Document Document Title
US09118976B1 Tuning efficiency and delivery of content
In accordance with one configuration, in response to receiving a request from a client device, a server resource tunes to a corresponding channel to retrieve content conveyed on the corresponding channel. While tuning, the server resource obtains a network address of the server resource from which content in the corresponding channel will be available for retrieval by the client device subsequent to the server resource successfully tuning to the corresponding channel and buffering a portion of the content. The server resource forwards the network address to the client device for subsequent retrieval of the content.
US09118966B2 Enforcing software independent content protection in an electronic device during transcoding
A Set Top Box (STB) or client computer includes a communication interface operable to receive digital messages and digital content, memory, a transcoder, a central processing unit, and security processing circuitry. The security processor (or other components of the STB) is operable to identify protected digital content of the digital content that is to be isolated from the central processing unit during transcoding and to isolate the protected digital content from the central processing unit during the transcoding. The CPU may be denied access to a protected portion of the memory during the transcoding in which the transcoder stores non-scrambled protected digital content. The protected portion of the memory may be buffer memory accessible by the transcoder and not accessible by the central processing unit. The protected digital content may be identified from the digital message.
US09118965B1 Virtual video channels
Embodiments are configured to populate one or more virtual channels with accessible video content from disparate sources. Users are oftentimes overwhelmed with an abundance of available video content. Embodiments of the present invention may be utilized to generate an index of all video content to which a user has access from various video content providing systems and cross-match the index of video content with tagged video metadata. The cross-matched video content may be processed through various filters and mapped to one or more classifications. One or more virtual channels may be generated according to the one or more classifications and populated with the cross-matched video content. The virtual channels are customized to the user based on the availability of the content to the user and on user preference data.
US09118960B2 Methods and systems for reducing spillover by detecting signal distortion
Methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture for reducing spillover in a media monitoring system are disclosed. An example method includes identifying media associated with media monitoring data. The media monitoring data is received from a first meter associated with a first media presentation device. The example method includes identifying an expected frequency spectrum associated with the media. The example method includes comparing the expected frequency spectrum to an actual frequency spectrum collected from the media by the first meter to determine if spillover occurred. The example method includes crediting the media as a media exposure if spillover did not occur.
US09118955B2 Stereo image handling device and method
An apparatus and a method for processing a stereo image are provided. In the method, a first image and a second image are obtained via a first camera module and a second camera module installed spaced by a predetermined distance. When the stereo image is captured, the first image and the second image are alternatively sampled with a predetermined time interval. The sampled at least one first image and the sampled at least one second image are encoded. Therefore, the stereo image can be compressed with low complexity compared to the case of compressing a stereo image using a 2D image compression technology.
US09118944B2 System and method for rate control in a network environment
A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes receiving video data and gathering statistics associated with the video data. At least some of the video data is broken into slices, each of the slices representing a partition in a video frame within the video data. Each frame is encoded with one or more quality layers based on an outgoing rate and based on a number of central processing unit (CPU) cycles, wherein one or more quality layers of the frames are dropped in the encoding process. In more specific embodiments, the statistics relate to how many bits are used for encoding the quality layers of the video data and how much complexity is required for encoding the quality layers of the video data. After the statistics gathering, adjustments to a network rate are executed.
US09118940B2 Video bandwidth allocation in a video conference
Communicating information exchanged in a video conference. Responsive to detecting a change in an amount of audio information generated by at least one participant in the video conference, identifying a first of the plurality of participants in the video conference that currently is a primary presenter in the video conference, allocating a first level of video bandwidth to communicate video information generated in the video conference to a client device, by the primary presenter in the video conference, and allocating a second level of video bandwidth to communicate video information generated in the video conference to a client device, by one or more other participants, who currently are not the primary presenter in the video conference, wherein the second level of video bandwidth is less than the first level of video bandwidth.
US09118939B2 SVC-to-AVC rewriter with open-loop statistical multiplexer
A method is provided for processing multilayer bit streams that includes receiving the multilayer bit streams of Scalable Video Code (SVC) each having a base layer and at least one enhancement layer. One or more of the enhancement layers are extracted in whole or in part from at least one of the multilayer bit streams so that the multilayer bit streams are collectively reduced in their total bandwidth. Each of the extracted bit streams are rewritten to a single layer bit stream. The single layer bit streams are then multiplexed to form a multiplexed single layer bit stream that is non-SVC.
US09118934B2 Integration of remote electronic device with media local area network
A server is provided. The server comprises a processor, a memory, and an application stored in the memory that, when executed by the processor, receives a progressively uploaded media stream from a remote electronic device. The application also converts the progressively uploaded media stream from a first format to a second format and buffers the converted media stream. The application also transmits the buffered converted media stream to a bridge into a media local area network based on a mapping of the remote electronic device to the media local area network, wherein the mapping is stored in the memory.
US09118931B2 Method and device for optimizing encoding/decoding of compensation offsets for a set of reconstructed samples of an image
The present invention provides a method and a device for coding and decoding at least a part of an image comprising a plurality of samples, each sample comprising at least two components, and the encoded image comprising at least one filtering parameter. The filtering comprises using at least one filtering parameter as a common filtering parameter for filtering both the first component and the second component of a reconstructed sample.
US09118929B2 Method for performing hybrid multihypothesis prediction during video coding of a coding unit, and associated apparatus
A method and apparatus for performing hybrid multihypothesis prediction during video coding of a coding unit includes: processing a plurality of sub-coding units in the coding unit; and performing disparity vector (DV) derivation when the coding unit is processed by a 3D or multi-view coding tool or performing block vector (BV) derivation when the coding unit is processed by intra picture block copy (IntraBC) mode. The step of performing DV or BV derivation includes deriving a plurality of vectors for multihypothesis motion-compensated prediction of a specific sub-coding unit from at least one other sub-coding/coding unit. The one other sub-coding/coding unit is coded before the corresponding DV or BV is derived for multihypothesis motion-compensated prediction of the specific sub-coding unit. A linear combination of a plurality of pixel values derived from the plurality of vectors is used as a predicted pixel value of the specific sub-coding unit.
US09118927B2 Sub-pixel interpolation and its application in motion compensated encoding of a video signal
Reducing computational complexity when generating sub-pixel values for sub-pixel motion estimation from integer pixels. In an embodiment, half pixels in vertical and horizontal directions are computed by a applying a filter of first complexity on integer pixels, and a half pixel in diagonal direction is computed using a filter of lower complexity as compared to the filter of first complexity. Quarter (and other lower resolution pixels) pixels may also be generated using the half pixel in the diagonal direction. Thus, overall computational complexity is reduced in generating sub-pixels for sub-pixel motion estimation.
US09118922B2 Progressive encoding of video content within a swarm environment
Embodiments are directed towards employing distributed computing concepts such as peer-to-peer processing to distribute across a plurality of peer client devices, or swarm, the computations of High Cost and Compression Encoding Schemes (HCC) for encoding digital video content. As more peer client devices receive the content, progressively more iterations of a HCC encoding is performed on various frames within the video content, thereby improving the encoding of the overall video content. Optionally, such distributed progressive processing or swarming approach may include other encoding, such as scaling corrections, scene transitions corrections, and the like.
US09118916B2 Method and apparatus for encoding video by using deblocking filtering, and method and apparatus for decoding video by using deblocking filtering
A method and apparatus for encoding video by using deblocking filtering, and a method and apparatus for decoding video by using deblocking filtering are provided. The method of encoding video includes: splitting a picture into a maximum coding unit; determining coding units of coded depths and encoding modes for the coding units of the maximum coding unit by prediction encoding the coding units of the maximum coding unit based on at least one prediction unit and transforming the coding units based on at least one transformation unit, wherein the maximum coding unit is hierarchically split into the coding units as a depth deepens, and the coded depths are depths where the maximum coding unit is encoded in the coding units; and performing deblocking filtering on video data being inversely transformed into a spatial domain in the coding units, in consideration of the encoding modes.
US09118909B2 Stereoscopic image display and driving method thereof
A stereoscopic image display device includes a liquid crystal display panel on which frame data is addressed, a frame rate conversion unit that divides 3D input data into left eye image data and right eye image data, and inserts reset frame data including black grayscale data between the left eye image data and the right eye image data, and a luminance difference compensation unit that generates compensation values for compensating a luminance difference depending on positions in a screen of the liquid crystal display panel, wherein a compensation value added to the left eye image data and the right eye image data to be displayed on an upper part of the screen of the liquid crystal display panel is higher than a compensation value added to the left eye image data and the right eye image data to be displayed under the upper part of the screen.
US09118904B2 Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and program for generating a three dimensional image to be stereoscopically viewed
There is provided an imaging element that photographs multiple viewing point images corresponding to images observed from different viewing points and an image processing unit separates an output signal of the imaging element, acquires the plurality of viewing point images corresponding to the images observed from the different viewing points, and generates a left eye image and a right eye image for three-dimensional image display, on the basis of the plurality of acquired viewing point images. The image processing unit generates parallax information on the basis of the plurality of viewing point images obtained from the imaging element and generates a left eye image and a right eye image for three-dimensional image display by 2D3D conversion processing using the generated parallax information. By this configuration, a plurality of viewing point images are acquired on the basis of one photographed image and images for three-dimensional image display are generated.
US09118903B2 Device and method for 2D to 3D conversion
A device and method are provided for two dimension (2D) to three dimension (3D) conversion. A 2D to 3D conversion device receives a 2D image data. The 2D to 3D conversion device assigns position data of a predetermined window. The 2D to 3D conversion device generates a depth map including a depth data of the 2D image data according to the 2D image data and the position data of the predetermined window. The 2D to 3D conversion device converts the 2D image data into a 3D image data according to the depth data of the depth map and the position data of the predetermined window.
US09118902B1 Stereoscopic conversion
In one aspect, a method is performed by one or more processors. The method includes receiving a primary view image showing a scene from a view of a primary camera; depth values for one or more objects in the scene; and a camera offset between the primary camera and a secondary camera. The method further includes determining disparities for each pixel in the primary view image. The method further includes generating a secondary view image using the primary view image, the depth values, and the camera offset. At least some of the pixels are repositioned according to the determined disparities.
US09118901B2 Imaging apparatus, imaging method and imaging system
An imaging apparatus is adapted to shoot a subject at two or more different viewpoints to obtain a right viewpoint image and a left viewpoint image, or multi-viewpoint images, with parallax that are to be merged together into a 3D image. The apparatus includes a monitor for displaying the image to be taken upon shooting; an input device for inputting an indispensable output area which an user wants to be included in the 3D image outputted; and a control unit for causing the indispensable output area and an area out of mergence, which is unable to be included in the 3D image in accordance with the amount of parallax between the right viewpoint image and the left viewpoint image, or between the multi-viewpoint images, to be merged together into the 3D image, to be indicated in the image to be taken.
US09118893B2 Display control apparatus, display control method, and program
An image processing apparatus according to the present invention that displays a stereoscopic image to a viewer, includes an input unit that inputs image data related to the stereoscopic image, a detection unit that detects a change of a projection amount of the stereoscopic image from the image data input by the input unit, a generation unit that generates the image obtained by suppressing high-frequency components from the stereoscopic image when the change of the projection amount is detected by the detection unit, and a display control unit that displays a video image generated by the generation unit in a display apparatus.
US09118890B2 3D display
A method for displaying images in three dimensions is provided in which input image data which includes left eye image data and right eye image data offset to provide stereopsis is used to calculate a common image and a left and right residual image. The common image includes information that is common to both the right eye image and the left eye image. The left and right residual images include information from, respectively, the left eye image and the right eye image that creates depth perception. The common, left residual and right residual images are displayed in a sequence.
US09118885B2 Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and program
A communication apparatus notifies existence of content data in a recording medium of an image processing apparatus to an external apparatus according to a request from the external apparatus. When the content data in the recording medium includes the content data having a first format, the communication apparatus notifies existence of the content data having the second format corresponding to the content data having the first format.
US09118880B2 Image apparatus for principal components analysis based illuminant estimation
An image apparatus for providing an estimated illuminant of a scene and subsequently providing an adjusted image of the scene includes a capturing system and an illuminant database. The capturing system captures information for an input image of the scene. The input image is defined by a plurality of input colors. The illuminant database includes a separate subspace of information for a plurality of possible illuminants. The subspaces can be created from multi-dimensional color information from its respective possible illuminant that is computed using Principal Components Analysis. This allows for more accurate illuminant estimation of the scene and the use of Principal Components Analysis to generate the one or more subspaces allows for accurate and relatively easy generation of the subspaces. Additionally, the image apparatus can include a control system that compares the input colors to the subspaces in the illuminant database.
US09118878B2 Image processing apparatus that corrects for chromatic aberration for taken image, image pickup apparatus, method of correcting for chromatic aberration of magnification therefor, and storage medium
An image processing apparatus which is capable of accurately correcting for chromatic aberration of magnification in an area peripheral to a taken image using the taken image. Areas including edges in image data are extracted, and the amount of chromatic aberration of magnification is calculated as the amount of area chromatic aberration of magnification in each area with respect to each color component. Based on lens design values, chromatic aberration of magnification in each area is calculated as the amount of lens chromatic aberration of magnification. By using the amount of area chromatic aberration of magnification and the amount of lens chromatic aberration of magnification in adjacent areas next to an indefinite area matching predetermined conditions, the amount of lens chromatic aberration of magnification relating to the indefinite area is corrected to determine the amount of area chromatic aberration of magnification relating to the indefinite area.
US09118876B2 Automatic skin tone calibration for camera images
Exemplary image calibration systems and methods are described herein. An exemplary method includes an image calibration system receiving data representative of an input camera image, detecting a face of a person represented in the input camera image, determining a predefined skin tone template associated with the person, and modifying the input camera image to change an appearance of the face of the person based on the predefined skin tone template associated with the person. In certain embodiments, the modification changes one or more skin tones represented by an image of the face of the person in the camera image based on the predefined skin tone template. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.
US09118868B2 Systems and methods for using playlists
Systems and methods for automatically generating a playlist of series assets and systems and methods for grouping assets of a playlist in clusters are provided. In one embodiment, series assets may automatically be included into a playlist for that series. In another embodiment, an interactive media guidance application may group assets in clusters based on one or more user selected parameters or may group assets in cluster based on automatically determined parameters. In yet another embodiment, the interactive media guidance application may group assets in clusters and display at least one identifier in connection with each cluster to indicate a basis for forming the cluster. The identifier may be a key word or catch phrase that succinctly identifies a trait or characteristic of assets in a particular cluster associated with the identifier.
US09118866B2 Aural indication of remote control commands
A disclosed set top box or other multimedia receiver suitable for use in a multimedia distribution network includes a remote control interface operable to receive a signal from a remote control device and extract a remote control command from the signal, a processor coupled to the remote control interface and operable to detect the remote control command, and a machine readable storage resource containing computer executable instructions operable to: invoke an aural indication application that returns an audio stream suitable for processing by an audio output device, wherein the audio stream, when processed by the audio output device, causes the audio output device to produce an audibly detectable signal indicative of a function corresponding to the remote control command. The application may generate the audio stream by invoking a speech synthesis module or by retrieving an audio file. The application may retrieve electronic programming guide (EPG) data associated with a remote control command and incorporate at least some of the EPG data in the audibly detectable output.
US09118865B2 Receiving device, receiving method, program, and receiving system
This technique relates to a receiving device, a receiving method, a program, and a receiving system that are designed to reduce circuit size. A receiving device of one aspect of this technique includes: a de-mapping unit that receives a symbol signal generated by performing mapping on a first branch signal and a second branch signal indicating information about the same transmission target, and performs de-mapping on the symbol signal by a hard decision; a selecting unit that selects, in accordance with a reception state, one signal from the first branch signal and the second branch signal obtained through the de-mapping; and a decoding unit that decodes the information about the transmission target based on the one signal. This technique can be applied to receivers that receive OFDM signals compliant with DVB-C2.
US09118863B2 Method and apparatus for finer control in thin line growth
A method, non-transitory computer readable medium, and apparatus for providing controlling a thin line growth are disclosed. For example, the method receives an image in a first resolution, wherein each pixel of a plurality of pixels within the image is marked with a first tag and a second tag, wherein the first tag determines whether each pixel is on or off in the image and the second tag determines whether a thin line growth for each pixel is on or off in the image and produces a second image in a second resolution based upon the image in the first resolution, wherein the thin line is grown by turning on each pixel in a sub-line that is adjacent to a different pixel from a different sub-line having the first tag on and the second tag of the each pixel in the sub-line is on.
US09118857B2 Solid-state imaging apparatus in which plural transistors are connected to a single initializing switch
A solid-state imaging apparatus includes: a plurality of first unit pixels configured to generate a signal by a photoelectric conversion; a first output line connected to the plurality of first unit pixels; and a first amplifier configured to amplify a signal from the first output line, wherein the first amplifier includes an operational amplifier (401), an initializing switch (404) having one terminal connected to an output terminal of the operational amplifier, and an offset adjusting unit (402) connected between the other terminal of the initializing switch and an input terminal of the operational amplifier, and the offset adjusting unit has a transistor having a source and a drain connected to each other.
US09118856B2 Sensor, data processing system, and operating method
An image sensor includes a unit pixel including a plurality of color pixels with a depth pixel. A first signal line group of first signal lines is used to supply first control signals that control operation of the plurality of color pixels, and a separate second signal line group of second signal lines is used to supply second control signals that control operation of the depth pixel.
US09118851B2 High dynamic range image sensor read out architecture
A method of controlling a pixel array includes reading out image data from pixel cells of a row i of the pixel array with second transfer control signals that are coupled to be received by transfer transistors included in the pixels cells of the row of the pixel array that is being read out. Exposure times for pixel cells are independently controlled in other rows of the pixel array that are not being read out with first transfer control signals coupled to be received by transfer transistors included in the pixel cells in the other rows of the pixel array that are not being read out while the image data is read out from the pixel cells of row i of the pixel array.
US09118848B2 Image data combining apparatus and method
An image data combining apparatus combines m lines (m is an integer equal to or greater than 2) of pixel data that have been output from a reading unit. An access unit accesses a memory. A determination unit determines an upper address used for accessing the memory, based upon first data that relates a position, along a height direction, of the m lines of stored pixel data, and determines a lower address used for accessing the memory by the access unit, based upon second data that relates a position of the width direction in the m lines of stored pixel data. The lower address includes values in which a portion of a plurality of bits constituting the second data are interchanged. P items (an integer equal to or greater than 1) of pixel data output from each of the m lines of pixel data are successively extracted from the memory.
US09118838B2 Exposure controller for on-vehicle camera
An exposure controller for an on-vehicle camera mounted on a vehicle is capable of performing exposure control such that a predetermined subject such as a lane marker can be imaged with a constant contrast regardless of variation of peripheral brightness and directions of the variation. An exposure controller images information imaged by an imaging part based on a second exposure property having linearity, the second exposure property being obtained by converting a first exposure property having non-linearity, calculates a target density value with which pixels in a window set in the image are to be imaged based on brightness values corresponding to density values of the pixels in the window, sets a third exposure property for obtaining the calculated target density value, and performs imaging with the set third exposure property.
US09118835B2 Imaging device having a display section, and imaging method therefor
An imaging device of the present invention comprises a display section that is capable of displaying a circular map display, having a cursor capable of movement in a circumferential direction and in a radial direction, an operation section that respectively causes movement of the cursor in the circumferential direction and the radial direction in accordance with operation of an operating section, and a control section that carries out control to make respective first and second shooting parameters correspond to a position of the cursor, that has been moved by the operation section, in a radial direction and a circumferential direction, wherein the first parameter is dependent on the position in the circumferential direction, and the display section is provided with a neutral zone on the circular map display, for neutralizing the first shooting parameter.
US09118833B2 Portrait image synthesis from multiple images captured on a handheld device
A hand-held digital image capture device (digital camera) has a user-selectable mode in which upon engaging the mode the device detects a face in the field of view of the device and generates a face delimiter on a camera display screen, the delimiter surrounding the initial position of the image of a the face on the screen. The device is arranged to indicate thereafter to the user if the device departs from movement along a predetermined concave path P with the optical axis of the device pointing towards the face, such indication being made by movement of the image of the face relative to the delimiter. The camera captures and stores a plurality of images at successive positions along the concave path.
US09118832B2 Input method
A method comprises causing a user interface to provide an output directly or indirectly specifying at least one object, analyzing substantially real-time data from a camera to determine if the at least one object is located in the field of view of the camera, and, in response to determining that the at least one object is located in the field of view of the camera, causing an indication that the object has been located to be provided through the user interface.
US09118827B2 Camera device, camera system and camera control method
A camera device includes: an imaging unit taking image light to obtain a video signal; an output unit outputting the video signal obtained in the imaging unit to a connected cable; a detection unit detecting current variation or voltage variation of the video signal to be outputted from the output unit; and a control unit determining a control signal transmitted through the cable based on the signal variation detected by the detection unit and performing operation control corresponding to the determined control signal.
US09118821B2 Memory card with wireless communication function, method of operating memory card with wireless communication function, and non-transitory computer-readable device storing a program for operating memory card with wireless communication function
A memory card with a wireless communication function may include a card interface (I/F) unit, a storage unit configured to store processing content information when the processing content information indicating processing content has been input from the host equipment to the card I/F unit; a wireless communication unit; a processing determination unit configured to determine whether or not the storage unit has stored the processing content information corresponding to processing request information when the wireless communication unit has received the processing request information transmitted from the external apparatus, a processing execution unit, and a processing relay unit configured to output the processing request information to the host equipment via the card I/F unit when the processing determination unit determines that the storage unit has stored the processing content information corresponding to the processing request information.
US09118820B2 Writing control device and image forming apparatus
Disclosed is a writing control device including: a storing unit comprising N HDDs, N being an integer which is 2 or more; a data division unit configured to divide data to be written in the storing unit into N unequal division data; and a writing control unit configured to dispersedly store the N division data in the N HDDs in parallel, wherein the N division data include a first division data and a second division data having a larger data size than the first division data, and the writing control unit writes the second division data in tracks of a portion of the HDD, which is positioned on an outer side than a portion in which the first division data is written.
US09118819B1 Doorbell communication systems and methods
Doorbells can include a speaker and a visitor detection system having at least one of a button, a camera, and a motion detector. The speaker of the doorbell can be configurable to emit a first sound in response to the visitor detection system detecting a first indication of a visitor's presence. As well, the speaker of the doorbell can be configurable to emit a second sound in response to the visitor detection system detecting a second indication of the visitor's presence.
US09118818B2 Endoscope apparatus, reproducing apparatus, displaying method and inspection report generating apparatus
An endoscope apparatus includes: an image processing portion that performs image processing on a signal of an image picked up by an image pickup device provided at a distal end portion of an endoscope insertion portion to generate an endoscope image; a gravity direction detecting portion that detects information about a gravity direction of the distal end portion; a gravity signal processing portion that performs predetermined signal processing on a signal of the information about the gravity direction detected by the gravity direction detecting portion to detect gravity information. The recording medium reading/writing portion of the endoscope apparatus stores data of the endoscope image generated by the image processing portion and data of the gravity information detected by the gravity signal processing portion in two AVI files and records the files on a recording medium.
US09118810B1 Systems and methods for videophone identity cloaking
A system, method, and computer-usable medium are disclosed for masking the identity of a human agent by transforming a live video transmission into a persona video transmission. A request is received from a user for a videoconference with a human agent. A persona is selected and associated with a human agent. The videoconference is then conducted, using data associated with the persona to transform the live video transmission of the human agent into a persona video transmission, which is correlated to the live video transmission.
US09118803B2 Video conferencing system
A video conferencing system is provided. The video conferencing system includes: a first communication device, configured to receive a video signal from a host, and convert the video signal into a first video stream; and a second communication device, configured to receive a second video stream of a scene captured by an image capturing unit, and receive the first video stream from the first communication device by using a wireless communication protocol, wherein the second communication device selects one of the first video stream and the second video stream according to a switching signal, and transmits the selected video stream to an electronic system, wherein when receiving the switching signal, the second communication device stops transmitting the selected video stream to the electronic system for a predetermined time period, and transmits header information of another video stream to the electronic system, thereby resetting decoding settings of the system.
US09118793B2 Image forming apparatus, image forming system, image forming system control method, and program
An image forming apparatus includes a receiving unit configured to receive data via a network, a printing unit configured to print an image based on the data received from the receiving unit, and a control unit configured to control the receiving unit to refuse a data reception based on a simple mail transfer protocol (SMTP) when a toner remaining amount for the printing unit is less than a predetermined value, wherein the printing unit is configured to print, in the case that the receiving unit receives page description language (PDL) data, an image based on the received PDL data even if the toner remaining amount is less than the predetermined value.
US09118792B2 Image forming apparatus and control method therefor
In an image forming apparatus, a first detection portion includes a pyroelectric sensor and detects the upper half of the human body. A first signal generation portion generates a first signal whose level varies according to the output value of the pyroelectric sensor. A second detection portion includes a pyroelectric sensor and detects a lower area than the first detection portion. A second signal generation portion generates a second signal whose level varies according to the output value of the pyroelectric sensor. A storage portion stores discrimination data including data defining, with respect to the waveforms of the first and second signals, a condition for recognizing a human moving toward the image forming apparatus and a condition for recognizing a human crossing a detection area of the pyroelectric sensors. A recognition portion recognizes the direction of movement of a human.
US09118787B1 Photo imaging system including carriage and automatic image detection
This disclosure provides a self-contained imaging device that takes digital photographs of portions of documents (such as photos or photoalbums) instead of scanning those images. The imaging device uses a lens to zoom in on specific portions of the document that represent images that are to be digitized. Generally speaking, disclosed embodiments utilize a physical device having a housing, a location for retaining or holding an image to be imaged, such as a platen or image conveyance mechanism, a light source and the imaging system (which can be a digital camera). The disclosed device camera provides a low-cost mechanism that can at-once capture a high resolution image without the delays associated with most scanners.
US09118786B2 Image capture-display device
An image capture-display device includes: a light source that emits a light beam falling within a first wavelength range; an optical system arranged on the optical path of the light beam falling within the first wavelength range emitted from the light source and configured to reflect the light beam falling within the first wavelength range and transmit a light beam falling within a second wavelength range; a display panel arranged on the optical path of the light beam falling within the first wavelength range emitted from the light source and reflected by a dichroic mirror and configured to transmit the light beams falling within the first and second wavelength ranges; and an imaging device arranged opposite from the display panel with respect to the optical system and configured to receive the light beam falling within the second wavelength range transmitted through the display panel and the optical system.
US09118782B1 Optical interference mitigation
Structured light generated by a projector may be recovered by a camera to determine three-dimensional data about a scene. The structured light signal acquired by the camera may be impaired due to interference from flickering sources of illumination such as lights, electronic displays, and so forth. This optical interference to an image acquisition system, such as a structured light system, is mitigated by modifying operation of a camera by applying a sampling coefficient to the camera's frame rate or by presenting structured light frames during times non-coincident with the interference.
US09118779B2 System and method for inbound call billing
A system and method for billing an incoming communication. A code is received from a calling party during the incoming communication. Expenses of the incoming communication are allocated to an account of the calling party in response to receiving the code. An invoice is generated for the calling party and a receiving party specifying the expenses.
US09118778B2 Methods and apparatuses for pay for deal advertisements
Methods and apparatuses for advertising where the advertisement performance is determined via tracking the deals made as a result of communication leads generated from the advertisements. One embodiment includes: providing an advertisement containing a communication reference to a customer on behalf of a party; providing a connection via the reference for real time communications between the customer and the party; and charging an advertisement fee in response to an action of a predetermined type being performed by the customer (or an agreement between the customer and the party being reached) as a result of the real time communications.
US09118761B1 Computing device assistance for phone based customer service representative interaction
Systems and methods for computing device assistance for phone based customer service representative interaction are described herein. One or more systems include a number of customer service representative computing devices having processors and memory thereon for the storage of executable instructions and data, wherein the instructions are executed to allow at least one of the number of computing devices to control a customer's computing device such that the customer service representative or executable instructions can select information, related to a phone based customer service representative interaction, to display on the customer's computing device and display the selected information on a display of the customer's computing device.
US09118753B2 Autonomous systems for remote control of handheld devices
A system for testing a communications network includes a controller having a computing device with a controller application and an operator having a microcontroller and a device interface module controlled by the microcontroller. A handheld communications device is operatively connected to the operator through the device interface module and adapted to communicate over the communications network being tested. The controller and the operator are connected by an out-of-band wireless control link to allow communication therebetween outside of the communications network being tested. The operator is adapted to receive commands from the controller over the out-of-band control link and, upon receipt of a command from the controller over the out-of-band control link, to initiate in-band communication on the handheld communications device over the communications network through the device interface module.
US09118751B2 System and method for analyzing and classifying calls without transcription
A facility and method for analyzing and classifying calls without transcription. The facility analyzes individual frames of an audio to identify speech and measure the amount of time spent in speech for each channel (e.g., caller channel, agent channel). Additional telephony metrics such as R-factor or MOS score and other metadata may be factored in as audio analysis inputs. The facility then analyzes the frames together as a whole and formulates a clustered-frame representation of a conversation to further identify dialogue patterns and characterize call classification. Based on the data in the clustered-frame representation, the facility is able to make estimations of call classification. The correlation of dialogue patterns to call classification may be utilized to develop targeted solutions for call classification issues, target certain advertising channels over others, evaluate advertising placements at scale, score callers, and to identify spammers.
US09118748B2 Voice loopback method, gateway and loopback node in VoIP network
A voice loopback method, a gateway and a loopback node in a VoIP network and a network are provided. The voice loopback method in a VoIP network includes: sending, by a gateway, an internet control message protocol ICMP message, where a destination address of the ICMP message is an address of the loopback node, and the ICMP message includes a voice packet to be detected; and receiving a response message of the ICMP message sent by the loopback node, where the response message includes a loopback voice packet, and the loopback voice packet is obtained by the loopback node according to the voice packet to be detected that is included in the received ICMP message. Through application of the technical solutions according to the embodiments of the present invention, voice loopback in a VoIP network is achieved.
US09118746B2 Method for dialing from internet extension to conventional extension
A system for dialing from Internet extension of other SIP proxy server to conventional extension is disclosed. A VoIP gateway or an IP auto attendant is used for dialing from Internet extension to conventional extension. The phone number of the Private Branch Exchange and the voice guidance are not needed. The calling number of SIP message is interpreted directly and converted into DTMF (Dual-tone multi-frequency) messages for dialing into a conventional extension.
US09118734B2 Systems for managing conferences
Described is a conference management system for administering an online conference. The conference management system receives an electronic communication from a conference participant. A group is determined to be associated with the conference participant. An action is performed on the conference participant based on the group association.
US09118724B1 Geographic based event recommendation and event attendee networking
In various example embodiments, a system and method for providing geographic-based event recommendation and event attendee networking are presented. A suggested event may be determined based on location information of a user. The user may be a member among members of a social network service. Event information corresponding to the suggested event may be provided to the user. A user attendance indication may be received from the user. The user attendance indication may indicate that the user may be attending the suggested event. Contact members, from among the members of the social network service, that are associated with the user through the social network service may be identified. An event notification may be communicated to the contact members. The event notification may include the user attendance indication.
US09118721B1 Socket-based internet protocol for wireless networks
Systems and methods for assigning unique network identifiers in a packet-switched wireless network are provided. A request for a unique network identifier for a wireless device is received. A socket-based unique network identifier, including an IP address and one or more ports, is assigned to the wireless device. The unique network identifier is created by combining an IP address and one or more ports. This allows multiple unique network identifiers to be created from a single IP address, where each unique network identifier consists of the same IP address combined with a different group of one or more ports.
US09118714B1 Apparatuses, methods and systems for a cyber threat visualization and editing user interface
The cyber threat intelligence confidence rating visualization and editing user interface technology (hereinafter “TIC”) provides a user interface that allows a user (e.g., a cyber threat analyst, etc.) to submit ratings for various characteristics associated with a cyber threat indicator. In one embodiment, the TIC may instantiate a user interactive risk evaluation component having a user interface input element for a user to submit calculation weights for one or more characteristics of a cyber threat; generate a graphical representation of a cyber threat confidence score for user interface display via the user interactive risk evaluation component; and dynamically adjust the graphical representation of the threat confidence score using at least one of the one or more characteristics weighted by the user configured weight.
US09118711B2 Anti-vulnerability system, method, and computer program product
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for displaying, via at least one user interface, a plurality of techniques of different technique types including a first technique for setting or modifying a policy for mitigating a first occurrence, and a second technique for dropping packets in connection with at least one networked device for mitigating the first occurrence. Based on user input selecting the first technique for setting or modifying the policy for mitigating the first occurrence, the first technique is automatically applied for setting or modifying the policy for mitigating the first occurrence. Based on the user input selecting the second technique for dropping packets in connection with the at least one networked device for mitigating the first occurrence, the second technique is applied for dropping packets in connection with the at least one networked device for mitigating the first occurrence.
US09118710B2 System, method, and computer program product for reporting an occurrence in different manners
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for identifying operating system information associated with at least one of a plurality of networked devices, and an occurrence in connection with the at least one of the networked device. It is also determined whether at least one vulnerability capable being exploited by the occurrence is relevant to the at least one networked device based on the operating system information. To this send, the occurrence is reported in a first manner, if it is determined that the at least one vulnerability capable being exploited by the occurrence is relevant to the at least one networked device based on the operating system information. Further, the occurrence is reported in a second manner different from the first manner, if it is determined that the at least one vulnerability capable being exploited by the occurrence is not relevant to the at least one networked device based on the operating system information.
