antimony is at most 20% by weight, the proportion of copper is at most 10% by weight and the total proportion of lead and bismuth is at most 1.5% by weight and the total proportion of copper and antimony is between 2% by weight and 22% by weight, and tin is present in the form of inter-metallic phases and as a tin phase with beta-tin grains, and the beta-tin grains in the tin-based alloy have at least one preferred orientation, and an orientation index M{hkl} based on the formula M ⁢ { hkl } = I ⁢ { hkl } ⁢ ∑ I 0 ⁢ { hkl } I 0 ⁢ { hkl } ⁢ ∑ I [ hkl } of at least one set of network levels M{hkl} has or exceeds the value 3.0, and I{hki} stands for the X-ray diffraction intensities for the {hkl} planes of the anti-friction coating and I0{hkl} stands for the X-ray diffraction intensities of the totally non-oriented tin powder sample.
US09074604B2 Centrifugal fan
A centrifugal fan includes an upstream side impeller, a downstream side impeller, a motor, and a housing arranged to accommodate the upstream side impeller, the downstream side impeller, and the motor. The housing includes a first intake port through which a gas is drawn from an outside, an exhaust port through which the gas is discharged to the outside, and a flow path defined within the housing to bring the first intake port and the exhaust port into communication with each other. The flow path includes a first wind tunnel portion positioned below the upstream side impeller to extend in a circumferential direction and arranged to receive a gas stream from the upstream side impeller and a second wind tunnel portion positioned above the downstream side impeller to extend in the circumferential direction and arranged to receive a gas stream from the downstream side impeller.
US09074585B2 Solar thermal power generation using multiple working fluids in a rankine cycle
A system to convert the heat collected by solar thermal collectors into electricity using a Rankine cycle generator with multiple working fluids and multiple temperature-level heat sources is disclosed.
US09074580B2 Staggered multi-level vertical axis wind turbine
A staggered multi-level vertical axis wind turbine includes a cage structure including wind directing elements arranged circumferentially about outer edges thereof. Within the cage structure is a rotor including a centrally located shaft orientated along an axis and extending at least from one end of the cage structured to another end. The rotor includes a first rotor level of torque generating elements of a first type coupled to the shaft. The rotor includes a second rotor level of torque generating elements of a second type coupled to the shaft. The rotor includes a third rotor level including torque generating elements of the first type coupled to the shaft. The wind directing elements receive and re-direct wind onto the torque generating elements of the various levels, thereby producing torque and causing the rotor to spin. The rotor is coupled to an electrical generator, which generates clean and renewable energy.
US09074576B1 Controlled capture of the full ocean wave cycle of energy that is available, horse shoe like shape, (three vectors) and the conversion of that energy into electrical energy using a turbine/generator
This invention consists of special structures, methods and devices, which make up a system to provide controlled capture of the full ocean wave cycle, at or near the ocean shore, which includes, surface and some sub-surface energy, the backwash and the undertow. And, it does it in a dynamic and somewhat continuous flow (with the exception of some small storage). The system adjusts for low wave and high wave activity, and also for variations in the tide. The main structure has a barrier wall inside, which can also adjust for variations in the tide, the amount of energy to be collected at high wave activity and in the period/frequency of the waves. The structure includes a small reservoir to help capture more water during low wave activity. The captured water flow is transported to a suitable turbine/generating device for producing electrical energy. A method and some devices are available for controlling the influx of water into the turbine. Thus the ocean wave energy is captured in a better, more effective and efficient manner, producing a controlled environment, thus making the flow of water more suitable output for the conversion of the mechanical energy into electrical energy.
US09074575B2 Energization control apparatus for glow plug
A GCU (21) includes calibration means (33) which supplies electric current to a glow plug (1) when an internal combustion engine EN to which the glow plug (1) is attached is stopped, to thereby obtain a pre-correction target resistance of the glow plug (1). The calibration means (33) supplies a predetermined first electric power to the glow plug (1) in a predetermined first energization period, and supplies a predetermined second electric power to the glow plug (1) after the first energization period. The second electric power is set such that, when the second electric power is supplied to the glow plug (1) and the temperature of the glow plug (1) becomes saturated, the temperature of the glow plug (1) becomes equal to the target temperature. Further, the first electric power is greater than the second electric power.
