Document Document Title
US09144168B2 Appendage-mounted display apparatus
An appendage-mounted display apparatus comprising a device mount for attaching electronic devices and a cuff assembly that provides a uniform tension fit around a user's appendage. The cuff assembly comprises a multi-layer blend of soft and rigid components and a ratcheting lacing or strap system to achieve a customizable, non-slip fit that may be quickly and easily adjusted with one hand. The device mount may be adapted to accommodate a variety of electronic devices including mobile phones, smartphones, and other communication devices, portable computers, maps, audio and music devices, global positioning system devices, and other interactive electronic devices and displays, as well as paper maps, checklists, and other static forms of guidance and instruction. In addition, the device mount may include a rail system for attaching a flashlight and/or other tools.
US09144159B2 Electronic device, method for manufacturing thereof, and electronic apparatus
An electronic device includes: a first member having a first surface; a second member placed on the side of the first surface; a functional element accommodated in a cavity formed by the first member and the second member; an external connection terminal disposed outside of the cavity on the side of the first surface of the first member; a groove portion disposed on the side of the first surface of the first member and extending from the inside to the outside of the cavity; a wiring disposed within the groove portion and electrically connecting the functional element with the external connection terminal; a first through-hole disposed at a position of the second member, the position overlapping the groove portion in plan view; and a filling member disposed within the first through-hole and filling the groove portion.
US09144150B2 Conductor structure with integrated via element
An electrical circuit structure can include a first trace formed using a first conductive layer and a second trace formed using a second conductive layer. The first trace can be vertically aligned with the second trace. The electrical circuit structure can include a via segment formed of conductive material in a third conductive layer between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer. The via segment can contact the first trace and the second trace forming a first conductor structure configured to convey an electrical signal in a direction parallel to the first conductive layer.
US09144127B1 AC-powered LED light engines, integrated circuits and illuminating apparatuses having the same
Disclosed are novel AC-powered LED light engines for Solid State Lighting (SSL) able to achieve a high PF and a low THD without a traditional PFC. Getting rid of bulky, and costly magnetic components, short-life electrolytic capacitor, and EMI-causing fast switching, the disclosed AC-powered LED light engines ushers in a cost-effective, and energy-efficient LED driver design while eliminating the short-life electrolytic capacitor in an LED driver and reducing the Total Cost of Ownership (TOC). Thanks to no bulky components, the disclosed AC-powered LED light engines in a discrete or an integrated circuit form could be applied to the increasingly popular Driver-on-Board (DoB) design. Aside from being TRIAC-dimmable via legacy phase-cut dimmers, the disclosed LED light engines could also be made PWM-, analog-, or rheostat-dimmable with the incorporation of an appropriate dimming circuit to modulate the average LED current, adding more flexibility and versatility to dimming applications.
US09144122B2 Driver for arrays of lighting elements
A lighting system is disclosed comprising an excitor which drives at least one reactor. The excitor is an electrical waveform generator that creates an AC waveform at a frequency between about 50 kHz and about 100 MHz. The reactor is an under-damped resonant circuit that includes a network of lighting elements. Reactive components are distributed among the lighting elements. These reactive components can regulate the current and voltage to individual lighting elements. The drive system is particularly useful for arrays of low-voltage lighting elements such as LEDs. It is fault tolerant in that the failure of individual elements need not affect the operation of remaining elements, and elements can be added and removed without affecting the serviceability of other elements.
US09144121B2 Reconfigurable LED arrays and lighting fixtures
An optimum regulation method is disclosed for reconfigurable LED arrays used for general illumination applications. This document describes a reconfigurable LED array formed by connecting in series LED lamps and LED pairs capable of being reconfigured in either series or parallel. The performance deficiencies of previous solutions are solved by changing the knee voltage of the array through the reconfiguration of LED pairs. The simplicity of the concept can make practical the implementation of driverless LED lighting fixtures.
US09144116B2 Induction heating device and induction hob with induction heating devices
In an induction heating device having an induction coil for an induction hob, the induction coil may be of flat or planar design and have at least one peripheral coil turn comprising coil wire. The outer contour of the induction coil or the outermost coil turn may be approximately trapezoidal having two sides of equal length which are situated opposite one another and may be straight, and having two short sides of differing length between the sides of equal length.
US09144113B2 Method and apparatus to migrate transport protocols
The invention comprises a method for migrating control plane data transport between a control node (5) and a base station (5) controlled by the control node from an old and currently used transport technology, e.g. an ATM based transport option, to a new transport technology, e.g. an IP based transport option. A protocol stack for the new transport technology is created (31) in the control node (5). In a similar manner, a protocol stack for the new transport technology is created (31) in the base station (7). Thereafter, a connection based on the new transport technology is formed (33) between the control node and the base station. Then the new transport technology is used (39) on the formed connection for at least one new control plane message between the control node to the base station. The invention comprises also a device for controlling a migration of control plane data transport between a control node and a base station in accordance with the above-described method and a control node comprising such a device.
US09144111B2 Self-configuring cellular basestation
A basestation for a cellular wireless communications network is able to configure itself for operation in the network, by selecting appropriate operating frequencies (in the case of GSM network) or scrambling codes (in the case of a UMTS network), and appropriate transmit powers. This makes it practical for a large number of such basestations to be deployed in a network, within customers' premises, without requiring network intervention in each case.
US09144103B2 Wireless local communication systems and methods from WAN fallback
A method, a mobile device, and a wireless system provide wireless local communication systems and methods from Wide Area Network (WAN) fallback allowing proximate users to maintain connectivity therebetween while WAN connectivity is lost. The wireless local communication systems and methods leverage access point credentials for the WAN to set up local wireless communication amongst the mobile devices when WAN connectivity is lost or when commanded to do so. Local mobile device users can maintain communication such as in a talkgroup while WAN connectivity is disrupted or undesired. The systems and methods include an algorithm where a first mobile device identifies the loss of WAN connectivity and becomes a WAN access point for other proximate mobile devices which share common preconfigured credentials. Subsequent mobile devices which detect the loss of WAN connectivity can associate with the AP thereby maintaining local communication using local wireless connectivity techniques.
US09144101B2 Apparatus and method for wireless device connectivity upon radio link failure
An apparatus and method for improving the connectivity when a radio link failure occurs is disclosed. The method includes detecting, by a user equipment (UE), a radio link failure to a first radio network controller (RNC) and receiving an information message from a second RNC. The method further includes determining whether the first and second RNCs have interface connectivity between them. If the first and second RNCs have interface connectivity between them, performing a connection recovery procedure with the second RNC. However, if the first and second RNCs do not have interface connectivity between them, performing an initial connection procedure to establish a connection with the second RNC without performing a connection recovery procedure.
US09144100B2 Method and apparatus for radio link failure recovery
A method (300) and apparatus (200) for radio link failure recovery is disclosed. The method may include receiving (340), at a mobile station (110), an assignment of a random access preamble from a first cell (140) for use in at least one potential reestablishment cell (150). The method may include determining (360) that a radio link failure has occurred after receiving the assignment of the random access preamble. The method may include transmitting (370) the random access preamble to one of the at least one potential reestablishment cells in response to determining that the radio link failure has occurred.
US09144092B2 Apparatus and method for detecting emergency status in wireless communication system
A method and an apparatus handle an emergency in a wireless communication system. A method of a serving Base Station (BS) for detecting an emergency in a wireless communication system includes receiving an emergency call signal from Mobile Stations (MSs) in a cell; determining whether the number of the received emergency call signals exceeds a threshold number of times; when the number of the received emergency call signals exceeds the threshold number of times, detecting an emergency of a BS; and transmitting a message indicating the emergency to an MS in the cell.
US09144091B2 Devices for establishing multiple connections
A method by a User Equipment (UE) is described. The method includes a receiving radio resource control (RRC) message to map a data radio bearer (DRB) to at least one of a first set of cell(s) and a second set of cell(s). A first DRB set is mapped to the first set of cell(s) and a second DRB set is mapped to the second set of cell(s). For each set of cell(s), DRBs correspond to a MAC entity.
US09144085B2 Multicast/broadcast service continuity in multi-carrier networks
Embodiments of the present disclosure describe devices, methods, computer-readable media and systems configurations for management and/or support of multimedia broadcast multicast service (MBMS) service in a wireless communications network. An evolved Node B (eNB) may transmit MBMS assistance information to a user equipment (UE). The MBMS assistance information may identify a carrier by which one or more upcoming MBMS services are to be provided and an indicator of a carrier selection mode to be used by the UE. The UE may transmit an MBMS interest indication message including information related to one or more targeted MBMS services which the UE wants to receive.
US09144083B2 Cooperative sensing scheduling for energy-efficient cognitive radio networks
Cooperative sensing scheduling and parameter designs are described, which can achieve improvements in energy efficiency in cognitive radio networks, for example. In addition, the disclosed subject matter describes an objective or reward function or policy related to energy efficiency and considerations such as channel assignments sensing time that can maximize the objective function. The disclosed details enable various refinements and modifications according to system design and tradeoff considerations.
US09144081B1 Assignment of wireless coverage areas based on media codec
A radio access network (RAN) may receive a call setup request from a wireless communication device (WCD). The call setup request may indicate that the WCD supports a first media codec. The RAN may obtain a set of candidate wireless coverage areas for serving the WCD. A first subset of the candidate wireless coverage areas may support the first media codec, and a second subset of the candidate wireless coverage areas might not support the first media codec. The RAN may assign traffic channels to the WCD, such that the assigned traffic channels include traffic channels from at least two of the first subset of the candidate wireless coverage areas, but do not include traffic channels from any of the second subset of the candidate wireless coverage areas. The RAN may communicate with the WCD substantially simultaneously via the assigned traffic channels using the first media codec.
US09144080B2 Selecting transmission parameters for downlink transmissions based on retransmission rates
A supporting node maintains a retransmission database that stores information about the historical retransmission rates of user terminals served by the network. The supporting network node provides the information about the retransmission rates of the user terminals to the base stations that are serving the user terminals. When a user terminal is being scheduled to receive a downlink transmission, the scheduler at the base station may use historical retransmission rates of the user terminal to select transmission parameters, e.g. modulation and coding scheme (MCS) and/or transport block size (TBS), for the downlink transmission.
US09144074B2 Spatial multiplexing in a cellular network
The present invention provides methods and apparatus for implementing spatial multiplexing in conjunction with the one or more multiple access protocols during the broadcast of information in a wireless network. A subscriber unit for use in a cellular system is disclosed. The subscriber unit includes: spatially separate receivers, a spatial processor, and a combiner. The spatially separate receivers receive the assigned channel composite signals resulting from the spatially separate transmission of the subscriber downlink datastream(s). The spatial processor is configurable in response to a control signal transmitted by the base station to separate the composite signals into estimated substreams based on information obtained during the transmission of known data patterns from at least one of the base stations. The spatial processor signals the base stations when a change of a spatial transmission configuration is required. The combiner combines the estimated substreams into a corresponding subscriber datastream.
US09144073B2 Radio base station and communication control method
Disclosed is a wireless base station (eNB1-1) that sets to each serving wireless terminal (UE2) different frequency bandwidths (SRS transmission frequency bandwidths) that are used when said serving wireless terminals (UE2) send SRS at a predetermined special sub-frame timing. In addition the wireless base station (eNB1-1) sends the set SRS transmission frequency bandwidth information to the serving wireless terminals (UE2).
US09144069B2 Method and device for transmitting and receiving downlink control channel for controlling inter-cell interference in wireless communication system
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system, and more particularly, to a method and device for transmitting and receiving a downlink control channel for controlling inter-cell interference in a wireless communication system. An embodiment of the present invention provides a method for transmitting a downlink control channel from a base station to a terminal, and the method may comprise: a step of determining whether a downlink subframe is of a first type or a second type; and a step in which if the downlink subframe is of the first type, the number of OFDM symbols for transmitting the downlink control channel is set to a preset value (N), and the downlink control channel is transmitted using N OFDM symbols.
US09144066B2 Method and system for hybrid automatic repeat request combining on an lte downlink control channel
The present technology provides for an LTE system comprising a UE which is configured to perform blind HARQ combining of PDCCH messages, and an eNB which is configured with a HARQ transmission mechanism for such PDCCH messages. The PDCCH messages may be uplink or downlink grant messages, for example. In some embodiments, up to 8 messages may be combined via HARQ. Such HARQ combining may facilitate realizing a practical coverage gain.
US09144064B2 Generating downlink frame and searching for cell
A method is provided for searching for a cell in a mobile station. The method includes receiving a downlink frame including a primary synchronization signal and a secondary synchronization signal. The secondary synchronization signal contains cell identity group information and the primary synchronization signal contains cell identity information within a cell identity group. The method also includes searching for a cell using the cell identity group information in the secondary synchronization signal and the cell identity information in the primary synchronization sign.
US09144062B2 Method and apparatus of allocating scheduling request resources in mobile communication networks
Various schemes are provided to improve SR resource utilization by adapting SR resource allocation to traffic pattern. In a first Scheme, SR resource allocation is configured more accurately. In one example, UE provides assistant information for eNB to determine or adjust SR configuration based on the received assistant information. In a second Scheme, multiple SR periods are configured and adapted to traffic pattern. In one example, eNB configures a set of SR resources with multiple SR periods, and UE applies different SR periods based on predefined events. Unused SR resources could be recycled by eNB for PUSCH data transmission. In a third Scheme, multiple SR allocations are configured and adapted to concerned applications. In one example, eNB configures multiple sets of SR resources adapted to predefined applications, and UE applies SR configurations based on corresponding applications. The additional SR configurations could be activated and/or deactivated.
US09144060B2 Resource allocation for shared signaling channels
A shared signaling channel can be used in an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) communication system to provide signaling, acknowledgement, and power control messages to access terminals within the system. The shared signaling channel may comprise reserved logical resources that can be assigned to subcarriers, OFDM symbols, or combinations thereof.
US09144047B2 Methods, wireless communication stations, and system for time synchronization and discovery
Embodiments of a user station (STA) and methods for synchronizing with devices in a wireless communication network are generally described herein. In some embodiments, a STA receives a first beacon from a device in the first social network. The STA may synchronize to the first social network based on time synchronization information in the first beacon. The STA may transmit the time synchronization information of the first beacon to a second social network. A portion of a coverage area of the second social network may be outside a coverage area of the first social network.
US09144039B2 Power headroom report method and apparatus for mobile communication system supporting carrier aggregation
A Power Headroom Report (PHR) method and apparatus for a mobile communication system supporting carrier aggregation are provided. The method for transmitting PHR of a terminal in a mobile communication system includes configuring, when a PHR is triggered for at least one activated serving cell, an extended PHR for the at least one activated serving cell, the PHR being triggered when a change of a downlink path loss in the at least one activated serving cell is greater than a predetermined threshold value, and transmitting the extended PHR.
US09144038B2 Method and apparatus for calculating power headroom in carrier aggregation mobile communication system
A power headroom calculation method and apparatus of a User Equipment (UE) are provided for a primary cell Power Headroom (PH) calculation in a Long Term Evolution-Advanced (LTE-A) mobile communication system. The method includes determining whether an activated serving cell includes uplink data and/or uplink control signal to be transmitted, and determining PH of the activated serving cell according to whether the activated serving cell has the uplink data and/or uplink control signal.
US09144035B2 Terminal equipment and method for controlling uplink transmission power
The present invention relates to terminal equipment and a method for controlling uplink transmission power. The method, in which terminal equipment controls uplink transmission power in a wireless communication system, includes the steps of: determining uplink transmission power when at least one type of channel is employed for simultaneous transmission at a cell among a first type of channel corresponding to a plurality of PUCCHs, a second type of channel corresponding to PUSCHs including a UCI, and a third type of channel corresponding to PUSCHs excluding the UCI; and transmitting the at least one type of channel via the determined uplink transmission power, wherein the uplink transmission power is determined by applying a scaling factor to a power value of the at least one type of channel when the power value exceeds the maximum transmission power or remaining transmission power.
US09144033B2 Relay device and method
A wireless communications system including a base station, a relay device, and a terminal device. The terminal device can transmit one or more first type access request messages to request uplink resources from the base station, and if no response to the first type access request messages is received from the base station, transmit a second type access request message. The base station is responsive to a first type access request message received from the terminal device to transmit an allocation of uplink resources to the terminal device. The relay device is responsive to a second type access request message received from the terminal device to transmit a relayed access request message to request the base station to allocate uplink resources to the terminal device. The base station is responsive to the relayed access request message to transmit an allocation of uplink resources to the terminal device.
US09144032B2 Controlling the radiation pattern of a mobile terminal according to a posture of the mobile terminal
A transmission method and apparatus of a mobile terminal including an antenna are provided. The transmission method includes determining a posture of the mobile terminal in an active state, updating a preset reference power by adding a power gain determined according to the posture of the mobile terminal, and transmitting a transmit signal amplified according to the updated reference power. Accordingly, the reference power is adjusted according to the posture of the mobile terminal, whereby it is possible to control the radiation pattern of antenna of the mobile terminal.