US09118709B2 Anti-vulnerability system, method, and computer program product
A system, method, and computer program product are provided including client and server code configured to cooperate, resulting in display, via at least one user interface, of a plurality of user options for causing different actions of different types in connection with at least one of the networked devices that is actually vulnerable to at least one of a plurality of actual vulnerabilities for at least mitigating an occurrence. The user options include a first user option for causing a first action for dropping packets in connection with the at least one networked device for mitigating the occurrence and a second user option for causing a second action for installation of a patch on the at least one networked device for removing the at least one vulnerability from the at least one networked device. Based on receipt of first user input selecting the first option via the at least one user interface, the first action is caused for dropping packets in connection with the at least one networked device for mitigating the occurrence. Based on receipt of second user input selecting the second option via the at least one user interface, the second action is caused for installation of the patch on the at least one networked device, utilizing the client code, for removing the at least one vulnerability from the at least one networked device.
US09118706B2 Using imported data from security tools
A device may create a new project that includes criteria, import findings from a group of different network security tools into the new project based on the criteria, normalize the imported findings, and store the normalized findings.
US09118704B2 Homoglyph monitoring
A homoglyph monitoring system includes an attack vector string matching module to determine potential attack vector strings for a target domain name. Each potential attack vector string includes a different homoglyph of a character in the target domain name. The system includes a domain name system (DNS) analyzer module to facilitate lookups on DNS servers based on the potential attack vector strings and to identify a DNS record including a potential attack vector string.
US09118703B2 Fuzzy whitelisting anti-malware systems and methods
In some embodiments, an anti-malware system accounts for benign differences between non-malicious data objects, such as differences introduced by compilers and other polymorphisms. A target object is separated into a multitude of code blocks, and a hash is calculated for each code block. The obtained set of target hashes is then compared against a database of hashes corresponding to code blocks extracted from whitelisted objects. A target object may be labeled as whitelisted (trusted, non-malicious) if it has a substantial number of hashes in common with a whitelisted object. Objects which are slightly different from known whitelisted objects may still receive whitelisting status. By allowing a certain degree of mismatch between the sets of hashes of distinct objects, some embodiments of the present invention increase the efficiency of whitelisting without an unacceptable decrease in safety.
US09118698B1 Scalable data storage architecture and methods of eliminating I/O traffic bottlenecks
A Storage Area Network (SAN) system has host computers, front-end SAN controllers (FE_SAN) connected via a bus or network interconnect to back-end SAN controllers (BE_SAN), and physical disk drives connected via network interconnect to the BE_SANs to provide distributed high performance centrally managed storage. Described are hardware and software architectural solutions designed to eliminate I/O traffic bottlenecks, improve scalability, and reduce the overall cost of SAN systems. In an embodiment, the BE_SAN has firmware to recognize when, in order to support a multidisc volume, such as a RAID volume, it is configured to support, it requires access to a physical disk attached to a second BE_SAN; when such a reference is recognized it passes assess commands to the second BE_SAN. Buffer memory of each FE_SAN is mapped into application memory space to increase access speed, where multiple hosts share an LBA the BE_SAN tracks writes and invalidates the unwritten buffers.
US09118694B2 Policy rule management for QoS provisioning
Described herein is a policy-based Internet Protocol (IP) network wherein the Quality of Service (QoS) provisioning across various network devices is managed by policy processing via a user interface including a graphic user interface. The user interface incorporates information made available by a server, such as lightweight directory access protocol (LDAP) server, having a repository, and thereby allows for a consistent set up voice-over IP devices, video devices and network data devices with minimal entries by the user. Further, the user interfaces allows for efficient policy creation and editing.
US09118693B2 Media delivery platform
A method of delivering an audio and/or visual media file including, for example, one or more of full or partial master recordings of songs, musical compositions, ringtones, videos, films, television shows, personal recordings, animation and combinations thereof, over the air wirelessly, from one or more servers to an electronic device with or without an Internet connection, said method comprising transmitting and audio and/or visual media file in compressed format to said electronic device, and wherein the electronic device is effective to receive said audio and/or visual file and playback said audio and/or visual content on demand by a user.
US09118692B2 Method and system for allocating delivery reports
A method and a system for allocating delivery reports are disclosed in the present invention. A Service Provider (SP) sets a message identifier MSGID1 in a multimedia message and submits the multimedia message containing the MSGID1 and destination numbers to a server in a multimedia messaging service gateway (MMSG), the server sets a message identifier MSGID2 in the multimedia message, and forwards the multimedia message containing the MSGID2 and the destination number to a multimedia messaging service center (MMSC); the MMSG parses the corresponding server generating the MSGID2 according to the MSGID2 in the delivery report returned by the MMSC, and forwards the delivery report to the server creating the MSGID2. By adopting the method and system of the present invention, it ensures that the delivery reports returned by the MMSC are evenly allocated to the servers in the MMSG, the load balancing of the servers can be realized.
US09118683B2 Differentiating IPTV notifications
Methods and arrangements for presenting a received Instant Message comprising an IPTV Notification, e.g. a Program Reminder, and differentiating the IM comprising the IPTV Notification from other Instant Messages received from other users. The differentiation is achieved by the SCF-node (3) (Service Control Function), e.g. an IAP (IPTV Application Platform), including an IARI (IPTV Application Reference Identifier) in an Instant Message comprising an IPTV Notification. The IARI identifies an IPTV Application of the SCF (Service Control Function), and indicates to a UE (1) at the receiving side that the Instant Message comprises IPTV information for presenting an IPTV Notification.
US09118670B2 Making a user's data, settings, and licensed content available in the cloud
A cloud-based computer system changes the modern paradigm from being device-centric to being person-centric. The system makes all user data, software settings, device settings, and licensed content for a user available in the cloud. The system includes a conversion mechanism that can convert information intended for one device type to a different device type. Thus, a user changing smart phone platforms can convert their current smart phone settings to equivalent settings on the new phone platform, and their new phone can then be configured using the user's converted settings stored in the cloud. By storing all the user's relevant information in the cloud, this information may be accessed anywhere and may be used to configure a large number of different devices according to the user's settings.
US09118669B2 Method and apparatus for voice signature authentication
A scalable voice signature authentication capability is provided herein. The scalable voice signature authentication capability enables authentication of varied services such as speaker identification (e.g. private banking and access to healthcare account records), voice signature as a password (e.g. secure access for remote services and document retrieval) and the Internet and its various services (e.g., online shopping), and the like.
US09118663B1 Agile OTP generation
A method, system, and apparatus for agile generation of one time passcodes (OTPs) in a security environment, the security environment having a token generator comprising a token generator algorithm and a validator, the method comprising generating a OTP at the token generator according to a variance technique; wherein the variance technique is selected from a set of variance techniques, receiving the OTP at a validator, determining, at the validator, the variance technique used by the token generator to generate the OTP, and determining whether to validate the OTP based on the OTP and variance technique.
US09118655B1 Trusted display and transmission of digital ticket documentation
Embodiments of the disclosure relate generally to methods and systems for transmitting and displaying digital ticket documentation. A mobile communication device may comprise one or more keys that are specific for the device, wherein the keys are stored in a trusted security zone on the mobile device. In some embodiments, the keys may be associated with a specific ticket provider. The keys may be used to processes one or more datasets received from a ticket provider, wherein processing the dataset(s) may generate a digital ticket. The ticket may be generated and stored in the trusted security zone of the mobile device. The mobile device may be operable to present the ticket via the user interface of the mobile device and/or a near field communication transceiver of the mobile device.
US09118650B1 Persistent connections for email web applications
A token for a webclient in communication with an HTTP server to access an email system is stored at a database by the HTTP server. If the HTTP server is unexpectedly unavailable, a backup HTTP server that next interacts with the webclient can locate the token for the webclient using identifying information for the webclient to locate a record in the database containing the token. The backup HTTP server can then provide seamless access to the email system for the webclient despite the loss of connectivity to the initial HTTP server.
US09118648B2 Method for authorizing access to protected content
The invention refers to a method for authorizing access to a third party application, called client (2), to protected resources owned by a user (1) and hosted in a server (3). The method comprising: the client being used by the user asking for a temporary token to the server; the server sending a first SMS to the user, said first SMS providing means to authenticate the user; authenticating the user by the means provided in previous two steps; the user authorizing the client; the server sending a second SMS to the user providing some information needed to obtain an access token; the client getting the information of the previous step from the user and the access token; the client accessing protected resources using the access token.
US09118645B2 Distributed authentication using persistent stateless credentials
Techniques and tools are described for performing distributed authentication using persistent stateless credentials. Distributed authentication can be performed during egress by obtaining a principal identifier, generating an expiration time, obtaining a secret key identifier that identifies a secret key, generating an initialization vector, encrypting the principal identifier and the expiration time to produce a ciphertext, creating a credential, and providing the credential for persistence at a client device. The credential comprises the ciphertext, the initialization vector, the secret key identifier. Distributed authentication can be performed during ingress by obtaining a credential, extracting a ciphertext, an initialization vector, and a secret key identifier from the credential, obtaining a secret key identified by the secret key identifier, decrypting the ciphertext to produce a principal identifier and an expiration time and authenticating the credential using, at least in part, the principal identifier and the expiration time.
US09118640B2 Method and system to transmit data
Methods and systems for transmitting data are disclosed. In one embodiment a portable electronic device comprises a processor-implemented user interface module to cause the presentation of a first information field to a user as part of a graphical user interface in the portable electronic device, and to receive information entered or data identification in the first information field. A data transmitting module commences transmitting the information entered or the data identified over a network in response to the user interface module detecting that the user has navigated away from the first information field.
US09118637B2 Dual-mode download manager
Methods and apparatuses for automatically changing the mode of download of a download manager in a device are provided. The download manager can send a timeout option to a TFTP server and automatically change the mode of download based on whether a timeout option acknowledgement is received. The download manager can include a first control attribute to enable or disable sending a timeout option to the TFTP server and/or a second control attribute to set the initial download mode of the device.
US09118636B2 Data transfer control system and method
Transfer of data files, such as large files for digital media, is performed through the intermediary of a gateway communication manager (GCM) that resides in an interface zone between external clients and an internal network. The external clients are registered with the GCM and request transfer of data files to the internal network. The GCM identifies a transfer agent to handle the transfer, and allocates a portion of shared bandwidth. If insufficient bandwidth is available or transfer agents are unavailable, the requested transfer may be placed in a queue and transfer occurs when bandwidth and agents can accommodate the request. The GCM may prioritize and re-prioritize transfers, such as based on the sender, content, and so forth. Multiple GCMs may manage transfers for external clients, and shared logs may be maintained to permit flexibility in management by the GCMs.
US09118630B2 Client proxy for key exchange in HTTP live streaming
A client device includes a media player and a client proxy. The client proxy is to receive a first version of a playlist from a media server, the first version of the playlist including a first identifier of a cipher key to be used to decrypt at least one segment listed in the playlist. The first identifier identifies a location at the media server. The client proxy is to conduct a key exchange with the media server using the first location identifier to obtain the cipher key and store the cipher key at a local storage location at the client device. The client proxy also is to provide a second version of the playlist to the media player, the second version of the playlist including a second identifier of the cipher key, and the second identifier identifying the local storage location at the client device.
US09118626B2 Systems and methods for the automatic registration of devices
Systems and methods for providing registration at a remote site that may include, for example, a monitoring module that may communicate with a remote site. A registration protocol may be used by the monitoring module and the remote site in generating the messages communicated during the registration process. The monitoring module may gather and generate various identification information to be included in the registration protocol messages. The registration information provided by the monitoring module may be stored at the remote site in a database server having a database. A confirmation message may be communicated from the remote site to the monitoring module that may either acknowledge successful registration or report that an error occurred during the registration process.
US09118622B2 Method and server for sending and lending digital service content
The present invention provides a method and a server for sending and lending digital service content. The method for sending digital service content includes: receiving, by a server, a user request, in which the user request carries a user identifier and a label of the digital service content; determining a type of the label; if the label is a lending label of the digital service content, acquiring a borrower identifier in the lending label; and determining whether the user identifier is the same as the borrower identifier; if the user identifier is the same as the borrower identifier, acquiring a lending period matching the borrower identifier in the lending label, and determining whether the digital service content is in the lending period; if yes, sending the digital service content to a terminal used by a user and identified by the user identifier.
US09118615B2 Method and system for providing personalized network based marketing dialogues
Systems and methods for personalizing marketing dialogues are disclosed. Specifically, embodiments of the systems and methods presented may associate a variable to each event in a script. A variable may be associated with each event. A first instruction in the script may be operable to send a first communication to a user from a server via the network. A second instruction may be operable to according to the script based on the stored set of user information and the variable associated with the first event.
US09118610B1 Network information processing and methods thereof
Method and system for a network device having a plurality of queues for receiving information from another device is provided. The device determines if all requests for transferring frames from the plurality of queues have been sent to an arbitration module that arbitrates and selects requests for transmitting frames associated with the selected requests. When all requests have not been selected, then selecting a tag having information regarding a next frame, when a destination of the next frame or a transmit queue of the next frame does not match a destination or a transmit queue of any other frame for which a request has been sent to the arbitration module.
US09118601B2 Layer 2 and 3 latching loopbacks on a pluggable transceiver
A pluggable transceiver, and its use, looping back Layer 2 and higher data in an Ethernet network element. The transceiver has upstream and downstream datapaths, a logic array having first and second complimentary latching loopback logic blocks (LLBLBs) connected in series through both datapaths. The first LLBLB receiving an upstream datapath frame, comparing it to loopback conditions and looping back the frame on the downstream datapath if the conditions match. If the conditions did not match, the frame is sent to the other LLBLB. The first LLBLB receiving a frame from the second LLB and transmitting it on the upstream datapath with priority over any loop back frames to maintain the upstream throughput requirements of the pluggable transceiver. The second LLBLB operates in mirror image with respect to the datapaths.
US09118597B2 Method and system for requester virtual cut through
A method for transmitting a message includes a communication adapter receiving, from a transmitting device, a request to send the message. The method further includes modifying a maximum transfer unit (MTU) to obtain a modified MTU, transmitting, from the communication adapter to a receiving system, a first sub-unit of the message using the modified MTU, iteratively increasing the MTU for transmitting intermediate sub-units of the message until an MTU limit is reached, and transmitting, to the receiving system, the intermediate sub-units of the message. The intermediate sub-units are transmitted after the first sub-unit and before a second sub-unit. The method further includes transmitting, from the communication adapter to the receiving system, the second sub-unit to the receiving system using a full path MTU.
US09118595B2 Graceful failover of a principal link in a fiber-channel fabric
In one embodiment, detecting a failure mode of a first communication link on a first port, selecting a second communication link on a second port associated with the first port, and transmitting a profile information associated with the second port are provided.
US09118594B2 Lossless connection failover for single devices
The WAN optimization devices delay ACK until the ACK is actually received from the target while opening up the TCP window. When the ACK is received and forwarded, the TCP window is reduced in size. If there are mirrored WAN optimization devices, the original WAN optimization device sends the datagram across the WAN and at the same time sends the datagram to the mirroring WAN optimization device. When the mirroring WAN optimization device ACKs the mirrored datagram, the original WAN optimization device ACKs the host. When the ACK across the WAN is received, the mirroring WAN optimization device gets the ACK forwarded and deletes the mirrored datagram. On a loss of a device, the TCP connection transitions to the mirroring WAN optimization device, which closes the LAN TCP window and transmits all un-ACKed data. Then upon success the mirroring WAN optimization device reopens the LAN TCP window.
US09118589B2 System and method for rapid VLT connection failure handling
A system and method for rapid virtual link trunk connection failure handling includes receiving a packet at a first network switching unit where the packet is to be forwarded to a second network switching unit, detecting a failure in a network connection between the first network switching unit and the second network switching unit and associated with a first LAG of the first network switching unit, determining a second LAG associated with an inter-chassis link (ICL) as a failover LAG for the first LAG, redirecting the packet to the second LAG, altering the packet to set a redirection status bit to a logic value, and forwarding the altered packet using the ICL.
US09118585B2 Resizing existing traffic flow in optical transport network
In an optical transport network a traffic flow comprises data grouped into a number of resizable data units, encapsulated by optical transport frames, each having a frame overhead. A rate of the traffic flow is changed by changing the data unit overhead and changing at the source node the frame overhead to indicate a change in rate of an optical signal carrying the traffic flow. An optical transmission part is tuned to transmit at the new rate, and at any intermediate nodes along the route the indication of the change in rate is detected in the frame overhead so that the traffic flow on a next optical link is transmitted at the new rate. Thus optical bandwidth allowed for enlarging the data units, can be saved, and electrical processing of data units at the nodes can be simplified, reducing power consumption.
US09118584B2 Dynamic scalable baseboard management controller stacks on single hardware structure
Certain aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a baseboard management controller (BMC) managing a computer system including N computer nodes and N is an integer greater than 1. The BMC has: (a) a processor, (b) a first communication interface controller, (c) a memory. The memory stores a firmware, and the firmware is executed by a processor of the BMC. The firmware, when executed by the processor, is configured to (a) dynamically obtain the value of N, and (b) initiate N virtual BMC stacks each managing at least one health or performance related aspect of a respective one of the N computer nodes. The first and second virtual BMC stacks of the N virtual BMC stacks communicate, through the first communication interface controller, with the first and second computer nodes of the N computer nodes, respectively.
US09118576B2 Network device with a programmable core
In network device, a plurality of ports is configured to receive and to transmit packets on a network. A packet processing pipeline includes a plurality of hardware stages, wherein at least one hardware stage is configured to output a data structure comprising a field extracted from a received packet based on a first packet processing operation performed on the packet or the data structure, wherein the data structure is associated with the packet. A configurable processor is coupled to the at least one hardware stage of the packet processing pipeline. The configurable processor is configured to modify the field in the data structure to generate a modified data structure and to pass the modified data structure to a subsequent hardware stage that is configured to perform a second packet processing operation on the data structure using the field modified by the configurable processor.
US09118575B2 Transmission of delay tolerant data
Transmission of delay tolerant data. An apparatus includes a processor configured to classify data, on the basis of its delay requirement, into delay tolerant data and into delay critical data, and to control transmission of the delay tolerant data with a transmitter in such a manner that the transmission of the delay tolerant data is timed to coincide with transmission of the delay critical data.
US09118557B2 Measurement of packet processing time of end hosts through estimation of end link capacity
Technologies are generally described for measuring packet processing time of a remotely connected host device. According to some examples, link capacity may be measured to estimate the packet processing time (PPT). The capacity of the link connected to a host may be measured through active probing with the hosts time-stamping each probing packet after receiving it. Thus, PPT information may be included in the packet receiving process and the processes that the packet undergoes defined by the nature of different computing applications, time-stamping a packet is an example of a process that involves processing time.
US09118556B2 Method and system for establishing tunnels
A method for establishing tunnels includes establishing a first unidirectional tunnel from a first node to a second node, and sending a first instruction for establishing a reverse tunnel of the first tunnel, when sending the first instruction to the second node, triggering the establishment of a second unidirectional tunnel from the second node to the first node, and binding the second tunnel to the first tunnel as the reverse tunnel of the first tunnel. A system for establishing tunnels is also provided. The establishment of a reverse tunnel may be automatically triggered after a forward tunnel is established, and a bidirectional tunnel is established.
US09118548B2 System, device and method for distributing link state information in a communication network
A system, device, and method for distributing link state information in a communication network combines a link state routing protocol with a sliding window mechanism in order to efficiently distribute link state information. The sliding window mechanism permits a predetermined number of unacknowledged link state advertisement protocol messages to be outstanding at any given time. Unacknowledged link state advertisement protocol messages are retransmitted after a predetermined timeout period.
US09118542B2 Methods and apparatus to determine an adjustment factor for media impressions
Examples to determine media impressions are disclosed. An example method includes detecting a cookie identifier established by a database proprietor at a computing device, determining an impression of media, wherein the impression occurs after the cookie identifier is established, determining a first panelist identifier associated with the impression based on the cookie identifier, determining a second panelist identifier associated with the impression based on determination of a user identity by a panelist meter associated with the computing device, and storing an adjustment factor determined by comparing the first panelist identifier and the second panelist identifier.
US09118540B2 Method for monitoring a plurality of rack systems
A method for monitoring a plurality of rack systems is provided, which includes the following steps. The rack systems are provided, in which each rack system includes an integrated management module (IMM) and a plurality of servers. The IMM is communicatively connected to the servers in each rack system and manages and controls the servers. The rack systems are distributed into at least one rack group, and one of the IMMs in each rack group is selected to serve as a primary IMM, in which the IMMs in each rack group are communicatively connected to each other. The primary IMM monitors other IMMs than the primary IMM in the corresponding rack group. When an anomaly occurs in one of the other IMMs, the primary IMM sends a warning message including the abnormal IMM.
US09118539B2 Managing grey zones of unreachable nodes in computer networks
In one embodiment, a node (e.g., a root-node) of a currently known directed acyclic graph (DAG) topology of a computer network can identify a sub-DAG of one or more nodes that are unreachable. The node can further determine a scope of the unreachable nodes of the sub-DAG and tunnel a redirected message to a reachable node of the DAG topology that is adjacent to at least one of the unreachable nodes of the sub-DAG. The redirected message may cause the reachable node to distribute the redirected message to one or more of the unreachable nodes of the sub-DAG based on the scope.
US09118536B2 Pulsed serial link transmitting data and timing information on a single line
A method of encoding data and timing information on a single line comprising: asserting a first edge on the single line to encode said timing information; asserting a second edge on the single line a selectable time period after said first edge, said selectable time period representing said data, characterized in that: said step of asserting said first edge comprises supplying a clock signal to a clock input of a flip-flop; and the step of asserting the second edge comprises supplying the output of the flip-flop to an input of a programmable delay line having a data input connected to receive said data and an output connected to a reset input of the flip-flop, whereby an output of the flip-flop provides said encoded data and timing information on the single line.
US09118533B2 Antenna diversity combining for differentially modulated orthogonal frequency division multiplexed (OFDM) signals
In an embodiment, an apparatus includes a first tuner to receive a radio frequency (RF) signal from a first antenna and to process the RF signal to generate a first time-domain quadrature signal, a second tuner to receive the RF signal from a second antenna and to process the RF signal to generate a second time-domain quadrature signal, and a combiner circuit to receive the first and second time-domain quadrature signals.
US09118532B2 Method and arrangement in a telecommunications system
The present invention relates to a method in a base station (14, 400) and a base station (14, 400) for predicting a frequency dependent Channel State Information, CSI for scheduling and link adaptation of resource blocks of an operating bandwidth, based on frequency band CSI information related to at least one UE, the method comprising the steps receiving a wideband CSI related to UE (step 302), receiving a UE-selected subband CSI for a bandwidth part (step 302), calculating the difference: the UE-selected subband CSI for the bandwidth part minus a non UE-selected SB CSI the wideband CSI (steps 314, 328, 338), and updating a non UE-selected SB CSI for at least the bandwidth part, based on the calculated difference (steps 318, 332, 342). A faster more reliable prediction method based on UE-selected SB CSI values, is hereby achieved.
US09118531B2 Method of generating random access preambles in wireless communication system
A method of generating random access preambles includes receiving information on a source logical index and generating random access preambles in the order of increasing cyclic shift from root ZC sequences with the consecutive logical indexes from the beginning of the source logical index until a predetermined number of the random access preambles are found, wherein the consecutive logical indexes are mapped to root indexes of the root ZC sequences.
US09118527B2 Data during analog audio
This application discusses among other things, apparatus and method for transmitting data with an analog signal without significantly distorting the analog signal. In an example, an apparatus can include an audio channel, a capacitor coupled to a first conductor of the audio channel, the capacitor configured to couple an analog representation of a digital data signal with an analog audio signal on the audio channel, and a frequency modulator configured to receive the digital data signal and to modulate a frequency of an output signal of the frequency modulator based on a logic level of the digital data signal, wherein the analog representation of the digital data signal includes the frequency of the output signal of the frequency modulator.
US09118514B2 Receiver and signal processing method
A receiver includes a detector to detect an interfered-with carrier from a received and demodulated signal, a fast Fourier transform computation part to perform fast Fourier transform to convert a time domain signal to a frequency domain signal and adjust an output power level of a desired carrier wave contained in the frequency domain signal based upon the detected interfered-with carrier, and a channel estimation part to estimate a channel characteristic based upon a non-interfered-with pilot signal that is not subject to influence of the interfered-with carrier and an interpolation value interpolated based upon the non-interfered-with pilot signal, the non-interfered-with pilot signal being obtained by removing, based upon the interfered-with carrier, an interfered-with pilot signal that is subject to the influence of the interfered-with carrier and an interpolation value interpolated based upon the interfered-with pilot signal.
US09118511B1 Reflective analog finite impulse response filter
A distributed Analog Finite Impulse Response (AFIR) filter circuit with n physical taps provides an output equivalent to an AFIR filter circuit with 2n−1 taps by emulating n−1 taps. An impedance mismatch, with respect to the characteristic impedance of the input and output transmission lines, is imposed at the input and output terminals to take advantage of the resulting reflective signal paths, which emulate the additional taps. This implementation results in space-savings and power-savings for on-chip implementations of the circuit. Implementations disclosed herein are advantageous in telecommunication applications that rely heavily on copper/FR4 backplanes in serial data links.
US09118506B2 Direct access electronic mail (email) distribution and synchronization system with provision for pre-configured service offerings
A communications system includes a network engine that communicates with a plurality of unsubscribed mobile wireless communications devices using a communications network for sending and receiving emails therefrom. A direct access server is operative with the network engine for polling electronic mailboxes of users and retrieving email from the electronic mailboxes and pushing any email through the network engine to selected user subscribed mobile wireless communications devices. This direct access server is operative for providing at least one pre-configured service offering to a user that is linked to mail-access parameters when a user configures their respective electronic mailbox.
US09118503B2 Communication system, relay device and wiring harness
GateWay (GW) having a shape of a substantially-flat rectangular parallelepiped and including terminals on one wide surface or both wide surfaces, GWs are stacked on each other so as to connect first corresponding terminals while connecting second corresponding terminals. The corresponding terminals are connected inside each GW, and are connected with each other via a component for transmitting a communication signal through a communication line and via a relay processing section for executing a relaying process for the communication signal. By stacking GWs on each other, the function of a multi-bus GW can be realized.
US09118496B2 Subscriber access network architecture
A subscriber network architecture includes a packet processing node that communicates with a network backbone and with a plurality of access nodes. The access nodes also communicate with a plurality of subscriber devices. The packet processing node controls Quality of Service (QoS) levels for the subscriber devices, routes user data to subscriber devices based on downstream communication channels of the access nodes and QoS levels, and receives data from subscriber devices (via the access nodes) for forwarding across the network backbone.
US09118488B2 System and method for controlling access to network services using biometric authentication
A system, apparatus, or method for controlling access to a network and to the associated network resources or services. The invention may be used to provide a user authentication or authorization process for a computer network, a telecommunications network, or other suitable system, apparatus, device, process, operation, etc. In some embodiments, the present invention uses a combination of device identification data (such as a device identifier or other form of token) and user-specific biometric data (such as a physical characteristic associated with the user or data generated as a result of a signal being altered by a physical characteristic of a user) to identify a user and permit the user to access the network or network resources or services.
US09118487B1 Asymmetric encryption scheme with expiring revocable certificates having a predefined validity period
Methods and apparatus are provided for an asymmetric encryption scheme with expiring revocable certificates having a predefined validity period. Communications between two devices are secured by obtaining an expiring revocable certificate; and securing said communicating with said expiring revocable certificate using asymmetric encryption. A prior expiring revocable certificate can be revoked when a new expiring revocable certificate is issued to at least one device. The expiring revocable certificate has a predefined validity period (based, for example, on a longest expected connection drop-out duration). A new expiring revocable certificate is requested at least once for each predefined revocation period. The expiring revocable certificate is revoked after the predefined revocation period, for example, only if a connection between the two devices is maintained.
US09118486B2 Revocation of public key infrastructure signatures
In one implementation, a public key infrastructure utilizes a two stage revocation process for a set of data. One stage authenticates or revokes the set of data based on the status of the digital signature and another stage authenticates or revokes the set of data based on the status of an individual signature by the digital certificate. For example, a digital certificate based is assigned a certificate number. A serial number is assigned for a signature for the set of data as signed by the digital certificate. A data transmission, data packet, or install package includes the set of data, the certificate number and the serial number. Therefore, individual instances of the signature may be revoked according to serial number.
US09118484B1 Automatic configuration and provisioning of SSL server certificates
A method and apparatus for automatically configuring and provisioning cryptographic certificates is described. A certificate management sensor receives instructions from a first computing device to analyze a second computing device to identify an application on the second computing device associated with cryptographic network traffic on the second computing device, generates an application fingerprint based on application characteristics of the application, transmits the application fingerprint and a certificate signing request (CSR) to a certificate management system (CMS), and receives second instructions from the CMS to automatically install a cryptographic certificate on the second computing device based on the application fingerprint and CSR.
US09118477B2 Method and system for efficient error free packet reception using hybrid automatic repeat-request (HARQ) in a wireless communication system
The present invention relates to a method and system for efficient error free packet reception using hybrid automatic repeat-request (HARQ) in a wireless communication system. In one embodiment this is accomplished by receiving in a plurality of modulated digital data as transmission signal at a receiver transmitted through a plurality of transmission paths from a transmitter, demodulating the received transmission signals, estimating the difference between the received transmission signals and the ideal expected signal constellation in order to determine the weights for each constellation symbols, applying the determined weights for each symbol-wise of the received transmission data, storing the weighted data as final data in a buffer of a HARQ combining unit and processing the stored final data to determine whether the received data frames are correct.
US09118473B2 Efficient multi-user multiple input multiple output (MU-MIMO)
Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques and apparatus for combining the data (e.g., the channel station information (CSI) and the block acknowledgment (BA)) from one or more stations (STAs) capable of multi-user (MU) transmission in an effort to reduce the number of frames involved in a MU frame exchange. For certain aspects, the BA frames may be moved before a MU transmission and combined with the CSI frames, thereby effectively acknowledging a prior MU transmission. By reducing the number of frames involved, the efficiency of MU exchanges may be increased.
US09118468B2 Asynchronous time division duplex operation in a wireless network
Techniques for supporting communication in an asynchronous TDD wireless network are described. In an aspect, downlink transmissions and uplink transmissions may be sent on different carriers in an asynchronous TDD wireless network to mitigate interference. In one design, a station (e.g., a base station or a UE) may send a first transmission on a first carrier in a first time period and may receive a second transmission on a second carrier in a second time period. The station may only transmit, or only receive, or neither in each time period. In one design, allocation of carriers for the downlink and uplink may be performed when strong interference is detected, e.g., by a base station or a UE. When strong interference is not detected, the first and second carriers may each be used for both the downlink and uplink.
US09118466B2 Method, device and system for backhaul link communication in a TDD system
The present invention provides a method, device and system for backhaul link communication in a TDD system. Wherein, the method includes: a base station allocating an uplink subframe for uplink transmitting of the backhaul link and a downlink subframe for downlink transmitting of the backhaul link, and notifying subframe allocating information to a relay node; and the base station communicating with the relay node by the uplink subframe and the downlink subframe of the backhaul link. The solution allocates the uplink subframe and the downlink subframe of the backhaul link according to certain rules, performs related HARQ operation based on the allocated uplink subframe and downlink subframe, and ensures the availability and reliability of backhaul link communication.
US09118462B2 Content sharing systems and methods
Systems and methods are described for peer-to-peer sharing of electronic content. In one embodiment, if a license associated with a content item permits a sharing peer to share the content item with a receiving peer, the sharing peer rebinds a cryptographic key associated with the content item to the receiving peer and generates a sharing license for the content item. The sharing peer sends the sharing license and the content item to the receiving peer for consumption.
US09118461B2 Code diversity method and system
A software diversity system including an executable provider to provide an executable program including component blocks such that different combinations of blocks are operative to perform a functionally encryption keys functionally equivalent data transformation, a cipher to encrypt the component blocks with cryptographic keys, a key selector to select a first selection of keys for a first device, such that the first selection is operative to decrypt a first combination of the blocks operative when executed to perform the same functionally equivalent data transformation, and select a second selection of keys for a second device, such that the second selection is operative to decrypt a second combination of the blocks operative when executed to perform the same functionally equivalent data transformation, and a transfer module to prepare for transfer the first and second selection of cryptographic keys for transfer to the first and second device, respectively. Related apparatus and methods are also included.
US09118459B2 Wireless communication device and activation method of the wireless communication device
A wireless communication device includes a BBIC for performing baseband signal processing, an RFIC for performing radio-frequency signal processing, and a quartz resonator. The RFIC has a storage unit which stores an adjustment value for adjustment of a clock frequency that is based on an oscillation frequency of the quartz resonator, and outputs the adjustment value when its resetting active state is canceled; a frequency adjusting unit for adjusting the clock frequency according to the adjustment value; and an RF signal processing unit which operates based on the clock signal and performs the radio-frequency signal processing.
US09118450B2 Method and apparatus for protecting a primary service in WLAN system
A method and an apparatus for protecting a primary service as an unlicensed device in a regulatory domain where a licensed device and the unlicensed device are permitted to operate are disclosed. For protecting a primary service by a station as an unlicensed device in a regulatory domain where a licensed device and the unlicensed device are permitted to operate, the unlicensed device acquires a list of identified available channels for the operation of the unlicensed device and maximum allowed transmission powers of the identified available channels from a regulatory domain database system; generates a white space map (WSM) comprising the list of identified available channels and the maximum allowed transmission powers of the identified available channels; updates the WSM when the station acquires information that a primary service signal is detected on a specific channel which is indicated as available in the WSM; and transmits the updated WSM to another station such that the another station moves to another channel if the another station is operating on the specific channel.