US09074570B2 Method and system for controlling output of hybrid starter generator
Disclosed herein is a method and a system for controlling a generation output of a starter generator connected to an engine to transmit a rotary force in a hybrid electric vehicle. The method includes receiving, by a controller, vehicle state information for determining a driving mode of the vehicle after the vehicle starts, and determines the driving mode requiring an increase of the generation output from the vehicle state information; determining, by the controller, a need for the increase of the generation output to control a generation output variable for each driving mode; determining, by the controller, a torque command and a torque application time corresponding to a required output for each driving mode of the vehicle to control the generation output variable; and applying, by the controller, the determined torque command for the determined application time to control the generation output of the starter generator.
US09074569B2 Recoil starter
One embodiment provides a recoil starter for starting an engine. The recoil starter includes: a starter case having a storage portion; a rope reel rotatably accommodated in the storage portion, a recoil rope being wound on the rope reel; a recoil spring interposed between the rope reel and the starter case within the storage portion; a cam portion rotatable concentrically with the rope reel and engageable with the engine; and a dust cover provided on an opening of the storage portion to cover the rope reel. The rope reel has concentric circular uneven portions formed on a surface thereof facing the engine, and the dust cover also has concentric circular uneven portions. Therefore, the circular uneven portions of the rope reel and the circular uneven portions of the dust cover fit with each other to provide a nest structure.
US09074566B2 Variable spray injector with nucleate boiling heat exchanger
A heat exchanger, internal to an injector for a variable spray fuel injection system, uses nucleate boiling to maximize the heat flux from the heated metal to the fuel, wherein the nucleate boiling occurs along a control surface characterized by features conducive to generating detaching bubbles to transfer heat energy in a vapor flux. The source of heat flux may be an induction heater coil magnetically coupled to an appropriate loss component so that fuel inside a fuel component is heated to a desired temperature.
US09074561B2 Fuel vapor processing devices
A fuel vapor processing device may include a casing having an adsorption chamber defined therein, an adsorption material disposed within the adsorption chamber, a heating device capable of heating the adsorption material, and a passage member communicating between the adsorption chamber and the atmosphere. The passage member defines a flow space facing to an outer circumferential surface of the casing, so that heat can be transmitted between the adsorption chamber and the flow space.
US09074552B2 Fuel injector closing timing adjustment systems and methods
A system for a vehicle includes a voltage measuring module, a second derivative module, a closing period module, and an injector driver module. The voltage measuring module measures first and second voltages at first and second electrical connectors of a fuel injector that injects fuel directly into a cylinder of an engine. The second derivative module determines a second-order derivative of a difference between the first and second voltages. The closing period module determines a closing period of the fuel injector based on the second-order derivative of the difference. The injector driver module selectively adjusts closing of the fuel injector based on the closing period.
US09074549B1 Aftertreatment thermal management strategies for internal combustion engines having multiple cylinder banks
The present disclosure relates to engines with multiple cylinder banks and associated exhaust aftertreatment systems. Systems and methods are disclosed that relate to engine operations involving fuelling and throttle control for thermal management of the aftertreatment system of one cylinder bank while the other cylinder bank or banks are fuelled to satisfy a portion of the torque request to the engine that is not satisfied by the thermally managed cylinder bank.
US09074538B2 Abnormal combustion detection apparatus and control unit of internal combustion engine
An abnormal combustion detection apparatus detects an abnormal combustion of an internal combustion based on a vibration waveform from a vibration sensor attached to the internal combustion engine. A gain circuit of the apparatus amplifies or attenuates the vibration waveform from the vibration sensor, an AD conversion circuit converts a waveform provided by the gain circuit to digital data, and a gain switching unit switches a gain of the gain circuit from a small gain value to a large gain value at a gain switch timing. The gain switching unit separates a large abnormal combustion from a small abnormal combustion in an abnormal combustion determination period for maximizing a dynamic range of an AD conversion circuit and for securely detecting a change of waveform amplitude in case of gain switching in an abnormal combustion detection operation.