US09144029B2 System and method for downlink power optimization in a partitioned wireless backhaul network with out-of-neighborhood utility evaluation
A system and method for downlink power optimization in a partitioned wireless backhaul network with out-of-neighborhood utility evaluation is disclosed. The method comprises performing initial downlink power optimization for each neighborhood independently, considering only in-neighborhood utilities, by obtaining the transmit powers of all hubs and a utility performance of all served remote backhaul modules (RBMs) in the neighborhood. Power optimization data for each neighborhood are then reported to a central processing unit for storage. Thereafter, for each neighborhood, an out-of-neighborhood utility evaluation is performed by the centralized processing unit, based on reported power optimization data from other neighborhoods, for example, by obtaining delta out-of-neighborhood sum utilities for each hub as a function of hub transmit power, by curve fitting of reported data. Power optimization for each neighborhood is then performed by optimizing both in-neighborhood sum utilities and out-of-neighborhood sum utilities, and hub transmit powers are updated accordingly.
US09144020B2 Dynamic RxDiv for idle mode in a user equipment
A method of evaluating a reception quality of a receiver includes determining a reception quality of the receiver using a measurement from a single active antenna of the receiver if the receiver is in the idle mode. The method further includes activating receiver diversity by activating at least a second antenna of the receiver in the idle mode if the measurement from the single active antenna of the receiver is below a first predetermined reception quality threshold. A receiver includes receiver chains configured to interface with respective antennas, and a reception quality estimation unit configured to determine a reception quality of a single active receive chain when the receive is in an idle mode. The receiver further includes a diversity controller configured to selectively activate at least a second receive chain in the idle mode based on the determined reception quality from the reception quality estimation unit.
US09144012B2 Method and system of MIMO and beamforming transmitter and receiver architecture
A multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) receiver includes a receive path circuitry configured to receive a first signal from a first antenna and a second signal from a second antenna, downconvert the first signal to a first frequency to generate a first intermediate frequency (IF) signal, downconvert the second signal to a second frequency different from the first frequency to generate a second IF signal, and combine the first IF signal and the second IF signal into a common signal.
US09144002B2 Method for performing proactive wireless communication handoffs using a mobile client's route information
A method of handing off radio resources from a first base station to a second base station includes transmitting route information and speed information associated with a client device from the client device to the first base station or to an application server. A time is selected at which the radio resources are to be handed off from the first base station to the second base station. The selection is performed by the first base station or the application server. The selection is performed dependent upon the route information and speed information.
US09144000B2 Cell specifying method, base station, and mobile station
In a cellular mobile communication system that operates in a first state in which UE has not established a connection with eNB and in a second state in which the connection has been established with eNB, the UE transmits cell selection history to the eNB of a second cell when handover from a first cell to the second cell in accordance with second criteria for handover in the second state, the cell selection history containing a history of cell selection performed in accordance with first criteria for cell reselection in the first state. When the UE performs handover from the first cell to the second cell within a period after transition from the first state to the second state, the eNB of the second cell specifies the cell in which the first criteria and the second criteria are not aligned from among the first cell and the second cell.
US09143997B2 Service restoration processing method and mobility management network element
Determining, by a first mobility management network element and a second mobility management network element that are ISR associated, that a serving gateway fails, and saving, by the first mobility management network element and the second mobility management network element, a context of a user equipment that the serving gateway serves; receiving, by the first mobility management network element or the second mobility management network element, a trigger, and executing a service restoration process for the user equipment. According to the embodiments of the present invention, the mobility management network element executes a service restoration process, thereby ensuring normal operation of a service.
US09143990B2 Method and device for handling failure of mobility management device in ISR activated scenario
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a method and device for handling a failure of a mobility management device in an ISR activated scenario. The method includes: detecting, by a serving gateway, a failure of a first mobility management device; and when the serving gateway receives downlink user plane or control plane data of a user equipment, paging, by the serving gateway, the user equipment using a downlink data notification message including identity information of the user equipment, in a first radio access network connected to the first mobility management device.
US09143982B2 Communication apparatus, communication method, and communication system
A physical frame is constructed, the physical frame including a medium access control super-frame payload which in turn includes a plurality of medium access control frames. With respect to the constructed physical frame, virtual carrier sense information is set in the plurality of medium access control frame so that a result of carrier sense is identical to another by virtual carrier sense based on the plurality of medium access control frames in the medium access control super-frame payload. The physical frame in which the virtual carrier sense information has been set is transmitted to a destined communication apparatus.
US09143976B2 Wireless end-user device with differentiated network access and access status for background and foreground device applications
A wireless end-user device has wireless wide-area network (WWAN) and wireless local-area network (WLAN) modems. One or more processors classify when an application is interacting in the device foreground with a user. For a time period when data for Internet service activities is communicated through the WWAN modem, the processors use a differential traffic control policy to selectively block and allow network access for an application based on whether the application is classified as interacting in the device foreground with a user. The processors provide a network access condition to the application through an application program interface (API), and thus can indicate that Internet data service is unavailable to that particular application based on the classification. A different policy may apply to WLAN modem usage and/or to different WWAN networks.
US09143970B2 Method and apparatus for receiving a timing advance command in a wireless communication system
The present invention provides a method of receiving a timing advance command by a user equipment in a wireless communication system. A terminal receives information on a time advance group from a base station, and also receives the timing advance command corresponding to the time advance group from the base station.
US09143965B2 Wireless station and transmission power determination method
A wireless station includes: a receiver configured to receive information on a reception quality from a wireless communication apparatus that is connected to the wireless station; and a processor coupled to the receiver and configured to: calculate, based on the reception quality, an index value indicating a difference between a signal-to-interference ratio in the wireless communication apparatus and transmission power of the wireless station, calculate a statistical amount of the index value calculated with regard to each of the plurality of reception qualities, and determine the transmission power in accordance with the statistical amount.
US09143959B2 Method, apparatus and system for optimizing inter-cell interference coordination
The present invention proposes a method, a radio base station and a wireless communication system for optimizing Inter-cell Interference Coordination, wherein a user equipment is communicated within a cell served by the radio base station, comprising: obtaining one or more channel conditions on the communication channel between the user equipment and the radio base station, establishing a utility function as a function of Signal to Interference-and-Noise Ratios SINRs to model the user equipment's satisfaction level in terms of quality of service and power consumption based on the obtained channel conditions, selecting a SINR that enables to maximize the value of the utility function as a target SINR, and determining a transmit power to be used by the user equipment as a function of the target SINR. Thus, a self-optimized inter-cell interference coordination (ICIC) without X2 signaling between base stations is achieved and greedy power allocation is avoid.
US09143958B2 Uplink coverage via autonomous retransmission
A device (110) receives consecutive negative acknowledgments (NACKs) (540), measures a downlink channel quality (530) associated with the device (110), and triggers autonomous retransmission (430) when power is limited in the device (110), when the device (110) is using a minimum usable enhanced dedicated channel (E-DCH) transport format combination (ETFC), and when one of a number of consecutive NACKs (540) is greater than a predefined number or the measured downlink channel quality (530) is less than a predefined threshold.
US09143956B2 System and method for monitoring and enforcing policy within a wireless network
In general, one embodiment of the invention is a air monitor adapted to a wireless network. The air monitor enforces policies followed by the wireless network even though it is not involved in the exchange of data between wireless devices of the wireless network such as access points and wireless stations.
US09143954B2 Position identification apparatus, position identification method, position identification system, recording medium, air conditioning system, and lighting system
A locating apparatus comprises a first acquirer requesting multiple installed devices installed within a given space to radio-communicate with each other so as to acquire first radio communication information representing a first physical quantity obtained for each pair of the installed devices for each of the installed devices; a storage recording the first radio communication information acquired by the first acquirer for each of the installed devices; a second acquirer requesting a terminal present within the given space and the multiple installed devices to radio-communicate with each other so as to acquire second radio communication information representing a second physical quantity obtained for each pair of the terminal and installed devices; and a detector detecting the installed device from which the first physical quantity close to the second physical quantity is obtained among the multiple installed devices.
US09143953B1 Methods and devices for using silence intervals to enhance wireless communications
Methods and devices for transmission of communications during a silence interval are described. A base station (BS) provides timing data to an access terminal (AT) and AT uses timing data to synchronize with BS to carry our silence and non-silence intervals for an RF air interface. AT attempts to initiate communications by transmitting an access probe (AP) to BS during a non-silence interval. Other ATs may transmit communications to BS during non-silence interval. If BS acknowledges AP during non-silence interval, AT does not transmit during a subsequent silence interval. If AP was for an emergency communication and BS does not acknowledge AP sent during non-silence interval, AT transmits another AP during the subsequent silence interval to initiate emergency communication. If AP was not for emergency communication, AT does not transmit AP during the subsequent silence interval. The other ATs do not transmit communications to BS during the subsequent silence interval.
US09143943B2 Mode sensitive networking
Mode sensitive networking is provided to allow mode specific communications using a mobile device. If a device has an established secured connection and an application is running in work mode, packets are routed through the secure connection. If the device has an established secured connection but an application is running in personal mode, packets are routed through an alternate connection. Secured connections may be established by using privileged applications. A device and associated applications may have access to different servers, sites, and destinations based on a current mode.
US09143937B2 Wireless communication using concurrent re-authentication and connection setup
A method includes generating at least one of a re-authorization request or a re-authentication with an extensible authentication protocol. The method also includes generating an upper layer message. The method further includes bundling the upper layer message and the least one of the re-authorization request or the re-authentication request as an association request. The method further includes transmitting the association request to an access point.
US09143934B2 System and method for remote control of a mobile device
A system and method are disclosed for remotely controlling a mobile device, useful particularly when a mobile device is displaced or physically dispossessed from a user. The method includes receiving, at a server, a geographical location of a mobile device, wherein the geographical location of the mobile device is monitored in a background mode of the mobile device, storing the received geographical location of the mobile device in a database, sending, in response to a request from the user via a secure website, the geographical location of the mobile device stored on the database, receiving a request from via the secure website to access and modify data of the mobile device, and transmitting instructions to the mobile device, at the received geographical location, to execute the request.
US09143931B2 Privacy control for wireless devices
According to various embodiments, a computer-implemented method is disclosed that includes receiving, at a wireless adaptor of a device, a wireless data packet from an access point (AP), wherein the wireless data packet includes a Basic Service Set Identifier (BSSID) of the AP; changing the BSSID of the received data packet by a processor or hardware to produce a modified wireless data packet; and transmitting the modified wireless data packet to an application on the device.
US09143930B2 Secure element for mobile network services
In a secure element (4) that comprises an application (17B) and/or a security domain (17A) a mode is proved, in which mode a transfer of data (AD) to said application (17B) and/or security domain (17A) requires pre-authorization.
US09143925B2 Communication parameter setting apparatus and control method therefore
A communication apparatus in which it is determined whether a communication parameter setting scheme used to provide a partner apparatus with communication parameters is an authentication code scheme or a non-authentication code scheme. Any one of first communication parameters to wirelessly communicate in a first wireless network and second communication parameters to wirelessly communicate in a second wireless network are selected in accordance with the determined setting scheme. The partner apparatus is provided with the selected communication parameters in accordance with the determined setting scheme.
US09143924B1 Segmented customization payload delivery
A method of sending a customization payload to a mobile communication device comprises identifying, by the mobile communication device, the bandwidth of a bearer channel, wherein the bearer channel provides a connection between the mobile communication device and a server, sending, from the mobile communication device to the server, an alert string selected based upon the identifying, and receiving, by the mobile communication device, a customization payload identified based on the alert string, wherein the customization payload is received from the server.
US09143916B2 Hybrid wireless virtualization architecture
According to one embodiment of the invention, a method for optimizing revenue for an operator of a network comprises receiving control information by a network device. The control information includes a first airtime representing an amount of airtime used for wireless data transmissions to a first group of network devices. The method further involves an operation of computing an airtime allocation for the first group of network devices based on the first airtime and lease rates. The lease rates are prices per unit of airtime to be paid by an operator associated with one or more of the network devices.
US09143904B2 Method and systems to dynamically enable and control communication link optimizations on a communication device
Embodiment methods and systems include external hardware that can be fitted to a wireless communication device that stores a communication application, communication presets and/or data that are downloaded to the wireless communication device where it may be implemented to optimize group communications on the wireless devices. The wireless device may be coupled to an external case configured with a physical button that enables group communication such as push-to-talk and other push-to-experience capabilities. Optimizations for push-to-talk communication may be implemented in a push-to-talk mode in response to detecting connection to the external hardware. Signaling between the external case and the wireless device allows detection of the switch to (or from) push-to-talk mode when a user depresses (or releases) the hard key.
US09143876B2 Glitch detection and method for detecting a glitch
System and method for detecting a glitch is disclosed. An embodiment comprises increasing a bias voltage of a first capacitor, sampling an input signal of a first plate of the first capacitor with a time period, mixing the input signal with the sampled input signal, and comparing the mixed signal with a reference signal.
US09143873B2 Methods and apparatus for transmitting vibrations
Methods and apparatus for transmitting vibrations via an electronic and/or transducer assembly through a dental implant are disclosed herein. The assembly may be attached, adhered, or otherwise embedded into or upon the implant to form a hearing assembly. The electronic and transducer assembly may receive incoming sounds either directly or through a receiver to process and amplify the signals and transmit the processed sounds via a vibrating transducer element coupled to a tooth or other hone structure, such as the maxillary, mandibular, or palatine bone structure.
US09143870B2 Microphone system with mechanically-coupled diaphragms
A microphone system has two diaphragms and are mechanically interconnected such that they respond in antiphase to an acoustic signal impinging on one of the diaphragms. The two diaphragms produce two variable capacitances that vary proportionately but inversely to one another. Voltage signals produced by the two variable capacitances are summed to provide an output signal proportional to the acoustic signal, but with greater sensitivity than a single-diaphragm microphone.
US09143865B2 Handheld electronic devices and methods involving distributed mode loudspeakers
Devices and methods involving distributed mode loudspeakers are provided. A representative device includes: a housing defining an interior; a display supported by the housing; a distributed mode loudspeaker supported by the housing, the distributed mode loudspeaker having a driver and a panel, the driver being mounted within the interior and being operative to vibrate the panel, the panel being movable between a stowed position, in which a first portion of the panel is positioned within the interior, and an extended position, in which the first portion of the panel is positioned outside the interior.
US09143864B2 Audio playback system
An audio playback system includes a handheld device and a digital stereo set. By the handheld device, a control message is converted into a modulation signal. The modulation signal is transmitted to a speaker, thereby controlling the speaker to generate a modulated sound wave signal. After the modulated sound wave signal is received by a built-in microphone of the digital stereo set, the modulated sound wave signal is restored to the control message. After the control message is received by the digital stereo set, the digital stereo set performs a corresponding control action.
US09143863B2 Apparatus, systems and methods for inaudibly identifying an audio accessory using spectral shaping
A method for identifying an accessory coupled to an electronic device. The method includes applying at least one detection pulse to the audio accessory, each detection pulse being spectrally shaped to be generally inaudible to a human user, receiving at least one response signal corresponding to each detection pulse that is indicative of the impedance of the accessory, and based on the impedance, identifying the accessory.
US09143858B2 User designed active noise cancellation (ANC) controller for headphones
Embodiments are directed towards enabling headphones to perform active noise cancellation for a particular user. Each separate user may enable individualized noise canceling headphones for one or more noise environments. When the user is wearing the headphones in a quiet environment, a user may employ a computer to initiate determination of a plant model of each ear cup specific to the user. When the user is wearing the headphones in a target noise environment, the user may utilize the computer to initiate determination of operating parameters of a controller for each ear cup of the headphones. The computer may provide the operating parameters of each controller to the headphones. And the operation of each controller may be updated based on the determined operating parameters. The updated headphones may be utilized by the user to provide active noise cancellation.
US09143851B2 Microphone arrangement
A microphone arrangement has an SMD housing with a sound inlet opening. A transducer receives sound waves through the sound inlet opening and converts the received sound waves into electrical signals. An analog-to-digital converter provides digital signals. An interface control unit with a digital interface is used by the chip to transmit data serially to an external device. At least one further interface is connected to a peripheral device such that the at least one further interface can be used to transmit data between the peripheral devices and the interface control unit. The transducer, the analog-to-digital converter, the interface control unit and the at least one further interface are integrated in the SMD housing.
US09143834B2 System and method for organizing a media program guide according to popularity
Elements of a media program guide are organized in order of a popularity ranking. The popularity rating may be assigned by assigning values to preference terms, analyzing associations of the preference terms to data related to media programs and assigning the popularity ranking of the media programs based on the associations. Associations of the preference terms to the data may be extracted from social media communications or based on numbers of viewers.
US09143833B2 Systems and methods for scheduling interactive media and events
The user can respond to a media segment wherein the media segment may be associated with a schedulable event. Software on the device can then schedule the event into an electronic calendar system, and/or may use data associated with the media segment. At the appropriate time, the electronic calendar system may notify the user of the scheduled broadcast and/or event.