US09118448B2 Method for transmitting control information and apparatus for same
A wireless communication system is disclosed. A method for transmitting uplink control information in a wireless communication system supporting carrier aggregation and operating in TDD includes: generating a first HARQ-ACK (hybrid automatic repeat request-acknowledgement) set for a first cell using a value M; generating a second HARQ-ACK set for a second cell using the value M; and transmitting a bit value corresponding to a third HARQ-ACK set including the first HARQ-ACK set and the second HARQ-ACK set in an uplink subframe n, wherein M=max(M1, M2), max(M1, M2) representing a value being equal to or larger than not smaller between M1 and M2, wherein M1 corresponds to the number of downlink subframes corresponding to the uplink subframe n in the first cell, and M2 corresponds to the number of downlink subframes corresponding to the uplink subframe n in the second cell, wherein the first cell and the second cell have different UL-DL configurations.
US09118437B1 Spatially segmented anti-jam antenna
The present invention includes providing a multidirectional antenna unit including a plurality of directional antenna elements configured to spatially segment an operational theatre into a plurality of segmented regions, receiving radio frequency signals via the plurality of directional antenna elements from the plurality of segmented region, identifying a directional antenna element having the highest signal-to-jamming ratio, and connecting the directional antenna element having the highest signal-to-jamming ratio to a multifunction information distribution system terminal.
US09118431B2 Video service manager
A method may include receiving a first order associated with processing a media file and estimating resources associated with fulfilling the first order. The method may also include generating a first logical circuit representing network elements to fulfill the first order and connections between the network elements. The method may further include allocating resources based on the first logical circuit and executing the order using the allocated resources.
US09118430B2 Broadcast equipment communication protocol
A data link manager includes a User Datagram Protocol (UDP) receiver for receiving HD Radio broadcast equipment communication protocol (HDP) data or non-HD Radio broadcast equipment communication protocol (non-HDP) data using a User Datagram Protocol/Internet Protocol (UDP/IP) protocol; a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) receiver; and a router for receiving data from the UDP receiver and the TCP receiver, for searching for a destination route in a routing table, and for forwarding the data received from the from the UDP receiver and the TCP receiver to an identified destination route.
US09118425B2 Transport stream multiplexers and methods for providing packets on a transport stream
Examples described include transport stream multiplexers that may not need to search for an appropriate source to use to generate a transport stream packet. Instead, the source to use may be indicated by a position (e.g. an entry) in a memory table, e.g. a metadata array. Methods for placing transport stream packets on a transport stream and initializing the metadata array are also described.
US09118421B2 Extending control plane functions to the network edge in an optical transport network
A method of extending the control plane to a network edge for a network having first set of nodes of the network are designated as core nodes, each core node being operable to route subscriber traffic between a pair of neighbor core nodes and a second set of control-plane enabled nodes of the network designated as tail nodes, each tail node connected to a core node and operating only as a source or sink of subscriber traffic. Each core node that is connected to at least one tad node is designated as a host node. The host node is controlled to advertise summary information of its connected tail nodes to other core and tail nodes in the network, thus making it possible to extend control plane function to the tail nodes which can calculate connection routes, set-up/tear-down connections and perform connection failure recovery functions.
US09118419B1 Digitizer for use in an overlay system with digital optical transmitter for digitized narrowcast signals
Methods and apparatuses are provided to digitize an analog multi-channel RF narrowcast signal in an overlay system by dividing the signal into a plurality of subband signals and digitizing each subband signal using practical A/D converters.
US09118416B2 Configurable segmented antenna
Systems, methods, and apparatus that utilize a configurable segmented antenna are presented herein. A monitor component can be configured to detect at least one parameter corresponding to one or more segments of an antenna integrated with a communications device. An antenna component can be configured to select at least one segment of the one or more segments in response to the at least one parameter. A control component can be configured to modify a quality of a signal according to the at least one parameter. Further, a transmission component can be configured to transmit the signal from the at least one segment based on the quality.
US09118415B2 Visible light communication with increased signal-to-noise ratio
A method of increasing modulation of a visible light signal. The method can include receiving a signal that corresponds to the visible light signal, where the visible light signal has a magnitude. The method can also include adjusting, by a controller and based on the signal, a dimmer level of a dimmer by an amount, where the amount is proportional to the magnitude of the visible light signal, and where the dimmer level adjusts an output of a driver circuit. The visible light signal and the output of the driver circuit can be combined into a power signal and sent to one or more light sources. The one or more light sources can use the power signal to generate a light output that includes a visible light communication signal that is received by a receiver.
US09118413B2 Apparatus and a method
An apparatus including: addition circuitry configured to receive simultaneously a probe signal that has passed through a channel having a complex transmission and a reference signal and configured to produce at least: a plurality of weighted additions including an addition of the probe signal and the reference signal with different relative phase rotations between the probe signal and the reference signal for each weighted addition; and processing circuitry configured to use at least two of the plurality of weighted additions to determine a first quantitative parameter for the channel dependent upon the complex transmission for the channel.
US09118407B2 Self-propelled buoy for monitoring underwater objects
Various embodiments of the invention provide a buoy and system for monitoring divers and other underwater objects. In many embodiments, the buoy has capabilities to monitor a diver, obtain position information about the diver and use that information to move itself to an effective range for continued monitoring. The buoy can connect and communicate with a communication device attached to a diver to communicate, position, biometric and other data. In one embodiment, the buoy comprises a propulsion system for propelling the buoy, an acoustic communication module for communicating with the diver and a propulsion controller for controlling the propulsion system to move to the effective range. Other embodiments provide a power generation system using a power generating buoy comprising an inertial weight, an energy converter and a connecting linkage. The system may comprise a single or multiple buoys and can include an electrical storage such as an electrical battery.
US09118399B2 Methods, apparatuses and computer program products for code correlation of multi-path spread spectrum signals
A method including correlating a code having a first offset with a signal to produce a first correlation result; correlating the code having a second offset with the signal to produce a second correlation result; determining a cost function using the first correlation result and the second correlation result; and adjusting the first offset and the second offset in dependence upon the cost function, wherein the cost function uses a first weighting for the first correlation result and a second, different weighting for the second correlation result.
US09118392B2 Isolated serializer-deserializer
A first integrated circuit die receives input data from a plurality of input channels and combines the input data from the plurality of input channels into combined data. The first integrated circuit die transmits the combined data across an isolation communication channel. A second integrated circuit die that is coupled to the isolation communication channel decodes the transmitted combined data and supplies the decoded transmitted combined data to respective output channels corresponding to the input channels.
US09118391B2 Integrated circuit device, wireless communication unit and method of manufacture therefor
An integrated circuit device comprising at least one radio frequency (RF) transceiver module. The at least one RF transceiver module includes a plurality of low noise amplifiers (LNAs) operably coupled to external contacts of the integrated circuit device and arranged to receive an RF signal from the respective external contact, amplify the received RF signal, and to output the amplified RF signal. Each transceiver module further includes a plurality of power amplifier (PA) modules operably coupled to the external contact of the integrated circuit device, and arranged to receive an RF signal to be transmitted, amplify the received RF signal to be transmitted, and output the amplified signal. The plurality of LNAs and the plurality of PAs are selectively configurable to operate in at least a first, multi-antenna configuration and a second, single antenna high transmit power configuration.
US09118387B2 Pilot reference transmission for a wireless communication system
A pilot reference transmission scheme well suited for high data rate wireless communication systems is disclosed. To maximize the amount of interference from transmissions from neighboring transmission sources (e.g., access points or base stations) during the pilot interval, and hence minimize the amount of interference from non-transmitting sources during the data intervals, the pilot references are transmitted in bursts at predetermined time intervals, and the pilot bursts from the access points are synchronized. This results in maximum interference contributions from non-transmitting neighboring access points, facilitating reliable estimation of worst case carrier-to-interference (C/I), and further allows the receiving devices (e.g., access terminals) to easily recognize the bursts as pilot reference. In one embodiment, each access point transmits the pilot bursts at or near its maximum transmit power level and no user-specific data is transmitted during the pilot bursts.
US09118385B2 Device, system and method of wireless communication over a beamformed communication link
Some demonstrative embodiments include devices, systems and/or methods of wireless communication over a beamformed communication link. For example, a time for communicating may be requested, granted, and the communication take place between two consecutive beacons. In some embodiment, specific formats may be used to communicate the necessary information in this exchange.
US09118382B2 Relay apparatus for broadcast waves
The objective of the present invention is to provide a relay apparatus capable of performing normal relay transmission for broadcast waves by preventing effects caused by wraparound in a relay apparatus. For broadcast waves received by a relay apparatus (2), the same broadcast data are placed in each of a defined segment (f0) and a first segment (f1) other than the defined segment, whereupon the relay apparatus removes broadcast data for the defined segment (f0) from the received broadcast waves, and transmits broadcast waves in which the broadcast data for the first segment (f1) have been exchanged with each of the defined segment (f0) and a second segment (f2) other than the defined segment and the first segment. As a result, the defined segment (f0) which imparts wraparound effects to the received broadcast waves is removed, and therefore, it is possible to perform normal relay transmission of the broadcast waves.
US09118380B2 Repeater with positioning capabilities
This disclosure is directed to a repeater (14) of a wireless communication system (6) that includes a positioning unit (4), such as a GPS receiver, in order to calculate the location of the repeater (14). In addition, various techniques are described that exploit the positioning information generated by the repeater (14) in order to improve the wireless communication system (6).
US09118377B2 Method for interference and carrier power estimation and its application to automatic gain control and signal-to-interference-and-noise-ratio computation
A system and method are provided for estimating interference power at a receiver antenna in a communications systems receiver, in which an interference type signal associated with a received radio signal is detected, an in-band interference power associated with the received radio signal is determined, and an interference power at the antenna is estimated using the determined in-band interference power and the detected interference type. Estimating the interference power at the antenna includes interpolating the determined in-band interference power using scaling factors determined by the interference type signal associated with the received radio signal. The system and method determine in-band carrier power associated with the radio signal based on a channel estimate h(k), and the in-band interference information is based on interference samples I(n). In addition, an average total power, automatic gain control (AGC) setting, and signal-to-information-and-noise ratio can be determined by the system and method.
US09118374B2 Integrated circuit with inter-chip link for boot-up
An integrated circuit includes a first port for conducting a first plurality of signals, a second port for conducting a second plurality of signals, a data path coupled between the first port and the second port, a controller, and a processor having an input and an output. In a first mode, the controller causes the data path to conduct at least one signal received on the first port to the second port. In a second mode, the controller controls the processor to output signals to the second port.
US09118369B2 Signaling of sequence generator initialization parameters for uplink reference signal generation
A base station initializes pseudo-random sequence generators on which wireless devices base generation of uplink reference signals. The base station determines a first sequence from a first subset of possible initialization sequences for a sequence generator of a first device, and determines a second sequence from a second subset of possible initialization sequences for a sequence generator of a second device. The range of this second subset spans at least the range of the first subset. The base station further encodes the first sequence as a first set of two or more parameters, and encodes the second sequence as a second set of one or more parameters. This second set includes at least one parameter not included in the first set, and comprises fewer bits than the first set. The base station initializes the sequence generators by transmitting the first and second sets of parameters to the devices.
US09118366B2 Method and apparatus for calibrating an envelope tracking system
A method of calibrating an envelope tracking system for a supply voltage for a power amplifier module within a radio frequency (RF) transmitter module of a wireless communication unit. The method includes, within at least one signal processing module of the wireless communication unit, applying a training signal having an envelope that varies with time to an input of the RF transmitter module, receiving at least an indication of instantaneous output signal values for the power amplifier module in response to the training signal, calculating instantaneous gain values based at least partly on the received output power values, and adjusting a mapping function between an instantaneous envelope of a waveform signal to be amplified by the power amplifier module and the power amplifier module supply voltage to achieve a constant power amplifier module gain.
US09118363B2 Timing synchronization system for MIMO-OFDM
A communication system including a transmission device having a plurality of transmission antennas that transmit a plurality of signals under a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) scheme; and a reception device having a plurality of reception antennas that receive the plurality of signals under the MIMO scheme. The transmission device is configured to add a preamble signal to a transmission signal transmitted to the reception device at an earliest timing among transmission signals that are modulated under an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) scheme, the transmission signals being output from the transmission antennas. The transmission device does not add the preamble signal to the transmission signals other than the transmission signal transmitted at the earliest timing.
US09118362B2 System for selecting transmission mode under multi-input multi-output based on scheduling number and method thereof
A system for selecting a transmission mode under the multi-input multi-output (MIMO) architecture based on a scheduling number and a method thereof are provided. A modulation coding of the spatial diversity (SD) mode and the spatial multiplexing (SM) mode according to channel state information sent from client ends is determined, respectively. The SD mode or the SM mode is selected in accordance with a scheduling number of using the SD mode and a scheduling number of using the SM mode, respectively. The transmission mode is selected based on the spectrum utilization and the scheduling rate, which achieves improving the spectrum utilization on the premise of the scheduling rate.
US09118360B2 Wideband near field communication apparatus and method
Provided is an apparatus and method for performing a wideband short-range wireless communication using a directional antenna in a millimeter wave band, and the method for wideband short-range wireless communication according to an embodiment may determine a change of a relay operation type based on a link quality between a source node and a relay node, a link quality between the relay node and the destination node, and a link quality between the source node and the destination node, transmit a relay operation change (ROC) request message in response to a determination of the change of the relay operation type, and receive an ROC response message corresponding to the ROC request message.
US09118357B2 Systems and methods for controlling output power of a wireless power transmitter
Systems and methods for feedback control of output power in a wireless power transmitter are disclosed. According to one aspect, one of a voltage level at an input of a wireless power transmit coil and a level of current passing through the wireless power transmit coil are sensed. The wireless power transmitter includes a controller configured to adjust a component of the wireless power transmitter to maintain at least one of the level of current and the voltage level at a constant level.
US09118354B2 Electronic device with shared near field communications element
Electronic devices may be provided with near field communications capabilities. A near field communications antenna may be formed from multiple inductive components. The inductive components may include a speaker coil. One or more switches may be provided in the near field communications antenna to adjust the inductance of the near field communications antenna during different modes of operation. An audio circuit may be used to generate audio signals. A first transmitter may be used to transmit near field hearing aid signals through the near field communications antenna. A second transmitter may be used to transmit near field communications signals to external equipment such as near field communications point of sale equipment. Switching circuitry may be used to selectively couple the audio circuit, the first transmitter, and the second transmitter to the near field communications antenna.
US09118353B2 System and method for communicating with low density parity check codes
The present invention provides an approach for FEC encoding based on intermediate code block lengths not associated with any supported mother FEC code. A first string of k2 data bits is received. The first string of data bits is encoded to generate an N2 bit code block for transmission over a channel of a wireless communications network. The first data bit string is encoded based on a supported (N1,k1) forward error correction (FEC) code of a code rate R=k1/N1, configured to encode a string of data bits of a length k1 bits to generate a code block of a length N1 bits. To facilitate the encoding of the first string of data bits based on the (N1,k1) FEC code, the encoding comprises padding, repeating and/or puncturing the first string of data bits and a resulting N1 bit code block to generate the N2 bit code block.
US09118346B2 Complementary switches in current switching digital to analog converters
The present disclosure provides embodiments of an improved current steering switching element for use in a digital to analog (DAC) converter. Typically, each current steering switching element in the DAC converter provides a varying set of currents for converting a digital input signal. Generally, the switches and drivers in the current steering switching elements are scaled down proportionally to the current being provided by the current steering switching element according to a ratio as less and less current is being driven by the switching element in order to overcome timing errors. However, device sizes are limited by the production process. When a switch is not scaled proportionally to the current, settling timing errors are present and affects the performance of the DAC. The improved current steering switching element alleviates this issue of timing errors by replacing the single switch with two complementary current steering switches.
US09118339B2 Companding M-digital-to-analog converter (DAC) for a pipelined analog-to-digital converter (ADC)
The present disclosure provides for an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) which selectively compresses an analog input signal to improve noise performance and dynamic input range. The ADC selectively scales an analog input signal when it is closer to an expected value of one or more signal metrics more than when it is further from the expected value of the one or more signal metrics. For example, during the conversion process, the ADC amplifies the analog input signal when it is closer to a mean value μ by a gain factor while selectively adjusting the gain factor when the analog input signal is further from its mean value μ to selectively compress the analog input signal. This selective compression improves input noise performance and dynamic input range of the ADC when compared to the conventional ADC.
US09118338B2 Offset compensation circuit and method thereof
A current-steering offset compensation circuit is configured for compensating an offset caused by process variation or environment variation of a signal processor. The signal processor includes a pair of differential input terminals and a pair of differential output terminals. The current-steering offset compensation circuit comprises a current-steering circuit connected with the signal processor, a digital control unit which generates a digital control signal according to the outputs from the pair of differential output terminals of the signal processor, and a digital-to-analog converter which receives the digital control signal and outputs a control voltage, wherein the current-steering circuit receives the control voltage, so as to steer the current of the pair of differential input terminals, to reduce the offset in the signal processor.
US09118330B2 Directional capacitive proximity sensor
The present disclosure relates to a method for detecting an object near an electronic system, comprising steps of: forming electrodes around a central area, on an electrically insulating medium, determining measurements representative of the capacitance of the electrodes, and comparing the measurements with a detection threshold, and deducing whether or not an object is near the central area in a detection, the electrically insulating medium on which the electrodes are formed being deposited on an electrically conductive medium forming a shield, the capacitance measurements being taken by simultaneously activating all the electrodes.
US09118329B2 Touch screen panel fabrication method thereof
Accordingly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a touch screen panel including: sensing patterns in a display region of a transparent base; and sensing lines in a non-display region positioned at an outer side of the display region and coupled to the sensing patterns. Here, the sensing patterns include: a plurality of first sensing cells in a plurality of first lines in a first direction; first connecting lines coupling the first sensing cells in corresponding first lines to each other; second sensing cells in a plurality of second lines in a second direction; and second connecting lines coupling the second sensing cells in corresponding second lines to each other, and the first sensing cells and the second sensing cells each have a stacked structure, and the first connecting lines are integral with an upper layer of the first sensing cells.
US09118325B1 Routing network for programmable logic device
A routing network is associated with a logic island in a logic block of a programmable logic device and includes switches for each of feedback, street, and highway and clock networks. Some of the switches include multiple stages. The feedback network switch receives signals from the logic island as well as from neighboring logic blocks and provides an output to one or more stages of the street network switch. The street network switch receives the signals from the feedback network switch and signals from neighboring highway network switches and provides an output to the logic island. A clock network switch may receive dedicated clock signals or high fan out signals as inputs and provides outputs to the street network switch. The highway network switch receives signals from the logic island and from neighboring highway network switches and provides an output to neighboring highway network switches.
US09118313B2 Semiconductor memory device calibrating termination resistance and termination resistance calibration method thereof
Provided is a semiconductor memory device calibrating a termination resistance, the semiconductor memory device comprising self-adjustment logic configured to determine whether a value of an upper bit string of a calibration code generated in response to a calibration start signal is equal to or greater than an upper critical value of the calibration code, or is equal to or less than a lower critical value of the calibration code, and to generate an adjustment signal for adjusting a value of a termination resistance of a data output driver based on the determination result; and resistance calibration logic configured to provide the upper bit string to the self-adjustment logic, and to generate an updated calibration code by performing a calibration calculation based on the calibration code and a comparison signal generated according to a result of comparing a reference voltage and a voltage of a comparison target node.
US09118310B1 Programmable delay circuit block
A programmable delay circuit block includes an input stage having a cascade input and a clock input, wherein the input stage passes a signal received at the cascade input or a signal received at the clock input. The programmable delay circuit block further may include a delay block configured to generate a delayed signal by applying a selected amount of delay to the signal passed from the input stage and a pulse generator configured to generate a pulse signal having a pulse width that depends upon the amount of delay. The programmable delay circuit block also includes an output stage having a cascade output and a clock output. The output stage is configured to pass an inverted version of the pulse signal or the delayed signal from the cascade output and pass the signal received at the clock input, the inverted version of the pulse signal, or the delayed signal from the clock output.
US09118307B2 Method for generating PWM signals and a pulse width modulation power converter
A method and an apparatus for generating PWM signals is provided. Upon detection of a load transient, a new PWM period is started if the load transient occurs during the off-time of a PWM signal and exceeds a specific magnitude.
US09118296B2 Clipping protection in fixed-width audio mixing
An apparatus provides both clipping protection and signal level conservation while the system operates in the original width type. The apparatus includes a first shifting unit right shifting a first digital input signal to provide a first shifted signal; a second shifting unit right shifting a second digital input signal to provide a second shifted signal; a combiner combining the first shifted signal and the second shifted signal to provide a combined signal; a soft limiter soft limiting the combined signal by reducing some of the amplitudes of the combined signal to provide a soft limited signal; and a third shifting unit left shifting the soft limited signal to provide an output signal.
US09118293B1 Method for processing on mobile device audio signals of remotely executed applications
A method and computer program product for running a remote desktop application on a mobile device without audio interference from the other desktop applications, so the remote user applications runs as if it were a native mobile device application. A remote host desktop has a number of applications running simultaneously and producing sounds. A mobile device user selects one application and launches it on his mobile device. The selected application runs on a mobile device and the sounds produced by all other desktop applications are filtered out by special audio control driver implemented on the host system.
US09118287B2 Adaptive amplification circuit
An adaptive amplification circuit is provided, which includes an operational amplifier comprising a variable bias current source for providing a variable bias current for the operational amplifier, an equivalent circuit of the operational amplifier for receiving an input voltage and generating an output voltage according to the input voltage, and a bias control unit for generating a bias control signal to the variable bias current source according to the output voltage so as to adjust the variable bias current.
US09118286B2 DC offset cancellation circuit
A DC offset cancellation circuit is provided. The DC offset cancellation circuit includes a first operational amplifier and a feedback gain circuit. The first operational amplifier includes a first input transconductance stage, a second input transconductance stage and an output stage. An input terminal of the first input transconductance stage receives an input signal of the first operational amplifier through a first input terminal of the first operational amplifier. An output terminal of the output stage outputs an output signal of the first operational amplifier through an output terminal of the first operational amplifier. An input terminal of the feedback gain circuit is coupled to the output terminal of the first operational amplifier, and an output terminal of the feedback gain circuit is coupled to the input terminal of the second transconductance stage through a second input terminal of the first operational amplifier.
US09118285B2 Compensation of a transmitter distortion
There is described a method for compensating the phase and gain distortions of a transmitter analog front end affected by a leakage of a local oscillator. The method comprises generating a single complex tone signal in a digital front end, wherein the generation comprises compensating the signal gain and phase with gain and phase offsets. The method comprises feeding the compensated signal into the transmitter analog front end. The method comprises feeding a corresponding output signal of the transmitter analog front end into a nonlinear component, thereby generating an inter-modulation between the complex tone signal and at least one tone signal due to the local oscillator leakage. The method comprises feeding the output of the nonlinear component into a measurement receiver analog front end. The method comprises filtering the output of the measurement receiver analog front end with a band pass filter in order to isolate the inter-modulation, which is indicative of the distortions introduced by the transmitter analog front end. The method comprises measuring the power of the filtered signal. The method comprises updating the gain and phase offsets according to the measured power, by reducing said measured power. The disclosure also relates, in particular, to a digital front end, to an analog system, to a telecommunication device, to a computer program, and to a storage medium.
US09118281B2 Integrated start-up bias boost for dynamic error vector magnitude enhancement
Devices and methods for correcting for start-up transients in integrated power amplifiers are disclosed. A delay element is arranged to produce a delay waveform signal that is responsive to an input voltage signal. A transconductance element has an input that receives the delay waveform signal and is arranged to provide an output boost current that is based on the delay waveform signal and a gain of the transconductance element. A reference element provides an output bias current that is responsive to a static reference current and the boost current. A bias element has an input that receives the bias current and is arranged to provide a bias control output. A power amplifier is responsive to the bias control output and is arranged to provide an amplified power output. In some examples, the boost current is adjusted based on a supply voltage and an input power of the power amplifier.
US09118271B2 System and method for non-sinusoidal current waveform excitation of electrical generators
An electrical generator includes a stator having fractional-slot concentrated windings and a rotor having field windings. A drive is provided having a circuit to control current flow to the field windings and a controller to input an initial DC field current demand to the circuit to cause the circuit to output an initial DC field current representative of a DC field current demand that would cause an electrical generator having sinusoidal stator windings to output a desired AC power. The controller receives feedback on the magnetic field generated by the initial DC field current, isolates an ideal fundamental component of the magnetic field based on the feedback and to generate a modified DC field current demand, and inputs the modified DC field current demand to the circuit, thereby causing the circuit to output an instantaneous non-sinusoidal current to the field windings to generate a sinusoidal rotating air gap magnetic field.
US09118266B2 Synchronous energy source switching controller and method of operation thereof
The present invention relates to a motor assembly, a method of operation thereof and a transport vehicle provided with the motor assembly. The motor assembly is provided with an energy source switching controller that is in synchronization with motor operation and provides an improved utilization of energy storage sources in an electric, hybrid electric, or fuel cell based motor vehicle drive train application.
US09118260B2 Control of a switch in a power converter
A method for controlling at least one switch in a power converter, wherein the switching speed of the switch dynamically varies according to a measurement of a quantity representative of the efficiency of the converter.
US09118241B2 Switched-mode power supply and a two-phase DC to DC converter having switches and a filter that deliver current from a node among converter stages
The switched-mode power supply includes a first switch connected to an input terminal for receiving an input voltage, a second switch, a first node between the first switch and the second switch. The switched-mode power supply further includes a third switch connected to the input terminal, a fourth switch, and a second node between the third switch and the fourth switch. A first inductor is connected between the first node and an output terminal, a second inductor is connected between the second node and the output terminal, at least one third inductor is connected between the first node and the second node, and a capacitor is connected to the output terminal.
US09118217B2 Portable computing device with wireless power distribution
A core module for a portable computing device includes a wireless power receiver module, a battery power module, a power supply module, a processing module, and an RF link interface. The wireless power receiver module, when operable, receives a wireless power transmit signal and converts it into a supply voltage. The battery power module, when operable, outputs a battery voltage. The power supply module, when operable, converts the supply voltage or the battery voltage into one or more power supply voltages. The processing module is operable to select one of the battery voltage, the supply voltage, and one of the one or more power supply voltages to produce a selected voltage. The RF link interface outputs the selected voltage on to an RF link of the portable computing device for providing power to one or more multi mode RF units within the portable computing device.
US09118214B2 Operating a controller for an energy production plant
A method is provided for operating a controller controlling an energy production plant including plural wind turbines each having an electrical output terminal connected to a common node. The method involves determining that a failure relating to the energy production plant has been overcome; receiving a first signal indicative of an actual value of an electrical quantity at the common node; receiving a second signal relating to a desired value of the electrical quantity at the common node; generating plural reference signals based on an intermediate value between the actual value and the desired value; and supplying the reference signals to the wind turbines, the reference signals controlling the wind turbines with respect to their electrical output at the output terminal such that the intermediate value of the electrical quantity at the common node is achieved.
US09118211B2 Power supply system, power-supply device and power-supply method
A plurality of power-supply devices, in which power generated by solar energy is stored, are allowed to exchange power among themselves. Power generated by a solar panel connected to a first power-supply device is stored in a power storage section of the first power-supply device. Power supplied by the second power-supply device, which has a power storage section for storing power generated by the solar panel, is stored in the power storage section of first power-supply device. Power stored in the power storage section of the first power-supply device is supplied externally.
US09118203B2 Systems and methods for induction charging with a closed magnetic loop
Systems, methods, and computer program products for induction charging with a closed magnetic loop are described herein. In one aspect, an apparatus for wireless power transmission comprises a plurality of coplanar coils, each of the plurality of coplanar coils configured to be individually energized and produce a magnetic field. Further, the controller is configured to reverse polarity of the magnetic field of at least one of the plurality of coplanar coils based on a measure of coupling between coils and to select at least two of the plurality of coplanar coils for wireless power transmission based on the measure of coupling between coils.
US09118197B2 Charging control system
A charging control system is configured to calculate an internal resistance line indicating a relation between a value of a charging current and a value of a voltage of a battery, which voltage occurs when the charging current has flown into the battery, to obtain a maximum inputtable value point SMAX corresponding to a maximum inputtable power/current and a currently-inputted value point SINP corresponding to a charging power/current currently inputted to the battery, these points existing on the calculated internal resistance line. The charging control system is also configured to calculate a point located between the maximum inputtable value point SMAX and the currently-inputted value point SINP, as a target point STRG corresponding to a target charging power/current point, and to set, based on the calculated target point STRG, a charging power/current for charging the battery.
US09118194B2 Configurable apparatus and methods for supplying power and data to electronic devices
Embodiments of a system, topology, and methods for providing electrical power to electronic devices from various power sources are described generally herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US09118182B2 Power curve correlation system
A power curve correlation system is disclosed. The power curve correlation system includes a system including: at least one computing device configured to verify a forecast of a power network load for a component by performing actions including: obtaining a set of load data for the component in the power network over a period; identifying similar load patterns in the set of load data using a pattern recognition technique, independent of at least one of: a scale for a component load, a minimum component load value or a maximum component load value; grouping the identified similar load patterns into distinct groups; categorizing at least one of the distinct groups according to a recurring event associated with a load pattern in the at least one distinct group; and providing the categorized group for verifying the forecast of the power network load for the component using the at least one categorized group.
US09118176B2 Radio frequency input circuit with ESD protection function
There is provided a radio frequency input circuit including a first direct current blocking unit provided between an input terminal and an input circuit unit and blocking a direct current voltage introduced through the input terminal, a first ESD protection circuit unit provided in parallel with the first direct current blocking unit and forming a bypass path according to an ESD voltage introduced through the input terminal, and a ground circuit unit provided between a first connection node between the first direct current blocking unit and the input circuit unit, and a ground, and forming a ground path according to the ESD voltage.
US09118166B2 Tuning rare earth ion emission wavelength in phosphate based glasses using cerium oxide
The invention relates to a Nd-doped (and/or Yb-doped and/or Er-doped) phosphate laser glass having a peak emission wavelength that is shorter than 1054 nm. Cerium oxide (CeO2) is incorporated into a phosphate glass host system, preferably in replacement of lanthanum oxide, to shift the peak emission wavelength to a wavelength shorter than 1054 nm. The invention further relates to a laser system using mixed-glass arrangement and phase compensation, wherein one of the glasses of the mixed glass system is an Nd-doped (and/or Yb-doped and/or Er-doped) phosphate laser glass having a peak emission wavelength that is shorter than 1054 nm, and a method of generating a laser beam pulse using such a laser system.
US09118165B1 Multi-wavelength laser cavity
Embodiments of the invention describe various configurations for a multi-wavelength laser cavity. A laser cavity may include a shared reflector and a plurality of reflectors. Each of the plurality of reflectors and the shared reflector together form one of the plurality of output wavelength channels.A shared filter is utilized to filter the optical signal of the laser cavity to comprise a subset of a plurality of cavity modes. A (de)multiplexer, comprising a plurality of filtering elements), receives the optical signal and further selects and separates the final lasing wavelengths from the selected subset of cavity modes, and each filtering element outputs an optical signal having a wavelength for one of the output wavelength channels.
US09118162B2 Composite semiconductor light source pumped by a spontaneous light emitter
A composite light source includes a substrate having a top surface, and a first vertical light source formed in the substrate. The first light source includes least a lower mirror, a first active region above the lower mirror, wherein the first active region has a thickness sufficient when electrically pumped to emit predominantly a spontaneous vertical emission from the first active region towards the top surface having an angular range of at least (≧) 30°. A second light source is formed in the substrate above the first active region including a second active region. The spontaneous vertical emission is at a first wavelength λ1 that optically drives said second active region to provide an emission at a second wavelength λ2, wherein λ2>λ1.
US09118158B2 Cable assembly backshell
Provided is a cable assembly backshell capable of three angular configurations: straight, 45°, and 90°. The backshell is designed to rotate at two joints that allow it to assume these three angular configurations. A locking mechanism is associated with the backshell which prevents unintended reconfigurations.
US09118125B2 Earth terminal mounted tool
A thin plate-like earth terminal mounted tool is with: earth wires connected to electric components, earth terminals respectively connected to end portions of the earth wires, and the earth terminals individually connected to the earth terminal mounted tool. The earth terminal mounted tool includes: a body connecting portion connected to a body of a vehicle; and an earth connecting portion connected to the body connecting portion and to which the earth terminals are individually connected. The earth connecting portion includes at least a first earth connecting section to which the earth terminals along a first direction are connected, and a second earth connecting section to which the earth terminals along a second direction intersecting with the first direction are connected.
US09118121B2 Bus bar
The invention provides a bus bar, which includes an elongated base plate, a plurality of tuning fork-shaped terminal portions and a plurality of plate-shaped terminal portions both extending from one lateral end of the elongated base plate, a terminal-protecting portions being perpendicular to the elongated base plate and extending from both longitudinal ends of the elongated base plate, and an electric wire-crimping portion extending from the other lateral end of the elongated base plate.
US09118120B2 Antenna arrangement for wireless communication
An apparatus comprising: a conductive member configured to receive an antenna and to form a non-conductive region between the conductive member and a ground member; and a switch having a first closed configuration and a second open configuration, the first closed configuration being configured to couple the conductive member to the ground member across the non-conductive region and to provide a first current path having a first electrical length and a first resonant frequency, the second open configuration being configured to provide a second current path having a second electrical length and a second resonant frequency, the second resonant frequency being lower than the first resonant frequency.