US09074532B2 Power generation plant
A power-generation plant 10 including a gas turbine 11; a fuel-gas cooler 13; and an extraction line 24 that guides the fuel gas extracted from an intermediate stage of a fuel-gas compressor 12 to the fuel-gas cooler 13; a first level detector 61 that detects whether a level of the coolant accumulated at a bottom portion of the fuel-gas cooler 13 has reached a predetermined level; and a controller that stops the gas turbine 11 on the basis of a detection signal sent from the first level detector 61 and that outputs a command signal for stopping a coolant pump 53 that supplies the coolant to the spray nozzles 44 and 45.
US09074503B2 Clean exhaust system and method for diesel engines of marine vessels
An emission control system (ECS) and associated method for facilitating the emulsification and/or dispersion of hydrocarbon, diesel particulate matter (DPM) and other pollutants from the exhaust gas output from a diesel engine of a marine vessel, includes a pump, a control system that controls the pump, and a product container containing an environmentally approved dispersing product. The ECS injects dispersing product into the engine's water cooling and exhaust system, for example, into the cooling water downstream of the engine and upstream of the spray ring or mixing elbow of the exhaust system. The environmentally approved dispersing product is drawn from the product container via the pump and injected at a controlled rate into the raw cooling water, and the dispersing product/cooling water mixture admixes with the exhaust gas resulting in emulsification and/or dispersion of the hydrocarbon, DPM and other pollutants present in the exhaust gas.
US09074494B2 System and apparatus for controlling temperature in a heat recovery steam generator
A system that controls temperature in a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG). One heat recovery steam generator system may include a first exhaust path. The heat recovery steam generator system also may include a second exhaust path. The heat recovery steam generator system may include a first damper configured to selectively allow a portion of an exhaust to flow through the second exhaust path.
US09074488B2 Arrangement for sealing an open cavity against hot gas entrainment
The invention refers to an arrangement for sealing an open cavity against hot gas entrainment. The open cavity is arranged between two axially adjacent stationary components limiting radially a hot gas path of a rotary flow machine, of which at least the downstream component carries at least one airfoil extending radially into said hot gas path. A multitude of air jets is directed into the open cavity such that hot gas flowing over the open cavity is prevented from penetrating into the open cavity completely. The invention has an arrangement of supply conduits for air jets which are directed into the open cavity with a jet momentum such that hot gas is induced not to enter the open cavity and forming at least one hot gas vortex close to the hot gas path within the open cavity and preventing hot gas from penetrating into the open cavity beyond the extension of the hot gas vortex.
US09074485B2 Geared turbofan with three turbines all counter-rotating
A gas turbine engine has a fan rotor, a first compressor rotor and a second compressor rotor. The second compressor rotor compresses air to a higher pressure than the first compressor rotor. A first turbine rotor drives the second compressor rotor and a second turbine rotor. The second turbine drives the compressor rotor. A fan drive turbine is positioned downstream of the second turbine rotor. The fan drive turbine drives the fan through a gear reduction. The first compressor rotor and second turbine rotor rotate as an intermediate speed spool. The second compressor rotor and first turbine rotor together as a high speed spool. The high speed spool and the fan drive turbine configured to rotate in the same first direction. The intermediate speed spool rotates in an opposed, second direction.
US09074483B2 High camber stator vane
A stator vane for a compressor is described. The stator vane has an airfoil root, an airfoil tip, a leading edge, a trailing edge, an inner span region, a midspan region and an outer span region, wherein the stator vane has a normalized camber profile that increases in the outer span region in a spanwise direction towards the tip and is more than 1.4 in the outer span region.
US09074467B2 Methods for evaluating rock properties while drilling using drilling rig-mounted acoustic sensors
Methods for identifying rock properties in real-time during drilling, are provided. An example of an embodiment of such a method includes positioning one or more acoustic sensors to detect drill sounds emanating from the drill bit and the rock encountered during drilling operations, connecting the sensors to select components of a drilling rig to maximally pick up the drill sounds of the drill bit engaging rock during drilling operations. The method also includes providing and deploying an inductive telemetry, wireless telemetry, or wired transmitting system. The method also includes providing and configuring a computer to analyze the “raw” acoustic signals received from the acoustic sensors through the respective transmitting system.