US09143828B2 Method and apparatus for interactive audience participation at a live entertainment event
The present invention relates to an interactive system enabling audience participation at a live event taking place in a venue. The system includes use of an interactive device that presents a promotional message (that is displayed on an electronic display) to an audience member, wherein said audience member is capable of responding to said message by entering feedback into said interactive device. Said feedback is transmitted to a central processor, where said feedback is stored as audience data and subsequently processed into results.
US09143827B2 Systems and methods for securely place shifting media content
Systems and methods are provided for securely providing a place-shifted media stream from a place shifting device to a remote player via a communications network. A request for a connection is received from the remote player at the place shifting device via the communications network. In response to the request for the connection, an authorization credential is requested from a central server via the communications network. Further, in response to the authorization credential received from the central server, the place-shifted media stream between the place shifting device and the remote player can be established over the communications network. At least a portion of the place-shifted media stream may be encrypted based upon the authorization credential.
US09143814B2 Method and system for adaptive transcoding and transrating in a video network
A video server adaptively selects an appropriate video encoding standard and an appropriate video encoding rate for encoding video content to be downloaded to one or more video client devices over a communication network. The video server adaptively selects the video encoding standard and the video encoding rate based upon factors such as the data transmission rate of the communication network, the processing speed of the video client device, or the type of the video content to be downloaded. Once the video encoding standard and the video encoding rate are selected, video content can be transcoded prior to downloading to one or more video client devices. During the download, the video content may be adaptively transrated, such as in response to a change in the data transmission rate of the communication network.
US09143809B2 Device associated with a user account
A system and method for distributing digital media assets to a plurality of users. A portal is provided comprising at least one server computer. The portal executes a media library database server application that manages access a master library of media 5 assets that can be accessed by users via one or more communication networks. A plurality of media player devices communicate with the portal to access media assets for use. Each media player device may comprise a processor that executes a database client application that manages media assets licensed for use by a user.
US09143807B2 Registration of a personal electronic device (PED) with an aircraft IFE system using PED generated registration token images and associated methods
An aircraft communications system includes at least one personal electronic device (PED) carried by an aircraft passenger, and an aircraft in-flight entertainment (IFE) system. The PED includes a PED display, a PED wireless transceiver, and a PED controller for generating a respective registration token image on the PED display. The aircraft IFE system includes an IFE video entertainment source, IFE passenger seat displays, a respective IFE optical sensor associated with each of the IFE passenger seat displays, an IFE wireless transceiver, and an IFE controller. The IFE controller is for selectively displaying video from the IFE entertainment source on the IFE passenger seat displays, and for communicating with the PED wireless transceiver via the IFE wireless transceiver based upon a respective IFE optical sensor sensing the registration token image on the PED display.
US09143805B2 Method of image coding chrominance signal and method of image decoding chrominance signal
An image coding method includes: generating a temporarily coded chrominance signal from the coded residual signal and the intra prediction chrominance signal; calculating a direct-current component of the input chrominance signal; calculating a direct-current component of the temporarily coded chrominance signal; calculating an offset value from the direct-current component of the input chrominance signal and the direct-current component of the temporarily coded chrominance signal; coding quantized coefficients, an intra prediction mode, and the offset value; and adding the offset value to the temporarily coded chrominance signal to generate a coded chrominance signal.
US09143793B2 Video processing system, computer program product and method for managing a transfer of information between a memory unit and a decoder
Video processing system, computer program product and method for managing an exchange of information between a memory unit and a decoder, the method includes: (a) retrieving, from the memory unit, a first non-zero data structure that comprises only non-zero first transform coefficient groups; wherein first transform coefficient groups are associated with a first quality level; (b) retrieving, from the memory unit, second layer information; (c) processing, by the video decoder, the second layer information and the first non-zero data structure to provide second transform coefficient groups; (c) generating, by the video decoder, a second non-zero data structure that comprises only non-zero second transform coefficient groups; wherein the second non-zero data structure is associated with a second quality level that is higher than the first quality level; (d) generating second non-zero indicators that are indicative of non-zero transform coefficient groups, wherein the second non-zero data structure is associated with a second quality level that is higher than the first quality level; and (e) writing to the memory unit the second non-zero indicators.
US09143790B2 Encoding and decoding a video image sequence by image areas
A method for coding a sequence of video images comprising a cutting into zones of at least one current image of the sequence, characterized in that, for the coding of at least one target zone of said at least one current image, it comprises the steps of: determination (E2) of a set of candidate zones in previously coded and then decoded parts of images of the sequence, minimizing a prediction error calculated over the neighborhood of the target zone, formation (E3) of a set of groups of candidate zones in said set of candidate zones, as a function of a criterion of similarity between the candidate zones, identification (E6) of a best group in said set of groups, minimizing a reconstruction error with respect to the target zone, determination (E6) of an indication (n) representative of said identified best group; and coding (E7) of said indication (n).
US09143788B2 Multiple thread video encoding using HRD information sharing and bit allocation waiting
A method of encoding video wherein multiple threads of GOPs are encoding in parallel from a buffer in a single pass. In the buffer GOPs having fewer frames than a low frame threshold at the end of a scene are merged with a preceding GOP. Hypothetical reference decoder (HRD) information is stored in the buffer for each GOP and HRD information for neighboring GOPs are merged in the buffer.
US09143785B2 COFDM broadcast systems employing turbo coding
Turbo-coded data are transmitted using quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) of COFDM carrier waves in digital television (DTV) broadcast systems. The QAM symbol constellations map the parity bits of the turbo coded data so as to be de-mapped with higher confidence levels than the data bits, facilitating turbo decoding. A preferred DTV receiver delays the first transmissions of time-slices of a service selected for iterative-diversity reception to concur with second transmissions of those time-slices. The complex coordinates of QAM constellations in the delayed first transmission and the second transmission of the same time-slice are combined by a maximal-ratio QAM combiner after COFDM demodulation, but before de-mapping QAM constellations and turbo decoding. In a less-preferred DTV receiver, QAM constellations in the delayed first transmission of each time-slice and in the second transmission of the same time-slice are de-mapped separately. A maximal-ratio code combiner then combines de-mapping results before turbo decoding.
US09143771B2 Image display device and method for operating the same
An image display device and a method for operating the same are disclosed. The method for operating the image display device including a plurality of backlight lamps arranged on upper and lower sides of a rear surface of a display panel includes receiving a 3-Dimensional (3D) image, alternately aligning a left-eye image and a right-eye image of the 3D image, and alternately displaying the aligned left- and right-eye images. In the displaying step, the backlight lamps arranged on the upper side of the panel and the backlight lamps arranged on the lower side of the panel are turned on in a portion of a period of the left-eye image or the right-eye image.
US09143764B2 Image processing device, image processing method and storage medium
An image processing device includes: a size acquisition section that acquires a first display size of an output target display device that performs 3D display; a storage section that stores respective parallax amounts adjusted by a user during performing 3D display of 3D display image data respectively on display devices of different types, and stores respective second display sizes of the display devices; a parallax amount computation section that computes a parallax amount for the first display size based on a relationship between the parallax amounts and the second display sizes stored in the storage section; and an output section that outputs to the output target display device the computed parallax amount and the 3D display image data.
US09143763B2 Imaging apparatus, imaging method, and computer-readable recording medium
An imaging apparatus includes: a face detector that detects a face of a subject from images captured by an imaging unit; a display controller that causes a display unit to display a guide image for prompting the subject to change a direction of the face; an angle calculation unit that calculates an angle of turn of the face of the subject from a reference position of the direction of the face when the guide image is displayed, based on pieces of image data before and after a change in the direction of the face; a distance calculation unit that calculates a distance between the imaging apparatus and the face based on the calculated angle; and an image processing unit that performs image processing on at least one of the pieces of image data, according to the change in the direction of the face, based on the angle and the distance.
US09143761B2 Image processing device, image processing method, recording medium, and imaging device
An image processing device comprising: an image acquisition unit; a display unit; a selection unit; a parallax acquisition unit; a parallax history information generator that generates continuously parallax history information on the basis of the parallax acquired by the parallax acquisition unit, the parallax history information indicating variation with time of the parallax for the specific subject image and including a current parallax for the specific subject image; and a controller that displays on the display unit the plural viewpoint images of the moving image acquired by the image acquisition unit together with the parallax history information generated by the parallax history information generator, the controller making the display cycle of displaying the parallax history longer than the cycle of acquiring the parallax by the parallax acquisition unit.
US09143759B2 Intelligent image surveillance system using network camera and method therefor
An intelligent control system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure includes a plurality of network cameras to photograph a surveillance area; an image gate unit to perform image processing of image data, which is input from the plurality of network cameras, according to a specification that is requested by a user; a smart image providing unit to convert a plurality of image streams, which are image processed by the image gate unit, to a single image stream; and an image display unit to generate a three-dimensional (3D) image by segmenting, into a plurality of images, the single image stream that is input from the smart image providing unit and by disposing the segmented images on corresponding positions on a 3D modeling.
US09143750B2 Apparatus and method for processing media in convergence media service platform
Disclosed herein are an apparatus and method for processing media in a convergence media service platform. The apparatus includes a media-based sensory effect (MSE) processing unit, an AV processing unit, a sensory effect processing unit, and a media creation unit. The MSE processing unit extracts one or more sensory effects from Audio/Video (AV) media. The AV processing unit separates AV media into an audio and a video, and decodes the AV media based on media format. The sensory effect processing unit adds the extracted sensory effects in synchronization with the waveform of the separate audio, and edits the attributes of the added sensory effects. The media creation unit creates convergence media by adding the added sensory effects to the AV media.
US09143745B2 Portable self powered line mounted high speed camera system for overhead electric power lines
A method of locating a fault on a power line conductor includes measuring a change in magnitude from a load current to a fault current with a first “C” loop coil through an electric power line conductor. At least one camera is selected based on a polarity of the load current and the fault current. An image is captured with the at least one camera assembly in the direction of a fault.
US09143720B2 Handheld electronic device and image projection method of the same
A handheld electronic device is provided. The handheld electronic device comprises a main body, a processing unit, an image projection module, a motion sensor, a first light sensor and a second light sensor. The processing module is disposed in the main body to generate display data. The image projection module generates a projection image according to the display data. The motion sensor senses an orientation of the handheld electronic device. The first and second light sensors sense an ambient light. The processing unit generates the display data according to the ambient light sensed by the first light sensor when the processing module determines that the orientation is a first orientation and according to the ambient light sensed by the second light sensor when the processing module determines that the orientation is a second orientation.
US09143710B2 Sensor-integrated chip for CCD camera
The present invention relates to a sensor-integrated chip for a CCD camera in which a CCD sensor, an H/V driver for driving the CCD sensor, and an ISP (Image Signal Process) chip, which inputs a control signal for driving the CCD sensor to the H/V driver and allows a video to be displayed on a monitor (not shown) in response to an output signal from the CCD sensor, are stacked and connected with each other by inter-pad wire bonding into one IC package to be one chip, by an SIP (system In Package) method.
US09143707B2 Interchangeable lens, camera body and camera system
An interchangeable lens that can be fitted to and removed from a camera body, includes: an optical characteristic storage unit that stores information relating to optical characteristics of the interchangeable lens, including at least information related to vignetting of the interchangeable lens; and an optical characteristic transmission unit that transmits to the camera body the information relating to optical characteristics stored in the optical characteristic storage unit. And with an image height corresponding to one sixth of an image height from a center of an approximately rectangular photographic field to any of four corners of the photographic field being termed Y1, the optical characteristic storage unit stores, as the information related to vignetting of the interchangeable lens, information specifying vignetting at positions for which image heights from the center are integral multiples of Y1 from 2 through 6 inclusive.
US09143703B2 Infrared camera calibration techniques
Various techniques are disclosed for testing and/or calibrating infrared imaging modules. For example, a method of calibrating an infrared imaging module may include providing a plurality of temperature controlled environments. The method may also include transporting the infrared imaging module through the environments. The method may also include performing a measurement in each environment using an infrared sensor assembly of the infrared imaging module and determining a plurality of calibration values for the infrared imaging module based on the measurements.
US09143699B2 Overlay non-video content on a mobile device
Methods, systems, and devices are described for presenting non-video content through a mobile device that uses a video camera to track a video on another screen. In one embodiment, a system includes a video display, such as a TV, that displays video content. A mobile device with an integrated video camera captures video data from the TV and allows a user to select an area in the video in order to hear/feel/smell what is at that location in the video.
US09143683B2 Camera and method for recording image files
A camera according to the present invention comprises: an imaging section converting an object image into image data; a storage section storing still image data of a still image obtained by the imaging section, thumbnail image data of the still image, and moving image data of a moving image which has been photographed at timing at least either before or after photographing of the still image; a display section performing display of one or more thumbnail views according to the thumbnail image data; and a display control section, when one of the thumbnail views is designated in the thumbnail view display, performing display of the still image on the display section according to the still image data corresponding to the designated thumbnail view after having performed display of the moving image according to the moving image data corresponding to the designated thumbnail view stored in the storage section.
US09143679B2 Electronic apparatus, electronic apparatus control method, and storage medium
An electronic apparatus including an image sensing unit performs scene determination processing of determining a photographic scene based on an image being captured by the image sensing unit. Upon receiving a help designation to display a help screen, the electronic apparatus displays a description concerning the determined photographic scene as the help screen.
US09143678B2 Apparatus and method for processing light field data using a mask with an attenuation pattern
Provided are an apparatus and method for processing a light field image that is acquired and processed using a mask to spatially modulate a light field. The apparatus includes a lens, a mask to spatially modulate 4D light field data of a scene passing through the lens to include wideband information on the scene, a sensor to detect a 2D image corresponding to the spatially modulated 4D light field data, and a data processing unit to recover the 4D light field data from the 2D image to generate an all-in-focus image.
US09143677B1 Automatic real-time composition feedback for still and video cameras
An image capturing device includes an image sensing device, a processor, and a memory. Using this, the device can determine a plurality of image-based characteristics for a proposed image, compute a composition measure for the proposed image and the given settings that depends from at least two of the plurality of image-based characteristics of the proposed image, output an indication of the composition measure to a user, in the form of simple indicators, more complex indicators/displays, and or provide suggestions for altering at least one characteristic of the proposed image or data about the context of a shot, receive an image capture signal from the user in response to the indication, receive a captured image from the image sensing device in response to the image capture signal, and store the captured image in memory. The feedback can also be provided at a later time.
US09143672B2 Device for sending image data from camera to CCTV network
An integrated Internet camera includes, an infrared sensor, an optical system for forming an image on the infrared sensor and lenses formed from infrared transmitting material, an image capturing circuit, for capturing digital images from the infrared sensor; a network interface device connectible to a computer network for transmission of the digital images, as digital image files, across the computer network. A file transfer device of the camera communicates, via the network interface device, with a destination computer at a selected network address on the computer network, and transfers the digital image files to the destination computer according to a predetermined file transfer protocol. A transport control device of the camera controls addressing of the digital image files to the selected network address. The camera self-initiates a connection with the computer network and a connection with the destination computer at the selected network address.
US09143662B2 Frame fastening structure
The present invention relates to a housing for an imaging device, and more particularly to a frame fastening structure, and provides a frame fastening structure with a thinner fastening portion. This frame fastening structure comprises a first frame, a second frame that is screwed to the first frame, bosses that are provided on either the first frame side or the second frame side, and holes provided on the other side into which the bosses are fitted. The center positions are offset when the bosses and holes are mated, which imparts a force in the direction of pulling the first frame and second frame together, and the layout is such that the fastening direction of the second frame is substantially perpendicular to the screw fastening direction.
US09143657B2 Color enhancement technique using skin color detection
A method for enhancing the color of an image to be displayed includes receiving an input image having a plurality of pixels where each of the pixels has a plurality of color components. The input image is filtered using a spatial filter in such a manner that the lower frequency content of the input image is enhanced in such a manner that the dynamic range of the lower frequency content is increased. The filtered image is modified such that the higher frequency content of the input image is used to modify the filtered image.
US09143654B2 Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and storage medium
An image processing apparatus includes an input unit that accepts input data, a detecting unit that detects line information from the input data, the line information indicating color information about a line included in the input data, color information about the background of the line, the width of the line, and a converting unit that converts the line information based on a contrast integrated value and the difference between the color information about the background and the color information about the line, the contrast integrated value being determined by the color information about the background, the color information about the line, and the width of the line.
US09143652B2 Image reading apparatus and control method therefor
An image reading apparatus includes a reading unit configured to read an original document to generate image data, a first file generation unit configured to generate a first file based on first image data that is generated by reading a first original document using the reading unit, a second file generation unit configured to generate a second file based on second image data that is generated by reading a second original document using the reading unit, and an attaching unit configured to attach the second file to the first file, wherein the reading unit reads the second original document after reading the first original document.