US09118118B2 Increased gain in an array antenna through optimal suspension of piece-wise linear conductors
The present invention provides a high-performance and lightweight helical antenna element and array thereof for use in an aircraft communication system or the like, where stringent spatial restrictions and gain requirements generally apply. The RF performance of the array is enhanced by using ribs and sleeves to reduce the dielectric volume of the support structures of the antenna elements, and by providing apertures within the sleeves of the support structures and between the ribs thereof.
US09118116B2 Compact cylindrically symmetric UHF SATCOM antenna
A cylindrically symmetric satellite antenna that provides directional and omnidirectional operating modes in a compact form factor. Feed points located at the top of the cylindrical structure provide increased platform isolation. Combining networks, disposed below or within the cylindrical structure, may be replaced with inexpensive baluns composed of coaxial line sections.
US09118114B2 Window glass for vehicle and antenna
Window glass for vehicle may include an antenna conductor having electrodes provided on a surface of a dielectric on a side opposite from a conductive film. The conductive film may include a slot with a first end part that opens at a peripheral edge part of the conductive film. The antenna conductor may include a loop-shaped antenna element which electrodes serve as a feeding point, and projections of the electrodes onto a glass plate are located at positions not overlapping the conductive film, and a projection of the loop-shaped antenna element onto the glass plate forms a crossover part that crosses the slot.
US09118113B2 Phased antenna arrays using a single phase shifter
Techniques for the design of low cost, low complexity phased arrays are described. The techniques allow control of the phase progression in the entire phased array by using only one phase shifter for a bank of arrays. In some examples, the phased array includes directional couplers, amplifying stages, power combiners and a phase shifter. The phase shifter may be of various kinds, including simple and compact phase shifters formed of varactor diodes and inductors or transmission lines.
US09118110B2 Communication device and antenna element therein
A communication device including an antenna element, a ground element and a battery element is provided. The ground element has a short edge as a first edge and a long edge as a second edge. The antenna element is close to the first edge or at a dented section of the first edge. There is a notch in the ground element, and an open edge of the notch is at the second edge. The length of the notch is at least 0.3 times the maximum length of the ground element, and the width of the notch is at least 0.4 times the maximum width of the ground element.
US09118101B2 Signal path for a small signal occurring in a magnetic resonance system
A signal path for a small signal oscillating at a frequency of at least 20 GHz occurring in a magnetic resonance system has a signal source generating the small signal and a signal sink processing the small signal. The small signal is transmitted on a path from the signal source to the signal sink at least in a part section via a cable. The part section of the signal path, in which the small signal is transmitted via the cable, is embodied at least partly as a dielectric waveguide. The dielectric waveguide is disposed at least partly within an examination volume of the magnetic resonance system. The dielectric waveguide is delimited on a source side by a source-side mode converter and on a sink side, by a sink-side mode converter. The small signal is supplied to the source-side mode converter via a source-side electrical conductor and injected by the sink-side mode converter into a sink-side electrical conductor.
US09118099B2 Balun circuit using a defected ground structure
Disclosed is a balun circuit using defected ground structure. The balun circuit using a defected ground structure includes: a substrate; a ground surface formed on one surface of the substrate, the ground surface being formed with defect structure in a previously set shape; and two transmission lines formed on the other surface of the substrate opposing the ground surface, and separated from each other, and the defect structure of the ground surface is configured to have open circuit impedance characteristics, and one of the two transmission lines is grounded. An even mode signal is removed by using the defect ground structure having the open circuit impedance characteristics, and termination of total reflection characteristics is performed by using the grounding of one of the transmission lines. Accordingly, a balun circuit can be obtained which is small in size, has little loss at high frequency, and shows little change in characteristics due to the process error.
US09118098B2 Coaxial waveguide converter and ridge waveguide
Provided is a coaxial waveguide converter and a ridge waveguide that are insusceptible to manufacturing variances over a broad bandwidth. The coaxial waveguide converter includes a ridge waveguide (10) including a ridge (11) and a coaxial line (20). A projection (12) projecting toward a side of a waveguide space (13) is provided in the ridge (11), an amount of projection of the projection (12) decreases gradually from an end surface of the ridge waveguide (10) on a side of the coaxial line along a waveguide direction and an inner conductor (21) of the coaxial line (20) is inserted in the through-hole (14) at a position displaced from a center of the ridge waveguide (10) in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the projection (12) projects in the end surface of the ridge waveguide (10) on the side of the coaxial line.
US09118094B2 Battery pack structure for electric vehicles
In a battery pack structure for electric vehicles that battery modules and a controller for battery management are mounted in a battery-pack-case internal space, a first one of clearances, ensured when the battery modules are mounted in the case internal space, which first clearance extends in a first direction, is configured as a first temperature-adjustment air passage, and the second clearance, located downstream of the first temperature-adjustment air passage and extending in a second direction different from the first direction, is configured as a second temperature-adjustment air passage. The controller is arranged at a position facing the second temperature-adjustment air passage. A harness for connecting between each detection line terminal from the battery modules and the controller, and one end of the harness, which harness end is configured as harness terminals connected to the respective detection line terminals, are wired along and arranged in the second temperature-adjustment air passage.
US09118091B2 Secondary battery
A battery may include a short circuit member connected to a terminal having a first polarity and a deformable conductive member having a second polarity, the deformable conductive member being insulated from the short circuit member, the deformable conductive member being configured to contact the short circuit member when a voltage applied thereto exceeds a predetermined voltage.
US09118089B2 Metal-air cell with ion exchange material
Embodiments of the invention are related to anion exchange membranes used in electrochemical metal-air cells in which the membranes function as the electrolyte material, or are used in conjunction with electrolytes such as ionic liquid electrolytes.
US09118088B2 Electrolyte solution and lithium ion secondary battery using the same
The present invention provides an electrolyte solution and a lithium ion secondary battery which maintain for a long period high battery characteristics represented by the discharge capacity retention rate after the charge/discharge cycle, and simultaneously achieve also the high safety represented by the flame retardation. The present invention provides an electrolyte solution containing a nonaqueous solvent, an electrolyte, a specific compound having a perfluoroalkyl group in the molecule, and an additive having a fluorine atom and/or a phosphorus atom in the molecule.
US09118085B2 Lithium secondary battery and use of same
A lithium secondary battery provided by the present invention includes an electrode body (80) having a structure in which a positive electrode (10) and a negative electrode (20) are laminated, with a separator (30) interposed therebetween, and a porous insulating layer (40) obtained by filling and molding insulating particles is formed on the surface of at least one of the positive electrode (10) and the negative electrode (20) on the side facing the separator (30), wherein insulating particles having a tap density of 0.4 g/cm3 to 0.9 g/cm3 are used as the insulating particles that compose the porous insulating layer (40), and moreover a pressure (90) that is applied in the direction of the lamination to the electrode body (80) is set to a range of 4 kgf/cm2 to 50 kgf/cm2.
US09118084B2 Electrode for secondary battery, preparation thereof, and secondary battery and cable-type secondary battery comprising the same
A sheet-form electrode for a secondary battery includes a current collector; an electrode active material layer formed on one surface of the current collector; a porous organic-inorganic layer formed on the electrode active material layer and including inorganic particles and a polymer binder; and a first porous supporting layer formed on the porous organic-inorganic layer. The sheet-form electrode for a secondary battery has supporting layers on at least one surface thereof to exhibit surprisingly improved flexibility and prevent the release of the electrode active material layer from a current collector even if intense external forces are applied to the electrode, thereby preventing the decrease of battery capacity and improving the cycle life characteristic of the battery.
US09118075B2 Cathode active material for lithium secondary battery
Disclosed herein is a cathode active material based on lithium nickel-manganese-cobalt oxide represented by Formula 1, wherein the lithium nickel-manganese-cobalt oxide has nickel content of at least 40% among overall transition metals and is coated with an ion-conductive solid compound at a surface thereof. A lithium secondary battery having the disclosed cathode active material has advantages of not deteriorating electrical conductivity while maintaining high temperature stability, so as to efficiently provide high charge capacity.
US09118073B2 Fade-resistant high capacity electrodes for a lithium-ion battery
The gravimetric and volumetric efficiency of lithium ion batteries may be increased if higher capacity materials like tin and silicon are substituted for carbon as the lithium-accepting host in the negative electrode of the battery. But both tin and silicon, when fully charged with lithium, undergo expansions of up to 300% and generate appreciable internal stresses. These internal stresses, which will develop on each discharge-charge cycle, may lead to a progressive reduction in battery capacity, also known as battery fade. The effects of the internal stresses may be significantly reduced by partially embedding tin or silicon nanowires in the current collector. Additional benefit may be obtained if a 5 to 50% portion of the nanowire length at its embedded end are coated or masked with a composition which impedes lithium diffusion. Methods for embedding and masking the nanowires are described.
US09118059B2 Battery attachable/detachable electronic equipment
The electronic equipment disclosed in the present application realizes a battery attachment/detachment mechanism with the reduced number of components, by biasing a slide lever 11 to a protrusion position by a biasing force of a switch lever 13a of a switch 13. More specifically, in the electronic equipment disclosed in the present application, it is unnecessary to provide biasing means for biasing the slide lever 11 to the protrusion position in addition to the switch 13, the number of components is reduced as compared with the configuration provided with biasing means in addition to the switch. By reducing the number of components, the cost is reduced and the assembly time in assembling notebook computers is reduced, thereby improving workability in the assembly.
US09118057B2 Battery pack attached to a cable
An article comprising: (i) a handheld device including (a) a housing, (b) a powered element within the housing: (ii) a battery pack, wherein the handheld device is connected by an external cable to a functional system, wherein the battery pack is attached to the external cable, and wherein the battery pack supplies power to the powered element.
US09118056B2 Electrolyte membrane for fuel cell, method of manufacturing the electrolyte membrane, membrane-electrode assembly for fuel cell including the electrolyte membrane, and fuel cell including the membrane-electrode assembly
An electrolyte membrane for fuel cells, the electrolyte membrane including a polymer film and a polymerization product of a composition comprising i) a plurality of inorganic particles surface-treated with a surface treatment agent including the polymerizable double bonds and ii) a polymerizable acid monomer, wherein the inorganic particles and the polymerizable acid monomer are impregnated within the polymer film.
US09118055B2 Battery pack
A battery pack that has end plates and side plates so as to define an opening. The end plates and side plates are interconnected to inhibit swelling of the batteries in direction of the end plates. The battery pack includes a top plate that is interconnected to the side plates so as to maintain an interval between the side plates to inhibit swelling of the batteries in the direction of the side plates.
US09118052B2 Integrated natural gas powered SOFC systems
The present invention discloses an integrated SOFC system powered by natural gas. Specifically, a SOFC-O cell is combined with a SOFC-H cell so as to take advantage of the high operating temperature and steam reforming capabilities of the SOFC-O cell as well as the higher fuel conversion efficiency of the SOFC-H cell.
US09118044B2 Method for manufacturing manifold for fuel cell
A method for manufacturing a manifold for a fuel cell with a multilayer structure by injection-molding individual manifolds, each having welding projections and welding guides, and bonding the injection-molded individual manifolds by vibration welding includes arranging welding projections of an upper individual manifold and welding guides of a lower individual manifold to be engaged with each other while maintaining a uniform gap between each other to bond a plurality of individual manifolds in an up and down stacking structure, pressing the lower individual manifold upward, and applying vibration to the upper individual manifold in the left and right direction, thus bonding the upper and lower individual manifolds. Among the welding projections of the upper individual manifold, a non-horizontal welding projection whose longitudinal direction does not coincide with the vibration direction of the individual manifold has a variable height.
US09118036B2 Organic light emitting device and method of manufacturing the same
Disclosed is an organic light emitting device and a method of manufacturing the same, wherein the organic light emitting device is decreased in its thickness, and also decreased in its radius of curvature so as to realize the flexible device, and the organic light emitting device comprising a first component including a first plurality of layers, the first plurality of layers including a thin film transistor layer deposited on a surface of a first substrate, an emitting component layer deposited on the thin film transistor layer, and a passivation layer deposited on the emitting component layer; a second component including a second plurality of layers that are deposited on a surface of a second substrate without using an adhesive; and an adhesion layer between the first component and the second component, the adhesion layer coupling together the first component and the second component.
US09118031B2 Organic light-emitting device, coating liquid for forming organic light-emitting device, material for forming organic light-emitting device, light source device using organic light-emitting device, and organic light-emitting device producing method
An organic light-emitting device includes a lower electrode, an upper electrode, and an organic layer disposed between the lower electrode and the upper electrode, the organic layer including a charge transport layer and a mixed layer in contact with the charge transport layer, the mixed layer including a host, a first dopant, and a charge transporting material, the first dopant including a first functional group, the charge transporting material including a second functional group, the first dopant being drawn to a charge transport layer contact surface where the mixed layer is in contact with the charge transport layer, and the charge transporting material being drawn to the mixed layer surface other than the charge transport layer contact surface. With the present invention, the concentrations of the molecules contained in the mixed layer of the light-emitting layer and the charge transport layer can be easily controlled.
US09118029B2 Organic light emitting display and method of manufacturing the same
An organic light emitting display includes a substrate, a first electrode disposed on the substrate, a pixel definition layer disposed on the substrate to partition a pixel area, a first common layer disposed on the first electrode, a protrusion pattern that includes a plurality of protrusions disposed on the first common layer and spaced apart from each other, a light emitting layer disposed on the first common layer in the pixel area, and a second electrode disposed on the light emitting layer.
US09118028B2 Organic electroluminescent device
Provided is an organic electroluminescent device (organic EL device) that is improved in luminous efficiency, sufficiently secures driving stability, and has a simple configuration. The device comprises a plurality of organic layers between an anode and a cathode piled one upon another on a substrate wherein at least one of the organic layers contains a nitrogen-containing organic compound represented by the following formula (1). In formula (1), X is N-A, an oxygen atom, or a sulfur atom; A is an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an aromatic hydrocarbon group, or an aromatic heterocyclic group; and R is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an aromatic hydrocarbon group, or an aromatic heterocyclic group.
US09118010B2 Variable resistance memory device and method of fabricating the same
According to an example embodiment, a variable resistance memory device includes a lower electrode that includes a spacer-shaped first sub lower electrode and a second sub lower electrode covering a curved sidewall of the first sub lower electrode. The second sub lower electrode extends upward to protrude above the top of the first sub lower electrode. The lower electrode includes an upward-tapered shape.
US09118006B1 Carbon-chalcogenide variable resistance memory device
A variable resistance memory device that includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a first chalcogenide material layer between the first and second electrodes, the chalcogenide layer including carbon incorporated into germanium selenide chalcogenide glass. The variable resistance memory device may include a second chalcogenide material layer between the first chalcogenide material layer and the second electrode. The variable resistance memory device may include a first metallic layer between the second chalcogenide material layer and the second electrode. The variable resistance memory device may include a third chalcogenide material layer between the first metallic layer and the second electrode. The variable resistance memory device may include a fourth chalcogenide material layer between the first chalcogenide material layer and the first electrode. The first chalcogenide layer may be formed by co-sputtering carbon with Ge40Se60.
US09118001B2 Techniques for treating sidewalls of patterned structures using angled ion treatment
In one embodiment a method of method of treating a sidewall layer of a patterned feature includes providing the patterned feature as an etched structure comprising one or more layers disposed on a substrate and generally parallel to a plane of the substrate defined by a front surface of the substrate. The sidewall layer comprises material from the one or more etched layers. The method further includes arranging the substrate proximate a sheath modifier that is adjacent a plasma, and providing ions in an ion dose to the substrate by extracting the ions from the plasma through the sheath modifier, the ions impinging upon the substrate at an angle with respect to a perpendicular to the plane of the substrate.
US09117996B2 Piezoelectric vibrator, oscillator, electronic apparatus and radio timepiece
A piezoelectric vibrator including a package having a base member, a lid member forming a cavity with respect to the base member, and a piezoelectric vibrating piece mounted on a mount surface and housed inside the cavity, in which the piezoelectric vibrating piece has a pair of vibrating arm portions and a base portion cantilever-supporting base end portions of the pair of vibrating arm portions and being mounted on the mount surface, a concave portion for avoiding contact with respect to tip portions when the vibrating arm portions are displaced in a thickness direction is formed on the mount surface, contact portions contacted by main surfaces of the vibrating arm portions facing the mount surface, and clearance portions for avoiding contact with at least one edge-line portion of two edge-line portions where the main surface intersects with two side surfaces.
US09117983B2 Two terminal packaging
A solution for packaging a two terminal device, such as a light emitting diode, is provided. In one embodiment, a method of packaging a two terminal device includes: patterning a metal sheet to include a plurality of openings; bonding at least one two terminal device to the metal sheet, wherein a first opening corresponds to a distance between a first contact and a second contact of the at least one two terminal device; and cutting the metal sheet around each of the least one two terminal device, wherein the metal sheet forms a first electrode to the first contact and a second electrode to the second contact.
US09117977B2 Light emitting device, display apparatus, and illuminating apparatus
A light emitting device includes an excitation light source element that emits excitation light; a substrate that faces the excitation light source element; a fluorescent layer located on the substrate, the fluorescent layer being excited by the excitation light to emit fluorescence; an optical reflection body disposed on a side surface of the fluorescent layer, the side surface extending in a direction parallel to a stacking direction of the substrate and the fluorescent layer; and a low-refractive-index material layer disposed between the fluorescent layer and the substrate, the low-refractive-index material layer having a refractive index lower than that of the substrate.
US09117968B2 Light-emitting diode structure
A light-emitting diode structure includes an AuSn or AuIn-containing bonding layer over a substrate, a metal layer disposed over the bonding layer, a p-type doped gallium nitride (p-GaN) layer disposed over the metal layer, a n-type doped gallium nitride (n-GaN) layer approximate the p-GaN layer, a multiple quantum well structure disposed between the n-GaN and p-GaN layers, and a conductive contact disposed on the n-GaN layer. The n-GaN layer includes a rough surface with randomly distributed dips. The nano-sized dips have diameters distributed between about 100 nm and about 600 nm, have a dip density ranging from about 107 grains/cm2 to about 109 grains/cm2, and are spaced from each other with an average spacing S, average diameter D, and a ratio S/D that ranges between about 1.1 and about 1.5. The conductive contact is disposed on some of the nano-sized dips of the rough surface.
US09117963B2 Solar cell
A solar cell includes a photoelectric conversion layer and a front electrode on the photoelectric conversion layer. The front electrode includes a bus bar electrode; at least one first finger electrode directly connected to the bus bar electrode; a plurality of connecting electrodes extending from the bus bar electrode and having a width smaller than a width of the bus bar electrode, wherein the plurality of connecting electrodes includes portions that are spaced apart from each other to form a space therebetween; at least one second finger electrode connected to at least one of the plurality of connecting electrodes; and an auxiliary electrode formed at the space between the portions of the plurality of connecting electrodes.
US09117950B1 Nanoplasmonic cavity arrays for photovaltaic applications
Nanoplasmonic cavities for photovoltaic applications include at least one transparent conductive substrate. A first plasmonic electrically conductive nanostructure layer is associated with the transparent conductive substrate. At least one photoabsorber layer is associated with the first plasmonic electrically conductive nanostructure layer. At least one electron transfer layer is associated with the photoabsorber layer. A second plasmonic electrically conductive nanostructure layer is associated with the electron transfer layer. Multiple nanoplasmonic cavities can be electrically connected to provide greater photovoltaic efficiency.
US09117948B1 Selenium interlayer for high-efficiency multijunction solar cell
A multi junction solar cell is provided and includes multiple semiconducting layers and an interface layer disposed between the multiple semiconducting layers. The interface layer is made from an interface bonding material that has a refractive index such that a ratio of a refractive index of each of the multiple semiconducting layers to the refractive index of the interface bonding material is less than or equal to 1.5.
US09117933B2 Capacitive pressure sensing semiconductor device
A capacitive pressure sensing semiconductor device is provided, which has pressure resistance against pressure applied by a pressing member and can detect the pressure surely and efficiently. The pressure sensing semiconductor device includes a pressure detecting part, which detects pressure as a change in capacitance, and a package that receives the pressure detecting part within. The pressure detecting part includes a first electrode and a second electrode disposed to oppose the first electrode, with a determined distance therebetween. Capacitance is formed between the first electrode and the second electrode, and changes according to a change in said distance caused by pressure transmitted to the first electrode by a pressing member. The package also includes a pressure transmitting member that transmits, to the first electrode of the pressure detecting part, the pressure applied by the pressing member.
US09117928B2 Cross-point diode arrays and methods of manufacturing cross-point diode arrays
Methods of forming an array of memory cells and memory cells that have pillars. Individual pillars can have a semiconductor post formed of a bulk semiconductor material and a sacrificial cap on the semiconductor post. Source regions can be between columns of the pillars, and gate lines extend along a column of pillars and are spaced apart from corresponding source regions. Each gate line surrounds a portion of the semiconductor posts along a column of pillars. The sacrificial cap structure can be selectively removed to thereby form self-aligned openings that expose a top portion of corresponding semiconductor posts. Individual drain contacts formed in the self-aligned openings are electrically connected to corresponding semiconductor posts.
US09117922B2 Thin film transistor, thin film transistor substrate and method of manufacturing thin film transistor substrate
A thin film transistor includes a gate electrode, a channel layer, a source electrode, and a drain electrode. The channel layer is made of an amorphous oxide semiconductor. The channel layer includes one high oxygen ion concentration region, or two high oxygen ion concentration regions one above the other. An oxygen ion density of each high oxygen ion concentration region is in a range of from about 1×1018 to about 1×1021 per cubic centimeter. A thin film transistor substrate and a method of manufacturing the thin film transistor substrate are also provided.
US09117920B2 Method for manufacturing semiconductor device using oxide semiconductor
Stable electrical characteristics and high reliability are provided to a semiconductor device including an oxide semiconductor. In a process of manufacturing a transistor including an oxide semiconductor film, an amorphous oxide semiconductor film is formed, and oxygen is added to the amorphous oxide semiconductor film, so that an amorphous oxide semiconductor film containing excess oxygen is formed. Then, an aluminum oxide film is formed over the amorphous oxide semiconductor film, and heat treatment is performed thereon to crystallize at least part of the amorphous oxide semiconductor film, so that a crystalline oxide semiconductor film is formed.
US09117915B2 Thin film transistor, pixel structure and method for fabricating the same
A thin film transistor (TFT) that includes a gate, an oxide semiconductor layer, a gate insulator, a source, and a drain is provided. The gate insulator is located between the oxide semiconductor layer and the gate. The source and the drain are in contact with different portions of the oxide semiconductor layer. Each of the source and the drain has a ladder-shaped sidewall that is partially covered by the oxide semiconductor layer. A method for fabricating the above-mentioned TFT is also provided.
US09117907B2 Semiconductor device
A fabrication process of a semiconductor device is disclosed. The method includes providing a semiconductor substrate with a first insulation layer formed on the semiconductor substrate and a fin formed on the surface of the first insulation layer, and forming a fully-depleted semiconductor layer on sidewalls of the fin, and the fully-depleted semiconductor layer having a material different from that of the fin. The method also includes forming a second insulation layer covering the fully-depleted semiconductor layer, and removing the fin to form an opening exposing sidewalls of the fully-depleted semiconductor layer. Further, the method includes forming a gate dielectric layer on part of the sidewalls of the fully-depleted semiconductor layer such that the part of the sidewalls of the fully-depleted semiconductor layer form channel regions of the semiconductor device, and forming a gate electrode layer covering the gate dielectric layer.
US09117903B2 Semiconductor device
A buried layer of a second conductivity type and a lower layer of a second conductivity type are formed in a drift layer. A boundary insulating film is formed in the boundary between the lateral portion of the buried layer of a second conductivity type and the drift layer. The lower layer of a second conductivity type is in contact with the lower end of the buried layer of a second conductivity type and the lower end of the boundary insulating film. The buried layer of a second conductivity type is electrically connected to a source electrode. A high-concentration layer of a second conductivity type is formed in the surface layer of the buried layer of a second conductivity type.
US09117892B2 Semiconductor wafer with improved current-voltage linearity
There is provided a high-performance compound semiconductor epitaxial wafer that has an improved linearity of the voltage-current characteristic, a producing method thereof, and a judging method thereof. Provided is a semiconductor wafer including a compound semiconductor that produces a two-dimensional carrier gas, a carrier supply semiconductor that supplies a carrier to the compound semiconductor, and a mobility lowering semiconductor that is disposed between the compound semiconductor and the carrier supply semiconductor and that has a mobility lowering factor that makes the mobility of the carrier in the mobility lowering semiconductor lower than the mobility of the carrier in the compound semiconductor.
US09117886B2 Method for fabricating a semiconductor device by forming and removing a dummy gate structure
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device is provided according to one embodiment of the present invention and includes forming an interlayer dielectric on a substrate; forming a trench surrounded by the interlayer dielectric; depositing a dielectric layer and a work function layer on a surface of the trench sequentially and conformally; filling up the trench with a conductive layer; removing an upper portion of the conductive layer inside the trench; forming a protection film on a top surface of the interlayer dielectric and a top surface of the conductive layer through a directional deposition process; removing the dielectric layer exposed from the protection film; and forming a hard mask to cover the protection film.
US09117883B2 Nanotube electronics templated self-assembly
A fabricated substrate has at least one plurality of posts. The plurality is fabricated such that the two posts are located at a predetermined distance from one another. The substrate is exposed to a fluid matrix containing functionalized carbon nanotubes. The functionalized carbon nanotubes preferentially adhere to the plurality of posts rather than the remainder of the substrate. A connection between posts of the at least one plurality of posts is induced by adhering one end of the functionalized nanotube to one post and a second end of the functionalized carbon nanotube to a second post.
US09117882B2 Non-hierarchical metal layers for integrated circuits
An integrated circuit structure includes a semiconductor substrate, and a first metal layer over the semiconductor substrate. The first metal layer has a first minimum pitch. A second metal layer is over the first metal layer. The second metal layer has a second minimum pitch smaller than the first minimum pitch.
US09117881B2 Conductive line system and process
A system and method for providing a conductive line is provided. In an embodiment the conductive line is formed by forming two passivation layers, wherein each passivation layer is independently patterned. Once formed, a seed layer is deposited into the two passivation layers, and a conductive material is deposited to fill and overfill the patterns within the two passivation layers. A planarization process such as a chemical mechanical polish may then be utilized in order to remove excess conductive material and form the conductive lines within the two passivation layers.
US09117855B2 Polarity control for remote plasma
Methods of controlling the polarity of capacitive plasma power applied to a remote plasma are described. Rather than applying a plasma power which involves both a positive and negative voltage swings equally, a capacitive plasma power is applied which favors either positive or negative voltage swings in order to select desirable process attributes. For example, the plasma power may be formed by applying a unipolar oscillating voltage between an electrode and a perforated plate. The unipolar oscillating voltage may have only positive or only negative voltages between the electrode and the perforated plate. The unipolar oscillating voltage may cross electrical ground in some portion of its oscillating voltage.
US09117853B2 Transfer system
For transferring an article to a desired position, even in a lateral transfer, a transfer system (100) allows transfer of an article (3) between a transport vehicle (2), which conveys the article (3) while travelling along a rail (1) provided on a ceiling, and a placement portion provided below the rail, in a lateral transfer manner. The transfer system includes a memory unit (101) and a controller (102). The memory unit stores (i) placement position information indicating a transfer position of the article when a transfer unit is to place the article onto the placement portion, and (ii) holding position information indicating a transfer position of the article when the transfer unit is to hold the article on the placement portion. The controller controls the transfer unit such that, when the transfer unit is to place the article, the article is transferred at a transfer position indicated in the placement position information and, when the transfer unit is to hold the article, the article is transferred to a transfer position indicated in the holding position information.
US09117838B2 Asymmetrically recessed high-power and high-gain ultra-short gate HEMT device
A high-power and high-gain ultra-short gate HEMT device has exceptional gain and an exceptionally high breakdown voltage provided by an increased width asymmetric recess for the gate electrode, by a composite channel layer including a thin indium arsenide layer embedded in the indium gallium arsenide channel layer and by double doping through the use of an additional silicon doping spike. The improved transistor has an exceptional 14 dB gain at 110 GHz and exhibits an exceptionally high 3.5-4 V breakdown voltage, thus to provide high gain, high-power and ultra-high frequency in an ultra-short gate device.
US09117835B2 Highly integrated miniature radio frequency module
A highly integrated miniature RF module includes a dielectric base board with opposing top and bottom metal layers and having interconnects traces, radio frequency (RF) circuits and semiconductor chips at the top metal layer and ground and signal pads at the bottom metal layer. Metalized vias extending through the dielectric material connect the top and bottom layers. A top cover made out of laminate material, such as FR-4, with opposing top and bottom metal layers and having machined compartments and channels, surrounded with arrays of metal plated vias extending through the laminate material, protects the RF circuits and chips and provide the required isolation and wave propagation.
US09117834B2 ESD protection device and method for producing the same
An ESD protection device includes a first discharge electrode and a second discharge electrode arranged to oppose each other, a discharge supporting electrode formed so as to span between the first and second discharge electrodes, and an insulator substrate that retains the first and second discharge electrodes and the discharge supporting electrode. The discharge supporting electrode is constituted by a group of a plurality of metal particles each coated with a semiconductor film containing silicon carbide. This discharge supporting electrode is obtained by firing a semiconductor-metal complex powder in which a semiconductor powder composed of silicon carbide is fixed to surfaces of metal particles. Selection is made so that the relationship between a coating amount Q [wt %] of the semiconductor powder in the semiconductor-metal complex powder and a specific surface area S [m2/g] of the metal powder satisfies Q/S≧8.
US09117832B2 Semiconductor device with physical manipulation detector and corrector
A semiconductor device includes a first SSAD unit and a second SSAD unit. The first SSAD unit has at least one first transistor with a first dielectric layer between a first substrate and a first floating gate. The second SSAD unit has at least one second transistor with a second dielectric layer between a second substrate and a second floating gate. The second dielectric layer is thicker than the first dielectric layer.
US09117831B2 Seal ring structure for integrated circuit chips
A semiconductor device includes a substrate having a circuit region and a seal ring region. The seal ring region surrounds the circuit region. A seal ring structure is disposed over the seal ring region. The seal ring structure has a first portion and a second portion above the first portion. The first portion has a width W1, and the second portion has a width W2. The width W1 is less than the width W2.
US09117828B2 Method of handling a thin wafer
A method of handling a thin wafer includes forming a support structure at the edge of a thinned wafer that is encapsulated by a protection layer. The support structure can be an adhesive layer enclosing the protection layer, a dielectric-filled trench embedded in the thinned wafer and surrounding the protection layer, or a housing affixing the edge of the thinned wafer.
US09117827B1 Making electrical components in handle wafers of integrated circuit packages
A method for making an integrated circuit package includes providing a handle wafer having a first region defining a cavity. A capacitor is formed in the first region. The capacitor has a pair of electrodes, each coupled to one of a pair of conductive pads, at least one of which is disposed on a lower surface of the handle wafer. An interposer having an upper surface with a conductive pad and at least one semiconductor die disposed thereon is also provided. The die has an integrated circuit that is electroconductively coupled to a redistribution layer (RDL) of the interposer. The lower surface of the handle wafer is bonded to the upper surface of the interposer such that the die is disposed below or within the cavity and the electroconductive pad of the handle wafer is bonded to the electroconductive pad of the interposer in a metal-to-metal bond.
US09117815B2 Method of fabricating a packaged semiconductor
A method of fabricating a packaged semiconductor includes forming a conductive frame as an integral piece of conductive material. The frame includes an inner portion and a ring portion encircling the inner portion. The ring portion includes a first ring portion encircling first and second sides of the inner portion, and a first bar portion located on a third side of the inner portion. The method includes mounting a semiconductor die to a first surface of the inner portion of the frame. The die is configured to receive power via the first ring portion. The method includes applying a casing, which covers the die, to the frame. The method includes, after the casing is applied to the frame, removing (i) sections of the frame that connect the inner portion to the ring portion, and (ii) sections of the frame that connect the first ring portion to the first bar portion.
US09117803B2 Method for manufacturing a semiconductor device
In a semiconductor device including a semiconductor element and a wiring substrate on which the semiconductor element is mounted. The wiring substrate includes an insulating substrate and conductive wiring formed in the insulating substrate and electrically connected to the semiconductor element. The conductive wiring includes an underlying layer formed on the insulating substrate, a main conductive layer formed on the underlying layer, and an electrode layer covering side surfaces of the underlying layer and side surfaces and an upper surface of the main conductive layer. The underlying layer includes an adhesion layer being formed in contact with the insulating substrate and containing an alloy of Ti.
US09117796B2 Semiconductor arrangement and formation thereof
A semiconductor arrangement and methods of forming the same are described. A semiconductor arrangement includes a first tier including a first capacitor, a second tier over the first tier, the second tier including a second capacitor, and a first substrate between the first tier and the second tier. The first capacitor is connected to the second capacitor through the substrate. A plurality of tiers are contemplated, such that a total capacitance of the semiconductor arrangement increases based upon interconnection of metal layers of different tiers. Additionally, the semiconductor arrangement has a greater area efficiency as compared to multiple capacitors in parallel.
US09117789B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes at least one arm series circuit. The at least one arm series circuit includes an upper arm, a lower arm, an insulating substrate, a positive terminal, a negative terminal, an upper arm control terminal, a lower arm control terminal, and an insulating member. The lower arm is connected to the upper arm in series. Each of the upper arm and the lower arm includes a switching element and a diode connected in anti-parallel to the switching element. The insulating substrate is disposed on ground. The positive terminal is provided on the insulating substrate. The negative terminal is provided on the insulating substrate. The upper arm control terminal is provided on the insulating substrate. The lower arm control terminal is provided adjacent to the negative terminal on the insulating substrate.