US09074462B2 Integrated fiber optic monitoring system for a wellsite and method of using same
Integrated fiber optic monitoring techniques for a wellsite are provided. A fiber optic cable is provided with a tubular housing having a channel and a plurality of slots, a plurality of optical fibers may be floatingly positionable in the channel for measuring at least one first wellsite parameter and a plurality of optical fibers fixedly may be positionable in each of the slots for measuring at least one second wellsite parameter. The tubular housing is positionable into a wellbore adjacent a tubing therein. Pairs of the fixed and floating optical fibers may be spliced together to perform Stimulated Brillouin measurements.
US09074460B2 Method of analyzing a petroleum reservoir
A method of evaluating a gradient of a composition of materials in a petroleum reservoir, comprising sampling fluids from a well in the petroleum reservoir in a logging operation, measuring an amount of contamination in the sampled fluids, measuring the composition of the sampling fluids using a downhole fluid analysis, measuring an asphaltene content of the sampling fluids at different depths; and fitting the asphaltene content of the sampling fluids at the different depths to a simplified equation of state during the logging operation to determine the gradient of the composition of the materials in the petroleum reservoir.
US09074459B2 System and method for simulation of downhole conditions in a well system
A method for simulating downhole conditions is described. The method includes receiving configuration information about a well system in a production configuration, the well system including annular fluids disposed therein and receiving heat source information associated with a heat source disposed within the well system. The method also includes simulating temperature transfer in the well system during a production scenario based at least on the configuration information and the heat source information and predicting pressure buildup in the annular fluids based on the simulated temperature transfer in the well system.
US09074449B1 Vertical tree production apparatus for use with a tubing head spool
A production apparatus for use with a subsea wellhead has a tubing head spool and a vertical tree. The tubing head spool has an end suitable for connection to the wellhead. The tubing head spool has a production bore extending therethrough and a tubing hanger arranged therein. The vertical tree has a tree connector at a lower end thereof. The vertical tree has flowline extending therethrough. The tree connector is affixed to a tubing head mandrel of the tubing head spool. The flowline is in valved communication with the production bore of the tubing head spool. The flowline extends outwardly of a vertical tree so as to allow a flow of production fluids outwardly of the vertical tree. The tubing head spool is a horizontal Christmas tree with master flow line and the annulus line sealed closed.
US09074438B2 Hydrostatic pressure independent actuators and methods
An actuator that may be used in a wellbore to change the state of a downhole tool. The actuator has an operator that is axially movable in response to changes in tubing pressure. The actuator includes a hydraulic circuit that creates a temporary reference pressure against which the tubing pressure indexes the operator.
US09074436B2 Methods for installing sensors in a borehole
A method of installing a sensor in a borehole drilled through underground formations, wherein the borehole is drilled with a hollow drill string formed from a series of pipe sections connected end-to-end, a drill bit being positioned at one end of the drill string and having a closure member that provides an opening between the borehole and the inside of the drill string, the method comprising: drilling the borehole to a predetermined; partially withdrawing the drill string from the borehole so that the drill bit is positioned above the predetermined depth; lowering a sensor inside the drill string by means of a cable; operating the closure so that the sensor can pass out of the drill string into the borehole; and progressively withdrawing the drill string and drill bit from the borehole over the cable so as to leave the sensor in the borehole.
US09074428B2 Connector for steel catenary riser to flexible line without stress-joint or flex-joint
A flexible element in a basket-like structure supports a Steel Catenary Riser (SCR) on a subsurface buoy or “artificial seabed.” A riser collar transfers the tension load of riser to a compressive load on the radial bearing. Relative motion between the subsurface buoy and the riser is accommodated by the flexible element. A flexible jumper is connected to the riser for fluid transfer. Motions of the riser relative to the subsurface buoy are accommodated by the flexible jumper. In this way, a transition from an SCR to a flexible jumper may be accomplished without the need for either a stress-joint or a flex-joint.