US09143648B2 Image processing workflow with combined processes virtual plug-in
In an image forming device adapted to acquire image data and distribute the image data, a storage unit stores respective plug-in modules of an input process, an image transforming process, and an output process with respect to the image data. A combining information acquisition unit acquires combining information including plug-in identifiers which respectively indicate the plug-in modules. A combining unit combines two or more of the plug-in modules to generate a virtual plug-in based on the combining information. A flow setting unit sets up a workflow in which the plug-in modules including the virtual plug-in are combined arbitrarily. A workflow control unit controls processes included in the workflow when a message distribution process based on the workflow is requested.
US09143645B2 Image processing apparatus for remotely managing a power source, method for controlling the same, and a storage medium
This invention provides an image processing apparatus which keeps energizing some loads to reduce next startup processing at the time of power OFF operation via a switch of the apparatus while stopping power supply to all the loads at the time of power OFF operation by remote control, a control method for the apparatus, and a program. To accomplish this, this image processing apparatus is shifted to the power OFF state upon, for example, receiving an instruction for decreasing power consumption from an external apparatus, and is shifted to the quick OFF state upon receiving an instruction for decreasing power consumption from the external apparatus.
US09143640B2 Display apparatus and input apparatus
A display apparatus, wherein a display controller configured to perform a first display processing in which display informations from a starting point display number to a second target display number which is between the starting point display number and a first target display number corresponding to an approach-touch area are displayed on a display portion as to-be-displayed informations such that a difference between the display number of the to-be-displayed informations displayed at a start and an end of a unit time is a first value, and then perform a second display processing in which display informations from the second target display number to the first target display number are displayed as the to-be-displayed informations such that a difference between the display number of the to-be-displayed informations displayed at a start of an end of the unit time is a second value which is smaller than the first value.
US09143633B2 Browser-based scanning utility
A browser based scanning utility is provided that includes an applet delivery module for delivering a scanning applet to a web browser. A browser based capture application executes the scanning applet using the browser. The browser based capture application initiates a call. A web scanning module receives the call and activates one or more scanners for scanning one or more documents into specific image files. The web scanning module uploads the specific images to a document capture server for storage and maintenance.
US09143627B2 Information processing terminal, data transfer method, and program
There is provided an information processing terminal that is provided with an IC chip that is capable of non-contact communication with a reader/writer. The information processing terminal includes a first storage portion, a second storage portion, and a data transfer portion. The first storage portion is provided within the IC chip and is capable of storing at least one type of data item that is used by the IC chip. The second storage portion is disposed outside the IC chip. The data transfer portion transfers the data item between the first storage portion and the second storage portion in accordance with a user input.
US09143625B2 Selection of wireless devices and service plans
Disclosed are various embodiments for selection of wireless devices and service plans. A geographic location and a plurality of wireless preferences are associated with a user. Wireless service plans, offered by at least one wireless carrier that services the geographic location, that meet the wireless preferences associated with the user are determined. A user interface is generated that presents the wireless service plans in a ranked order that is determined utilizing at least the wireless preferences.
US09143623B2 Method and apparatus for providing separable billing services
Methods and apparatus for providing separable billing services. In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a memory for storing a data address associated with a first type of communication and a processor for receiving a data packet, the data packet comprising a destination data address. The processor compares the destination data address to the data address associated with the first type of communication, and routes the data packet to the destination data address if the destination data address matches the data address associated with the first type of communication and bills an account associated with the first type of communication.
US09143622B2 Prepay accounts for applications, services and content for communication devices
A system and method for managing a billing account including a client device, a transceiver, logic configured to establish at least one primary account wherein the at least one primary account represents periodic fees that are charged to the billing account on a periodic basis; and logic configured to establish at least one secondary account wherein the at least one secondary account represents an amount of prepaid service that is available for the billing account.
US09143616B2 System and method for managing traffic bursts on a per tenant basis
A system that supports multiple contact centers includes a communications network that is coupled between a private network (e.g. MPLS network) and a remote computing environment (e.g. cloud environment). A server system in the remote computing environment monitors health of different network segments (e.g. bandwidth of the connection between the communications network and the remote computing environment, bandwidth of a link used by a tenant to access the private network, etc.). When it is determined that quality of service for voice conversations for one or more contact centers is at risk due to a health status parameter of a network segment reaching a threshold, an appropriate system reaction is triggered. The system reaction may be to offload future calls to a peer remote computing environment to service future calls. The system reaction may also be to cancel outbound campaigns, provide pre-determined “sorry” messages, and the like.
US09143614B2 System and method for client interaction application integration
A system for integration of client interaction technologies, comprising a plurality of resource managers, each comprising at least a software component operating and stored on a computing device; a plurality of resources, each comprising at least an interactive element; a monitoring service, comprising at least a software service operating and stored on a computing device; and a callback cloud, comprising at least a plurality of contact agents; wherein the monitoring service tracks resource status; further wherein upon receiving an interaction request the resource managers handle the request according to known resource information; and further wherein the callback cloud responds to at least a plurality of received interaction requests.
US09143604B2 Personalized service method using user history in mobile terminal and system using the method
A personalized service method using a user history in a mobile terminal is provided. The personalized service method using the user history in the mobile terminal includes: checking at least one of event information and context information which occurred due to a user; checking a user's location, a user's condition, a user's emotional state, or an event occurrence time when the at least one of event information and context information occur; reflecting the user's location, the user's condition, the user's emotional state, or the event occurrence time in the at least one of event information and context information, and recording the at least one of event information and context information, having reflected the user's location, the user's condition, the user's emotional state, or the event occurrence time, in a database in a diary type; and displaying a representing image corresponding to the at least one of event information and context information, having been recorded in the diary type.
US09143599B2 Communication system providing data transfer direction determination based upon motion and related methods
A communication system may include at least one electronic device configured to wirelessly communicate via a short-range communications format, and at least one mobile communications device. The at least one mobile communications device may include a short-range communications device configured to wirelessly communicate with the at least one electronic device via the short-range communications format, and a controller coupled to the short-range communications device. The controller may be configured to determine a state of movement of the at least mobile communications device, and determine a direction of communication with respect to the at least one electronic device based upon the determined state of movement.
US09143591B2 Clipping structure and key module
A clipping structure configured to clip a key cap of a key module on a housing having an outer surface and an inner surface oppositely disposed is provided. The clipping structure includes a main part, a sealing part, and at least two latch parts. The main part is connected to the key cap and has a sticking portion. The sealing part is disposed between the sticking portion of the main part and the outer surface of the housing. Each latch part includes an end with a latch buckled to the inner surface of the housing. Each latch part includes another end tightly bonded to the main part. Each latch part is leaned against the inner surface of the housing by each latch, so that the outer surface of the housing is pressed by the sticking portion of the main part. A key module with the clipping structure is also provided.
US09143589B2 Mobile terminal intended to more efficiently display content on the mobile terminal and method for controlling the same
A mobile terminal is disclosed. The mobile terminal displays a progress bar for controlling the playback of content, selects two points on the progress bar, and upon receipt of a predetermined operation on the two points, controls the playback of the content, which has a playback portion between the two points. Accordingly, time-based content can be managed more efficiently through the progress bar.
US09143583B1 Fixed station interface for legacy base station equipment
An interface device for provisioning Internet Protocol (IP) communications to be established for base station equipment that employ proprietary device specific protocols. A fixed station interface (FSI) translates between a V.24 High-Level-Data-Link Control (HDLC) protocols used for external data connections on base station equipment to a Voice-Over-Internet-Protocol (VOIP) open-standard protocol. Upon being deployed in First Responder communications networks (that use legacy base station equipment), the FSI provisions for the retention of existing installed base station equipment while providing a low cost solution to support VOIP communications interconnectivity and reliability, thereby enhancing the effectiveness and safety of the First Responder systems.
US09143577B2 System and method for maintaining on a handheld electronic device information that is substantially current and is readily available to a user
An improved system and method for managing data on a handheld electronic device includes a server that periodically pushes data to a particular handheld electronic device, with the data being stored on the handheld electronic device by way of a routine running in the background whereby such reception and storage is generally transparent to a user. The data can be any type of data and may be data that is desired by the user or that fits a profile or preference of the user. The profile can, for instance, be predetermined and/or can be customized by the user and/or can reflect a preference of the user. The data pushed to the handheld electronic device can also be related in some fashion to a geographic disposition of the handheld electronic device. Such pushing of data and storage is managed by a routine running in the background of the handheld electronic device. The routine enables current data to be maintained on the handheld electronic device for ready access by a user.
US09143575B2 Distributed content caching solution for a mobile wireless network
A method in an electronic device provides local content to a user device in a communication network. The communication network includes an access network and a core network. In the access network, a content request is intercepted from the user device, which may be formatted according to a network interface. The content request may include a request for data content. Protocol layers associated with an active data session may be terminated so that an edge gateway device may extract and inject packets into the data stream without involving the core network. A cache may be maintained in the access network.
US09143568B2 Peer-to-peer sharing of cloud-based content
A cloud-based storage service hosts content information that may be accessed by client machines in a peer-to-peer network. The content information is a compact representation of the content which is stored outside of the cloud-based storage service. The cloud-based storage service generates the content information and a content information hash. The content information hash is used to validate the content information when the content information is downloaded to the peer-to-peer network. The cloud-based storage service also generates metadata that describes the content information so that a client machine in the peer-to-peer network may access the content information from the cloud-based storage service.
US09143567B2 Gateway device to connect native fibre channel ports to pure fibre channel over ethernet storage area networks
Aa gateway device for use between a Fiber Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) network and a Fiber Channel (FC) storage area network (SAN) device includes a controller, at least one first native Fiber Channel F_Port in operable communication with the controller and configured to interface with a native Fiber Channel N_Port of the FC SAN device, and at least one first virtual N_Port (VN_Port) linked to the at least one first native Fiber Channel F_Port and in operable communication with the controller.
US09143566B2 Non-disruptive storage caching using spliced cache appliances with packet inspection intelligence
A method, system and program are disclosed for accelerating data storage by providing non-disruptive storage caching using spliced cache appliances with packet inspection intelligence. A cache appliance that transparently monitors NFS and CIFS traffic between clients and NAS subsystems and caches files using dynamically adjustable cache policies provides low-latency access and redundancy in responding to both read and write requests for cached files, thereby improving access time to the data stored on the disk-based NAS filer (group).
US09143561B2 Architecture for management of digital files across distributed network
A system includes a first application executable on a first electronic device. The system further includes a second application executable on a second electronic device in communication with the first electronic device. The second electronic device is configured to store a first electronic file. Subsequent to a user modifying the first electronic file, the second application is operable to automatically transfer the modified first electronic file, or a copy thereof, to the first electronic device. The system further includes a third application executable on a third electronic device in communication with the first electronic device. The third electronic device is configured to store a second electronic file. Subsequent to the user modifying the second electronic file, the third application is operable to automatically transfer the modified second electronic file, or a copy thereof, to the first electronic device. The first application is operable to automatically transfer the modified first electronic file or copy to the third electronic device, and automatically transfer the modified second electronic file or copy to the second electronic device.
US09143556B2 Application providing system and application providing method
An application providing system has a communication terminal, a Web server that manages resources of Web applications, and a push server that manages storage location addresses of resources. The push server has an address managing unit that manages a terminal ID, a storage location address, and providing timing in a manner associated with one another. The push server further has a timing monitoring unit that monitors the providing timing. The push server further has a push transmitting unit that transmits a storage location address of a resource of a Web application associated with providing timing to a communication terminal associated with the providing timing upon detection of the providing timing to cache the resource of the Web application corresponding to the providing timing in the communication terminal.
US09143554B2 Control of a computing system having adjustable inputs
A technique for controlling an output of a computing system having multiple adjustable inputs includes providing a set of adjustable inputs to the computing system, observing an output of the computing system while the system is in operation, and selecting a subset of adjustable inputs from the set of adjustable inputs based on the observation of the output. The inputs in the selected subset are then adjusted to achieve a desired output of the computing system.
US09143548B2 Quality of service support for machine-to-machine applications
A Quality of Service functionality is provided for Machine to machine device communications that allows a single IMS session to support a plurality of different data streams. In one embodiment a single IMS session is used to support a plurality of different data streams that arise from a single application type, while in another embodiment, a single IMS session is used to support a plurality of different data streams across a plurality of different devices and applications. Through the use of a single IMS session, signaling is reduced and QoS can be offered without impacting a large number of nodes. An IMS User Agent is deployed to aid in providing this functionality.
US09143545B1 Device classification for media delivery
Media content is provided for remote playback over a packet-based network. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a host server authenticates remote users and further processes media content requests from authenticated remote users by directing or otherwise facilitating the delivery of requested media content from a user's media content source to a remote playback device. The remote playback device is classified and the media content is selectively configured at one or both of the media content source and the host server in accordance with the classification, prior to delivery to the remote playback device. Communications among the host server, remote playback device and media content source are over the packet-based network.
US09143540B2 System and method for providing service correlation in a service access gateway environment
A network service access gateway is described that provides service correlation for incoming and outgoing invocations. The service requests can be received to the gateway from telecommunication mobile devices as well as from external service provider applications. A first service request can be received to the gateway and processed. The service correlation identifier (SCID) of the request can be persisted within the gateway prior to forwarding the request to the recipient. When a second and related service invocation is later received to the gateway, the two invocations can be associated based on the SCID. Based on the association, various custom functionality can be performed, such as invoking the charging system to treat the multiple services as a single unified transaction.
US09143536B2 Determining a location address for shared data
A method and apparatus for determining a location address for shared packet switched data. The data is to be accessible by a user of a first device and a user of a second device. A symmetric function is applied to a known identifier associated with the first device and a known identifier associated with the second device. The result of the function can then be used as an address for data to be accessible by users of both the first device and the second device, the data being stored on a remote server at a location defined by the address. The method ensures that the same address is calculated regardless of which identifier is used first, and that both devices can calculate the address without requiring any further signalling or capability/discovery mechanism.
US09143529B2 Modifying pre-existing mobile applications to implement enterprise security policies
A system is disclosed that includes components and features for enabling enterprise users to securely access enterprise resources (documents, data, application servers, etc.) using their mobile devices. An enterprise can use some or all components of the system to, for example, securely but flexibly implement a BYOD (bring your own device) policy in which users can run both personal applications and secure enterprise applications on their mobile devices. The system may, for example, implement policies for controlling mobile device accesses to enterprise resources based on device attributes (e.g., what mobile applications are installed), user attributes (e.g., the user's position or department), behavioral attributes, and other criteria. Client-side code installed on the mobile devices may further enhance security by, for example, creating a secure container for locally storing enterprise data, creating a secure execution environment for running enterprise applications, and/or creating secure application tunnels for communicating with the enterprise system.
US09143527B2 Apparatus and method preventing overflow of pending interest table in name based network system
A node apparatus and method are described to prevent overflow of a pending interest table (PIT) in a name based network system. The node apparatus and method increases a number of PITs to correspond to a number of interface units so that the PITs match the interface units, respectively, and stores a request message flowing in per interface unit in the matching PITs. In addition, when a capacity used at each of the PITs exceeds a threshold, the node apparatus and method transmits a traffic control message for traffic control through respectively matching interface units to prevent overflow of the PITs.
US09143525B2 Integrated network intrusion detection
Intrusion preludes may be detected (including detection using fabricated responses to blocked network requests), and particular sources of network communications may be singled out for greater scrutiny, by performing intrusion analysis on packets blocked by a firewall. An integrated intrusion detection system uses an end-node firewall that is dynamically controlled using invoked-application information and a network policy. The system may use various alert levels to trigger heightened monitoring states, alerts sent to a security operation center, and/or logging of network activity for later forensic analysis. The system may monitor network traffic to block traffic that violates the network policy, monitor blocked traffic to detect an intrusion prelude, and monitor traffic from a potential intruder when an intrusion prelude is detected. The system also may track behavior of applications using the network policy to identify abnormal application behavior, and monitor traffic from an abnormally behaving application to identify an intrusion.
US09143524B2 Propagation of malicious code through an information technology network
A method of restricting transmission of data packets from a host entity in a network, including: transmitting outgoing packets to destination hosts whose identities are contained in a record stored in a working set of host identity records; over the course of repeated predetermined time intervals, restricting, to a predetermined number, destination hosts not identified in the working to which packets may be transmitted; upon transmission of a packet to a host whose identity is not contained in a record in the working set, adding a record containing the host's identity to the working set and attributing a time to live to the record; deleting each record from the working set whose time to live has expired.
US09143523B2 Assessing threat to at least one computer network
Apparatus for assessing threat to at least one computer network in which a plurality of systems (301, 302, 303, 304, 305, . . . 30n) operate is configured to determine predicted threat activity (13), to determine expected downtime of each system in dependence upon said predicted threat activity, to determine loss (12A, 12B, 12C, 12D, 12E, . . . , 12m) for each of a plurality of operational processes (31A, 31B, 31C, 31D, 31E, . . . 31m) dependent on the downtimes of the systems, to add losses for the plurality of processes so as to obtain a combined loss (12SUM) arising from the threat activity.