US09117784B2 Light-emitting device and electronic apparatus
A light-emitting device includes: a light-emitting element which is disposed in a display region of a base body and includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a light-emitting functional layer; a first conductor; a first insulating layer which covers the first conductor; a second conductor; and a second insulating layer which covers the second conductor. The second electrode is formed on a surface of the first insulating layer and is electrically connected to the first conductor via a first conduction hole of the first insulating layer, the first conductor is formed on a surface of the second insulating layer and is electrically connected to the second conductor via a second conduction hole of the second insulating layer, and the first conduction hole and the second conduction hole are configured not to overlap each other in a plan view.
US09117779B2 Organic light-emitting display device
An organic light-emitting display device includes a first substrate having transmitting regions and pixel regions separated from each other by the transmitting regions, a plurality of thin film transistors on the first substrate in the pixel regions, a passivation layer covering the plurality of thin film transistors, a plurality of pixel electrodes on the passivation layer and electrically connected to the thin film transistors, the pixel electrodes being in the pixel regions and overlapping the thin film transistors, an opposite electrode in the transmitting regions and the pixel regions, the opposite electrode facing the plurality of pixel electrodes and being configured to transmit light, an organic emission layer interposed between the pixel electrodes and the opposite electrode, and a color filter in corresponding pixel regions.
US09117775B2 Alignment to multiple layers
A method of aligning a new pattern to more than one previously defined pattern during the manufacture of an integrated circuit. A method of aligning a photolighography pattern reticle to a first previously defined pattern in a first direction and also aligning the photolithography pattern reticle to a second previously defined pattern in a second direction. A method of aligning a photolighography pattern reticle to two previously defined patterns in the same direction.
US09117763B1 Quantum dots (QD) for semiconductor integrated circuit
Semiconductor device identification using quantum dot technology. A semiconductor nanocrystal based target is fabricated. A guard ring superjacent the fluorescing surface of the nanocrystal surface is provided to ensure repeatability of spectral mapping and analysis data. A transparent cap on the target may enhance performance. A system for coding a semiconductor device is described. A method is described for fabricating quantum dot targets in a methodology compatible with subsequent semiconductor fabrication process steps.
US09117761B2 Polishing composition and polishing method
A polishing composition contains a water-soluble polymer, a polishing accelerator, and an oxidizing agent. The water-soluble polymer is a polyamide-polyamine polymer having an amine value of 150 mg KOH/1 g·solid or greater.
US09117756B2 Encapsulant with corrosion inhibitor
A packaged electronic device including an electronic device, a conductive structure, and an encapsulant. The encapsulant has chlorides and a negatively-charged corrosion inhibitor for preventing corrosion of the conductive structure.
US09117755B2 Method for fabricating semiconductor device
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming ohmic electrodes on a source region and a drain region of a nitride semiconductor layer, forming a low-resistance layer between an uppermost surface of the nitride semiconductor layer and the ohmic electrodes by annealing the nitride semiconductor layer, removing the ohmic electrodes from at least one of the source region and the drain region after forming the low-resistance layer, and forming at least one of a source electrode and a drain electrode on the low-resistance layer, the at least one of a source electrode and a drain electrode having an edge, a distance between the edge and a gate electrode is longer than a distance between an edge of the low-resistance layer and the gate electrode.
US09117737B2 Molybdenum trioxide-coated hydrogen-terminated diamond surface and uses thereof
A conducting material includes a carbon-based material selected from a diamond or an insulating diamond-like carbon, having a hydrogen-terminated surface and a layer of MoO3 coating the surface. A method for the fabrication of such a material. The conducting material is useful in the fabrication of electronic components, electrodes, sensors, diodes, field effect transistors, and field emission electron sources.
US09117725B2 Pixel structures for optimized x-ray noise performance
There is provided a pixel (100) for an image sensor, wherein the pixel (100) is based on a doped substrate (110) on which a lightly doped epitaxial layer (120) is provided. A photosensitive structure (130) and an isolating reversely biased well (140) are defined in the epitaxial layer, and the photosensitive structure (130) is encapsulated in the reversely biased well (140). Alternatively, or as a complement, the pixel (100) includes isolating wells extending on respective sides of the photosensitive structure (130) throughout the entire or at least a major part of the epitaxial layer to provide isolation from neighboring pixels of the image sensor.
US09117722B1 Image sensor integrated circuit
An integrated circuit (IC) sensor is described. The IC sensor includes a pixel array and IC components. The pixel array has a plurality of pixels, wherein each pixel includes an EMR absorption region including a detector material having a plurality of nanoparticles embedded in a matrix material and exhibiting a nano-plasmonic property. The IC components are arranged to provide amplification of a voltage signal from the EMR absorption region, and to select the voltage signal from the EMR absorption region.
US09117721B1 Reduced thickness and reduced footprint semiconductor packaging
Semiconductor devices and methods for forming semiconductor devices are presented. A device formed of a semiconductor material is configured to mount upon a substrate layer surface having a substrate layer wire attach pad. The device includes a top planar surface with an electrically active region, and a bottom planar surface disposed substantially parallel to the top planar surface. A shelf region is disposed between the top planar surface and the bottom planar surface, and a device wire attach pad in electrical communication with the active region is located on the shelf region.
US09117719B2 Solid-state imaging apparatus, manufacturing method for the same, and electronic apparatus
A solid-state imaging apparatus includes a semiconductor substrate, an upper layer film, and on-chip lenses. On the semiconductor substrate, a plurality of pixels are formed. The upper layer film is laminated on the semiconductor substrate. The on-chip lenses are formed on the upper layer film so as to correspond to the respective pixels. A pupil correction amount of one of the on-chip lenses is changed depending on a distance between a center of a pixel area and the on-chip lens, and depending on a film thickness of the upper layer film at a position of the on-chip lens on the upper layer film.
US09117717B2 Solid-state image pickup device having a multilayer interference filter including an upper laminated structure, a control structure and lower laminated structure
A solid-state image pickup device including a pixel array having a plurality of pixels, each of which includes a photoelectric converting unit and a multilayer interference filter. The multilayer interference filter includes an upper laminated structure, a lower laminated structure, and a control structure. Both the multilayer interference filter in a first pixel and the multilayer interference filter in a second pixel which is more distant from a center of the pixel array than the first pixel are disposed to selectively guide a light having a first color to the photoelectric converting unit. The control structure in the first pixel and the control structure in the second pixel have different configurations from each other in such a manner that a filter characteristic of the multilayer interference filter in the first pixel is equivalent to that of the multilayer interference filter in the second pixel.
US09117716B2 Image sensors including hydrophobic interfaces and methods of fabricating the same
A method of fabricating an image sensor device includes forming an insulating layer on a substrate including a photodiode therein, and forming a wiring structure on the insulating layer. The wiring structure includes at least one wiring layer and at least one insulating interlayer. A cavity is formed extending into the wiring structure over the photodiode to expose a surface of the at least one insulating interlayer. The surface of the at least one insulating interlayer exposed by the cavity is modified to define a hydrophobic surface. Related systems and devices are also discussed.
US09117714B2 Wafer level package and mask for fabricating the same
An exemplary wafer level package comprises a semiconductor wafer with a plurality of semiconductor chips of perfect polygonal shapes thereon. A circuit-free area is defined over the semiconductor wafer to electrically isolate the semiconductor chips. A dam structure is substantially formed over the circuit-free area, wherein a portion of the dam structure formed around an edge of the semiconductor wafer is formed with a plurality via holes therein. A transparent substrate is formed over the semiconductor wafer, defining a plurality of cavities between the semiconductor chips and the transparent substrate, wherein the transparent substrate is supported by the dam structure.
US09117711B2 Solid-state image sensor employing color filters and electronic apparatus
A solid-state image sensor includes pixel units each having a group of pixels forming a polygonal outer shape to cover an entire light receiving plane. The polygonal outer shape has at least six equilateral sides and the group of pixels includes pixels receiving light of at least four different colors.
US09117710B2 Solid-state image pickup device, electronic apparatus using such solid-state image pickup device and method of manufacturing solid-state image pickup device
A back-illuminated type solid-state image pickup device (1041) includes read circuits (Tr1, Tr2) formed on one surface of a semiconductor substrate (1042) to read a signal from a photo-electric conversion element (PD) formed on the semiconductor substrate (1042), in which electric charges (e) generated in a photo-electric conversion region (1052c1) formed under at least one portion of the read circuits (Tr1, Tr2) are collected to an electric charge accumulation region (1052a) formed on one surface side of the semiconductor substrate (1042) of the photo-electric conversion element (PD) by electric field formed within the photo-electric conversion element (PD). Thus, the solid-state image pickup device and the camera are able to make the size of pixel become very small without lowering a saturation electric charge amount (Qs) and sensitivity.
US09117708B2 Thin film transistor and method of manufacturing the same
A thin film transistor includes a substrate, a gate electrode, a buffer layer, a gate insulating layer, an active layer, an etching stop layer, a source electrode and a drain electrode. The gate electrode is formed on the substrate. The buffer layer partially covers both side portions of the gate electrode. The gate insulating layer covers the gate electrode and the buffer layer. The active layer is formed on the gate insulating layer. The etching stop layer is formed on the active layer, and has a first opening and a second opening on the active layer. The source electrode is formed on the etching stop layer, and contacts with the active layer through the first opening. The drain electrode is formed on the etching stop layer, and is contacted with the active layer through the second opening.
US09117703B2 Liquid crystal display device
Provided is a liquid crystal display device, in which: the gate lines include a first gate line and a second gate line for respectively outputting the scanning signals at two different scanning timings for each of scanning lines; and a unit pixel for color display, constituted by three pixels corresponding to a red (R) pixel, a green (G) pixel, and a blue (B) pixel arranged side by side, is formed in a region surrounded by the first gate line, the second gate line, and the drain lines, and the three pixels corresponding to the red (R) pixel, the green (G) pixel, and the blue (B) pixel are arranged in matrix for the each unit pixel.
US09117702B2 Method for manufacturing a double-gate electronic memory cell and associated memory cell
A method of manufacturing a double-gate electronic memory cell is presented. The cell includes a substrate; a first gate structure, with the first gate structure having a lateral flank; a stack including several layers and of which a layer is able to store electrical charges, the stack covering the lateral flank of the first gate structure and a portion of the substrate; and a second gate structure. The second gate structure includes a first portion formed from a first gate material; a second portion formed from a second gate material, with the first gate material able to be etched selectively in relation to the second gate material and with the second gate material able to be etched selectively in relation to the first gate material; a first zone of silicidation extending over the first portion of the second gate structure; and a second zone of silicidation extending over the second portion of the second gate structure.
US09117689B2 Light emitting device and manufacturing method thereof
The light-emitting device has a plurality of light-emitting elements that is mounted on one or more wiring patterns on a substrate. A new light-emitting element that replaces a defective element is mounted on the same wiring pattern on which the defective element is mounted. The defective element or a trace that remains after removal of the defective element is sealed by a same sealing member by which the new light-emitting element is sealed.
US09117679B2 Organic light emitting diode, touch display device and method for fabricating the same
The invention provides an OLED, a touch display device and method for fabricating the same. The OLED comprises: a substrate; a pixel electrode functioning as a first conducting electrode on the substrate; a first signal electrode and a second signal electrode disposed on the same layer as the pixel electrode; an insulating layer overlaying the first signal electrode and the second signal electrode; an EL layer in the same layer as the insulating layer and overlaying the pixel electrode; a second conducting electrode overlaying at least the EL layer; and an encapsulating layer overlaying at least the second conducting electrode.
US09117677B2 Semiconductor integrated circuit having a resistor and method of forming the same
The present application discloses a semiconductor integrated circuit including a substrate having electrical devices formed thereon, a local interconnection layer formed over the substrate, and a global interconnection layer formed over the local interconnection layer. The local interconnection layer has a first set of conductive structures arranged to electrically connect within the individual electrical devices, among one of the electrical devices and its adjacent electrical devices, or vertically between the devices and the global interconnection layer. At least one of the first set of conductive structures is configured to have a resistance value greater than 50 ohms. The global interconnection layer has a second set of conductive structures arranged to electrically interconnect the electrical devices via the first set conductive structures.
US09117671B2 Fabrication of III-nitride semiconductor device and related structures
A method of fabricating a III-nitride power semiconductor device that includes growing a transition layer over a substrate using at least two distinct and different growth methods.
US09117661B2 Method of improving oxide growth rate of selective oxidation processes
A method for selective oxidation of silicon containing materials in a semiconductor device is disclosed and claimed. In one aspect, a rapid thermal processing apparatus is used to selectively oxidize a substrate by in-situ steam generation at high pressure in a hydrogen rich atmosphere. Other materials, such as metals and barrier layers, in the substrate are not oxidized.
US09117657B2 Method for filling recesses using pre-treatment with hydrocarbon-containing gas
A method for filling recesses of a substrate with an insulation film includes: (i) exposing surfaces of the recesses of the substrate to a pre-deposition gas in a reactive state in a reaction space to treat the surfaces with reactive hydrocarbons generated from the pre-deposition gas without filling the recesses; and (ii) depositing a flowable insulation film using a process gas other than the pre-deposition gas on a surface of the substrate to fill the recesses treated in step (i) therewith by plasma reaction. The pre-deposition gas has at least one hydrocarbon unit in its molecule.
US09117649B2 Resistive thin layer heating of fluorescent lamp
Fluorescent lamps, along with their methods of manufacture and use, are provided. The fluorescent lamp can include a discharge tube extending from a first end to a second end; a resistive transparent coating (e.g., a tin oxide thin film layer, such as a fluor-doped tin oxide thin film layer) on the outer surface of the discharge tube; and a pair of electric terminals positioned on the discharge tube such that a first terminal is on the first end and a second terminal is on the second end.
US09117646B2 Method and apparatus for a combined linear ion trap and quadrupole mass filter
An apparatus for a mass spectrometer comprises: a set of four rod electrodes defining an ion occupation volume therebetween having entrance and exit ends, at least one of the rod electrodes having a slot passing therethrough; first and second ion optics disposed adjacent to the entrance and exit ends, respectively; a voltage supply system; and at least one supplemental electrode disposed at least partially within the at least one slot, wherein the voltage supply system is configured so as to supply a radio-frequency (RF) voltage, a direct-current (DC) filtering voltage and an oscillatory dipole resonant ejection voltage across members of the set of rod electrodes and so at to supply a secondary ion-trapping RF voltage and a secondary DC filtering voltage to the at least one supplemental electrode and to supply DC voltages across the rod electrodes and each of the first and second ion optics.
US09117645B2 Planar ion funnel
A planar ion funnel is disclosed that can be used for ion control. In one application, the planar ion funnel can be used for ion control in a mass spectrometer. The planar ion funnel can be formed on a surface of a substantially planar substrate including an orifice. An electrically conductive structure can be formed on a top surface of the substrate that surrounds the orifice. In operation, a power can be applied to the conductive structure that causes an electric field to be generated that draws ions into and through the orifice. In one embodiment, the orifice can be circular and the conductive structure can be a series of nested rings of increasing diameter surrounding the orifice.
US09117643B2 Alkali metal introduction apparatus and alkali metal introduction method
An alkali metal introduction apparatus (1) includes: a dedicated fracture chamber (10) and a vacuum chamber (20); vacuum pumps (60a) and (60b) for evacuating the insides of the dedicated fracture chamber (10) and the vacuum chamber (20); an ampul fracturing section for causing, in the dedicated fracture chamber (10), an alkali metal encapsulated in an ampul (16) to be exposed out of the ampul (16) by deforming the ampul (16); a collision cell (40) configured to allow the ampul (16) to be introduced therein, the collision room (40) being provided inside the vacuum chamber (20); and an ampul introducing section (12) for moving the ampul (16) between an exposure position where the alkali metal encapsulated in the ampul (16) is to be exposed out of the ampul (16) thus deformed and an introduction position where the ampul (16) is to be introduced into the collision cell (40).
US09117639B2 Collision cell
A method of operating a gas-filled collision cell in a mass spectrometer is provided. The collision cell has a longitudinal axis. Ions are caused to enter the collision cell. A trapping field is generated within the collision cell so as to trap the ions within a trapping volume of the collision cell, the trapping volume being defined by the trapping field and extending along the longitudinal axis. Trapped ions are processed in the collision cell and a DC potential gradient is provided, using an electrode arrangement, resulting in a non-zero electric field at all points along the axial length of the trapping volume so as to cause processed ions to exit the collision cell. The electric field along the axial length of the trapping volume has a standard deviation that is no greater than its mean value.
US09117638B2 Intelligent background data acquisition and subtraction
A scan of a separating sample mixture is received from a mass spectrometer at each interval of a plurality of intervals. It is determined at a first interval that a received mass spectrometry scan at the first interval and one or more preceding received mass spectrometry scans include a varying ion signal that represents an ion of a known compound and has an intensity above a threshold level. The mass spectrometer is instructed to perform a dependent scan for the ion at the first interval producing a spectrum for the known compound. A second interval is selected after the first interval where the varying ion signal has an intensity that is not above the threshold level. The mass spectrometer is instructed to perform a dependent scan for the ion at the second interval producing a spectrum for a background.
US09117637B2 Redundant anode sputtering method and assembly
A method is provided for coating a substrate with the aid of a magnetron cathode and two electrodes which are alternately impinged upon by a positive potential and a negative potential. Also disclosed is an assembly for coating a substrate, comprising a vacuum chamber, a magnetron cathode, two electrodes, and a voltage source. A negative potential is generated at a level that is no greater than the level of the cathode potential, thus preventing the electrode that is to be cleaned from being stripped to a greater extent than the same was coated in the previous half-wave. The magnetron cathode and the electrodes are connected to the voltage source via switching elements without being galvanically such that a negative and a positive voltage generated from the voltage source can be alternatively applied to the electrodes, the level of said voltage being no greater than the cathode voltage.
US09117632B2 Charged particle beam writing apparatus and charged particle beam writing method
A charged particle beam writing apparatus includes a map generation unit to generate a map where a parameter concerning a chip is defined for each mesh region obtained by virtually dividing a region including the chip including a plurality of figure patterns into a plurality of mesh regions, an exchange unit to, when performing at least one data processing of reversal and rotation for data of the chip, centering on the center of the chip or the center of the region including the chip, exchange parameters each being the parameter defined for each mesh region in the map, to be corresponding to the position of a figure pattern for which the data processing was performed, and a writing unit to write the figure pattern in the chip for which at least one data processing of reversal and rotation was performed on a target object with a charged particle beam.
US09117625B2 Electrostatic lens and charged particle beam apparatus using the same
To provide an electrostatic lens which improves an irradiation accuracy of an electron beam while satisfying the need for higher throughput. An electrostatic lens according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a substrate which includes an insulating plate in which a plurality of first through holes that allow an electron beam to pass through are formed, a plurality of electrodes that are formed on an inner wall of the plurality of first through holes, and a plurality of wirings that are formed on the insulating plate and are electrically connected to each of the electrodes, wherein the plurality of electrodes are electrically independent from each other.
US09117604B2 Switch mechanism for activating a switch while a display module pivots relative to a host module and portable electronic device therewith
A switch mechanism includes a sliding track disposed inside a host module, and a sliding component. An end of the sliding component is pivotally connected to a display module and the other end of the sliding component is slidably installed inside the sliding track. The sliding component slides in a first direction relative to the sliding track while the display module pivots in a first rotary direction relative to the host module. The switch mechanism further includes an activation component for moving to a first position corresponding to a first switch component to activate a first switch component while the sliding component slides in the first direction.
US09117577B2 Solenoid valve
A solenoid valve with an electromagnetic circuit includes a return plate, a yoke, a coil wound onto a coil carrier. The coil carrier includes an internal thread and comprises a dimensionally and temperature-stable material. A core includes an outer thread. The core is disposed in the coil carrier via a direct interlocking connection. The outer thread of the core is disposed within the internal thread of the coil carrier and is configured to provide adjustment for the core. An armature is configured to be movable and to act at least indirectly on a valve-closing element. The armature is supported in the coil carrier by a supporting device.
US09117563B2 Ultra-cold-matter system with thermally-isolated nested source cell
In a disclosed embodiment, an ultra-cold-matter (UCM) system includes a source cell nested within a hermetically-sealed ultra-high-vacuum (UHV) enclosure. Source particles, e.g., strontium atoms, can be generated within the source cell by heating a non-vapor-phase source material. The source cell is thermally isolated, e.g., by UHV, from the enclosure. Accordingly, heat is retained in the source cell, reducing the amount of heat that must be generated in the source cell to generate the vapor-phase source particles. Particles can exit the source cell to an UHV ultra-cold region where the source particles can be cooled to produce ultra-cold particles thermally isolated from the heat within the source cell.
US09117559B2 Method for portioning high radiation intensity waste
The present invention is directed to a method for portioning high radiation intensity waste and an apparatus thereof. A hanging mechanism hangs both a manual lifting mechanism and a lead shield, wherein the manual lifting mechanism is provided with a net basket hanging chain extending downwards, wherein the net basket hanging chain can be manipulated to be lifted or lowered. The net basket hanging chain is secured to a net basket containing the high radiation intensity waste. The lead shield is arranged under the hanging mechanism and in a path, along which the net basket is lifted or lowered, wherein the lead shield is provided with a space having an opening facing down.
US09117557B2 Radioactive sludge transfer apparatus
Provided is a radioactive sludge transfer apparatus for transferring sludge stored in a sludge storage tank with supernatant solution to a transfer tank including: a transfer body; a stirring apparatus for blasting the supernatant solution to the sludge; a sludge solution transferer for transferring the sludge solution to the transfer tank; an attitude control float; a floating force control ballast tank; and controller for remotely controlling the stifling apparatus, the sludge solution transferer and the floating force control ballast tank.
US09117544B2 Row hammer refresh command
A memory controller issues a targeted refresh command. A specific row of a memory device can be the target of repeated accesses. When the row is accessed repeatedly within a time threshold (also referred to as “hammered” or a “row hammer event”), physically adjacent row (a “victim” row) may experience data corruption. The memory controller receives an indication of a row hammer event, identifies the row associated with the row hammer event, and sends one or more commands to the memory device to cause the memory device to perform a targeted refresh that will refresh the victim row.
US09117522B2 Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device with a write sequence including a setting and removing operation
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device according to an embodiment comprises: a memory cell array including a plurality of memory cells provided one at each of intersections of a plurality of first lines and a plurality of second lines and each storing data by a data storing state of a filament; and a control circuit configured to execute a write sequence that writes data to the memory cell, the write sequence including: a setting operation that applies a setting pulse having a first polarity to the memory cell; and a removing operation that applies a removing pulse having a second polarity opposite to the first polarity to the memory cell; and the control circuit, during execution of the write sequence, is configured to repeatedly execute the setting operation until the memory cell attains a desired data storing state, and then to execute the removing operation.
US09117521B2 Memory cell with volatile and non-volatile storage
The invention concerns a non-volatile memory element comprising: first and second transistors (106, 108) forming an inverter (104) coupled between a first storage node (112) and an output (110) of the memory element; a third transistor (116) coupled between the first storage node (112) and a first supply voltage (GND, VDD) and comprising a control terminal coupled to said output; a first resistance switching element (102) coupled in series with said third transistor and programmed to have one of first and second resistances (Rmin, Rmax) representing a non-volatile data bit; a fourth transistor (118) coupled between said storage node (112) a second supply voltage (VDD, GND); and control circuitry (130) adapted to activate said third transistor at the start of a transfer phase of said non-volatile data bit to said storage node, and to control said fourth transistor to couple said storage node to said second supply voltage during said transfer phase.
US09117516B2 Resistance change memory
According to one embodiment, a memory includes memory cells between first conductive lines and second conductive lines. A control circuit is configured to apply a first potential to a first end of a selected first conductive line connected to the selected memory cell among the first conductive lines and first ends of unselected second conductive lines not connected to the selected memory cell among the second conductive lines, apply a second potential larger than the first potential to a first end of a selected second conductive line connected to the selected memory cell among the second conductive lines, apply third potentials smaller than the second potential to first ends of unselected first conductive lines not connected to the selected memory cell among the first conductive lines respectively, and change values of the third potentials based on an address of the selected first conductive line.
US09117515B2 Programmable metallization cell with two dielectric layers
A programmable metallization device comprises a first electrode and a second electrode, and a first dielectric layer, a second dielectric layer, and an ion-supplying layer in series between the first and second electrodes. In operation, a conductive bridge is formed or destructed in the first dielectric layer to represent a data value. During read, a read bias is applied that is sufficient to cause formation of a transient bridge in the second dielectric layer, and make a conductive path through the cell if the bridge is present in the first dielectric layer. If the bridge is not present in the first dielectric layer during the read, then the conductive path is not formed. Upon removal of the read bias voltage any the conductive bridge formed in the second dielectric layer is destructed while the conductive bridge in the corresponding other first dielectric layer, if any, remains.
US09117511B2 Control circuits for asynchronous circuits
The described embodiments include a computing device with one or more asynchronous circuits and control circuits that control the operation of the asynchronous circuits. In some embodiments, the control circuits are arranged in a hierarchy with a top-level control circuit atop the hierarchy and one or more local control circuits lower in the hierarchy. In these embodiments, the top-level control circuit processes operating information for the one or more asynchronous circuits and/or other functional blocks in the computing device to determine an operating state for the computing device. Based on the operating state, the top-level control circuit communicates commands to the local control circuits to cause the local control circuits to operate in corresponding operating modes. Based on a corresponding operating mode command, each local control circuit sets one or more operating parameters for corresponding asynchronous circuits (and/or one or more other functional blocks).
US09117506B2 Tracking mechanism
In a method, a current value of a memory cell of a tracked circuit is determined. The memory cell is coupled with a data line. A tracking current value of a tracking memory cell of a tracking circuit is determined. The tracking memory cell is coupled with a tracking data line. A current value of a transistor of the tracking circuit is determined, based on a current value of a transistor of the tracked circuit, the current value of the memory cell, and the tracking current value of the tracking memory cell. A signal of the tracked circuit is generated based on a signal of the tracking circuit.
US09117504B2 Volume select for affecting a state of a non-selected memory volume
Apparatuses and methods of operating memory are described. One such method can include receiving a select command at a plurality of memory volumes of a memory device, the select command indicating a targeted memory volume of the plurality of memory volumes. In response to the select command, the method can include selecting the targeted memory volume of the memory volumes and putting at least a portion of a non-selected memory volume of the memory volumes in a particular state based, at least in part, on a previous state of the non-selected memory volume and/or a portion of an address associated with the select command.
US09117502B2 System and method for memory management of unique alpha-numeric order identifiers subjected to hashing and truncation for mapping to limited memory space
An embedded hardware-based risk system is provided that has an apparatus and method for the management of unique alpha-numeric order message identifiers within DDR memory space restrictions. The apparatus provides a new design for assigning orders (CLOrID) to memory and the method thereof specifically with the intention to not impact latency until memory is over 90% full.
US09117501B2 Lookup table and programmable logic device including lookup table
To optimize the arrangement of configuration data stored in a configuration memory. A lookup table includes a memory configured to store configuration data, a plurality of multiplexers each configured to select one signal from a plurality of input signals in accordance with the configuration data supplied from the memory and output the one signal, and an inverter. The plurality of multiplexers are connected in a binary tree with multiple levels. The inverter is provided between one of input terminals of a multiplexer in an uppermost level and an output terminal of a multiplexer in one level lower than the uppermost level. Signal selection is performed in each of the multiplexers so that the multiplexer in the uppermost level outputs, as an output signal, one signal of all input signals of the multiplexers in a lowermost level.
US09117495B2 Global bit line pre-charge circuit that compensates for process, operating voltage, and temperature variations
A memory array includes wordlines, local bitlines, two-terminal memory elements, global bitlines, and local-to-global bitline pass gates and gain stages. The memory elements are formed between the wordlines and local bitlines. Each local bitline is selectively coupled to an associated global bitline, by way of an associated local-to-global bitline pass gate. During a read operation when a memory element of a local bitline is selected to be read, a local-to-global gain stage is configured to amplify a signal on or passing through the local bitline to an amplified signal on or along an associated global bitline. The amplified signal, which in one embodiment is dependent on the resistive state of the selected memory element, is used to rapidly determine the memory state stored by the selected memory element. The global bit line and/or the selected local bit line can be biased to compensate for the Process Voltage Temperature (PVT) variation.
US09117494B2 Sense amplifier circuit and semiconductor memory device
To improve reading accuracy of a sense amplifier circuit and a semiconductor memory device. A sense amplifier circuit includes an N type FET which is a sensing transistor connected between a power supply and a ground via a data line that extends to a memory cell, a resistance element that is connected between a gate of the sensing transistor and the power supply, and a capacitance element that is connected between the gate of the sensing transistor and the ground.
US09117489B1 Data storage device screening heads by verifying defects after defect scan
A data storage device is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk comprising a plurality of tracks. A defect scan of at least one of the tracks is executed, and a log entry is generated when a defect is detected. After the defect scan, a verify operation is executed for at least two of the detected defects. A number of times the verify operation detects a false defect is counted, and whether the head is defective is determined based at least partly on the count.
US09117486B2 Image output apparatus, method of controlling image output apparatus, and program
There is provided an image output apparatus including an image output unit capable of playing in a unit finer than a frame/field unit on a time axis, and a control unit that determines a play amount by performing a predetermined operation on an operation input amount, advances a time indicating a position on the time axis in accordance with the determined play amount, and instructs the image output unit to output an image at the advanced time.
US09117480B1 Device for estimating playback time and handling a cumulative playback time permission
Methods for estimating playback time and handling a cumulative playback time permission are provided. In one embodiment, a file is streamed from a first device to a second device for playback. The amount of data of the file that was streamed to the second device is determined, and a playback time of the file is estimated using a time rate associated with the file and the determined amount of data of the file that was streamed to the second device. If the file is associated with a permission specifying an allowed cumulative playback time of the file, the estimated playback time can be accrued against the allowed cumulative playback time. Other embodiments are disclosed, and each of the embodiments described herein can be used alone or in combination with one another.
US09117475B2 Lubricant composition and use thereof
[Problem] Provided is a novel lubricant composition that is useful as a material of a lubricating layer of a magnetic recording medium.[Means for Resolution] The lubricant composition contains at least one kind of compound represented by the following Formula (1). In the formula, X represents a cyclic group that may be substituted, and Y represents a single bond or a linking group having a valency of 2 or more. Here, at least one of X and Y includes 1 or more polar groups such as a hydroxyl group; Z represents a linking group having a valency of 2 or more and constituted with a carbon atom (C), a fluorine atom (F), and 1 or 2 kinds of arbitrary atoms (here, a hydrogen atom is excluded); n represents a real number of 1 to 10; m represents a real number of 0 to 1; and s and t independently represent a real number of 1 or greater. XYZ—CnF2n+1−mHm]s]t  (1)
US09117473B1 BEMF closed loop control of disk drive actuator during a catastrophic event
A disk drive includes an actuator assembly and a controller. The actuator assembly generally includes an actuator having a velocity and a voice coil motor that has a detectable back electromotive force (BEMF). The actuator assembly is configured to position a read/write head. The controller is coupled to the actuator assembly and is configured to detect a catastrophic event occurring within the disk drive. In response to the detection of the catastrophic event, the controller activates a closed loop controlled slowing of the velocity using the detected BEMF as a control parameter.
US09117469B1 Suspension design with split substrate for improved interference signal immunity
A “split-substrate” design is described for the metal ground layer in the suspension for a slider for use in a disk drive that reduces crosstalk from signals being transmitted on the conductive traces and allows externally induced interference to be shunted away from sensitive traces along selected portions of the suspension. In embodiments of the invention a slit formed in the metal ground layer to provide two parallel ground paths respectively on the left and right sides of the selected portion of the suspension. By positioning interference signal generating traces like writer traces on one side of the slit, that side becomes the noisy ground path leaving the other side as a “quiet” ground path. The shape, positioning and grounding of the split substrate structure can shunt return/ground currents created by external RFI into the noisy leg and thereby shield the quiet leg.
US09117465B2 Non-local spin valve element with three terminals, hard disk head, and magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus
A spin valve element according to an embodiment includes: a nonmagnetic base layer; a first terminal including a first magnetic layer connecting to a portion near one of opposing end faces of the nonmagnetic base layer; a second terminal including a second magnetic layer disposed and connecting to the nonmagnetic base layer so as to be at a distance from the first terminal; a third terminal including a third magnetic layer disposed and connecting to the nonmagnetic base layer so as to be at distances from the first and second terminals, the second terminal and the third terminal connecting to a current source that passes a sense current, and the first terminal and one of the second terminal and the third terminal connecting to a voltage detection unit that detects a voltage.
US09117460B2 Detection of end of utterance in speech recognition system
The present invention relates to speech recognition systems, especially to arranging detection of end-of utterance in such systems. A speech recognizer of the system is configured to determine whether recognition result determined from received speech data is stabilized. The speech recognizer is configured to process values of best state scores and best token scores associated with frames of received speech data for end of utterance detection purposes. Further, the speech recognizer is configured to determine whether end of utterance is detected or not, based on the processing, if the recognition result is stabilized.
US09117450B2 Combining re-speaking, partial agent transcription and ASR for improved accuracy / human guided ASR
A speech transcription system is described for producing a representative transcription text from one or more different audio signals representing one or more different speakers participating in a speech session. A preliminary transcription module develops a preliminary transcription of the speech session using automatic speech recognition having a preliminary recognition accuracy performance. A speech selection module enables user selection of one or more portions of the preliminary transcription to receive higher accuracy transcription processing. A final transcription module is responsive to the user selection for developing a final transcription output for the speech session having a final recognition accuracy performance for the selected one or more portions which is higher than the preliminary recognition accuracy performance.