US09143517B2 Threat exchange information protection
Threat exchange information protection can include receiving security information from a number of participants of a threat exchange community, wherein a portion of the received security information is encoded with pseudonyms by each of the number of participants, analyzing the security information collectively from the number of participants, wherein the portion of the received security information remains encoded, and sending analysis results to each of the number of participants, wherein the analysis results include information relating to the portion.
US09143505B2 Image collection based information security method and system
An image collection based information security method and system is disclosed. The method includes a server side receiving a first transaction data sent by a client side and generating a second transaction data with the first data. The server converts the second data into an image, and sends the image to the client. A dynamic token collects the image, pre-processes, and converts the image into a third transaction data, and displays the third data for user's confirmation. The token generates and displays a second dynamic password according to the third data. The client receives the second password input by a user and sends same to the server. The server receives the second password and generates a first dynamic password, determines whether the first password is identical to the second password; if yes, the authentication is successful and the transaction is executed; if no, the transaction is cancelled.
US09143501B2 Reauthentication to a web service without disruption
Authenticating internet application sessions. A method includes downloading client side code that when executed implements one or more client side modules including at least one module with message interception functionality. The method includes executing the client side code to implement the one or more client side modules. A request is sent to an internet application server. In response to the request, a message is received from the internet application server indicating that the request is not authorized. The message from the internet application server indicating that the request is not authorized is intercepted at the one or more client side modules. The one or more client side modules, as a result of the message indicating that the request is not authorized, send a request for authentication in a required format for authentication. Authentication is performed without losing user state associated with the request to the internet application server.
US09143487B2 System and method for massive controlled and secured update of devices firmware
System for remote firmware updates of mail processing device from a remote data server including: file download servers connected to the remote data server for receiving encrypted files encrypted from a list of binary files corresponding to firmware of a mail processing device to update; web servers providing a web service application for downloading files and connected to the remote data server and the files download servers for retrieving the encrypted files associated with a personalized files catalog retrieved from the remote data server; and a user computer system connected to the web servers for receiving the encrypted files for download onto a storage device to plug into the mail processing device. The mail processing device decrypts the encrypted files with file decryption keys previously provided with the personalized files catalog and installs the files before connecting to the remote data server for report the outcome of the installation.
US09143483B2 Method for anonymous communication, method for registration, method and system for transmitting and receiving information
A method and a system for anonymous communication are disclosed in the present invention, which are applied in an architecture network with Identification (ID) identifier and locator separation. The method includes: after receiving an anonymous communication request initiated by a terminal, the network allocating an anonymous ID identifier to the terminal, and recording a state of the terminal as an anonymous communication state; when the terminal is in the anonymous communication state, an access gateway device where the terminal is located replacing a source access identifier in data message transmitted by the terminal with the anonymous ID identifier while receiving the data message; and replacing an anonymous ID identifier in data message transmitted to the terminal with the access identifier of the terminal while receiving the data message transmitted to the terminal.
US09143482B1 Tokenized authentication across wireless communication networks
Methods for marking and verifying an authentication status of a wireless communication device are disclosed. When a wireless communication device is authenticated in a first wireless communication network, copies of a token, are stored in memory accessible by the wireless communication device and in memory accessible by a clearinghouse server. The clearinghouse server also stores a correlation between the token and the identity of the server that authenticated the wireless communication device. When the wireless communication device moves from the first network to a second network, the WCD transmits the token to a server in the second network, which can then query the clearinghouse server to determine the identity of the server that authenticated the WCD in the first network, confirm the authentication status of the wireless communication device, and allow the WCD to access a resource in or via the second network.
US09143464B2 Method and system for speed negotiation for twisted pair links using intelligent E-FIFO in fibre channel systems
Systems, apparatuses and methods are disclosed for using elastic buffers in fiber channel systems over twisted pair links. One such system includes a fiber channel host device and another fiber channel host device communicatively coupled to the fiber channel device over a twisted pair link. The system also includes a slave physical layer (PHY) circuit residing in the fiber channel host device and a master PHY circuit residing in the another fiber channel host device. The master PHY circuit is operable to transmit, using a reference clock, data from a transmit elastic buffer. The slave PHY circuit is operable to receive the data transmitted by the master PHY circuit and to store the received data using a derived clock recovered from the received data.
US09143462B2 Large send support in layer 2 switch to enhance effectiveness of large receive on NIC and overall network throughput
The present disclosure is directed to a method for delivering a plurality of packets from a network switch to a receiving node. The method may comprise collecting a plurality of packets received at the network switch during a time window; arranging the plurality of packets based on a source address, a package number, and a destination address for each one of the plurality of packets collected during the time window; and delivering the arranged plurality of packets to the receiving node.
US09143461B2 Communication device, network node, and communication server
Disclosed is a technique for enabling a device that needs to send high priority and high bandwidth user plane traffic to send the user plane traffic even in the case where a group bandwidth has an upper limit in group-based communication. According to the technique, when an MTC device that is to send high priority and high bandwidth user plane traffic sends a service request to a network node (P-GW 213a), the network node allows use of a minimum bandwidth bearer in the case where the upper limit of the group bandwidth is exceeded. The MTC device sends a traffic sending request to an MTC server 214a via the bearer. The MTC server stops traffic of an appropriate other MTC device, to secure a bandwidth for the MTC device having the high priority and high bandwidth user plane traffic.
US09143450B2 Communication system and method for assisting with the transmission of TCP packets
A method for assisting with the transmission of TCP packets, which is used in a wireless communication system, including: receiving a plurality of TCP packets from a TCP packet sender and transmitting the TCP packets to a receiver proxy; transmitting a feedback packet to a sender proxy when receiving a TCP packet; calculating a round trip time (RTT) between the sender proxy and the receiver proxy when receiving the feedback packet, and comparing a RTT threshold and the RTT between the sender proxy and receiver proxy; determining whether a network between the sender proxy and the receiver proxy is in a congestion state according to the result of the comparison between the RTT threshold and the RTT; and dropping a TCP packet when the network is in the congestion state.
US09143441B2 Sliced routing table management
Techniques are provided for hash-based routing table management in a distributed network switch. A frame having a source address and a destination address is received. If no routing entry for the source address is found in a routing table of a switch module in the distributed network switch, where the routing table is divided into slices of buckets, then routing information is determined for the source address and a routing entry is generated. The routing table is modified to include the routing entry and based on a set of hash functions and properties of the slices.
US09143433B2 Energy efficient and energy-managed traffic engineering services in multiprotocol label switching and generalized multiprotocol label switching networks
Provided are methods and apparatus for mitigating traffic loss by using advanced traffic engineering services in a multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) network and/or a generalized multiprotocol label switching (GMPLS) network. Provided is an exemplary method that includes measuring, at a network element, energy utilization of at least one of a line card and a switch fabric card that are configured to carry a traffic engineering (TE) capable link, as well as converting the energy utilization measurement to a normalized energy consumption indicator for the at least one of the line card and the switch fabric card. Further, based on the normalized energy consumption indicator, a route of a label switched path in the MPLS network is optimized so the route avoids the at least one of the line card and the switch fabric card. The provided methods and apparatus advantageously improve throughput, reliability, and availability of MPLS and GMPLS services.
US09143432B2 Expander-targeted zoned broadcast
A method includes detecting a topology change on a link in a network and determining which zone group corresponds to the topology change. The method also includes identifying a zone group in the network that is permitted to access a device on said link and determining an address of an expander that has the zone group permitted to access the device on the link. The method further includes generating an expander-targeted zoned broadcast command to report a topology change in the network. The expander-targeted zoned broadcast command has, as a destination address, the address of the expander determined to have a zone group permitted to access a device on the link.
US09143431B2 Hiding a service node in a network from a network routing topology
Hiding a service node in a network from a network topology is provided. In one embodiment, for example, an apparatus for hiding a service node in a network from a network topology, the apparatus comprising: a network interface; a processor; and one or more stored sequences of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform: discovering a service node in a data network in accordance with a link-state protocol wherein the service node provides a network topology dependent service other than packet forwarding; establishing a link-state adjacency with the service node and one or more packet forwarding nodes in accordance with the link-state protocol; receiving a link-state advertisement; in response to identifying the link-state advertisement as an originating link-state advertisement sent from the service node, suppressing flooding of the received link-state advertisement to the one or more packet forwarding nodes.
US09143429B2 Identifying an egress point to a network location
A method of identifying an egress point to a network location includes receiving a client connection from an external network (e.g., the internet) and retrieving an egress point identifier from an egress data source (e.g., a database, look-up table, hash table, data object etc.) for the received client connection. The egress data source stores egress point identifiers associated with at least one of an internet protocol address and a subnetwork. The method further includes binding the client connection to an egress point corresponding to the retrieved egress point identifier, encapsulating packets of data received from the client connection, and sending the encapsulated data packets through an instantiated network tunnel to the bound egress point. The method includes decapsulating the encapsulated data packets at least near the bound egress point. A default routing policy may then guide the data packets to the egress point.
US09143427B2 Forwarding a packet in a sensor personal area network
The method to forward a packet according to predefined protocol steps applies to a sensor personal area network that includes data communication sensor devices. The method includes assigning a predefined compression value to a compression field in the packet for indicating that a source network identifier of the originator of the packet is assumed to be equal to a destination network identifier of an intended recipient of the packet. Furthermore, the method includes assigning a predefined label switching value lsv to an addressing mode field DAM-F in the packet P for indicating that the above mentioned protocol steps further include a label switching principle that must be applied to forward the packet. Finally the method includes using a source network identifier field SNI-F of the packet for storing and retrieving the label value lab1 for application of the label switching principle based thereon.
US09143426B2 Communication apparatus for transmitting data through a plurality of data-paths
A communication apparatus is configured to include first and second cards, and a card-to-card link connecting the cards. Each card is communicably connected to another communication apparatus through a route connected to the card. One of the cards is determined to be a primary card that controls data transmission between the communication apparatus and another communication apparatus, and the other card is determined to be a secondary card controlled by the primary card. The primary card establishes a primary data-path for transmitting primary data, using one of the first and second routes connected to the primary card. The primary card further establishes a secondary data-path for transmitting secondary data, using the card-to-card link, the secondary card, and the other one of the first and second routes connected to the secondary card.
US09143422B2 Determining network node performance data based on location and proximity of nodes
In an embodiment, a method comprises receiving a request to obtain network performance data for a plurality of target nodes; determining geo-locations of the plurality of target nodes; based on the geo-locations, determining a set of the plurality of target nodes that are within a specified proximity radius; selecting one particular target node in the set; sending a probe packet, requesting network performance data, to the one particular target node in the set and not to all other target nodes in the set; applying, to all the target nodes in the set, network performance data that is received in response to the probe packet; wherein the method is performed by one or more processors.
US09143421B2 Network system capable of implementing stun with the assistance of two network devices and method thereof
The present invention is to provide a network system, which comprises a coordinator server located in a public network; first and second NATs (Network Address Translators) located in first and second private networks and configured as a full-cone NAT, respectively; first and second network devices located in the first and second private networks and connected to the public network through the first and second NATs, respectively, wherein each of the first and second network devices has registered two mapped addresses with the coordinator server, respectively; a third NAT located in a third private network; and a third network device located in the third private network and connected to the public network through the third NAT, wherein the third network device can obtain the mapped addresses from the coordinator server and, based on the mapped addresses, conduct NAT behavior tests on the third NAT through the first and second network devices.
US09143420B2 Data transport system, receiver and transmitter
A receiver includes a data unit decomposer for receiving data units transmitted via a transmission channel and extracting user data including invalid data and valid data by removing management data from the received data units, and a plurality of rate estimators for receiving data forwarded by the data unit decomposer and outputting the data to different output interfaces. Each rate estimator selects valid data from the user data forwarded by the data unit decomposer, inputs the selected valid data to a FIFO unit, controls read frequency of the FIFO unit based on an amount of remaining data in the FIFO unit, and estimates a transmission data rate of an associated input interface in the transmitter based on at least one of a write cycle in writing the valid data to the FIFO unit and the amount of remaining data in the FIFO unit.
US09143418B2 Network transmission capacity measurement
Transmission capacity from a first node to a second node through a communication network is measured. First and second probe message from the first node to the second node, a first and second amount of data in the first and second probe message respectively being mutually different, at least one of the first and second amount exceeding a fragmentation threshold of the communication network. First and second round trip time durations are measured between transmission of the first and second probe message from the first node and reception back at the first node of a first and second response message from the second node to the first and second probe message respectively. The capacity is computed from a difference between the first and second round trip time duration.
US09143416B2 Expander device
An example expander includes a processor, a switch, and a plurality of physical layer devices (PHYs). The processor is to detect an error condition and, in response to detecting the error condition, cause the expander to enter a reduced functionality mode which keeps the switch and the plurality of physical layer devices (PHYs) operating notwithstanding the error condition.
US09143415B1 Method and system for detecting loss of synchronization in ports
Machine implemented method and system of detecting a loss of sync at a port of a network device coupled to a port of another device is provided. The port includes logic configured to detect that a special character has not been received by the port for a programmable duration; and generates a signal for a processor of the network device indicating a loss of sync between the port of the network device and the port of the other device.
US09143414B2 Scenario, call, and protocol data unit hierarchical comparator
A system, method and computer program product monitors the operation of a telecommunications network and receives source metadata at a metadata comparator. The source metadata is associated with data captured from a source in a telecommunications network. Target metadata associated with target data is also received at the metadata comparator. The source and target metadata are compared to identify metadata parameters that match or do not match. Bias data is also received at the metadata comparator. The bias data comprises weighting parameters and/or tolerance parameters. The weighting and tolerance parameters correspond to selected metadata parameters.
US09143410B1 Techniques for monitoring guest domains configured with alternate I/O domains
Techniques for monitoring guest domains configured with alternate I/O domains are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a method for monitoring guest domains configured with alternate Input/Output (I/O) domains comprising, installing cluster services in a control domain, installing cluster services in one or more alternate I/O domains, configuring, using at least one computer processor, an alternate service group to monitor services from multiple I/O domains, and configuring a logical domain service group, wherein the logical domain service group manages a guest domain which receives I/O services from either the control domain or the at least one alternate I/O domain which are monitored via the alternate I/O service group.
US09143404B2 Network data configuration method and network data configuration system
The disclosure provides a network data configuration method and a network data configuration system. The network data configuration method includes the following steps: when receiving a configuration command that instructs configuring data for a network device, the network data configuration system enters a global configuration mode; when receiving in the global configuration mode a mode switch command that instructs switching to a first configuration mode, the network data configuration system switches directly from the global configuration mode to the first configuration mode, wherein the first configuration mode is any configuration mode under the global configuration mode; when receiving in the first configuration mode a mode switch command that instructs switching to a second configuration mode, the network data configuration system exits from the first configuration mode and switching directly to the second configuration mode, wherein the second configuration mode is the global configuration mode or any configuration mode under the global configuration mode. The application of the disclosure can effectively reduce mode switch operations in the process of network data configuration and improve the configuration efficiency of network data.
US09143402B2 Sensor based configuration and control of network devices
A mobile device, such as a smartphone or a tablet computer, can execute functionality for configuring a network device in a communication network and for subsequently controlling the operation of the network device with little manual input. The mobile device can detect, from the network device, sensor information that is indicative of configuration information associated with the network device. The mobile device can decode the received sensor information to determine the configuration information and can accordingly enroll the network device in the communication network. In response to determining to control the enrolled network device, the mobile device can capture an image of the network device and can use the captured image to unambiguously identify the network device. The mobile device can establish a communication link with the network device and can transmit one or more commands to vary operating parameters of the network device.
US09143401B2 Methods and systems for network configuration
Network and device configuration systems and methods are described. In an embodiment, a first user interface configured to receive from a user configuration information regarding a first network provided. Program code stored in computer accessible memory is configured to generate a barcode that includes information related to the first network configuration information, wherein the barcode can be scanned by a device having a barcode scanner and a network interface to configure the network interface to access the first network.
US09143399B2 Minimizing the number of not-via addresses
In an embodiment, a method comprises determining a set of protected components that are associated with a notifying node; determining a single network repair address for the set of protected components, wherein the single network repair address is for use in response to unavailability of any of the protected components when transmitting network traffic to the notifying node; assigning the single network repair address to each of the protected components; wherein the notifying node is an internetworking device and wherein the method is performed by one or more processors.
US09143394B2 System and method for graph based K-redundant resiliency for IT cloud
An apparatus for enabling resiliency for cloud computing systems is provided. An apparatus includes a processor and a memory storing computer program code. The memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to perform actions. The actions include modifying a topology graph of a network architecture by mapping processes flows onto the topology graph and creating a resiliency graph based on the modified topology graph. The actions also include modifying the resiliency graph by translating at least one SLA into the resiliency graph and identifying overlaps and dependencies in the modified resiliency graph. Apparatus and computer readable instructions are also described.
US09143389B2 Methods, appratuses, and computer program products for determining a network interface to access a network resource
A method, apparatus, and computer program product are provided for determining a network interface to network resource. An apparatus may comprise a processor configured to receive a request for resolution of a domain name. The processor may be further configured to access maintained domain name suffix information. The maintained domain name suffix information may comprise a plurality of domain name suffix entries. The processor may additionally be configured to search the maintained domain name suffix information for one or more domain name suffix entries corresponding to the domain name to determine one or more network interfaces through which the domain name is accessible. The processor may also be configured to select a network interface for resolving the domain name into a network address from the one or more determined network interfaces.
US09143388B2 Method for network domain name resolution and the resolution device thereof
The invention relates to a method for network domain name resolution, the domain name comprises a first portion domain name and a second portion domain name, and the resolution method comprising following steps: In a first network system, resolving the first portion domain name into a first network address; In the first network system, searching for a first network node corresponding to the first network address according to the resolved first network address; In a second network system, resolving the second portion domain name into a second network node address, and the domain name resolution system of the second network system being independent of the domain name resolution system of the first network system. As the resolution structure of the domain name in the Intranet is independent of the resolution structure of the domain name in the Internet, the IP address of the Intranet will not occupy the IP address resource of the Internet.
US09143380B2 System and method for third party specified generation of web server content
A mobile terminal may either receive a script, or request to receive a script, which specifies a third party procedure to generate content on the mobile terminal. The script defines the procedure, manual or automatic, to be used for the content generation. If manual content generation is required, then the user of the mobile terminal is queried for the content to be generated through an input procedure as directed by the script. If automatic content generation is required, then the script executes without user interaction to generate the content. In either case, the generated content is then readily accessible from the mobile terminal via a location within the WEB site name space as directed by the script.
US09143377B2 Demapper for rotated QAM constellations
Techniques are described for quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) processing in a rotated QAM constellation. In the techniques, one or more processors determine points within the rotated QAM constellation around a vector location of a received symbol based on a probability density function applied to the vector location. The one or more processors map the points to corresponding mapped symbols of the rotated QAM constellation, and determine a plurality of bits represented by the transmitted symbol based on the corresponding mapped symbols.
US09143372B2 Communication system with receiver optimization mechanism and method of operation thereof
A communication system includes: an antenna unit configured to receive a receiver signal; a communication unit, coupled to the antenna unit, configured to: calculate a decoding result based on the receiver signal, generate a dynamic scalar based on the decoding result, and generate a content replication based on the dynamic scalar for communicating with a device.
US09143369B2 Adaptive backchannel equalization
Techniques for adaptive backchannel equalization. A total equalization value is determined over a preselected training period. A total balance equalization value is determined over the preselected training period. A transmitter equalization coefficient is determined based on the total equalization value and the total balance equalization value. Data is transmitted over a serial link using the transmitter equalization coefficient.
US09143368B1 Systems and methods for reducing quantization errors using adjustable equalizer granularities
Systems and methods are provided for an equalizer. An equalizer includes a first voltage correcting circuit configured to correct a communication signal by applying a first variable corrective voltage to the communication signal, the first corrective voltage having a voltage level selected according to a first adjustable granularity. A second voltage correcting circuit is configured to further correct the communication signal by applying a second variable corrective voltage to the communication signal, the second corrective voltage having a voltage level selected according to a second adjustable granularity that is different from the first adjustable granularity.
US09143365B2 Channel estimation using averaging and interpolation
A method of performing channel estimation includes receiving a frame that includes, for each subcarrier of a subset of subcarriers in the frame, a pair of pilot symbols in the subcarrier. The subcarriers of the subset are regularly spaced apart from one another in the frequency domain. Time-averaged channel estimates for each subcarrier of the subset are generated based on the pairs of pilot symbols. Frequency-averaged channel estimates for respective subcarriers are generated based on the time-averaged channel estimates. Interpolation is performed between respective frequency-averaged channel estimates to generate interpolated channel estimates for subcarriers between the respective subcarriers.
US09143361B2 Satellite communication system employing a combination of time slots and orthogonal codes
A satellite communication system for communicating between a plurality of user terminals is disclosed having at least one satellite which provides multiple beams, a plurality of user terminals that communicate with each other via satellites of said constellation, at least one gateway connected to a public switched telephone network and communicating with at least one user terminal over the satellite communication system wherein each of said user terminals within a given frequency band is distinguished from another of the user terminals employing a combination of time slots and orthogonal codes implemented in a forward and return link. Each of the user terminals is equipped to initiate or receive or terminate packet data messages. Each of said user terminals is handed off from one beam of a satellite to another beam of said satellite. The hand off is predicated on signal strength determined at said plurality of user terminals.
US09143348B2 Method for scheduling bus system transmissions
A method for operating a bus system, which includes a master and k slaves as users, where a header of an interrogation frame, which includes k information fields, is transmitted by the master to the slaves; in each instance, an mth slave being assigned an mth information field; an information item regarding the amount of data that is to be sent by the mth slave to the master being written by the mth slave to the mth information field assigned to it; the interrogation frame being transmitted to the master; and a time schedule, by which the amount of data to be sent is taken into account, being prepared by the master for transmitting the data.
US09143347B2 Communication control system for vehicles
Devices that are connected to each other by shorter distances, such as an audio switch 35 and an audio unit 21, the audio switch 35 and a volume control switch 41, a selector switch 43, and an audio mute switch 45 of a left handlebar switch unit 24, and a leveling unit 19 and a meter switch 32, a navigation panel switch 36, and an operation switch 46 of the left handlebar switch unit 24, communicate with each other by way of serial communications. Control units and vehicle-mounted devices which are connected to each other by longer distances, such as a TPMS unit 23, an FIECU 22, and a meter M, and the meter M, a leveling unit 19, a smart unit 23A, and an RVS unit 23B, communicate with each other via a CAN.
US09143345B2 System and method for providing phone related services to devices using UPnP on a home network
A system and method for exchanging call data between multiple devices using Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) on a home network. The system includes a telephony terminal, a first electronic device, a second electronic device, and a control point for selecting the telephony terminal and the first and second electronic devices for exchanging the call data, for setting a call reception connection between the telephony terminal and the first and second electronic devices, and forming a plurality of sessions for exchanging the call data between the selected telephony terminal and the first and second electronic devices.
US09143336B2 Efficient layer-2 multicast topology construction
One embodiment of the present invention provides a switch. The switch includes a processor and a computer-readable storage medium. The computer-readable storage medium stores instructions which when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform a method. The method comprises determining whether the switch is a leaf switch of a multicast distribution tree of a multicast group based on a multicast topology query message from a root switch of the multicast distribution tree. If the switch is a leaf switch, the method further comprises constructing a multicast topology report message comprising layer-2 topology information of the multicast group associated with the switch.
US09143333B2 System and method for multicast transmission
A system and method for multicast transmission are disclosed. In one embodiment, a virtual exchange network including interconnected nodes is embedded within a network. A sender is disposed in communication with a root node and receivers are disposed in communication with a set of edge nodes. The sender publishes a packetized data stream to which the receivers subscribe. The packetized data stream is promulgated by implicit signaling through optimum virtual exchange network connections from the sender through the virtual exchange network to the receivers. The interconnected nodes, responsive to receiving the published packetized data stream, are adapted to multicast N instances of the published packetized data stream to N recipients selected from the group consisting of receivers and other of the interconnected nodes.
US09143332B2 Method and tool for wireless communications with sleeping devices in a wireless sensor control network
A method of communicating with automation components configured for use within a building automation system is disclosed. The method includes determining a first communication schedule such that the first communication schedule configured to govern an activity schedule for use by an automation component, communicating the first communication schedule to the automation component such that the automation component currently implements a second communication schedule to govern the activity schedule, and adjusting the second communication schedule to equal the communicated first communication schedule such that the activity schedule increases a communication frequency in response to the adjustment. The method may further include defining a duration during which the first communication schedule equals the second communication schedule.
US09143328B2 System and method for providing a system management command
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention disclosed herein relate to a method of providing a system management command. The method comprises receiving from an authorized requestor information identifying the electronic device and a request to issue a system management command to the electronic device. The method additionally comprises providing, in response to the request, a system management command, information identifying a source of the command as a trusted source and the information identifying the electronic device. Also disclosed are an electronic device and a computer system according to the invention.
US09143325B2 Masking with shared random bits
A non-linear transformation including a plurality of non-linear logical operations is masked to a second or higher order. The masking includes receiving a set of random bits, and machine-masking two or more of the plurality of non-linear logical operations with a same random bit from the set of random bits.
US09143324B2 Secure messaging
Given the rise in popularity of communicating personal, private, sensitive, or vital peer-to-peer or peer-to-group information over insecure text messaging infrastructure, it would be highly desirable to provide a lightweight solution that enables the exchange of information in a secure manner. The non-limiting technology herein provides systems and methods for the exchange of cryptographic material that can be used to encipher message-oriented communications between at least two peer devices. Once the cryptographic material is exchanged between cooperating peers, this lightweight solution can be used by common off the shelf hardware such as smartphones, tablets, feature phones, or special purpose machine to machine devices for private communications, such as command and control, location services, etc. using insecure voice or data communication paths, such as SMS.
US09143323B2 Securing a link between two devices
A cryptographic key is used to secure a communication link between a first device and a second device. Generating the cryptographic key is accomplished by a) generating a first cryptographic key, b) generating a second cryptographic key, c) applying a hash function to packets transmitted over the communication link to create a hash result, and d) applying the hash function to the first cryptographic key, the second cryptographic key and the hash result.
US09143315B2 Predictive periodic synchronization using phase-locked loop digital ratio updates
Embodiments are described for a method and system of enabling updates from a clock controller to be sent directly to a predictive synchronizer to manage instant changes in frequency between transmit and receive clock domains, comprising receiving receive and transmit reference frequencies from a phase-locked loop circuit, receiving receive and transmit constant codes from a controller coupled to the phase-locked loop circuit, obtaining a time delay factor to accommodate phase detection between the transmit and receive clock domains, and calculating new detection interval and frequency information using the time delay factor, the reference frequencies, and the constant codes.
US09143314B2 Low power oversampling with delay locked loop implementation
In one embodiment, an apparatus including a phase detector unit to determine a phase difference between a reference clock signal and a feedback clock signal. The apparatus further includes a controller unit to generate a delay signal based on the phase difference. The apparatus further includes a set of voltage-controlled delay lines to generate phase outputs based on the delay signal, where the phase outputs are provided by the apparatus to a clock generator unit to generate an oversampled clock signal for data recovery by a receiver.
US09143310B2 Method of correcting time misalignment between envelope and phase components
Provided is a method of correcting a time misalignment between envelope and phase components in a transmitting apparatus which separates envelope and phase components of a signal, processes them, and then recombines them to transmit the recombined signal. For this, in a method of correcting a time misalignment between envelope and phase components according to an embodiment of the present invention, a time misalignment is corrected by applying a time delay to at least one of envelope and phase components in digital and analog signal processing operations, or applying a time delay to an envelope or phase component by a pre-processing operation.
US09143308B2 Mechanism for enhancing power control in time division based communications
There is provided a mechanism for conducting power control in a time division based communication. Subframes of a frame structure of the time division based communication are classified into at two or more classification sets, each classification set comprising at least one subframe. For each of the classification sets, power control related parameters are selected in accordance with the interference on the respective subframes. On the basis of the selected power control related parameters, a power control parameter set is configured defining a power control setting for each subframe of the frame structure. A UE receiving the power control parameter set applies the power control related parameters in the power control.
US09143306B2 Device and method for encoding bits to symbols for a communication system
A device and method for encoding bits to symbols for a communication system are described. In one embodiment, a method for encoding bits to symbols for a communication system includes receiving a set of N-bit data to be transmitted, where N is an integer, generating side scrambling values using a polynomial, scrambling the set of N-bit data using the side scrambling values to produce scrambled data, mapping the scrambled data to a particular set of M symbols from a plurality of sets of M symbols, where M is an integer and M is smaller than N, and outputting the particular set of M symbols for transmission over a transmission medium. Other embodiments are also described.
US09143285B2 Method and apparatus of transmitting ACK/NACK
A method for transmitting an uplink signal by a user equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system. The method according to one embodiment includes receiving, by the UE, a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) via one or more resource units; receiving, by the UE, a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) indicated by the received PDCCH; and transmitting, by the UE, a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) using a PUCCH resource in response to the received PDSCH. An index of the PUCCH resource is determined by adding a first index offset and a second index offset to a lowest index of the one or more resource units. The first index offset is signaled via the PDCCH and the second index offset is signaled via higher layer signaling.
US09143270B2 Digital receiver and corresponding digital transmission system server
The present invention concerns a receiver and an error correction method at a receiver, comprising the steps of receiving data information from a broadcast network in a sequence of packets, detecting a first packet within the sequence of packets being a corrupted packet, identifying a packet identifier and a sequence number of the first packet, requesting, on a second network, to receive a transport packet identified with the sequence number and comprising the first packet and receiving the first packet embedded in the transport packet, from the second network.
US09143269B2 Broadband wireless communication resource assigning method, base station apparatus and terminal apparatus
A method of wireless communication for communication between a base station and a plurality of terminal apparatuses, the method including: dividing an available frequency into a plurality of segments and notifying control information to the terminal apparatus, the control information including setting of a segment of the plurality of segments, communication quality of which will be fed back by the terminal apparatus, and cancellation of a segment of the plurality of segments, communication quality of which has already been fed back from the terminal apparatus; and feeding back communication quality related to a predetermined segment to the base station in accordance with the control information by the terminal apparatus.
US09143264B2 Optical transmission device and optical transmission system
An optical transmission device includes: an optical signal generator to generate and transmit an optical signal that transmits data; a detector to detect a number of active clients; and a processor to determine transmission rate of the optical signal according to the number of active clients and quality of the optical signal at an optical receiver.
US09143258B2 Wireless terminal apparatus and wireless base station apparatus
Both a wireless terminal apparatus and wireless base station apparatus are provided that can, in an operation of encoding the control signals of the upstream link transmitted from the multiple terminal stations while encoding with regard to each of the terminal stations, increase a number of the terminal stations to which different codes are respectively assigned. A wireless terminal apparatus includes: an encoding information receiving portion receiving encoding information which is used at the wireless terminal apparatus from the base station; a phase-shifting unit which conducts a phase-shifting operation on a predetermined first code based on the encoding information; a code selection unit which, based on the received encoding information, selects a second code from multiple codes orthogonally crossing each other; and a control signal encoding portion which conducts an encoding operation on the control signal that is going to be transmitted to the base station by using both the first code on which the phase-shifting operation has been conducted and the second code.
US09143255B2 Orthogonal signaling for CDMA
The present invention uses a portion of an orthogonal spreading code space in a CDMA spectrum for uplink from a user element to a base station. By assigning the user elements one or more codes, which are orthogonal to those used to spread data, to use for uplink , the present invention significantly reduces interference between channels, and between the data channels and the channels, while supporting additional capacity. The codes may be individually assigned to user elements or assigned to groups of user elements. Further, different length codes may be assigned to the user elements to support different rates depending on Quality of Service (QoS) requirements.
US09143251B2 Phase synchronizing nodes in a telecommunications network
For phase synchronizing nodes, on a node by node basis, following a tree-structured phase distribution network using the infrastructure of a telecommunications network, a first node transfers to a second node phase information substantially in phase with a phase reference internal to the first node and position signaling of the phase information with respect to component elements, such as bits, of a data signal carried by a link linking the nodes. The position signaling can be the number of component elements separating it from the phase information in a packet. The time to transfer the phase information through the link is precisely compensated.
US09143240B2 Nonlinear compensating apparatus and method and transmitter
The present invention provides a nonlinear compensating apparatus and method and a transmitter. The nonlinear compensating apparatus includes: an information sequence acquiring unit, configured to acquire a symbol information sequence of the pulse signal; a perturbation quantity acquiring unit, configured to calculate, by pre-obtained weighting coefficients to which each item corresponds, the weighted sum of interaction items of pulses on one or more moments relative to the current moment; a perturbation quantity processing unit, configured to combine the items of the perturbation quantity based on the weighting coefficients; and an information compensating unit, configured to calculate a difference between the symbol information sequence and the processed perturbation quantity to obtain a compensated symbol information sequence. With the embodiments of the present invention, the complexity of calculation may be further lowered, and requirements on hardware may also be lowered.
US09143237B2 Optical modulator module and modulation method for optical signal
An optical modulator module includes an optical modulator including an optical waveguide which conducts an inputted optical signal, and m modulator regions on the optical waveguide; and m discrete driving circuits serially connected to one another. The discrete driving circuits include a driving circuit which outputs a signal obtained from a digital input signal with a synchronization signal to one of the modulator regions, and a phase shifting circuit which outputs a signal resulting from giving a delay to a signal branched from the synchronization signal. A discrete driving circuit receives the signal outputted from the phase shifting circuit. Each of the modulator regions includes modulation electrodes, an electric field caused by a modulation electric signal applied to each of the modulation electrodes penetrates by a penetration length d, and every two adjacent modulation electrodes has a distance Lgap given by Lgap=2d.