US09117435B2 Volume amplifying assembly and portable electronic device packing case using the volume amplifying assembly
A portable electronic device packing case includes a packing body and a volume amplifying assembly received in the packing body. The volume amplifying assembly includes a volume amplifying body. The volume amplifying body includes a top wall formed on one end of the volume amplifying body, a side wall connected to the top wall, and a supporting member for supporting a portable electronic device positioned in the volume amplifying body. The top wall defines a plurality of sound holes therein, and the supporting member has a bottom surface defining a plurality of sound transmitting holes. The top wall, the side wall, and the supporting member cooperatively define a sound chamber for sound emitted by the electronic device to resonate therein.
US09117432B2 Apparatus and method for detecting chord
A chord detection apparatus retrieves musical performance data indicative of musical performance played by a user, retrieves musical piece information indicative of a musical piece played by the user, retrieves chord tendency information indicative of degrees of likelihood or unlikelihood of chords appearing in the musical piece, and detects a chord on the basis of the retrieved musical performance data and the retrieved chord tendency information.
US09117430B2 Electric stringed musical instrument and method of designing the same
An electric stringed musical instrument including: a string which vibrates by a performance operation; a body which supports the string via a bridge; a pickup sensor mounted on a portion which vibrates by a vibration of the string, the pickup sensor being configured to detect a vibration having propagated from the string and output an electric signal; and a supporter having a spring structure which supports the bridge with respect to the body to bring a vibration characteristic of the electric stringed musical instrument closer to a vibration characteristic of one acoustic stringed musical instrument.
US09117429B2 Input interface for generating control signals by acoustic gestures
Tone input device having a tone signal input, a tone signal output and a sound classifier connected to the tone signal input for receiving a tone signal incoming at the tone signal input and for analyzing the tone signal for identifying, within the tone signal, one or several tone signal passages corresponding to at least one condition. Further, the tone input device has a command signal generator connected to the sound classifier for generating a command signal allocated to the at least one condition, and a command output for outputting the command signal to a command processing unit. The sound classifier is configured to interrupt an output of the tone signal via the tone signal output for a duration of the one or several tone signal passages, when the at least one condition exists. A related tone generation device has, in particular, a command processing unit for generating a processed tone signal from the incoming tone signal according to a processing regulation determined by the command signal, up to a cancelling command signal. Respective methods and computer programs are also disclosed.
US09117426B2 Using sound-segments in a multi-dimensional ordering to find and act-upon a composition
A method, apparatus and system that enables a user to find and act-upon a sound-containing composition, in a group of compositions. One or more sound-segments, which are intended to prompt a user's memory, may be associated with each composition in a group of compositions. A recognition sound-segment may include a portion of its associated composition, which is more recognizable to users than the beginning part of its associated composition. A recognition-segment may contain one or more highly recognizable portion(s) of a composition. When the user is trying to locate or select a particular composition, the recognition-segments are navigated and played-back to the user, based upon a user-device context/mode. When a user recognizes the desired composition from its recognition-segment, the user may initiate a control action to playback; arrange; and/or act-upon, the composition that is associated with the currently playing recognition-segment.
US09117425B1 Portable stand for music instruments and method of using same
An article for supporting a music instrument such as a conga drum is disclosed. The article is shaped for engagement with a lower rim of the drum and suspending the same at a relatively low height and first selected angle for optimal comfort, efficiency and drum performance, the article shape also being such that, upon positioning the article in an alternative position, and engagement with the lower rim, the drum is suspended at a relatively greater height and second selected angle for optimal comfort, efficiency and drum performance.
US09117422B2 Bagpipe drone reed
A bagpipe reed has a tongue adjustor for biasing the reed tongue to adjust the amount of air consumed by the reed without altering the pitch of the reed. The tongue adjustor exerts pressure on the tongue without penetrating either the tongue or the body of the reed. The tongue adjustor may be carried by a tongue retaining collar.
US09117420B2 Information display device and display driving method
An information displaying device is provided with a display portion that displays an image based on display information and a predetermined driving voltage, a CPU that sets a boost target value of the driving voltage of the display portion, a voltage divider resistance circuit that divides a power supply voltage to generate output candidates of the driving voltage having plural output values, a selector that selects the output values, successively, based on tap selection signals from a lower rank of the output candidates of the driving voltages in the voltage divider resistance circuit to a higher rank thereof and boosts the driving voltage and a slow starter that compares an output value of the driving voltage boosted by the selector with the boost target value set by the CPU, determines whether or not the output value of the driving voltage reaches the boost target value, and drives the display portion at the driving voltage reaching the boost target value based on a determination result thereof. This enables the display portion to start independent of any booster circuit of hardware configuration and enables a circuit scale as a whole to be made smaller.
US09117419B2 Gate driver and liquid crystal display device
The present invention provides a gate driver and liquid crystal display device. The gate driver, for driving scan lines of liquid crystal display device, includes: an input buffer, for receiving clock signal, first frame start pulse signal and second frame start pulse signal; shift register, including n+2 triggers, connected serially from the first trigger to the n+1st trigger, a clock signal input terminal of the n+2nd trigger being connected to the clock signal transmission line, wherein n being a natural number, when the first frame start pulse signal starting, the shift register shifting vertical synchronization signal and outputting n+1 outputs of shift registers based on the clock signal; a voltage level shifter, for shifting the output of the shift register to predefined voltage level and outputting shifted result serially; and an output buffer, for applying output of voltage level shifter to scan lines.
US09117388B2 Light source module and display device including the same
An approach is provided for a light source module and a display device including the same. The light source module includes two first light source packages configured to emit light of a first color, one or more second light source packages disposed between the two first light source packages, and a plurality of third light source packages disposed between the two first light source packages and alternately arranged with the one or more second light source packages. The one or more second light source packages are configured to emit light of the first color and the plurality of third light source packages are configured to emit light of a second color. An intensity of light emitted from each of the one or more second light source packages is approximately twice an intensity of light emitted from each of the two first light source packages.
US09117387B2 Image display apparatus and method for operating the same
An image display apparatus and a method for operating the same are disclosed. The method of operating an image display apparatus includes receiving an input external image, receiving supplementary information indicating the number of external images to be displayed or the number of sub images in the external image to be displayed, rearranging the external image or sub images based on the supplementary information, and displaying the rearranged external images or sub images. Accordingly, it is possible to conveniently detect the number of external images to be displayed or the number of sub images to be displayed.
US09117386B2 Method for driving display panel and display apparatus applying the same
A method for driving a display panel and a display apparatus applying the same are provided. The method includes driving all lines of the display panel in a first scanning section of a section to display one frame, and driving one of an even line and an odd line of the display panel in a second scanning section of the section to display the one frame. Accordingly, a crosstalk phenomenon in the display apparatus is removed and image quality of a 3D stereoscopic image is improved.
US09117381B1 Mountable sign holding apparatus
A mountable sign holding apparatus attaches a sign to a handlebar or a steering wheel of a vehicle to communicate a warning to pedestrians against touching the vehicle. The apparatus includes an elongated tube. A sign is coupled to and extends outwardly from an upper end of the tube. A coupler is attached to a bottom end of the tube and is configured to frictionally engage a steering control of a vehicle and support each of the tube and the sign on the steering control.
US09117379B2 Backlight unit, display using the same and lighting system including the same
Disclosed are a backlight unit, a display using the same and a lighting system including the same. The backlight unit includes a first reflector, a second reflector, at least one light source module disposed between the first reflector and the second reflector, and a bottom cover including a bottom part supporting the second reflector and at least one side wall part inclined and extending from the bottom part.
US09117376B2 System and methods for sensing finger position in digital musical instruments
Embodiments of the invention provide a digital musical instrument. The instrument comprises a fretboard and one or more strings extended over the fretboard. The instrument further includes an electric circuit for generating digital signals based on positions associated with contacts of the strings on the fretboard and a transceiver for transmitting the digital signals to a processing device that generates musical notation based on the digital signals.
US09117371B2 Mobile autonomous surveillance
Various embodiments relate to creating and utilizing a vehicle surveillance network to monitor objects and/or events. Messages may be broadcasted from at least one communication system of a surveillance network which is communicating with one or more vehicles of the surveillance network and received in a vehicle. Instructions may be transmitted to at least one vehicle camera to capture one or more images of objects or events outside of the vehicle in response to receiving the at least one broadcasted message. At least one vehicle camera in each of the vehicles of the surveillance network may capture the images of the object and/or events. Further instructions may include transmitting the captured images from the one or more vehicles to one or more event responders.
US09117369B2 Method for detecting a wheel of a vehicle
A rotating wheel of a vehicle is detected by evaluating the Doppler shift of a measuring beam, which is emitted by a detector unit passed by the vehicle, and is reflected by the wheel and returned in Doppler-shifted form. In a relative position to the wheel, the vehicle comprises an onboard unit, which can establish radio communication with a transceiver having a known location in the detector unit. The direction and distance of the onboard unit from the transceiver are measured on the basis of at least one radio communication between the same. The radiation direction or radiation position of the measuring beam is controlled in accordance with the measured direction and distance and taking into consideration the aforementioned relative position and location.
US09117360B1 Low battery trouble signal delay in smoke detectors
The present invention provides a low battery trouble signal delay circuit for a smoke detector configured for periodically measuring environmental conditions and for producing a fire alarm signal when smoke is detected in the environment. The trouble signal delay circuit has a battery, a comparator configured for receiving a voltage measurement signal from the battery and a reference voltage measurement signal and sending a resulting signal to an activator circuit, at least one activator in the activator circuit that is user activated upon receiving a first input; and at least one low battery trouble signal annunciator connected to the activator circuit and configured for indicating that the voltage measurement signal is below the reference voltage measurement after receiving a signal from the comparator. The activator temporarily disables the low voltage trouble signal when activated for a silencing time period, while maintaining the operation of the fire alarm signal.
US09117357B1 Pendant tracking system
A tracking system for enabling a first user to monitor the proximity of a second user features a parent pendant mounted on a parent pendant necklace. The parent pendant features a parent pendant power supply, a parent pendant microprocessor, a parent pendant global positioning satellite component, a parent pendant receiver, a parent pendant continuity wire located in the parent pendant necklace, and a parent pendant alarm. The system features a child pendant mounted on a child pendant necklace. The child pendant features a child pendant power supply, a child pendant microprocessor, a child pendant global positioning satellite component, a child pendant transmitter, and a child pendant continuity wire located in the child pendant necklace. A distance component is monitored between the parent pendant and the child pendant.
US09117352B2 Electronic device
Provided is an electronic device having a high anti-theft effect with a simple structure. The electronic device includes: a fixed panel; a detachable panel which is attached to or detached from the fixed panel; a first sensor which detects detaching of the detachable panel from the fixed panel; and a second sensor which detects detaching of the detachable panel from the fixed panel. A controller (CPU) restricts some of the plurality of functions when at least one of the first sensor and the second sensor detects that the detachable panel is detached from the fixed panel.
US09117347B2 Method and apparatus for a flexible housing
In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a housing having a substantially rigid portion and a substantially flexible portion. The substantially rigid portion includes a plurality of openings. The substantially flexible portion is at the plurality of openings. The substantially flexible portion is configured to provide haptic feedback, or generate a voltage.
US09117337B2 Performing an automatic fold-out command and assigning player entries in an online card game
A method, computer system, and computer program product to implement an automatic fold-out command in an online card game. The system can automatically assign the player-entry of the player to a new table.
US09117334B2 Gaming system including multiple displays having game symbols with common characteristics
A gaming system and method involving a game having a plurality of symbols. The gaming system displays a play of the game on a first display while displaying a sequence of the symbols on a second display. The gaming system includes one award associated with the play and another award associated with a characteristic in common between a symbol displayed on the first display and a symbol indicated on the second display.
US09117326B2 Apparatus for packaging drinking water
The disclosure concerns a water fountain for in-home delivery of drinkable water, the fountain including a combination of at least: a source, preferably a renewable source, of drinkable water, with a stock of packages, with a filling member for filling at least one package with drinkable water, and a sealing member for sealing individual filled packages before delivery to the consumer.
US09117316B1 Social identity models for automated entity interactions
One or more social interactive goals for an automated entity such as an avatar may be determined during a social interaction between the automated entity and a selected entity such as a human. Identity attributes of identity images from an identity model of the automated entity may be used to determine a set of behavioral actions the automated entity is to take for the determined goals. Paralanguage elements expressed for the automated entity via a user interface may be altered based on the determined set of behavioral actions. The automated entity may refer to a computer implemented automaton that simulates a human in the user interface of an interactive computing environment. By way of example, an avatar cybernetic goal seeking behavior may be implemented in accordance with an identity theory model.
US09117314B2 Information output apparatus, method, and recording medium for displaying information on a video display
The most-frequently-used font size on a Web page acquired from a server unit is determined. The font size is changed so that the font of the most-frequently-used font size (Sdominant) may take a preset optimum font size (Sopt). At the same time, the fonts of the remaining font sizes are changed as much (Sdiff=Sopt−Sdominant) as in the font size changing process.
US09117313B2 Imaging apparatus and image processing method
An imaging apparatus includes a photographing device for acquiring a created image; and a display device for showing a preview image of the created image. The apparatus may have a control device for superimposing a plurality of outlines on the preview image shown on the display device, and subjecting at least one of areas, which are included in the created image and are surrounded by the outlines in the preview image, to an image transformation process. Alternatively, the apparatus has a control device for superimposing an outline, which corresponds to a synthetic target image indicating a target image of transformation, on the preview image shown on the display device, and subjecting an area, which is included in the created image and is surrounded by the outline in the preview image, to an image transformation process performed based on the synthetic target image.
US09117298B2 Image processing device, image processing system and bank management method
An image processing device includes: first to third address registers that store three addresses, respectively, the three addresses indicating three bank regions, respectively; an input image bank managing unit that, when the image processing device receives an image from an imaging device, switches, between the first address register and the second address register, and sets a flag and supplies the address stored in the first address register as an address for writing the received image; an imaging processing unit that performs image processing on the received image; and an image processing bank managing unit that, when the flag is in a set state and the processed image is switched to another image to be processed, switches, between the second address register and the third address register, resets the flag and supplies to the image processing unit the address stored in the third address register.
US09117297B2 Reduced on-chip memory graphics data processing
An electronic device as taught herein offers reduced on-chip memory processing of graphics data, while also offering low memory bandwidth requirements. The electronic device includes a host block with off-chip memory, a graphics processing block with on-chip memory, a display controller, and a graphics display. The off-chip memory stores a frame of graphics data. The graphics processing block processes that frame of graphics data in blocks, or “tiles,” of graphics data. For each tile, the graphics processing block fetches rendering instructions and graphics data corresponding to that tile from the off-chip memory, stores the graphics data in the on-chip memory, and renders pixel values for the tile by processing the graphics data in accordance with the rendering instructions. The graphics processing block then sends the rendered pixel values for the tile directly to the display controller and partially updates the graphics display memory with those rendered pixel values.
US09117296B2 Method for image fusion based on principal component analysis
An image fusion method combines absorption, differential phase contrast and dark-field (scattering) signals obtained with X-ray phase contrast sensitive techniques, such as an arrangement of gratings. The process fuses the absorption and dark-field signals by principal component analysis. Further the differential phase contrast is merged into the PCA fused image to obtain an edge enhancement effect. Due to its general applicability and its simplicity in usage, the proposed process is usable as a standard method for image fusion scheme using phase contrast imaging, in particular on medical scanners (for instance mammography), inspection at industrial production lines, non-destructive testing, and homeland security.
US09117294B2 Analysis of the digital image of the internal surface of a tyre and processing of false measurement points
A method for processing an image of a surface of a tire under inspection is described. A three-dimensional digital image of the surface is captured and, for each point of the captured image, a grey-level value corresponding to an elevation is assigned to the point. Utilizing a first morphological operator that uses a rectangular key element, a closure-type first transformation of the image of the surface is carried out. Utilizing a second morphological operator that uses a rectangular key element, an opening-type second transformation of the surface is carried out. For each point of the image, a grey-level value equal to a minimum value between a grey-level value at that point obtained in a preceding step and a grey-level value at that point is assigned, so as to eliminate false measurement points.
US09117290B2 Apparatus and method for filling hole area of image
Provided is an image processing apparatus and method for filling a hole area in an image. The image processing apparatus may include a candidate pixel setting unit to set a plurality of candidate pixels corresponding to at least one hole pixel in a hole area using neighboring pixels around the hole area, and a pixel value determining unit to determine a pixel value of the hole pixel using the plurality of candidate pixels.
US09117285B2 Centralised interactive graphical application server
A system for processing a plurality of graphical programs on a centralized computer system whereby the images produced by the programs are compressed and transmitted to a plurality of remote processing devices where they are decompressed. Compression assistance data (CAD) is produced by intercepting instructions outputted by the programs and the CAD is then used in the compression step.
US09117282B2 Foreground / background separation in digital images
A method for providing improved foreground/background separation in a digital image of a scene is disclosed. The method comprises providing a first map comprising one or more regions provisionally defined as one of foreground or background within the digital image; and providing a subject profile corresponding to a region of interest of the digital image. The provisionally defined regions are compared with the subject profile to determine if any of the regions intersect with the profile region. The definition of one or more of the regions in the map is changed based on the comparison.
US09117281B2 Surface segmentation from RGB and depth images
Surface segmentation from RGB and depth images is described. In one example, a computer receives an image of a scene. The image has pixels which each have an associated color value and an associated depth value representing a distance between from an image sensor to a surface in the scene. The computer uses the depth values to derive a set of three-dimensional planes present within the scene. A cost function is used to determine whether each pixel belongs to one of the planes, and the image elements are labeled accordingly. The cost function has terms dependent on the depth value of a pixel, and the color values of the pixels and at least one neighboring pixel. In various examples, the planes can be extended until they intersect to determine the extent of the scene, and pixels not belonging to a plane can be labeled as objects on the surfaces.
US09117270B2 Pre-processed information embedding system
Methods and devices are provided for reducing perceptible artifacts in a host content when the host contend is embedded with watermarks. In one method, a first segment of a host content that includes a first logical value is obtained. A second segment of the host content that includes a second logical embedded therein is also obtained. The second logical value is different from the first logical value, and the second segment is adjacent to the first segment of the host content. The host content at a boundary location of the first and the second segments is modified according to a transition function to suppress transitions in the host content at the boundary location caused by the different logical values embedded in the first and the second segments of the host content.
US09117260B2 Methods for determining block averages for film grain simulation
The present invention provides methods for determining block averages in film grain simulation including determining block averages during a display process and determining block averages during a decoding process. The methods of the present invention exhibit different characteristics in terms of memory requirements and computational cost. More specifically, the first method uses no external memory, but requires either extra reads of the blocks, or internal memory in the display pipeline, while the second method requires extra memory bandwidth and extra external memory (e.g., RAM).
US09117257B2 Method to prepare an interventional and/or diagnostic imaging procedure with at least two different medical imaging modalitites
In a method and medical imaging system to prepare an interventional and/or diagnostic imaging procedure to be conducted with at least two different medical imaging modalities of the system, a patient is positioned on a patient support device and the patient support device, together with the patient, are moved into a patient acquisition region of a first medical imaging modality of the system. A first image data set of the patient to be examined is acquired with the first medical imaging modality. The first image data set is automatically evaluated in a data evaluation unit. At least patient parameter is automatically calculated from the evaluated first image data set. At least one compatibility value is automatically calculated depending on the at least one patient parameter and depending on at least one apparatus parameter of at least one additional medical imaging modality in the system. The compatibility value indicates whether the additional modality is compatible with the patient in order to conduct another of the procedures using that additional modality.
US09117249B2 Selectively providing content on a social networking system
News feed stories are ranked so that new stories appear above previously viewed stories for users of a social networking system. Top news stories are selected by the social networking system based on a ranking algorithm that incorporates an analysis of affinities for interests, users, and entities in the social networking system based on user interactions. Other new stories are provided after the top new stories in a chronological order. For each user of the social networking system, a view state is recorded that includes the order of news feed stories provided to users. Based on the view state and received user input, the social networking system may determine whether to provide new news feed stories to a viewing user.
US09117241B2 Input numerical value display device, input numerical value display program, server apparatus for input numerical value display, input numerical value display method, and recording medium which records input numerical display program
An inputter can intuitively understand a numerical value input by himself/herself and the possibility of ignoring an erroneous input can be reduced. Only an Arabic numeral representing the input numerical value is displayed in a first display area. At least one of (i) a character string comprising an Arabic numeral and a character or a character string other than the Arabic numeral and (ii) only a character or a character string other than the Arabic numeral, which represents the input numerical value, is displayed in a second display area.
US09117239B2 Method and system for generating a data grid interface to monitor and recommend relevant products
Techniques for a product search grid are disclosed herein. The method for presenting a grid includes receiving data in association with a plurality of products from one or more merchant websites; presenting a data grid including cells based on the data, wherein each cell of the cells represents a product of the products or a replacement of a product of the products; displaying information regarding the products or the replacements of the products in the cells; and updating the contents of cells of the data grid automatically in real time in response to new data received from the merchant websites.
US09117237B2 System, method, and medium for digital gift card selection
Various of the disclosed embodiments generally contemplate computer-implemented systems and methods for selecting an electronic or virtual gift card from among a plurality of possible gift cards or gift card issuers. Various of the embodiments may match and rank the gift cards according to a gift card recipient's characteristics, and possibly to the electronic or virtual gift card itself. Certain embodiments also contemplate the selection of physical gift cards selection, matching, and ranking aspects of the invention. Various methods for operating a gift card business using certain of the embodiments are also disclosed.
US09117236B1 Establishing communication based on item interest
Interactions between an item and an online shopper may be used to determine interest in an item or a category of items. Once interest has been determined, the online shopper may be presented with an option to initiate communication with other users. This communication may be between a plurality of users including shoppers, owners, experts, item representatives, and so forth. Communication may include text chat, video chat, audio chat, telephone, and so forth. Rewards may be provided to some or all users to encourage communication.
US09117231B2 Ordering method and system for restaurants
A method of ordering menu items for delivery to a station at a premises, such as a table at a restaurant, includes the steps: Launch App; Scan QR code or NFC tag on table; Identify location. The location is identified using the restaurant and table identifier(s) extracted from the QR code. This location is used to identify the correct restaurant menu from the central platform database; Download menu; Add menu items to order; Confirm order; Pay order; Route order. The restaurant identifier is used to determine the appropriate EPOS adaptor based on the EPOS system in use by the specific restaurant; Transmit to restaurant. The correct communication protocol and authentication details are then used in order to route the order to the restaurant EPOS system or printer.
US09117225B2 Apparatuses, methods and systems for transforming user infrastructure requests inputs to infrastructure design product and infrastructure allocation outputs
Systems and methods are disclosed for transforming user infrastructure requests and user purchase requests inputs into infrastructure design product and infrastructure allocation outputs. For example, a user infrastructure request is received and is correlated with pre-defined templates. A structured data file is parsed and sent to an infrastructure provider.
US09117224B2 Self learning method and system to provide an alternate or ancillary product choice in response to a product selection
A system including: a memory element for storing an artificial intelligence program (AIP); an interface element for receiving, from a wireless communications device (WCD), a first portion of an order; and a processor for generating, using the AIP, an offer in response to items or services in the first portion of the order. The interface element is for transmitting the offer to the WCD and receiving, from the WCD, a second portion of the order. The processor is for modifying, using the AIP, the offer in response to items or services in the first and second portions of the order by adding or modifying items, services, or incentives. The interface element is for transmitting the modified offer to the wireless communications network for transmission to the WCD.
US09117222B2 Lottery vending machine
In one embodiment of the invention, an apparatus comprises a lottery vending machine having an input slot configured to receive a lottery ticket, a second input slot configured to receive cash, and an output slot configured to output at least one of a money amount and a lottery ticket. In an embodiment, the apparatus provides a selectable credit option where the lottery vending machine, in response to receiving a winning lottery ticket, is configured to provide one of the following credit options: a money prize, one or more selected lottery tickets, or a combination of one or more lottery ticket(s) and a money amount.
US09117206B2 Apparatus and method for providing transaction history information, account history information, and/or charge-back information
A computer-implemented method, including receiving information regarding an individual and information involving an account involved in a transaction, wherein the information regarding the individual is received by a receiver prior to a processing, a completion, a consummation, or a cancellation, of the transaction, processing the information regarding the individual with a processing device, generating a report or a message in response to the processing of the information regarding the individual, wherein the report or the message contains information regarding a charge-back regarding a previous transaction involving the individual, and transmitting the report or the message to a communication device associated with a merchant, vendor, or provider, of a good, product, or service.
US09117204B2 Method and apparatus for group coordination of calendar events
An approach for managing calendar information received from a plurality of data sources is described. Calendar information associated respectively with a plurality of data sources is retrieved by a calendar management platform. For each of the data sources, metadata specifying a contributor of the corresponding calendar information and for relating distribution of the calendar information is determined. Based on the first and second metadata, a data view for the calendar information is generated.
US09117199B2 Conversation graphical user interface (GUI)
A conversation GUI may include a canvas, a feed section, and a process section. The canvas may present icons associated with documents uploaded by members of a conversation associated with the GUI, the members including a local user of the local computing system and remote users of remote computing systems, the canvas being located in a fixed section of the conversation GUI. The feed section may present messages sent by the local user and by the remote members. The process may be separate from the canvas and the feed section and include at least a first task and a second task associated with a specified process. A computing system may, upon completion of the first task, send a message to the local user indicating that the first task is complete and the second task is to be performed.
US09117192B2 Method for reading machine-readable labels
A structure for holding sample-containing receptacles includes a cover with holes formed therein through which the receptacles can be accessed with a substance transfer mechanism, such as a robotic pipettor. When the transfer mechanism is inserted into and then withdrawn from a receptacle, a string of viscous material may be suspended from the mechanism. A viscous string removal element adjacent each opening engages the string of viscous material and dislodges the string from the mechanism when the mechanism moves in a prescribed path with respect to the removal element. A sample rack configured to hold receptacles and to be inserted into the structure below the cover includes a sample rack having receptacle-receiving pockets, each with a resilient element and a positioning feature for holding receptacles of varying sizes in a predetermined position within the receptacle receiving pocket, and a cover including features for preventing a receptacle from being pulled out of its receptacle-receiving pocket when the transfer mechanism is withdrawn from the receptacle.
US09117185B2 Forestry management system
A method and apparatus of managing a forest. A forestry management system comprises a forestry manager. The forestry manager is configured to receive information about a forest from a group of autonomous vehicles, analyze the information to generate a result about a state of the forest from the information, and coordinate operation of the group of autonomous vehicles using the result.
US09117184B2 Industrial automation interfaces integrated with enterprise manufacturing intelligence (EMI) systems
A visualization system integrated with an enterprise manufacturing intelligence (EMI) system utilizing preconfigured EMI data models, workflow reports and process event notifications to optimize a manufacturing process. The visualization system and the EMI system exchange data and information providing both systems with a broader process view than either system has independently. The visualization system can specifically target information and action requests to different classes of manufacturing personnel such as operators and engineers. Additionally, the visualization system maintains an audit log of all production identities, raw material usage, and requested corrective actions.
US09117181B1 Methods and systems for providing current email addresses and contact information for members within a social network
Methods and systems for providing current email addresses or contact information to members within a social network are described. In one described method, an email program application requests an email address for a member within a social network. Using profile information associated with the member, the email address is provided to the email program application which sent the request. The email address is then entered into the send-to parameter field of an email message. In another described method, contact information associated with a first member of a social can be provided to a second member of the social network. The contact information is provided if the relationship between the first and second members is an authorized relationship. The contact information associated with the first member can be used to update the contact information for the first member in an electronic address book associated with the second member.
US09117167B2 System and method for scalable semantic stream processing
A system for collaborative analysis from different processes on different data sources. The system uses a unique approach to lightweight temporary data structures in order to allow communication of interim results among processes, and construction of semantically appropriate reports. The data structures are generated in near real time and their lightweight nature supports massive scaling, including many diverse streaming inputs.
US09117157B2 Wireless IC device and electromagnetic coupling module
A wireless IC device includes a wireless IC chip, a feeder circuit substrate which is coupled to the wireless IC chip and includes a feeder circuit including an inductance element, and a radiation plate. The inductance element includes a plurality of stacked layers having coil conductors electrically connected, and a coil conductor electrically connected in a middle portion of the inductance element is arranged at an end position in the coil axis direction and faces a coupling portion of the radiation plate.
US09117156B2 RFID device having low-loss barium-based ceramic oxide
An RFID chip is embedded in a device having a body that includes a low-dielectric loss material including at least one of barium stannate, barium cerate, barium tungstate and barium molybdate.
US09117144B2 Performing vocabulary-based visual search using multi-resolution feature descriptors
In general, techniques are described for performing a vocabulary-based visual search using multi-resolution feature descriptors. A device may comprise one or more processors configured to perform the techniques. The one or more processors may to apply a partitioning algorithm to a first subset of target feature descriptors to determine a first classifying data structure to be used when performing a visual search with respect to a query feature descriptor. The one or more processors may then apply the partitioning algorithm to a second subset of the target feature descriptors to determine a second classifying data structure to be used when performing the visual search with respect to the same query feature descriptor.
US09117143B2 System and process for automatically finding objects of a specific color
A computer implemented method, system and computer program product for identifying the Main Colors and the matching colors of a visual object, and then viewing on a mobile device select items comprising the matching colors, such as from a merchant's catalogue. A visual object is analyzed for color content, and the results are stored on a system database located on the device or on a remote server. The color analysis of the objects comprise advanced image processing techniques, such as Main Color extraction using color space transformation comprising HSV, RGB and CYMK to map between pixels in the image. The user can subsequently view a display on their mobile identifying the visual object's Main Colors and at least one Harmonic Color; and then select and view all items (i.e. products in a database) comprising one Harmonic Color, and/or all items of a specific type and Harmonic Color.
US09117142B2 Image-file processing apparatus, program, and image-file processing method
A storage unit stores an image file that includes a plurality of dummy image data items indicating predetermined dummy images and movement specifying data specifying the movement of an image, and a plurality of display image data items indicating images of characters. A controller replaces each dummy image data item in the image file with a display image data item to generate a new image file and causes a display unit of a terminal apparatus to display the image file.
US09117137B2 Visual inspection device, visual inspection method, and computer program
Inputs of a plurality of images constituting a group of images of items regarded as non-defective items are previously accepted and stored, and a defect threshold for detecting a defective portion of an inspection object is set based on the plurality of stored images. A defect amount to be compared with a determination threshold for making a non-defective/defective determination on the inspection object is calculated with respect to each of the plurality of stored images based on the set defective threshold, and whether or not each of the calculated defect amounts is an outlier is tested by use of at least one of a parametric technique and a non-parametric technique. Outlier information for specifying an image whose defect amount has been tested to be the outlier is displayed and outputted.
US09117135B2 Corresponding point searching apparatus
A corresponding point candidate determiner (108) determines whether plural correlation peaks appear, based on a correlation value calculated by a corresponding point determiner (107). In the case where the corresponding point candidate determiner (108) determines that plural correlation peaks appear, the corresponding point determiner (107) calculates a ratio between the correlation values as represented by the correlation peaks, determines one or more corresponding points, based on the calculated ratio, and notifies the determination result to an initial position setter (106). In the case where the corresponding point determiner (107) searches plural corresponding points, the initial position setter (106) sets an initial search position with respect to each of the corresponding points in a reference image of a layer immediately higher than a target layer.
US09117130B2 Information obtaining method and apparatus
Various embodiments provide methods, apparatus, and electronic devices for information obtaining, information management and 2D barcode generation. In an exemplary method implemented by an electronic device, a first two-dimensional (2D) barcode can be obtained. An image transformation can be performed on the first 2D barcode to obtain a virtual 2D barcode. Further, according to validity of the virtual 2D barcode, relationship information of the first 2D barcode can be obtained based on a mapping relationship of the virtual 2D barcode in a database.
US09117127B2 Radio frequency switch and method for controlling the same, and radio frequency identification smart shelf system
A radio frequency identification (RFID) smart shelf system manages a product through communication with an RFID tag that is attached to the product on a shelf, and includes an RFID reader, a plurality of reader antennas, and an RF switch that is connected between the RFID reader and the plurality of reader antennas. The RF switch periodically varies a phase difference between RF signals of a portion of a plurality of output connection ports that set a connection to each of the plurality of reader antennas.
US09117124B2 Driving attention amount determination device, method, and computer program
A driving attention amount determination apparatus includes: an electroencephalogram measurement section for measuring an electroencephalogram signal of a driver; a central stimulation presentation section for presenting a visual stimulation in a central visual field of the driver; a peripheral stimulation presentation section for presenting a visual stimulation in a peripheral visual field of the driver; a threshold setting section for setting a determination threshold for attention amount determination from a distribution of amplitude of an event-related potential in the electroencephalogram signal based on a point of presenting the stimulation in the central visual field as a starting point; and an attention amount determination section for determining an attention amount through a comparison between the determination threshold and an amplitude of an event-related potential in the electroencephalogram signal based on a point of presenting the stimulation in the peripheral visual field as a starting point.
US09117113B2 Silhouette-based pose estimation
Estimating a pose of an articulated 3D object model (4) by a computer is done by •obtaining a sequence of source images (10) and therefrom corresponding source image segments (13) with objects (14) separated from the image background; •matching such a sequence (51) with sequences (52) of reference silhouettes (13′), determining one or more selected sequences of reference silhouettes (13′) forming a best match; •for each of these selected sequences of reference silhouettes (13′), retrieving a reference pose that is associated with one of the reference silhouettes (13′); and •computing an estimate of the pose of the articulated object model (4) from the retrieved reference pose or poses. The result of these steps is an initial pose estimate, which then can be used in further steps, for example, for maintaining local consistency between pose estimates from consecutive frames, and global consistency over a longer sequence of frames.