US09143231B2 Method and apparatus for optical wireless architecture
Embodiments of the present invention pertain to optical wireless architecture, and in particular to novel optical architecture to provide wireless (mm)-wave signals and symmetrical wireline service with long-reach. Certain embodiments of the invention pertain to a novel method and apparatus to provide 12.5-Gb/s wireless signals at 60-GHz millimeter (mm)-wave and 100-Gb/s symmetrical wireline service with 80 km long-reach, for example. Moreover, novel enabling techniques are employed to overcome fiber dispersion, reduce costs, and provide super-broadband and long-reach service.
US09143229B1 Method and apparatus for estimating optical power
A method of monitoring optical power in an optical channel includes directing a portion of a broadband optical signal propagating through an optical channel to an optical input of an electrically controllable tunable optical filter. The portion of the broadband optical signal is filtered with the electrically controllable tunable filter to select an optical channel for optical power monitoring. The selected optical channel is detected and an electrical signal that represents the selected optical channel is generated. An optical power of the selected optical channel is estimated from the electrical signal that represents the selected optical channel by performing an iterative deconvolution of the selected optical channel signal with a predetermined response function of the electrically controllable tunable optical filter.
US09143225B2 Method and apparatus for ranging transmission by mobile station in wireless communication system
Disclosed is a ranging transmission method comprising: a mobile station receiving a message including backoff window information from a base station; and the mobile station performing ranging transmission on the basis of the backoff window information, wherein the message includes a ranging backoff window indicator indicating an increase or decrease in a backoff window size for ranging retransmission.
US09143224B2 Apparatus and method of automatically managing satellite broadcasting service
An apparatus and a method for automatically managing a satellite broadcasting service are disclosed. The apparatus may include a rain attenuation information collection unit to measure weather information and a satellite broadcast signal and to collect and provide satellite broadcast signal quality information corresponding to rain attenuation, a rain attenuation analysis unit to analyze rain attenuation information collected by region and to verify a rain attenuation level, a satellite broadcast transmission signal plan unit to generate a satellite broadcast signal change plan to change a satellite broadcast transmission signal by region based on the verified rain attenuation level, and a satellite broadcast transmission signal controller to transmit a signal change instruction to a satellite ground station for the satellite broadcast transmission signal to be changed based on the generated satellite broadcast signal change plan.
US09143223B2 Relay station, base station, and radio communication method
In a radio communication system including a relay station and a base station, the relay station transfers data from each mobile station to the base station based on a correspondence selected according to a frame from among different correspondences between identification information for a mobile station and timing in a frame at which data from the mobile station is transmitted. The base station identifies the data from each mobile station included in the frame received from the relay station based on the correspondence selected according to the frame. This radio communication method can be applied to data transmission from the base station to the relay station.
US09143216B1 Apparatus and method for transitioning a circuit for determining a condition of a channel from an inactive state to an active state based on a received request
A first network device including a transceiver, a circuit and a controller. The transceiver receives a first packet broadcast from a second network device to multiple network devices via a channel. A bit in the first packet indicates a request for a condition of the channel. The network devices include the first network device. The circuit determines the condition of the channel based on the bit in the first packet. The controller, prior to the circuit determining the condition of the channel and in response to the bit in the first packet, transitions the circuit to an active state. The controller, subsequent to the circuit determining the condition of the channel, returns the circuit to an inactive state. The transceiver, subsequent to the circuit returning to the inactive state, transmits a second packet to the second network device. The second packet indicates the condition of the channel.
US09143212B2 Codebook sub-sampling for CSI feedback on PUCCH for 4Tx MIMO
Channel state information (CSI) feedback in a wireless communication system is disclosed. User equipment transmits a CSI feedback signal via a Physical Uplink Control CHannel (PUCCH). If the UE is configured in a first feedback mode, the CSI comprises a first report jointly coding a Rank Indicator (RI) and a first precoding matrix indicator (PMI1), and a second report coding Channel Quality Indicator (CQI) and a second precoding matrix indicator (PMI2). If the UE is configured in a second feedback mode, the CSI comprises a first report coding RI, and a second report coding CQI, PMI1 and PMI2. The jointly coded RI and PMI1 employs codebook sub-sampling, and the jointly coding PMI1, PMI2 and CQI employs codebook sub-sampling.
US09143206B2 Antenna selection with eMBMS
A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided. The apparatus determines at least one signal metric and selects a number of antennas from among a set of antennas for receiving a multicast/broadcast signal based on the at least one signal metric.
US09143202B2 Charging a chargeable power supply of a near field communication (NFC) enabled device from a radio frequency (RF) signal inductively coupled onto a magnetic field
A NFC communicator or NFC communications enabled device has a data store to store data, a coupler to couple inductively with the magnetic field of a radio frequency signal and a signal generator to supply a radio frequency signal to the coupler. A modulator is provided to modulate a radio frequency signal in accordance with data and a demodulator is provided to extract data from a modulated radio frequency signal inductively coupled to the coupler. A controller enables the NFC communicator or NFC communications enabled device both to initiate near field radio frequency communication with another near field RF communicator and to respond to near field radio frequency communication initiated by another near field RF communicator. The NFC communicator or NFC communications enabled device also has a power deriver that derives power from a radio frequency signal inductively coupled to the coupler to charge a chargeable power supply.
US09143194B2 Low-rate sampling of pulse streams
A method includes accepting an analog input signal that includes a sequence of pulses. The analog input signal is filtered so as to produce a filter output, using a filter whose time-domain response is confined to a finite time period and whose frequency-domain response is non-zero at a finite set of integer multiples of a frequency shift Δω, and is zero at all other integer multiples of Δω. The filter output is sampled so as to produce digital samples. Respective amplitudes and time positions of the pulses in the sequence are calculated based on the digital samples.
US09143189B2 Mobile device searching using multiple antennas
Disclosed are various embodiments providing selecting various schemes for combining antenna signals for synchronization. For example, processing circuitry determines a first weight for a first antenna based on a signal strength metric of the first antenna and a second weight for a second antenna based on a signal strength metric of the second antenna. The processing circuitry receives a synchronization signal via the first antenna and the second antenna. Then the processing circuitry may weight the synchronization signal received via the first antenna according to the first weight to generate a first weighted synchronization signal and weight the synchronization signal received via the second antenna according to the second weight to generate a second weighted synchronization signal. The processing circuitry further combines the first weighted synchronization signal and the second weighted synchronization signal to generate a combined synchronization signal.
US09143183B2 Coordinate transmitter, coordinate receiver and coordinate transceiver
A coordinate transmitter, a coordinate receiver and a coordinate transceiver are provided. The coordinate transmitter includes a global positioning system (GPS) module, a processing unit and a communication module. The global positioning system module receives a global positioning system signal set. The processing unit captures a coordinate data string from the GPS signal set. The processing unit replaces at least one English letter data and at least one punctuation mark data in the coordinate data string. The processing unit converts the replaced coordinate data string into a dual tone multi frequency (DTMF) signal set. The communication module transmits the DTMF signal set.
US09143166B1 Adaptive scheduling of turbo equalization based on a metric
Turbo equalization is performing by using a soft output detector to perform decoding. At least a portion of a local iteration of decoding is performed using a soft output decoder. A metric associated with decoding progress is generated and it is determined whether to perform another local iteration of decoding based at least in part on the metric.
US09143165B2 Decoding apparatus and decoding method for decoding LDPC-encoded data
A min-sum processing unit executes a min-sum algorithm on input data so as to alternately execute check node processing in which an extrinsic value ratio is updated based on prior value ratios and variable node processing in which a prior value ratio is updated based on the extrinsic value ratios. Here, an initializing unit calculates the total product of the signs of the prior value ratios associated with the row to be processed. A deriving unit derives the sign for an extrinsic value ratio associated with the row to be processed, based on the sign of the prior value ratio that is unused in the updating of the extrinsic value ratio and the total product of the signs thus calculated. An updating unit updates an extrinsic value ratio associated with the row to be processed, using the sign thus derived.
US09143164B2 Scalable serializer
According to an exemplary embodiment, a serializer includes upper and lower shift registers configured to perform a load function where parallel input data is loaded from a parallel input bus and a shift function where the parallel input data is shifted to an output register. The upper shift register is configured to perform the load function while the lower shift register performs the shift function, and the lower shift register is configured to perform the load function while the upper shift register performs the shift function. An output register is configured to alternately receive the parallel input data from the upper shift register and the parallel input data from the lower shift register. The upper and lower shift registers and the output register can comprise scan flip-flops.
US09143162B2 Techniques for compressing mass spectrometry data in real-time
Techniques are described for performing data compression of a first data set including data points in a plurality of dimensions. First processing is performed to determine a second set of final sums. For each data point in the first data set, a corresponding final sum of the second set is determined that is a sum of intensities associated with a first portion of data points, wherein the first portion of data points for which the intensities are summed for said each data point are included within a geometric shape centered on said each data point. Second processing is performed to determine a final set of final combined keep values. Each of the final combined keep values corresponds to a different one of the data points in the first data set and denotes whether to keep or otherwise remove the different one of the data points from the first data set.
US09143158B2 Sigma-delta modulator
A sigma-delta modulator (300) comprising a first filter stage (304); a second filter stage (306) in series with the first filter stage (304); a first feedback path (311) between the output of the second filter stage (306) and the input to the second filter stage (306), the first feedback (311) comprising a first gain stage (308, 308′) such that the first feedback path (311) is configured to provide a first gain value; and a second feedback path (313) between the output of the second filter stage (306) and the input to the first filter stage (304), the second feedback path (313) comprising a second gain stage (309; 310′) such that the second feedback path (313) is configured to provide a second gain value. The first gain value is different to the second gain value.
US09143149B1 Method and apparatus for calibration of a time interleaved ADC
Systems and methods for converting analog signals to digital signals. A reference slice is associated with each of a plurality of active slices to balance the loading on an active sampling track and hold amplifier within each active slice. Alternatively, the reference slice is split into a portion having a reference ADC that is shared by a plurality of partial reference slices, each partial reference slice having a partial reference input module.
US09143145B2 Delta-sigma modulator
Provided is a delta-sigma modulator including a summer summing an input signal and an analog signal, a first integrator integrating an output signal from the summer and outputting a first integration signal, a second integrator integrating the first integration signal and outputting a second integration signal, a comparator comparing the second integration signal and a reference signal and outputting a digital signal according to the comparison result, and a digital-to-analog converter converting the digital signal into an analog signal in response to a clock signal and outputting the converted analog signal, wherein the second integrator operates based on an Nth order (where N is natural number of 1 or greater) transfer function.
US09143139B1 Microelectronic system using time-average-frequency clock signal as its timekeeper
A microelectronic system comprises at least one circuit block that performs certain signal processing functions and at least one clock generation circuit that produces at least one Time-Average-Frequency clock signal which comprises clock pulses of at least two different lengths. The said lengths are measured in time. The arithmetic mean of the lengths of all the pulses that exist in a time frame of one second is calculated. The Time-Average-Frequency clock pulse train is made in such way that the arithmetic inversion of the said arithmetic mean equals to a predetermined value that is the clock frequency of the Time-Average-Frequency clock signal. At least one said circuit block in the said microelectronic system is driven by the said Time-Average-Frequency clock signal. The said circuit block is setup-constrained using the minimum pulse length found among the lengths of all the pulses in the Time-Average-Frequency clock signal.
US09143136B2 Pumped distributed wave oscillator system
A Pumped Distributed Wave Oscillator (PDWO) that provides a high purity accurate signal source with multiple oscillation phases. High-accuracy, high-frequency oscillation phases open paths to high performance phased-array transceiver design. Additional noise-canceling, noise-shaping circuit techniques result in enhanced sensitivity in radio design.
US09143135B2 Fractional frequency divider circuit
A fractional frequency divider circuit includes: a frequency divider circuit configured to frequency-divide an input clock at 1/CTSquo, wherein the CTSquo is a quotient of CTS/N; a clock addition circuit configured to add one clock to an output of the frequency divider circuit; a counter that counts the number of cycles of the output of the frequency divider circuit by a carry of the frequency divider circuit or an output of the clock addition circuit; a match detection circuit that determines whether an integer multiple of N/CTSrem matches a value of the counter, wherein the CTSrem is a remainder of CTS/N; and a selector circuit that outputs the output of the clock addition circuit as an output clock when the match is detected by the match detection circuit, and outputs the output of the frequency divider circuit as an output clock when the match is not detected.
US09143121B2 System and method of adjusting a clock signal
A method includes receiving an input clock signal at a programmable buffer. The method further includes filtering an output signal from the programmable buffer to generate a filtered signal having a voltage level, where the voltage level indicates a duty cycle of the output signal. The method further includes comparing the voltage level to a reference voltage. The method further includes modifying at least one operating parameter of the programmable buffer to adjust the duty cycle of the output signal.
US09143115B2 Delay compensation circuit
An integrated circuit includes a delay compensation circuit (221, 222) that further includes a terminal for receiving a varying signal from a circuit external to the integrated circuit; a sampler circuit that samples and holds a present value of the varying signal at each occurrence of a transition in a digital signal; an integrator, coupled to the sampler circuit, that integrates a voltage difference between a sample of the varying signal and a reference signal, and that outputs results of the integration, wherein a time constant of the integrator is greater than a period of the varying signal; a waveform generator that generates a decreasing voltage in response to a transition in a second digital signal; and a comparator that has one input terminal for receiving the decreasing voltage, an inverted input terminal for receiving the results, and an output terminal for outputting a signal that generates an output signal.
US09143110B2 Automatic gain control circuit
An automatic gain control circuit (5a) includes a peak detector circuit (10) that detects the peak voltage of the output signal from a variable gain amplifier (3), an average value detection and output amplitude setting circuit (11) that detects the average voltage of the output signals from the variable gain amplifier (3) and adds a voltage ½ the desired output amplitude of the variable gain amplifier (3) to the average voltage, and a high gain amplifier (12) that amplifies the difference between the output voltage of the peak detector circuit (10) and the output voltage of the average value detection and output amplitude setting circuit (11) and controls the gain of the variable gain amplifier (3) using the amplification result as a gain control signal. The peak detector circuit (10) includes transistors (Q1, Q2, Q3), a current source (I1), and a filter circuit. The filter circuit includes a series connection of a resistor (Ra) and a capacitor (C1).
US09143109B2 Wideband inductor-less balun-LNA with improved pickup noise rejection
An inductor-less balun low-noise amplifier (LNA) includes a cross-coupled network coupled between first and second input terminals and first and second summing nodes. The cross-coupled network may include: a first non-inverting gain stage coupled between the first input terminal and the first summing node; a first inverting gain stage coupled between the first input terminal and the second summing node; a second non-inverting gain stage coupled between the second input terminal and the second summing node; and a second inverting gain stage coupled between the second input terminal and the first summing node. The cross coupled network may be configurable to provide common-mode rejection when operated in a differential or in a single-ended mode of operation.
US09143102B2 Operational amplifying circuit and liquid crystal panel drive device using the same
An operational amplifier circuit includes: a first differential amplifier section containing a P-type differential pair of P-type transistors; a second differential amplifier section containing an N-type differential pair of N-type transistors; an intermediate stage connected with outputs of the first and second differential amplifier sections and containing a first current mirror circuit of P-type transistors, and a second current mirror circuit of N-type transistors; and an output stage configured to amplify an output of the intermediate stage in power. The first differential amplifier section includes a first current source and a first capacitance between sources of the P-type transistors of the P-type differential pair and a positive side power supply voltage. The second differential amplifier section includes a second current source and a second capacitance between sources of the N-type transistors of the N-type differential pair and a negative side power supply voltage.
US09143101B2 MOS transconductance gain boosting techniques in millimeter-wave range
The present disclosure relates to a semiconductor device, such as a transistor. The device includes a gate terminal, a source terminal, a drain terminal, a transconductance component, and a boost component. The gate terminal is configured to receive a bias voltage. The drain terminal is coupled to the boost component. The transconductance component is coupled to the gate terminal, the source terminal and the drain terminal and provides an output current proportional to the bias voltage. The boost component is coupled to the transconductance component and boosts the output current at a selected frequency range.
US09143097B2 RF power amplifier and operating method thereof
A multiband RF power amplifier includes a first band RF amplifier circuit, a second band RF amplifier circuit and a second band power detection circuit. The second band RF amplifier circuit subjects an RF input signal having a frequency band to power amplification and generates an RF amplifier output signal. The input terminal of the second band power detection circuit is coupled to the output of the second band RF amplifier circuit. The second band power detection circuit detects a harmonic component that is a whole number multiple of a fundamental wave component of the RF amplifier output signal, and generates a detected signal indicating the fundamental wave component. The second band power detection circuit includes an input circuit, which detects the harmonic component, and an output circuit, which generates the detected signal.
US09143095B2 DC-DC converter and audio output unit
A DC-DC converter includes a first capacitor which can be charged by a power-supply voltage; a second capacitor that generates the output voltage using electric charge previously discharged by the first capacitor; a comparator that compares the output voltage with a reference voltage and outputs a comparison signal that shows whether the output voltage is below the reference voltage; multiple switches that switch to allow the first capacitor either to be charged or to discharge its charge to the second capacitor, and a controller that controls the switch timing of the multiple switches on the basis of the comparison signal.