US09117106B2 Use of three-dimensional top-down views for business analytics
A method of analyzing a depth image in a digital system is provided that includes detecting a foreground object in a depth image, wherein the depth image is a top-down perspective of a scene, and performing data extraction and classification on the foreground object using depth information in the depth image.
US09117096B2 Protection of safety token against malware
Security token for the authentication of access to a self-service terminal, comprising an interface for a connection to the self-service terminal, comprising authentication information, characterized by a second interface that allows a connection of a memory stick the contents of which are made available to the self-service terminal, wherein access to the memory stick is dependent on the authentication information.
US09117089B2 Method and apparatus for controlling access in a social network service
A key-based method for controlling access in a social network service includes: generating a core key and sub keys by segmenting a master key that is unique to a file owner, with the sub keys assigned differently to multiple groups that are divided according to trust level and relationship type; determining the group to which a file requester belongs by using at least one of a friend list of the file requester, a trust level between the file requester and the file owner, and a friend list of the file owner, and distributing a sub key corresponding to the determined group to the file requester, when the file requester requests a key distribution; and determining whether or not access to a file of the file owner is authorized by using the sub key distributed to the file requester and the core key, when the file requester requests the file.
US09117087B2 System and method for creating a secure channel for inter-application communication based on intents
System and method for creating a secure channel for inter-application communication based on the messaging system called Intents in the Android OS are disclosed. In one embodiment, an application for accessing a cloud-based storage platform triggers the broadcast of a custom Intent to all applications on a mobile device to detect an authorized application that is capable of interacting with the application. Once an authorized application is chosen, the application opens a secure channel for communication with the authorized application and passes encrypted data stream to the to the secure channel for access by the authorized application.
US09117084B2 Methods, systems, and computer readable media for measuring detection accuracy of a security device using benign traffic
Methods, systems, and computer readable media for measuring detection accuracy of a security device using benign traffic are disclosed. According to one method, the method occurs at an Internet protocol (IP) traffic simulator having a first communications interface and a second communications interface. The method includes sending, by the first communications interface, a plurality of benign data packets to a security device, wherein the plurality of benign data packets is engineered to be similar to one or more malicious data packets. The method also includes receiving, by the second communications interface, zero or more of the plurality of benign data packets via the security device. The method further includes determining, using statistics associated with the plurality of benign data packets, a detection accuracy metric associated with the security device.
US09117080B2 Process evaluation for malware detection in virtual machines
Described systems and methods allow protecting a computer system from malware, such as viruses and rootkits. An anti-malware component executes within a virtual machine (VM) exposed by a hypervisor executing on the computer system. A memory introspection engine executes outside the virtual machine, at the processor privilege level of the hypervisor, and protects a process executing within the virtual machine by write-protecting a memory page of the respective process. By combining anti-malware components executing inside and outside the respective VM, some embodiments of the present invention may use the abundance of behavioral data that inside-VM components have access to, while protecting the integrity of such components from outside the respective VM.
US09117070B2 Method for adapting and executing a computer program and computer architecture therefore
A computer architecture (100) and a method for adapting and executing (200) a computer program therefore, is provided. A value is computed by processing the instructions comprised in a basic block of the program in accordance with a first mathematical function (208). An instruction comprising an original address is modified, using a second mathematical function (214) taking the value as input, to comprise a modified address. In this manner, a fault attack during execution of the computer program will cause a disturbance of the control flow, thereby making such an attack unlikely to succeed.
US09117067B2 Mobile information terminal and gripping-feature learning method
A mobile information terminal includes a mode acquisition section adapted to acquire the mode of the mobile information terminal; a sample filling section adapted to, when the number of gripping feature samples acquired in a mode is insufficient, fill in lacking gripping feature samples with gripping feature samples acquired in another mode; a gripping-feature sample acquisition section adapted to acquire gripping feature samples; a switch adapted to switch the mobile information terminal between a learning state and an authentication state; a template learning section adapted to learn an authentication template in each mode using the gripping feature samples when the mobile information terminal is in the learning state; an authentication section adapted to compare the learned authentication template with gripping feature samples in each mode to perform authentication; and a locking section adapted to lock some or all of functions of the mobile information terminal when the authentication fails.
US09117063B2 Session manager for secured remote computing
A method for managing a session between a local computing device and a remote computing device, in which a session is established between a local computing device and a remote computing device, a lock session signal is transmitted from the remote computing device to the local computing device, a lock session signal is received at the local computing device, and the session is locked, at the local computing device. Furthermore, the user is prompted for identification information at the remote computing device, and the identification information is transmitted from the remote computing device to the local computing device. Moreover, the identification information is received at the local computing device, the identification information is authenticated at the local computing device, and the session is unlocked, at the local computing device.
US09117059B2 Methods for administering an autonomous rights component, autonomous rights administration systems and devices carrying out the methods
A method for an autonomous rights administration component of a computer system includes recording devices of the computer system, determining unique identifiers for each recorded device, permanently storing the unique identifiers, defining a usage rights contingent and a usage rights requirement and activation of at least one application function on the basis of a comparison of the usage rights contingent with the usage rights requirement.The invention furthermore relates to an autonomous rights administration system and a device for a rights administration of this type.
US09117057B2 Identifying unutilized or underutilized software license
System, method and program product for identifying at least one of a multiplicity of software licenses which are not needed by an entity. Each licenses a same type of software to the entity and includes at least one condition of installation or usage of licensed software. The multiplicity of software licenses are evaluated in a first sequence based on a first order of their respective types of conditions, by determining which installations or usages of the software can be considered licensed by an initial one of the software licenses in a first sequence. Afterwards, a determination is made which installations or usages of the software which could not be considered licensed by the initial software license in the sequence can be considered licensed by a next one of the software licenses in the first sequence. Afterwards, a determination is made if all installations or usages of the licensed software by the entity were considered licensed by prior software licenses in the first sequence and if there is at least one subsequent software license in the first sequence. The multiplicity of software licenses are also evaluated in a second sequence based on a second order of their respective types of conditions, by determining which installations or usages of the software can be considered licensed by an initial one of the software licenses in the second sequence. Afterwards, a determination is made which installations or usages of the software which could not be considered licensed by the initial software license in the first sequence can be considered licensed by a next one of the software licenses in the second sequence. Afterwards, a determination is made if all installations or usages of the licensed software by the entity were considered licensed by prior software licenses in the second sequence and if there is at least one subsequent software license in the second sequence.
US09117051B2 High density field effect transistor design including a broken gate line
A design layout includes a set of active region-level design shapes representing semiconductor active regions, and a set of gate-level design shapes representing gate lines straddling the semiconductor active regions. The set of gate-level design shapes include a sub-resolution assist feature (SRAF) that connects two gate-level design shapes, and is physically manifested as a gap between two gate lines upon printing employing lithographic methods. An edge of a gate line in proximity to a semiconductor active region can be cut employing a cut mask that includes a cut-level design shape that has a protruding tap. The protruding tap allows reliable removal of an end portion of a gate line and prevents disruption of raised source and drain regions by an unwanted residual gate structure.
US09117047B2 Diagnosis device, control method of diagnosis device, and recording medium
A diagnosis device including a storage unit configured to store first circuit configuration information, a circuit unit configured to configure a first plurality of circuits based on the first circuit configuration information and a second plurality of circuits based on second circuit configuration information, and a processor configured to update the first circuit configuration information to the second circuit configuration information and configured to diagnose all circuits newly added by the second circuit configuration information of the second plurality of circuits.
US09117033B2 Method, device, and system for packet transmission on PCIE bus
A method, device, and system for packet transmission on the PCIE bus according to the embodiments of the present invention, a SCSI protocol packet is encapsulated to obtain an encapsulated SCSI protocol packet, and the encapsulated SCSI protocol packet is carried in a PCIE data packet, and then the PCIE data packet carrying the encapsulated SCSI protocol packet is transmitted to the receiver device through the PCIE bus. Thereby, transmission of SCSI protocol packets is implemented on the PCIE bus, and any devices interconnected through the PCIE bus can operate each other through SCSI protocol packets with a high data transmission bandwidth and high processing speed, without requiring a specific physical device or adapter to perform protocol conversion.
US09117032B2 Facilitating routing by selectively aggregating contiguous data units
Aggregation of contiguous data packets, such as contiguous I/O adapter stores, is disclosed. Commensurate with receiving data packets to be written to a memory, multiple contiguous data units of the data packets are aggregated into an aggregated data block. The aggregated data block is validated for writing to memory responsive to either the aggregated data block reaching a size which with inclusion of a next contiguous data unit in the aggregated data block would result in the aggregated data block exceeding a configurable size limit, or a next data unit of the plurality of data units to be written to memory being non-contiguous with the multiple contiguous data units.
US09117022B1 Hierarchical arbitration
Systems and methods for increasing speed and reducing area for arbitration logic in an integrated circuit (IC) are provided. For example, in one embodiment, a method includes arbitrating at least one master request in a first level of arbitration blocks. A second level of arbitration blocks arbitrates at least two arbitration blocks from the first level. A first level of multiplexers multiplex at least one master payload based at least in part upon the arbitration of the first level of arbitration blocks. A second level of multiplexers multiplex at least two signals propagated from the first level of multiplexers.
US09117018B2 Method of debugging software and corresponding computer program product
A method of debugging software for an Integrated Development Environment connected to a target hardware system and to a simulator configured to simulate the target hardware system. The method comprises receiving, by a debugging tool of the Integrated Development Environment, simulator debugging data from the simulator, receiving, by the debugging tool, hardware debugging data from the target hardware system, comparing, by the debugging tool, the hardware debugging data with the simulator debugging data; and indicating, by the debugging tool, the result of comparing the hardware debugging data with the simulator debugging data.
US09117010B2 Automated method of recording contents of medication packages vended from a plurality of vending machines in an electronic record that stores records for a plurality of patients associated with respective vending machines
An automated method is provided for recording contents of medication packages vended from a plurality of vending machines in electronic records, such as an electronic medication administration record (eMAR), that store records for a plurality of patients who are associated with respective vending machines. A vending event causes the electronic record to be populated. The contents of the medication packages vended from the vending machines are recorded in electronic records without communicating patient names or vended medications in the electronic message sent from the vending machines.
US09117007B2 Visualization of streaming real-time data
A system facilitates dynamic data visualizations. The system includes an analysis component that periodically processes one or more incoming data streams to determine a visualization form from a plurality of visualization forms. A visualization component dynamically generates the visualization form based in part on the processing of the incoming data streams.
US09117001B2 Method and system for cross-terminal cloud browsing
A method is provided for cross-terminal cloud browsing on the Internet. The method includes a second terminal obtaining a 2D bar code generated by a first terminal corresponding to a web content currently being presented on a webpage on the first terminal. The 2D bar code includes at least presentation information of the web content. The method also includes the second terminal parsing the 2D bar code to obtain the presentation information of the web content contained in the 2D bar code. Further, the method includes the second terminal establishing a link using the presentation information of the web content to realize cross-terminal presentation of the web content on the second terminal.
US09117000B2 Information retrieval using decoded machine-readable optical codes
A method is disclosed for reading a machine-readable optical code encoding information formed in an image that is presented to a user. The method includes using a processor to receive the image with the machine-readable optical code; using a graphic user interface to visually present the received image on a display; using the graphic user interface to receive a user selection of the machine-readable optical code; using a processor to decode the selected machine-readable optical code; and using the graphic user interface to present information referenced by the decoded information on the display.
US09116996B1 Reverse question answering
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for associating each of a plurality of different terms to documents that contain the term to create first associations; associating each of the associated documents to one or more queries to create second associations, wherein search results for each of the queries include a reference to the associated document; determining a particular query and a particular term are associated with a same document based on the first and second associations; in response to the determination, creating a mapping between the particular query and the particular term when both are associated with the same document; and selecting a respective answer from a plurality of mapped terms for each the mapped queries, wherein the respective answer is selected based on a count the respective answer occurs in documents contained in search results for the mapped queries.
US09116988B2 Temporal metadata track
Methods, data processing systems and machine readable non-transitory storage media are described that can provide, in one embodiment, a non-time based description of types of metadata in a time based metadata track that can be associated with, in time, a time based media track. The description can include a set of keys, or other identifiers, that specify the types of metadata in the metadata track, and the description can also include values describing the structure of each key and values describing how to interpret each key.
US09116986B1 Interactive calendar with an integrated journal
A system and method for integrating a journal associated with a user into a calendar is disclosed. The journal application includes a calendar module, a metadata module, a user preference engine, an action engine, a suggestion engine and a user interface engine. The calendar module receives one or more goals set by the user and creates one or more events in the calendar. The metadata module aggregates one or more types of metadata associated with the user and the one or more events. The user preference engine associates a sharing level with the one or more types of metadata. The action engine executes one or more actions based on the one or more types of metadata. The suggestion engine determines an effect of the one or more actions on the one or more goals set by the user and provides one or more suggestions to the user.
US09116985B2 Computer-implemented systems and methods for taxonomy development
Systems and methods are provided for generating a set of classifiers. A location is determined for each instance of a topic term in a collection of documents. One or more topic term phrases are identified, and one or more sentiment terms within each topic term phrase. Candidate classifiers are identified by parsing words in the one or more topic term phrases, and a colocation matrix is generated. A seed row of the colocation associated with a particular attribute is identified, and distance metrics are determined by comparing each row of the colocation matrix to the seed row. A set of classifiers are generated for the particular attribute, where classifiers in the set of classifiers are selected using the distance metrics.
US09116984B2 Summarization of conversation threads
Automatically summarizing electronic communication conversation threads is provided. Electronic mails, text messages, tasks, questions and answers, meeting requests, calendar items, and the like are processed via a combination of natural language processing and heuristics. For a given conversation thread, for example, an electronic mail thread associated with a given task, a text summary of the thread is generated to highlight the most important text in the thread. The text summary is presented to a user in a visual user interface to allow the user to quickly understand the significance or relevance of the thread.
US09116983B2 Social analytics
A computer-implemented method, comprises extracting a measure from a content article representing a probability that the article relates to a topic, allocating the article to a group of articles relating to at least one topic on the basis of the measure, using a set of social media objects relating to the article to extract a measure representing a sentiment for the article, and aggregating respective measures for the sentiment of articles in the group to provide an aggregate measure.
US09116982B1 Identifying interesting commonalities between entities
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for generating descriptions of relationships between entities. In one aspect, a method includes identifying one or more related entities for a particular entity based at least in part on commonalities between the particular entity and the one or more related entities, sorting the commonalities according to a measure of uniqueness of each of the commonalities, and identifying a subset of the commonalities having a measure of uniqueness above a lower measure of uniqueness threshold. The identified subset of commonalities can include one or more commonalities. One or more commonalities can be selected from the subset of commonalities as indicative of a relationship to the particular entity, and a description of the relationship can be identified based on the selected one or more commonalities.
US09116981B2 Systems and methods for cluster analysis with relational truth
Systems and methods for measuring similarity between a set of clusters and a set of object labels, wherein at least two of the object labels are related, receive a first set of clusters, wherein the first set of clusters was formed by clustering objects in a set of objects into clusters of the first set of clusters according to a clustering procedure; and calculate a similarity index between the first set of clusters and a set of object labels based at least in part on a relationship between two or more object labels in the set of object labels.
US09116980B1 System, method, and computer program for determining a set of categories based on textual input
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for determining a set of categories based on textual input. In use, textual input is identified. Further, a first set of categories is determined based on the textual input. Further still, one or more actions are performed, utilizing the first set of categories.
US09116977B2 Searching information
The present disclosure provides a method and an apparatus of searching information. In one example embodiment, the present techniques obtain a category click rate of a query and a category click rate of published information, calculate a similarity degree between the query and the published information based on the category click rate of the query and the category click rate of the published information, and return the published information as a successful matching result if the calculated similarity degree is higher than a first threshold. The present techniques may ensure the accuracy rate and improve the return rate to provide more return results to a user.
US09116975B2 Systems and user interfaces for dynamic and interactive simultaneous querying of multiple data stores
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a computer system and interactive user interfaces configured to enable efficient and rapid access to multiple different data sources simultaneously, and by an unskilled user. The unskilled user may provide simple and intuitive search terms to the system, and the system may thereby automatically query multiple related data sources of different types and present results to the user. Data sources in the system may be efficiently interrelated with one another by way of a mathematical graph in which nodes represent data sources and/or portions of data sources (for example, database tables), and edges represent relationships among the data sources and/or portions of data sources. For example, edges may indicate relationships between particular rows and/or columns of various tables. The table graph enables a compact and memory efficient storage of relationships among various disparate data sources.
US09116961B2 Information processing device, information processing system and search method
An information processing device includes a memory unit that stores registration data of a search target and error information indicating an error of the registration data in association with each other. The information processing device includes a search unit that searches for registration data from the registration data stored by memory unit, the registration data searched by the search unit being registration data for which a value obtained by subtracting a value of the error information from a value of distance between query data related to a search request and the registration data is within the predetermined neighborhood range.
US09116960B2 Calculation engine with optimized multi-part querying
A database server receives a multi-part query from a remote application server. The multi-part query specifies a calculation scenario defining a data flow model that includes a plurality of calculation nodes that include a main section of nodes and two or more branches of nodes. Each calculation node defines one or more operations to execute on the database server. Thereafter, the database server instantiates the specified calculation scenario and additionally executes the operations defined by the calculation nodes of the main section of the instantiated calculation scenario a single time and executes the operations defined by the calculation nodes of the branches to result in respective responsive data sets corresponding to each branch. The responsive data sets are then provided by the database server to the application server. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described.
US09116948B2 Method and system for semantic search against a document collection
Disclosed in one example is a method for searching. In some examples, the method includes receiving an unstructured search query, parsing the unstructured search query into a plurality of structured search attributes using a search term attribute dictionary, performing a search of a structured database based upon the plurality of structured search attributes to identify a plurality of search results, populating a plurality of form fields of a search form with the plurality of structured search attributes, and displaying the search form in association with the search results.
US09116942B2 Conflict resolution via metadata examination
A computing device detects a synchronization conflict between two versions of a file. In particular, the file may comprise a digital photo. The computing device may characterize a nature of a difference between metadata fields as immutable, mergeable, or subsumable. Core metadata fields may be defined such that a nature of a difference, or conflict, is categorized as immutable. Non-core metadata fields may be defined such that a nature of a difference, or conflict, is characterized as either mergeable or subsumable. A conflict between corresponding mergeable non-core metadata fields may be resolved by merging values of the corresponding non-core metadata fields. A conflict between corresponding subsumable non-core metadata fields may be resolved by replacing a value of a non-core metadata field of an older of the two versions of the file with a value of a corresponding non-core metadata field of a younger of the two versions of the file.
US09116941B2 Reducing digest storage consumption by tracking similarity elements in a data deduplication system
For reducing digests storage consumption in a data deduplication system using a processor device in a computing environment, input data is partitioned into chunks, and the chunks are grouped into chunk sets. Digests are calculated for input data and stored in sets corresponding to the chunk sets. Similarity elements are calculated for the input data and the similarity elements are stored in a similarity search structure. The number of similarity elements associated with a chunk set which are currently contained in the similarity search structure is maintained for each chunk set, and when this number of a specific chunk set becomes lower than a threshold, the digests set associated with that chunk set are removed from the repository.
US09116938B2 Updating index information when adding or removing documents
In several aspects, an electronic device and method index a repository of N documents by W words, by not storing between queries, N*W numbers that are specific to each word i and each document j, normally used to compute a score of relevance to a query, of each document j. Instead, the electronic device and method generate the N*W word-specific -document-specific numbers dynamically at query time, based on a set of W numbers corresponding to the W words, and one or more sets (e.g. x sets) of N numbers corresponding to the N documents. Query-time generation of word-specific-document-specific numbers reduces memory otherwise required, e.g. to store these numbers. Hence, in certain aspects W+xN numbers are maintained between queries, and these numbers are changed incrementally when a new document is added to the set or an existing document is removed. Maintaining W+xN numbers reduces processing otherwise required, to start from scratch.
US09116937B2 Unattended backup system
The invention provides a process for performing automatic backups of a user's data contained in the local drives of at least one computer of a local area network by means of a Residential Gateway, which is in turn connected to a provider's Backup Server. A backup method is thus provided, which enables creating a backup in an automatic way without the need of providing UPnP support.
US09116936B2 Inline learning-based selective deduplication for primary storage systems
A computing device receives a plurality of writes; each write is comprised of chunks of data. The computing device records metrics associated with the deduplication of the chunks of data from the plurality of writes. The computing device generates groups based on associating each group with a portion of a range of the metrics, such that each of the chunks of data are associated with one of the groups, and a similar number of chunks of data are associated with each group. The computing device determines a deduplication affinity for each of the groups based on the chunks of data that are duplicates and at least one metric. The computing device sets a threshold for the deduplication affinity and in response to any of the groups exceeding the threshold, the computing device excluding the chunks of data associated with a group exceeding the threshold, from deduplication.
US09116929B2 Workload priority influenced data temperature
A system and method for managing one or more database systems, wherein the database systems perform database queries to retrieve data stored by the database systems. One or more regulators are used for managing the database systems, wherein the regulators monitor workload priority influenced data temperature in order to allocate resources for the systems. The data temperature is a measure of physical accesses to logical data, and the workload priority is used to further define data temperature, in order to optimize data storage placement and data access decisions.
US09116928B1 Identifying features for media file comparison
Embodiments of the disclosed subject matter construct linear combinations of a set of defined “basic” features for each pair of sample and known media files. The linear combination of those features that give the optimal correlation coefficients (i.e., most-correlated) is then found. The highest correlation coefficients then indicate the “best” features to use in detecting a match of the sample file.
US09116920B2 Image capture and identification system and process
A digital image of the object is captured and the object is recognized from plurality of objects in a database. An information address corresponding to the object is then used to access information and initiate communication pertinent to the object.
US09116915B1 Incremental scan
This disclosure relates to a method, article of manufacture, and apparatus for scanning data. In some embodiments, this includes examining attributes of a first directory, wherein the attributes include at least one from a group comprising a next tentative scan date, a modified time, and a dirty indicator, determining if the dirty indicator has been set, if the dirty has been set, scanning files in the first directory, if the dirty indicator has not been set, determining if the first directory has been modified, if the first directory has not been modified, determining if the next tentative scan date equals to a system date, if the next tentative scan date equals to the system date, scanning the files, if the next tentative scan date does not equal to the system date, examining attributes of a second directory, and if the first directory has been modified, scanning the files.
US09116907B2 System and method for compressing production data stream and filtering compressed data with different criteria
Production data are streamed by a shop floor (a field) of a plant towards a data compression processor inside a MES/ERP server. The data stream is segmented in field data intervals of variable duration, each one carrying a tag composed of initial timespan s°, final timespan e°, and the variation v° undergone by the monitored variable. The processor takes a first incoming tag and calculates a data compression interval of constant duration y which is a function of e°, then it creates a vector [s°, e°, v°, m=v°, n=e°−s°]. Until the incoming tags fall into the current compression interval, subsequent variations v° are summed up and subsequent s° and e° updated, obtaining an updated vector [s, e, v, m, n], otherwise the compression vector is stored in a SQL database and a new compression interval entered.
US09116904B2 File system operation on multi-tiered volume
A file system that operates on an underlying volume that has multiple tiers, each tier including a particular trait set. Upon creating or otherwise identifying a file system namespace (such as a directory or file) that is in a volume or that is to be included within the volume, a storage trait set to be applied corresponding to the file system namespace is identified. Then, the storage trait set is compared against the trait sets for the multiple tiers to identify a tier into which to store the file system namespace. The file system namespace is then caused to be stored within the identified tier. Thus, the file system is provided with a volume that has multiple tiers (each having different trait sets) to choose from in storing files.
US09116902B1 Preferential selection of candidates for delta compression
A computer-implemented method and system for improving efficiency in a delta compression process selects a data chunk to delta compress and generates a sketch for the selected data chunk. A set of candidate data chunks with a matching sketch is searched for. The set of candidate data chunks with at least a minimum degree of similarity is ranked by location status data. Tie-breaking of the set of candidate data chunks is done using a degree of sketch similarity for each candidate and the selected data chunk is delta compressed with a selected candidate data chunk.
US09116900B2 Methods for controlling remote archiving systems
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a unique and novel archiving system that includes two or more network storage systems, each network storage system including removable hard disk drives embedded in removable disk cartridges, referred to simply as removable disk drives. The removable disk drives allow for expandability and replacement such that the archiving system need not be duplicated to add new or more storage capacity. In embodiments, the archiving system accesses, writes, reads, or performs functions on data from one network storage system to another remote network storage system.
US09116899B2 Managing changes to one or more files via linked mapping records
A computer program product includes program code for managing changes to one or more files via a link is associated with the changes that result in an updated version of the one or more files. A changed section determiner determines which sections associated with the one or more files have changed. The changed section operator further determines metadata regarding the nature of the changes to the sections. Based on the metadata a metrics generator generates a first weight associated with each of the changed sections. A mapping record generator generates a mapping record for each of the changed sections. A first mapping record comprises data associated with the first weight. The first mapping record is associated with a particular version of the one or more files and is linked to mapping records associated with other changed sections using the link.
US09116888B1 Customer controlled data privacy protection in public cloud
Data to be submitted to a remote node is selectively protected. In various embodiments, an indication is received to protect a data value that is to be submitted, using a browser, to a remote node. A security key that is associated with the remote node is determined automatically. The data value is selectively encrypted using the security key. The encrypted data value is provided to the browser to be submitted to the remote node.
US09116886B2 Document translation including pre-defined term translator and translation model
A computer-implemented method includes receiving, at a translation server in communication with a network, a request for a translation of text in a source language to a target language. At least a portion of the text is translated at the translation server from the source language to the target language to obtain a translated version of the text in the target language. Translating the text includes determining one or more terms from the text corresponding to a pre-defined term translator, applying the pre-defined term translator to the one or more terms, and translating a set of additional terms from the text from the source language to the target language via a translation model. The method additionally includes providing, via the translation server, the translated version of the text to a web server.
US09116884B2 System and method for converting a message via a posting converter
A system and method for converting a message via a posting converter is provided. At least one incoming message is received from a composition device. Characteristics of the message are determined. The characteristics include a target device to which the message is directed and an application through which the message will be presented. An appropriate template is selected for the message based on at least one of the message characteristics. The message is converted to a different format using the selected template. The converted message is provided for display on the target device.
US09116879B2 Dynamic rule reordering for message classification
Embodiments are directed to generating a customized classification rule execution order and to identifying optimal ordering rules for previously processed data. In an embodiment, a computer system fingerprints a message received via a computer network. The fingerprinting identifies specific characteristics of the message. The computer system compares the message's fingerprint to various stored message fingerprints generated from previously received messages. The comparison determines that the fingerprint does not match the stored fingerprints. The computer system applies classification rules to the message according to a predetermined rule execution order to determine a classification for the message. The computer system then generates a customized classification rule execution order to order those classification rules that optimally identified the message's class at the top of the customized classification rule execution order.
US09116877B2 Psycho-linguistic statistical deception detection from text content
An apparatus and method for determining whether a text is deceptive may comprise analyzing a body of textual content known to be one of text containing true content and text containing deceptive content; identifying psycho-linguistic cues that are indicative of a text being deceptive; statistically analyzing, via a computing device, a given text based upon the psycho-linguistic cues to determine if the text is deceptive. The apparatus and method may further comprise weighting the psycho-linguistic cues and statistically analyzing based on the weighted psycho-linguistic cues. The statistically analyzing step may be performed using one of a cue matching analysis, a weighted cue matching analysis, a Markov chain analysis, and a sequential probability ratio testing binary hypothesis analysis. The psycho-linguistic cues may be separated into categories, including increasing trend cues and decreasing trend cues and analyzed according to presence in a category from within the categories.
US09116864B2 Automatic abstract determination method of document clustering
An automatic abstract determination method of a document clustering is disclosed. The method includes forming a database for correspondingly packing and storing each document clustering including several abstract contents and body contents of subdocuments preloaded by a user as a document clustering process record file. Each document clustering process record file records the original abstract contents and the body contents of the subdocuments, and sets several determination values for analysis. When the user wishes to browse the contents of one document clustering, the method then determines whether or not to generate new abstract contents which is much more closer to the key points of the body contents to all of the subdocuments in the document clustering, according to the contents and values recorded in the corresponding document clustering process record file of the document clustering.
US09116863B1 Systems and methods for assembling documents
A document builder is provided. The document builder includes a memory unit configured to store a document outline, wherein the document outline includes at least a template link to a template and at least a mini-document link to each of a plurality of mini-documents, and a processing device. The processing device is configured to receive the document outline from the memory unit, retrieve the template using the template link, retrieve each of the plurality of mini-documents using the mini-document links, and automatically assemble a final document from the retrieved template and from the retrieved plurality of mini-documents.
US09116861B2 Cascading failover of blade servers in a data center
Cascading failover of blade servers in a data center implemented by transferring by a system management server a data processing workload from a failing blade server to an initial replacement blade server, with the data processing workload characterized by data processing resource requirements and the initial replacement blade server having data processing resources that do not match the data processing resource requirements; and transferring by the system management server the data processing workload from the initial replacement blade server to a subsequent replacement blade server, where the subsequent replacement blade server has data processing resources that better match the data processing resource requirements than do the data processing resources of the initial replacement blade server.
US09116853B1 Tape backup and restore in a disk storage environment
A command to write data to a disk location is received at a disk storage system. The data is written to the disk location and a record including the data, the disk location, and a sequence value is generated. The first sequence value indicates relative sequence when compared to other sequence values. The record is written to a record location on a tape cartridge loaded in a tape drive. Record metadata on the disk storage system is modified to indicate that the record location contains current data. Tape cartridges containing records may be used to restore data to disk storage.
US09116844B2 Data processing apparatus and method for analysing transient faults occurring within storage elements of the data processing apparatus
A data processing apparatus has a plurality of storage elements residing at different physical locations within the apparatus, and fault history circuitry for detecting local transient faults occurring in each storage element, and for maintaining global transient fault history data based on the detected local transient faults. Analysis circuitry monitors the global transient fault history data to determine, based on predetermined criteria, whether the global transient fault history data is indicative of random transient faults occurring within the data processing apparatus, or is indicative of a coordinated transient fault attack. The analysis circuitry is then configured to initiate a countermeasure action on determination of a coordinated transient fault attack. This provides a simple and effective mechanism for distinguishing between random transient faults that may naturally occur, and a coordinated transient fault attack that may be initiated in an attempt to circumvent the security of the data processing apparatus.
US09116841B2 Methods and systems for securely transferring embedded code and/or data designed for a device to a customer
The invention relates to methods and systems for securely transferring embedded code or data to a customer, in particular to methods and systems for securely transferring embedded code, data files or program files designed for a device to a customer in order to prevent the embedded code, data files or program files from being used on unauthorized devices.
US09116837B2 Pinning content in nonvolatile memory
Systems and methods relating to pinning selected data to sectors in non-volatile memory. A graphical user interface allows a user to specify certain data (e.g., directories or files) to be pinned. A list of pinned sectors can be stored so that a driver or controller that operates on a sector basis and not a file or directory basis can identify data to be pinned.
US09116832B2 Storing raid data as encoded data slices in a dispersed storage network
A method begins by a processing module receiving data for storage and interpreting the data to identify the data as redundant array of independent disks (RAID) data. The method continues with the processing module interpreting the RAID data to identify at least one of RAID block data and RAID parity data. When the RAID data includes RAID block data and RAID parity data the method continues with the processing module encoding the RAID block data in accordance with error coding dispersal storage function parameters to produce at least one set of encoded data slices and outputting the at least one set of encoded data slices to a dispersed storage network memory.
US09116828B2 Data bus inversion usable in a memory system
Implementations of Data Bus Inversion (DBI) techniques within a memory system are disclosed. In one embodiment, a set of random access memory (RAM) integrated circuits (ICs) is separated from a logic system by a bus. The logic system can contain many of the logic functions traditionally performed on conventional RAM ICs, and accordingly the RAM ICs can be modified to not include such logic functions. The logic system, which can be a logic integrated circuit intervening between the modified RAM ICs and a traditional memory controller, additionally contains DBI encoding and decoding circuitry. In such a system, data is DBI encoded and at least one DBI bit issued when writing to the modified RAM ICs. The RAM ICs in turn store the DBI bit(s) with the encoded data. When the encoded data is read from the modified RAM ICs, it is transmitted across the bus in its encoded state along with the DBI bit(s). The logic integrated circuit then decodes the data using the DBI bit(s) to return it to its original state.
US09116819B2 Reducing metadata in a write-anywhere storage system
Systems and methods for reducing metadata in a write-anywhere storage system are disclosed herein. The system includes a plurality of clients coupled with a plurality of storage nodes, each storage node having a plurality of primary storage devices coupled thereto. A memory management unit including cache memory is included in the client. The memory management unit serves as a cache for data produced by the clients before the data is stored in the primary storage. The cache includes an extent cache, an extent index, a commit cache and a commit index. The movement of data and metadata is by an interval tree. Methods for reducing data in the interval tree increase data storage and data retrieval performance of the system.
US09116817B2 Pointer chasing prediction
A system and method for efficient scheduling of dependent load instructions. A processor includes both an execution core and a scheduler that issues instructions to the execution core. The execution core includes a load-store unit (LSU). The scheduler determines a first condition is satisfied, wherein the first condition comprises result data for a first load instruction is predicted eligible for LSU-internal forwarding. The scheduler determines a second condition is satisfied, wherein the second condition comprises a second load instruction younger in program order than the first load instruction is dependent on the first load instruction. In response to each of the first condition and the second condition being satisfied, the scheduler can issue the second load instruction earlier than it otherwise would. The LSU internally forwards the received result data from the first load instruction to address generation logic for the second load instruction.
US09116814B1 Use of cache to reduce memory bandwidth pressure with processing pipeline
A data read/write system includes a system clock, a single port memory, a cache memory that is separate from the single port memory, and a controller coupled to an instruction pipeline. The controller receives, via the instruction pipeline, first data to write to an address of the single port memory, and further receives, via the instruction pipeline, a request to read second data from the single port memory. The controller stores the first data in the cache memory, and retrieves the second data from either the cache memory or the single port memory during one or more first clock cycles of the system clock. The controller copies the first data from the cache memory and stores the first data at the address in the single port memory during a second clock cycle of the system clock that is different than the one or more first clock cycles.
US09116812B2 Systems and methods for a de-duplication cache
A de-duplication is configured to cache data for access by a plurality of different storage clients, such as virtual machines. A virtual machine may comprise a virtual machine de-duplication module configured to identify data for admission into the de-duplication cache. Data admitted into the de-duplication cache may be accessible by two or more storage clients. Metadata pertaining to the contents of the de-duplication cache may be persisted and/or transferred with respective storage clients such that the storage clients may access the contents of the de-duplication cache after rebooting, being power cycled, and/or being transferred between hosts.
US09116799B2 Method for detecting bank collision at a memory and device therefor
A pipeline circuit determines a first effective address based a sum of a first value and a second value. The first effective address is based upon an actual value of a carry-in into a bit-wise region of the first and second values. The bit-wise region includes a predefined internal region of bits of the first and second values. The pipeline circuit also determines a second effective address based a sum of a third value and a fourth value. A collision detector circuit receives bits from the bit-wise region of each of the four values and determines a plurality of speculative results based upon the bits of the bit-wise regions and based upon a plurality of speculative carry-in values. A collision indicator is asserted based on at least one result of the plurality of speculative results, and the actual values of the first and second carry-in.
US09116798B2 Optimized memory management for class metadata
A method for managing class metadata in a garbage collected system, including (i) allocating a metaspace to a class loader of a mutator using a memory heap, where the metaspace is configured to store the class metadata generated by the class loader, (ii) storing, in the metaspace, class metadata items associated with classes defined by the class loader, where the class metadata items and the class loader are coterminous, and where all of the class metadata items are identified by a garbage collector as live if any of the class metadata items is reachable by the mutator, (iii) updating a linkset graph during resolution of symbolic links to sumarize cross-metaspace references, and (iv) reclaiming, by the garbage collector based on a pre-determined algorithm using the metaspace, memory locations unreachable by the mutator, where all memory locations allocated to the class metadata items are reclaimed together as a group.
US09116793B2 Maintaining versions of data in solid state memory
Various embodiments are directed to maintaining versions of data within a solid state memory. At least one request to write at least one dataset to a logical page of a solid state memory is received from a file system. At least one physical page in a data block of the solid state memory associated with the logical page is identified. A processor stores the dataset in the at least one physical page. At least one data versioning tag is associated with the at least one dataset in a data structure associated with the logical page. The data versioning tag identifies the at least one dataset as a given version of the logical page. The at least one dataset is maintained as accessible from the at least one physical page irrespective of subsequent write operations to the logical page in response to associating the at least one data versioning tag.
US09116792B2 Data storage device and method for flash block management
The invention provides a data storage device. In one embodiment, the data storage device comprises a flash memory and a controller. The flash memory comprises a spare block pool and a data block pool, wherein the spare block pool comprises a plurality of spare blocks, and the data block pool comprises a plurality of data blocks. The controller determines a minimum erase count from the erase counts of the spare blocks and the data blocks, adds a first difference to the minimum erase count to obtain a jail threshold, compares the erase counts of the spare blocks with the jail threshold to obtain a plurality of jail blocks with the erase counts greater than the jail threshold, and confines the jail blocks to a jail pool.
US09116791B2 Method for flash-memory management
A SIM card including: (a) a first NVM for storing user data; and (b) a second NVM, separate from the first NVM, for storing management data related to the user data. Preferably, the first NVM is block-erasable and the second NVM is word-erasable erasable. Preferably, the first NVM is a flash memory and the second NVM is an EEPROM. Preferably, the management data includes a mapping table for mapping virtual addresses, of the first NVM, to physical device addresses. Preferably, the user data and the management data are organized in a file system. Most preferably, the management data includes at least one file allocation table. Most preferably, the management data includes at least one files directory, wherein at least one files directory includes at least one item selected from the group consisting of: a file name, a file size, a file attribute, and a physical address of a file sector.
US09116788B2 Using extended asynchronous data mover indirect data address words
An abstraction for storage class memory is provided that hides the details of the implementation of storage class memory from a program, and provides a standard channel programming interface for performing certain actions, such as controlling movement of data between main storage and storage class memory or managing storage class memory.
US09116775B2 Relationship-based dynamic firmware management system
A system management information handling system (IHS) includes a processing system. A memory system is coupled to the processing system and includes instructions that, when executed by the processing system, cause the processing system to perform a method. The method includes discovering a plurality of components in a networked system and a current firmware image included on each of the plurality of components. The method further includes determining a plurality of relationships between the plurality of components. The method further includes retrieving a firmware compatibility table that includes compatible firmware details for at least one component combination. The method further includes providing an updated firmware image for each of at least a subset of the plurality of components based on the relationships between the subset of the plurality of components and compatible firmware details for the plurality of components.
US09116771B2 Merging weighted recommendations for installation and configuration of software products
A method for installation and configuration of selectable components of a software product. An installation user interface allows a user to identify and select a plurality of install and configuration templates from multiple sources for recommended installation of selectable software components. Responsive to a user selecting multiple install and configuration templates, the user is enabled to apply a relative weight for each of the selected install and configuration templates, wherein the relative weight is applied to each selectable software component included in the weighted template. The weighted software components from each of the install and configuration templates are merged to determine a weighted value for each selectable component. Weighted software components having a weighted value that exceed a predetermined threshold value are determined. Each selectable component having a weighted value exceeding the predetermined threshold value is installed and configured including the components to install, the install path, and other configuration options.
US09116765B2 System and method for obfuscating data using instructions as a source of pseudorandom values
Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for obfuscating data using instructions as a source of pseudorandom values. Obfuscation is performed by receiving instructions and data and compiling the instructions and the data into an executable file having a text section and a data section. The text section can include instructions and the data section can include data segments. The system obfuscates the data section iteratively by generating a hash of an address for a respective data segment, and based on the hash, identifying a corresponding address in the text section that includes at least one instruction. The system retrieves a mask key from the corresponding address and applies the mask key to the respective data segment, yielding a masked data segment. In one embodiment, integrity verification of obfuscated data is performed without exposing the data in an unprotected state by utilizing multiple mask keys.
US09116762B2 XML remote procedure call (XML-RPC)
Remote Procedure Call (RPC) is implemented using XML-based message encoding wherein elements in the message corresponding to arguments of the RPC are associated with element type indicators selected from a defined set. The type indicators may allow the message itself to identify structural aspects of the message, particularly useful in the context of array elements, but useful for other types of elements as well.
US09116758B2 Method and system for sharing a hotkey between application instances
According to an example, when there is a hotkey message of a hotkey, an application instance that registers the hotkey receives the hotkey message, distributes the hotkey message to an application instance that does not register the hotkey, determines whether there is an application instance that does not register the hotkey and is to process the hotkey message; when there is the application instance that does not register the hotkey and is to process the hotkey message, receives feedback information about processing the hotkey message returned from the application instance that does not register the hotkey; and when there is not the application instance that does not register the hotkey and is to process the hotkey message, processes the hotkey message.
US09116746B2 Workflows and presets for workflows
A system generate a workflow identifier, create a workflow that includes a first work unit, assign the workflow identifier to the workflow, update the workflow by adding a second work unit to the workflow, receive a work order to process the workflow, decompose the workflow into constituent work units in response to the work order, instantiate tasks that correspond to the constituent work units, and execute a work unit process for each of the tasks.
US09116735B2 Offline provisioning of virtual machines
An offline provisioning system provides a facility for provisioning a virtual machine without requiring that the virtual machine be launched. The system extends the configuration file or other mechanism used for storing virtual hardware configuration to store provisioning information for software state. The system uses the configuration information for pushing selective contents of the configuration information into the guest virtual machine as it is launched to perform guest provisioning. With these changes in place, a guest virtual machine can be provisioned when the virtual machine image is offline and not running. The system can even perform provisioning before an appropriate host has been identified to launch the guest virtual machine. This allows for much more rapid deployment and provisioning of virtual machines and frees administrative resources for other tasks.
US09116724B2 Stateless virtual machine
Some embodiments of using snapshotting and virtualization to perform tasks in a known and reproducible environment have been presented. A computing device generates a temporary snapshot of a state of a virtual machine. A session of the virtual machine is started on the computing device using the temporary snapshot. The temporary snapshot is automatically destroyed when the session is terminated, wherein any changes made to the state during the session are removed by destroying the temporary snapshot.
US09116723B2 Communication device or media device for providing phone calling service, internet access service, or digital content service
A portable device for phone calling, Internet access, or for playing media is herein disclosed and enabled. The portable device may support autorun. The portable device is connectable to a computing device over a wired interface for running, at the computing device, at least part of the software stored in the portable device. The wired interface includes, for example, a USB, a SD card, or an Ethernet among others. A wireless interface, such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth®, may additionally be included. Exemplary services that may be deployed with the portable device include a phone calling service. Other exemplary services may include adding a wireless interface to a computing device, or providing a wireless Internet access service. Additional exemplary services may include outputting or playing of digital content from a smart phone to an output device, such as a printer, projector or television.
US09116718B2 Derive size contribution of features
A development tool for optimizing a software program is disclosed herein. The tool may be implemented as machine readable instructions, part of a specially configured computer, or part of a practical application of a specialized process. The tool may comprise: an automation rig for executing the program, a capture tool having a plurality of data recorders, an aggregator for generating cluster data based on code block execution patterns, and a code writer for generating optimized binary programs.
US09116713B1 System and method for expression evaluation in a distributed networking environment
Disclosed are systems and methods for evaluating expressions in a distributed networking environment. A data object associated with an expression may be retrieved. The data object may include intermediate code that is a compiled representation of the expression. A value of an identifier included in the intermediate code may be identified. The identifier may provide information about a version of a target system for which the intermediate code was compiled. A system component may determine whether the version of the target system for which the intermediate code was compiled is a current version of the target system by analyzing the value of the identifier. The intermediate code may be regenerated if the version of the target system for which the intermediate code was compiled is not current. The intermediate code might not be regenerated if the version of the target system for which the intermediate code was compiled is current.
US09116711B2 Exception handling in a data processing apparatus having a secure domain and a less secure domain
Processing circuitry can operate in a secure domain and a less secure domain. In response to an initial exception from background processing performed by the processing circuitry, state saving of data from a first subset of registers is performed by exception control circuitry before triggering an exception handling routine, while the exception handling routine has responsibility for performing state saving of data from a second subset of registers. In response to a first exception causing a transition from the secure domain from a less secure domain, where the background processing was in the less secure domain, the exception control circuitry performs additional state saving of data from the second set of registers before triggering the exception handling routine. In response to a tail-chained exception causing a transition from the secure domain to the less secure domain, the exception handling routine is triggered without performing an additional state saving.
US09116702B2 Computer memory power management
A method of operating a computer memory system with ECC features that will enable operational modes with less electrical power consumption. A chip mark normally used to mark a failing DRAM device may instead be used to mark a non-failing DRAM device before a computer memory system shuts off electrical power to the marked non-failing DRAM device to reduce power consumption, putting the rank of memory that contains the DRAM device in a low power consumption mode. Upon a request from the computer memory system, the chip mark may be removed from the marked non-failing DRAM device in order to return the non-failing DRAM device to normal operation.
US09116700B2 Computer memory power management
A method of operating a computer memory system with ECC features that will enable operational modes with less electrical power consumption. A chip mark normally used to mark a failing DRAM device may instead be used to mark a non-failing DRAM device before a computer memory system shuts off electrical power to the marked non-failing DRAM device to reduce power consumption, putting the rank of memory that contains the DRAM device in a low power consumption mode. Upon a request from the computer memory system, the chip mark may be removed from the marked non-failing DRAM device in order to return the non-failing DRAM device to normal operation.
US09116699B2 Memory refresh rate throttling for saving idle power
A computer system maintains a threshold value, wherein the threshold value indicates a period of time. The computer system determines that a processor is in any one of a plurality of low power consumption states. Responsive to a determination that the processor is in any one of the plurality of low power consumption states, the computer system increments a counter. The counter indicates the period of time the processor has been in any one of the plurality of low power consumption state. The computing system determines that the counter value is equal to or greater than the threshold value. Responsive to a determination that the counter value is equal to or greater than the threshold value, the computer system sends a first indication to a memory module indicating to the memory module to reduce the memory module refresh rate.
US09116693B2 Arithmetic unit and arithmetic processing method for operating with higher and lower clock frequencies
There is a need for providing a battery-less integrated circuit (IC) card capable of operating in accordance with a contact usage or a non-contact usage, preventing coprocessor throughput from degrading despite a decreased clock frequency for reduced power consumption under non-contact usage, and ensuring high-speed processing under non-contact usage. A dual interface card is a battery-less IC card capable of operating in accordance with a contact usage or a non-contact usage. The dual interface card operates at a high clock under contact usage and at a low clock under non-contact usage. A targeted operation comprises a plurality of different basic operations. The dual interface card comprises a basic arithmetic circuit group. Under the contact usage, the basic arithmetic circuit group performs one basic operation of the targeted operation at one cycle. Under the non-contact usage, the basic arithmetic circuit group sequentially performs at least two basic operations of the targeted operation at one cycle.
US09116691B2 Power supply management controller integrated circuit, power management circuit for electrically powered systems, and method of managing power to such systems
A power supply management controller integrated circuit for managing power supply to system units of a system, comprising power supply means for powering the system units, a power supply control unit for controlling the powering, a wake-up timer unit, and means for acknowledging an active or passive state of the system, wherein the power supply control unit is arranged for cooperating with the means for acknowledging the state of the system for enabling the power supply control unit to cease powering of the system units for de-activation of the system during the passive state of the system, and for enabling the power supply control unit to maintain powering during an active state of the system, and wherein the power supply control unit is arranged for cooperating with the wake-up timer unit for periodically powering the system units during the passive state of the system for enabling activation of the system.
US09116685B2 Table call instruction for frequently called functions
An apparatus includes a memory that stores an instruction including an opcode and an operand. The operand specifies an immediate value or a register indicator of a register storing the immediate value. The immediate value is usable to identify a function call address. The function call address is selectable from a plurality of function call addresses.
US09116683B2 Control device, control method, and system
A control device, mounted removably on a substrate, includes a power outage detection unit that detects disconnection of electrical connection of a signal line that is wired to a power supply device on the substrate and detects a power outage state of the power supply device, and an output unit that outputs a power outage signal to a control target device on the substrate that executes predetermined power outage process, in a case that disconnection of the electrical connection of the signal line is detected by the power outage detection unit, after a lapse of a fixed time from detection of disconnection of the electrical connection of the signal line.
US09116674B2 Heat dissipation in computing device
A computing device is disclosed. The computing device includes a shock mount assembly that is configured to provide impact absorption to sensitive components such as a display and an optical disk drive. The computing device also includes an enclosureless optical disk drive that is housed by an enclosure and other structures of the computing device. The computing device further includes a heat transfer system that removes heat from a heat producing element of the computing device. The heat transfer system is configured to thermally couple the heat producing element to a structural member of the computing device so as to sink heat through the structural member, which generally has a large surface area for dissipating the heat.
US09116673B2 Storage server rack system and storage servers
A storage server rack system includes a rack and multiple storage servers assembled inside the rack. The rack includes an integrated power module and a fan wall. The integrated power module distributes a power to the storage servers. The fan wall is disposed by a side of the storage servers for dissipating heat. Each storage server includes a case, an electrical connection module, a motherboard and multiple storage units. The case has a first lateral side and a second lateral side disposed oppositely to each other. The electrical connection module is disposed on the first lateral side and connected to the integrated power module. The motherboard is disposed inside a first heat dissipation space in the case and electrically connected to the electrical connection module. The storage units are disposed outside the first heat dissipation space in the case and electrically connected to the electrical connection module.
US09116672B2 Method and system for displaying selectable autocompletion suggestions and annotations in mapping tool
A method and system for generating annotations in a code editor of a development environment is provided. A user enters code into a code editor of a development environment and the code accesses a data source. The execution of the code accesses the data and presents output to the user in the code editor in real time. Another aspect is the triggering of an autocompletion event, which causes the code to be compiled and executed, wherein the executing of the code accesses the data and presents selectable options for autocompletion and enabling user selection of available options.
US09116670B2 Surface contact for a support component
A surface contact for a support component is described. The support component, for example, can serve as a “kickstand” that can be positioned to support the apparatus in a variety of orientations relative to an adjacent surface. A surface contact disposed on the support component can serve as an interface (e.g., a “foot”) for the support component on the adjacent surface. For instance, the surface contact can be formed from a slip-resistant material such that slippage of the support component on an adjacent surface is reduced or eliminated. In at least some embodiments, the surface contact is embedded with a material that responds to a magnetic field, e.g., a ferromagnetic material. The surface contact is attracted to magnets on an adjacent edge of the attached apparatus, thus stabilizing the support component in a closed position.
US09116662B1 Image display device
An image display device includes a flexible display unit bendable by external force from a first state to a second state, the second state being a bent state; pressing members disposed on a rear surface of the flexible display unit and to apply the external force to the flexible display unit; a driving unit to generate a driving force to provide the external force to the pressing members such that bending of the flexible display unit is implemented; and a sensing unit to sense a degree of bending of the flexible display unit to provide a basis for determining a direction of the driving force.
US09116654B1 Controlling the rendering of supplemental content related to electronic books
Architectures and techniques are provided to control the rendering of supplemental content associated with electronic books. For example, electronic books may be associated with content that is in addition to the content originally provided to an individual acquiring the electronic book, such as annotations, social networking site information, media outlet information, and the like. Individuals may control the supplemental electronic book content that is rendered via their client devices via actuation of a physical input device or a representation of an input device shown via a touch sensitive display. The amount of supplemental content that is rendered may correspond to information associated with a specified number of categories of supplemental electronic book content based on a supplemental content rendering level. In other implementations, the amount of supplemental electronic book content that is rendered may correspond to an amount of supplemental content to be rendered for each category of supplemental content.
US09116645B1 Methods and systems for granting partial or full access to an application based on level of confidence that print corresponds to user profile
Systems and methods are provided herein for determining whether full or partial access to an application should be granted based on whether a full print or a partial print is detected. The control circuitry may then identify a user profile corresponding to a print. Control circuitry may determine a level of confidence that the print corresponds to the user profile. Control circuitry may determine whether to provide the user full access to the application by comparing the level of confidence to a threshold, where, if the level of confidence exceeds the threshold, the user is granted full access to the application. In the case that the level of confidence does not exceed the threshold, the control circuitry may compare the level of confidence to a different threshold, where, if the different threshold is exceeded, the user may be granted partial access to the application.
US09116635B2 Configure storage class memory command
An abstraction for storage class memory is provided that hides the details of the implementation of storage class memory from a program, and provides a standard channel programming interface for performing certain actions, such as controlling movement of data between main storage and storage class memory or managing storage class memory.
US09116634B2 Configure storage class memory command
An abstraction for storage class memory is provided that hides the details of the implementation of storage class memory from a program, and provides a standard channel programming interface for performing certain actions, such as controlling movement of data between main storage and storage class memory or managing storage class memory.
US09116628B2 Apparatus and method for providing a multicore programming platform
A computer-implemented method for generating a memory map of a target computer includes specifying, from a plurality of identifiers stored in a memory of a host computer, at least one identifier associated with a memory layout of the target computer. The method further includes specifying a value associated with the specified at least one identifier. The method further includes generating a memory map definition of the memory map using the at least one identifier and the associated at least one value. The method also includes deploying software on the target computer, the software incorporating the memory map definition and including an executable instruction that references the at least one identifier which is replaced with the associated value.
US09116621B1 System and method of transfer of control between memory locations
Disclosed are system and method for controlling execution of a program. An example method includes determining a memory sector of interest in a first virtual memory location; duplicating the memory sector of interest in a second virtual memory location; tagging the memory sector of interest in the first virtual address space and the duplicated memory sector in the second virtual address space with different tags; selecting between the memory sector of interest and the duplicated memory sector a memory location for execution of the program; executing, by a hardware processor, the program in the selected memory location until receipt of a notification to transfer execution of the program from a memory sector tagged with one tag to a memory sector tagged with a different tag; and transferring program execution to the memory location other than the one in which the notification was received.
US09116619B2 Displaying storage device status conditions using multi-color light emitting diode
Displaying storage device status conditions using multi-color light emitting diodes (LEDs) involves monitoring values of a status condition of at least one persistent storage device. The values are mapped to two or more colors, and at least one multi-color LED displays the two or more colors in response to the respective values.
US09116617B2 User interface enhancement system
A user interface enhancement system that includes a sheet that defines a surface and at least partially defines a fluid vessel arranged underneath the surface, a volume of fluid contained within the fluid vessel that cooperates with the sheet to transmit an image through the sheet without substantial obstruction, a displacement device that influences the volume of fluid within the fluid vessel to expand and retract at least a portion of the fluid vessel, thereby deforming a particular region of the surface, and an attachment component that couples the sheet to the device is disclosed.
US09116616B2 Portable electronic device and method of controlling same
A method includes detecting a first touch at a first location, and a second touch at a second location, on a touch-sensitive display of an electronic device. In response to detecting the first and second touches, a first section of a virtual keyboard having a first boundary associated with the first location and a second section of the virtual keyboard having a second boundary associated with the second location are displayed on the touch-sensitive display.
US09116609B2 Methods, apparatuses and computer program products for generating regions of interest using gestures via a user interface
An apparatus is provided for generating a region(s) of interest for a medical image(s). The apparatus includes at least one memory and at least one processor configured to receive an indication of one or more touches at corresponding locations on a touch enabled display. The respective touches define a touch point at the corresponding location. The processor is further configured to generate one or more regions of interest associated with areas of a medical image(s) responsive to receipt of the indications. A location of respective regions of interest corresponds to locations of touch points. The processor is further configured to define a diameter of regions of interest based on a width/pressure of the touch points and define the regions of interest to include a disc including a contour(s). The regions of interest correspond to an area for annotating the medical image(s). Corresponding computer program products and methods are also provided.
US09116607B2 Interface including selectable items corresponding to single or multiple data items
An interface may include a first portion of a linear scale having first upper and lower bounds and a first plurality of indicators identifying first demarcations of the linear scale between the first upper and lower bounds. A first selectable item corresponding to a single data item and a second selectable corresponding to multiple data items may be arranged along the linear scale. When the second selectable item is selected, the interface may be modified to include a second portion of the linear scale having second upper and lower bounds and the multiple data items corresponding to the second selectable item.
US09116606B2 Electronic device and data control method thereof
An electronic device and data control method are provided. The electronic device includes a connector which is connected to an external storage medium storing media data therein; an identification unit which identifies a storage identifier (ID) of the external storage medium connected to the connector; and a controller which performs a media function corresponding to the media data stored in the external storage medium whose storage ID is identified by the identification unit.
US09116603B2 Managing interactions with data having membership in multiple groupings
Interactions with data stored in a data storage system are managed through a view of an interface provided on a display. Information specifying multiple data elements and multiple groupings of related data elements is received. At least one of the data elements is a member of multiple of the groupings. A view is rendered that includes tokens representing respective data elements. At least some tokens include a selectable indicator including portions that indicate membership of the data element represented by that token in each of multiple groupings of related data elements. A first selection of a portion of one of the selectable indicators is received, corresponding to a first selected grouping of related data elements. In response to the first selection, tokens representing one or more other members of the first selected grouping of related data elements are rendered in the view.
US09116591B2 Method and apparatus for scroll information input in electromagnetic induction way
There are provided a method and an apparatus for scroll information input in an electromagnetic induction way. The method comprises steps of: definition of scroll bars, where a horizontal scroll bar and a vertical scroll bar are defined for an electromagnetic board by means of a controller of the electromagnetic board; implementation of scrolls, where virtual scrolls for the scroll bars of the electromagnetic board are achieved based on positional changes of an electromagnetic pen over the horizontal scroll bar and the vertical scroll bar of the electromagnetic board; and mapping of scrolls, where the virtual scrolls for the scroll bars of the electromagnetic board are mapped into scrolls for scroll bars in a computer by means of the controller.
US09116588B2 Signal processing circuit of touch screen
A signal processing circuit of a touch screen is provided. The signal processing circuit can include driving and sensing lines arranged to interact with one another in a touch screen panel, power sources supplying power to each of the driving lines, and sensing channels detecting touch by sensing a mutual capacitance on a node where the sensing line interacts with the driving line. The circuit can also include driving line switches selectively connecting the power sources to the driving lines, channel switches selectively connecting the sensing channels to the sensing lines, and a bypass line allowing the driving line to be connected to the sensing line by operation of the channel switches.
US09116585B2 Capacitive stylus
A capacitive stylus includes: a hollow stylus stick; a soft touch member made of conductive plastic or rubber in the form of a hollow housing, the soft touch member having a domed touch end; a connection collar assembled with an end section of the stylus stick, the connection collar and the soft touch member together defining an internal space; a support member disposed in the internal space, the support member being made of a rubber material with hardness greater than that of the soft touch member; and a rest seat assembled with the support member, the support member being spaced from the soft touch member by a gap and formed with a multi-support structure facing the soft touch member. In operation, the soft touch member can keep a proper softness without being over-deformed or collapsed.
US09116582B2 Capacitive touch panel having protrusions formed between drive and/or sensor electrodes
A capacitive touch panel includes elongated drive electrodes arranged next to one another and having a characteristic spacing between adjacent drive electrodes. The capacitive touch panel also includes elongated sensor electrodes arranged next to one another across the drive electrodes and having a characteristic spacing between adjacent sensor electrodes. The drive electrodes and/or the sensor electrodes have protrusions into the spaces between adjacent electrodes. The characteristic spacing between the sensor electrodes may be at least substantially greater than the characteristic spacing between the drive electrodes. The sensor electrodes may have a pitch based upon a touch diameter of a finger, and the touch panel may be capable of sensing a stylus having a touch diameter substantially less than the touch diameter of the finger.
US09116579B2 MIMO sonic touch panel and MIMO smart sound potential server
A multi input and multi output (MIMO) sonic touch panel includes at least a sonic touch module and a display module. The sonic touch module includes a first carrier layer, a first vibrating layer and a first conducting layer. The first vibrating layer is disposed at the first carrier layer. The first conducting layer is disposed at the first carrier layer or the first vibrating layer and coupled with the first vibrating layer. The first conducting layer and the first vibrating layer are located at the same side or the opposite side of the first carrier layer. The display module is disposed opposite to the sound touch module. Besides, a MIMO smart sound potential server is also disclosed.
US09116571B2 Method and system of data input for an electronic device equipped with a touch screen
Systems and methods are disclosed for differentiating between stylus touches and non-stylus touches on a touchscreen device. A stylus emits a signal, received by the touchscreen device, and software selects a touch, the touch start event for which occurred near the time of the signal, and the size and location of which best fit filters, as being the touch made by the stylus. The software associates that touch with the stylus until the touch ends, or until the stylus emits a signal indicating that contact has ended. The signal may be mechanically generated audio, such as from the stylus contacting the screen, or electronic (audio, RF, IR), generated by the stylus upon detecting pressure or capacitive flux. The methods and systems allow software to perform palm rejection filtering, to track one stylus or multiple styluses, and to ignore touches triggered by dirt, rain, and other environmental causes.
US09116567B2 Systems and methods for managing the display of content on an electronic device
Systems and methods are provided for managing the display of content on an electronic rollable device (600). According to certain aspects, the systems and methods facilitate communications and applications of a rollable device with a display screen interface. The device detects an interaction with the display screen interface by a user (605), such as the user grasping the device. From the interaction, the device identifies a position of the user's hand and, based on the position, a set of configuration settings, and/or other variables, determines a display region on the touchscreen to display a graphic (635) associated with the communications and applications. The device displays the graphic within the display region and receives and processes input from the user.
US09116562B2 Digital sample clock generator, a vibration gyroscope circuitry comprising such digital sample clock generator, an associated apparatus, an associated semiconductor device and associated methods
A digital sample clock generator for generating a sample clock signal from an input signal derived from a drive measurement voltage signal of a vibrating MEMS gyroscope is provided.
US09116560B1 Touch pen with haptic feedback
The touch pen with haptic feedback includes a first ball configured for communicating with a touch-sensitive surface, a body having a first opening configured for retaining the first ball, a second ball bearing against the first ball, the second ball being configured for controlling the movement of the first ball along the touch-sensitive surface, an inverted cradle including a plurality of arms, each of the plurality of arms having a first end and a second end, and a plurality of third balls, the third balls mounted on the second end of a corresponding one of the arms, the plurality of third balls bearing against the second ball. The plurality of third balls is configured for improving haptic feedback and accuracy when the first ball is in communication with the touch-sensitive surface.
US09116556B2 Dual mode mouse device
A point device is used with a computer device, and the point device includes a fixed base and a main body. The fixed base has a first hinge portion and a sensing displacement module, the first hinge portion locates on one end of the fixed base, and the sensing displacement module is electrically located in the fixed base to generate a displacement signal. Further, the main body includes a second hinge portion and a processing unit, and the second hinge portion locates on one end of the main body and pivoted on the first hinge portion. The main body and the fixed base are selectively rotated to a first angle or a second angle. Wherein, the processing unit is electrically located in the main body and is electrically connected to the sensing displacement module for receiving the displacement signal and transmitting the displacement signal to the computer device.
US09116550B2 Device kickstand
A device kickstand is described. In at least some implementations, a kickstand is rotatably attached to a mobile computing device. The kickstand can be rotated to various positions to provide support for different orientations of the computing device. In at least some implementations, hinges are employed to attach a kickstand to a mobile computing device. One example hinge utilizes preset hinge stops that enable the kickstand to be placed at different preset positions. Another example hinge exerts pressure on an edge of the kickstand, providing stability and vibration dampening to the kickstand.
US09116546B2 System for haptically representing sensor input
A haptic representation system is provided that generates a haptic effect in response to sensor input. The sensor input is mapped to a haptic signal. The haptic signal is sent to an actuator configured to receive the haptic signal. The actuator utilizes the haptic signal to generate the haptic effect.
US09116545B1 Input detection
Example methods and systems determine viewing states, blinks, and blink intervals of an eye of a wearer of a head-mountable device. The head-mountable display can emit IR radiation from an associated IR radiation source toward a target location. An IR sensor associated with the head-mountable display can receive reflected IR radiation, such as the IR radiation emitted by the IR radiation source and reflected from the target location. The IR sensor can generate amplitude data for the reflected IR radiation. The head-mountable display can be used to determine a viewing state of the target location. The viewing state can be based on the amplitude data. The viewing state can determined from among a no-wearer-present viewing state, a wearer-present viewing state, a closed-eye viewing state, an open-eye viewing state, a non-display-viewing viewing state, and a display-viewing viewing state.
US09116541B2 Method of determining whether a lens device is shifted and optical touch system thereof
A method of determining whether a lens device is shifted is applied to an optical touch system including a screen, a first light source and a first lens device respectively disposed corresponding to a first corner of a touch surface of the screen, and first and second optical strips respectively disposed at first and second sides of the touch surface. The method includes the first lens device setting a first brightness threshold according to a first original image captured by the first lens device toward the touch surface, disposing first and second reflection members at one end of the first optical strip and one end of the second optical strip respectively, and the first lens device determining whether a first optical axis of the first lens device is shifted according to the first brightness threshold and a first actual image captured by the first lens device.
US09116530B2 Transport refrigeration security system
A security monitor system for a transport unit is provided. The security monitor system may include at least one security sensor configured to detect a fault condition, and a controller having a plurality of inputs, a plurality of outputs, and a low power control circuit. The low power control circuit may provide electrical communication between a battery of the transport unit, the security sensor, and at least one of the inputs of the controller. The control circuit may be configured to maintain the controller in low power mode when there are no detected fault conditions, and to enable power to the controller when there is a detected fault condition.
US09116523B2 Apparatus and method of cell-based path planning for mobile body
Disclosed are an apparatus and method of cell-based path planning for a mobile body and a computer-readable recording medium storing the method therein. The method includes receiving a configuration space including a start point and a goal point of the mobile body and position information of obstacles, determining a search order of the obstacles located in the configuration space, performing cell decomposition by repeatedly connecting a vertex of one of the obstacles to a vertex of another obstacle according to the determined search order, and performing cell decomposition by making an extended line from each of non-connected vertices in a direction of dividing vertical angle of each of the non-connected vertices into two.
US09116517B2 Method, system and computer product for controlling a manufacturing process
A method and a system control a manufacturing process. The method includes providing an MES system with a product definition model having at least one product-related entity. Define for one product-related entity a set of product-related entities referencing the one product-related entity and each other via a nested structure. Define for each product-related entity a set of product-related parameters to define the information that may be sent to the MES system. Within the product definition model, define an additional entity called parameter exchange definition for providing a tool for defining how data of product-related parameters of nested product-related entities and of the parent product related entity are to be exchanged among each other. At engineering time, build the given product definition of the given final material by inserting the entities. At run time, instantiating the entities into run-time production requests objects obtained by the given product definition.