US09143092B2 Fully capacitive coupled input choppers
A method of differential signal transfer from a differential input Vinp and Vinn having a common mode input voltage that can be higher than the power supply voltage by providing an input chopper having Vinp and Vinn as a differential input, providing an output chopper, capacitively coupling a differential output Voutp and Voutn of the input chopper to a differential input of the output chopper, capacitively coupling a clock to the input chopper and coupling the clock to the output chopper, the clock having a first phase and a second phase opposite from the first phase, the first phase being coupled to the gates of the first and second transistors and the second phase being coupled to the gates of the third and fourth transistors, and providing protection of the gates of the first through fourth transistors from excessive voltages. Various embodiments are disclosed.
US09143088B2 Control modules
A circuit is provided comprising detector circuitry, calculating circuitry, and determining circuitry. The detector circuitry is figured to generate an I data signal magnitude value of a sampled I data signal and a Q data signal magnitude value of a sampled Q data signal. The calculating circuitry is configured to calculate a phase shift angle φI between first and second equal and constant or substantially equal and constant envelope constituents of the sampled I data signal and to calculate a phase shift angle φQ between first and second substantially equal and substantially constant envelope constituents of the sampled Q data signal. The determining circuitry is configured to determine in-phase and quadrature amplitude information of the substantially equal and substantially constant envelope constituents of the sampled I signal and to determine in-phase and quadrature amplitude information of the first and second substantially equal and substantially constant envelope constituents of the sampled Q signal.
US09143083B2 Crystal oscillator emulator with externally selectable operating configurations
A crystal oscillator emulator having a plurality of predetermined operating configurations. The crystal oscillator emulator includes a measurement circuit configured to measure a value of an impedance connected to a select pin of the crystal oscillator emulator, wherein the impedance is external to the crystal oscillator emulator, and generate an output having a value corresponding to the value of the impedance. The storage circuit is configured to store a plurality of values corresponding to the plurality of predetermined operating configurations and select one of the plurality of values based on the output of the measurement circuit. A controller is configured to set an output frequency of the crystal oscillator emulator based on the selected one of the plurality of values.
US09143078B2 Power inverter including SiC JFETs
A power inverter includes a reference line operably provided with a reference potential and a supply line operably provided with a DC supply voltage with respect to the reference potential. A first half bridge includes a high-side switch and a low-side switch. The high-side switch is coupled between the supply line and a middle tap of the half bridge and the low-side switch is coupled between the middle tap and the reference line. The low-side switch is formed by a normally-on silicon carbide junction field effect transistor and the high-side switch is formed by a series circuit of a normally-on silicon carbide junction field effect transistor and a normally-off metal oxide field effect transistor.
US09143069B2 Drive control device
A drive control device having: a storage circuit configured to store a reference rotational speed table; a drive signal generation circuit configured to output a drive signal to the direct current motor; and a control circuit. When an absolute value of a difference between a second rotational speed corresponding to a first rotational direction and a third rotational speed corresponding to a second rotational direction is equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold, the control circuit creates separate rotational speed tables for the first rotational direction and the second rotational direction in which each rotational speed table indicates a relation between a rotational speed and an electric power amount per unit time, and determines an amount of electric power that is supplied to the direct current motor which corresponds to a designated rotational speed according to the rotational speed table selected in accordance with a designated rotational rotation.
US09143067B2 Motor control device
A motor control device includes a feed-forward control unit configured to detect a change amount of any one of the target voltage, the applied voltage peak value, and the revolution number difference, which are a monitoring target. The control unit is also configured to manipulate an operation amount of a predetermined operation target on the basis of a magnitude of the change amount to correct the number of revolutions of the motor recognized by a controller.
US09143056B2 Stacked voltage source inverter with separate DC sources
A stacked voltage source inverter having separate DC sources is described herein. This inverter is applicable to low or medium voltage, low to medium power applications such as photovoltaic utility interface systems, battery storage application such as peak shaving with renewables, motor drive applications and for electric vehicle drive systems. The stacked inverter consists of at least one phase wherein each phase has a plurality of low voltage full bridge inverters equipped with an independent DC source. This inverter develops a near sinusoidal approximation voltage waveform with fast switching and small low pass AC output filter. A system controller controls operating parameters for each inverter. The inverter may have either single-phase or multi-phase embodiments connected in either wye or delta configurations.
US09143054B2 Multilevel conversion circuit
In aspects of the invention, a multilevel conversion circuit can include a configuration for linking capacitors, including diodes, reverse-blocking semiconductor switches, and resistors, and a circuit for clamping the capacitor voltage at a specified voltage. Such a configuration can serve to reduce the number of capacitors that need detection of the voltages thereof and appropriate changing-over operation of semiconductor switches to control the capacitor voltage to a desired value. By way of aspects of the invention, desired voltages can be provided to the capacitors.
US09143053B1 Microinverters for employment in connection with photovoltaic modules
Microinverters useable in association with photovoltaic modules are described. A three phase-microinverter receives direct current output generated by a microsystems-enabled photovoltaic cell and converts such direct current output into three-phase alternating current out. The three-phase microinverter is interleaved with other three-phase-microinverters, wherein such microinverters are integrated in a photovoltaic module with the microsystems-enabled photovoltaic cell.
US09143052B2 Three-level unit inverter system
In aspects of the invention, each three-level inverter unit has an output current detector. The output from each detector is given to connection wires via a resistor, the connection wires connecting the inverter units. The voltage across the resistor is detected and the deviation, or increment, of the current value of the unit concerned from the average value is determined. The rising up edge of the ON pulses for the IGBT to be controlled is delayed, corresponding to the magnitude of the deviation. Thus, the output current is balanced between the inverter units.
US09143047B2 Loosely regulated feedback control for high efficiency isolated DC-DC converters
The improved DC-DC converter apparatus includes a primary side circuit and a secondary side circuit that is galvanically isolated from the primary. The primary side induces a voltage in the secondary side that provides an output voltage for driving POLs. A flux-control device measures the transformer primary side flux to control the primary side duty cycle, thereby loosely regulating the output voltage of the secondary side circuit.
US09143035B2 Switching power supply device with on and off width generating circuits
Aspects of the invention include a switching power supply device that includes a zero current detecting circuit that detects zero current of electric current flowing through the inductor to turn ON the switching element, an ON width generating circuit that determines the ON width of the switching element to turn OFF the switching element, and an OFF width detecting circuit that detects the OFF width of the switching element based on the output of the ON width generating circuit and the output of the zero current detecting circuit, and holds the OFF width until the next operating cycle. Aspects of the invention also include an ON width adjusting circuit that is included in the ON width generating circuit and adjusts the ON width of the switching element in the next operation cycle according to the width detected by the OFF width detecting circuit.
US09143028B2 Power supply systems and methods
One example of generating a clock signal via an oscillator system includes increasing a first comparison voltage at a first comparison node from a first magnitude to a second magnitude in response to a clock signal. A second comparison voltage is increased at a second comparison node from the first magnitude to the second magnitude in response to the clock signal. The clock signal changes state in response to the second comparison voltage increasing to a magnitude that is greater than the first comparison voltage. The first comparison voltage decreases from the second magnitude to the first magnitude in response to the clock signal. The second comparison voltage decreases from the second magnitude to the first magnitude in response to the clock signal. The clock signal changes state in response to the second comparison voltage decreasing to a magnitude that is less than the first comparison voltage.
US09143026B2 Method and apparatus for regulating high voltage
A method for regulating output of a high voltage generator includes monitoring a voltage output of the generator and comparing it to a voltage setpoint to generate an error signal. A load on the generator is monitored to generate a load signal. The load signal is conducted to a feedforward signal generator. The feedforward signal generator is configured to produce a feedforward signal corresponding to the load and to at least one parameter related to an output impedance of the high voltage generator. The error signal is conducted to a high voltage regulation loop. The control loop output and the feedforward signal generator output are coupled to a driver for the high voltage generator.
US09143022B2 System and method for rebalancing generator rotor in-situ
A Wye ring system for a rotor of a generator includes a replacement Wye ring configured to replace an existing Wye ring serving as a floating neutral connection in the rotor. The replacement Wye ring is positioned radially inside the existing Wye ring and co-axial with the rotor. A fastening system is configured for mechanically and electrically connecting the replacement Wye ring to a plurality of connection lugs. The plurality of connection lugs are electrically connected to the rotor windings. The replacement Wye ring replaces the floating neutral connection of the existing Wye ring.
US09143014B2 Rotor, dynamo-electric machine having the rotor and rotor manufacturing method
A cover is configured into a tubular form and is fitted to a radially outer surface of each of projections of a rotor core and a radially outer surface of each of permanent magnets. A circumferential center portion of the radially outer surface of each projection contacts a radially inner surface of the cover. Circumferential end portions of the radially outer surface of each projection are radially inwardly spaced from the radially inner surface of the cover.
US09142998B2 Wireless energy transfer
Electromagnetic energy transfer is facilitated. In accordance with an example embodiment, a first resonator transmits electromagnetic energy using an electromagnetic wave, based on frequency matching and alignment of an electromagnetic field with a second resonator within a distance of one wavelength of the electromagnetic wave from the first resonator. An electromagnetic energy reflector adjacent the first resonator redirects reflected portions of the electromagnetic wave back towards the first resonator.
US09142990B2 Method of multi-coil operation and optimization
This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for wireless power transfer and particularly wireless power transfer to remote systems such as electric vehicles. In one aspect, a system comprises substantially co-planar first and second receiver coils. The system further comprises a third receiver coil. The system further comprises a controller configured to determine a current of the co-planar first and second receiver coils, a current of the third receiver coil, and a duty cycle of the wireless power transfer receiver device. The controller is configured to enable the co-planar first and second receiver coils, the third receiver coil, or the co-planar first and second receiver coils and the third receiver coil based on a comparison of the current of the co-planar first and second receiver coils, the current of the third receiver coil, and the duty cycle.
US09142979B2 Active balancing circuit for balancing battery units
A balancing circuit for balancing battery units includes balancing modules. Each of the balancing modules includes a first and a second switch unit, and a first and a second inductive device, wherein the first inductive device is coupled to the second inductive device. The balancing modules include a first and a second balancing module, respectively coupled to a first and a second battery unit of the battery units. The first inductive device of the first balancing module takes away an excess energy of the first battery unit according to a switch state of the first switch unit of the first balancing module, and stores an inductive energy corresponding to the excess energy in the second balancing module. The second inductive device of the second balancing module provides the inductive energy for the second battery unit according to a switch state of the second switch unit of the second balancing module.
US09142977B1 Method of controlling battery state using constant-voltage discharge
A battery is rendered to a consistent discharged state in a two-phase battery discharge operation. In a first of the two discharge phases, a constant discharge current is drawn from the battery until a threshold battery voltage is reached. In the second of the two discharge phases, executed after the threshold battery voltage is reached during the first-phase, a time-varying discharge current is drawn from the battery at a constant battery voltage until a threshold discharge current is reached.
US09142976B2 Wireless power transmission device
A wireless power transmission device includes a main body and a position-limiting plate. The main body includes a triggering button. The triggering button is located at a first side of the main body. The position-limiting plate is located at a second side of the main body and movable relative to the main body. When an electronic device is placed on the main body and contacted with the triggering button, the triggering button issues an enabling signal to the position-limiting plate. In response to the enabling signal, the position-limiting plate is moved toward the main body in order to fix the electronic device on the main body. In a case that an electric current provided to the triggering button is interrupted, the triggering button stops issuing the enabling signal. Consequently, the position-limiting plate is moved away from the main body and separated from the electronic device.
US09142967B2 System for tracking and allocating renewable energy contributions to a modular renewable energy system
A modular photovolataic (PV) array system includes a PV array installed onto a fleet vehicle such as a trailer, bus etc., a host control system into which a plurality of fleet vehicles can connect to collectively generate electricity, and a subscriber system which collectively tracks energy generation and allocates respective contributions to the system.
US09142960B2 Constraint weighted regulation of DC/DC converters
A converter unit to improve overall recovered power in a photovoltaic array configuration. Each photovoltaic panel in the photovoltaic array may be coupled to a respective converter unit, which may include a controller to sense an output voltage and output current produced by the solar panel, and manage the output voltage of a corresponding power converter to optimize and regulate the resultant bus voltage to a point which reduces overall system losses, maintains a low loss condition, and removes series-string non-idealities when the panels are series connected. The controller may also adapt to output condition constraints. Instead of single-port regulation, a combination of input voltage and output voltage management and regulation may be performed within the converter. The source voltage and current characteristic may be shaped to correspond to an optimized power curve at the desired bus voltage to allow MPPT tracking according to the DC voltage bus. The optimized power curve may be tracked to hold the DC-bus voltage at the desired operating point.
US09142957B2 Control of dynamic bus voltage in an intermediate bus architecture power system
To reduce power loss in an intermediate bus architecture power system, embodiments of the present invention provide an intermediate bus converter which converts an input voltage to an intermediate bus voltage using a converting unit; receives a signal indicative of an output of a converting unit; determines an intermediate bus voltage to reduce power loss in dependence upon the signal indicative of an output of the converting unit; generates a control signal to control the converting unit to convert the input voltage to the determined intermediate bus voltage; and generates an intermediate bus voltage in dependence upon the control signal.
US09142955B2 Method and system for fault protection
Systems and methods for a fault protection are provided that can be implemented in a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) to limit the magnitude of a current that flows when an AC-to-chassis fault (ACF) occurs between an AC connection and the chassis of the HEV. An electric machine having a winding, an inverter sub-module (ISM) having a first switch and a second switch, and fault protection elements (FPEs), coupled to the ISM, are provided. The winding is coupled to the ISM coupled via the AC connection. The FPEs can include, for example, first and second inductances. To limit the magnitude of the current, the current can be passed along a first current path that includes the second inductance when the first switch is closed, and can be passed along a second current path that includes the first inductance when the second switch is closed.
US09142954B2 ESD protection system and X-ray flat panel detector
An ESD protection system includes an ESD leakage bus and an ESD protection circuit having one of its terminals connected to the ESD leakage bus. The ESD protection circuit includes at least a pair of amorphous silicon thin film transistors which are connected in a back-to-back manner, and a first shading layer is provided over the channels of the pair of amorphous silicon thin film transistors. When the ESD protection system is applied to an X-ray flat panel detector, no photocurrent will occur during the use of the X-ray flat panel detector, the effect of the photocurrent on the voltage of the scan line is reduced. Further, when the first shading layer is connected to a negative fixed potential, it can be ensured that the ESD protection circuit has small threshold voltage while the leakage current in the ESD protection circuit is reduced, and power consumption is reduced.
US09142951B2 Electronic device for protecting against a polarity reversal of a DC power supply voltage, and its application to motor vehicles
Disclosed herein is a device comprising a protection circuit configured to protect against a polarity reversal of the input DC power supply voltage, the protection circuit comprising an N-channel main transistor having a source coupled to an input terminal and having a drain coupled to an output terminal, a command circuit configured to render the main transistor blocked in the event of a polarity reversal and conducting otherwise, and a control circuit configured to dynamically adjust the bias of substrate regions of respective components connected to the main transistor by connecting the substrate regions either to the source or to the drain of the main transistor according to the value of the voltages present at the source and the drain of the main transistor and the type of conductivity of the substrate regions.
US09142945B2 Electrical feed-through spacer and connectivity
An insulated glazing unit is provided. The unit includes a spacer frame separating a pair of substrates. The spacer frame has a length and a width transverse to the length. The unit further includes a conductive element passing through the width of the spacer frame. The unit further includes a first conductive component within the spacer frame. The first conductive component is in electrical communication with the conductive element. The conductive element is adapted for electrical communication with a second conductive component on a side of the width of the spacer frame opposite the first conductive component.
US09142937B2 Wavelength referencing by monitoring a voltage across a laser diode
A lasing wavelength of a laser diode is determined by applying a forward current to the p-n junction of the laser diode and measuring a voltage across the p-n junction. The lasing wavelength can be determined by performing a simple wavelength calibration of the laser diode. This allows one to stabilize the lasing wavelength, and also to use the laser diode as a reference wavelength source.
US09142935B2 Laser diodes with scribe structures
A method and device for emitting electromagnetic radiation using semipolar or nonpolar gallium containing substrates is described where the backside of the substrate includes multiple scribes that reduce stray light leaking.
US09142924B2 Surface mount coaxial cable connector
A surface mount coaxial cable connector comprising a generally elongate block. A channel extends between the proximate and remote ends for receiving a coaxial cable and includes an upstream larger diameter channel and a downstream, smaller diameter channel for receiving with little clearance the central conductor after the shield and the outer layer have been removed. The lower surface of the block is provided with slots extending from the lower surface to the stepped channel. One slot is arranged along said central plane and aligned with the central conductor within the smaller diameter channel and two slots are offset from the central plane. A plurality of piercing blade contacts within the slot extend beyond said lower surface that have extended piercing contact portions with opposing free edges suitable for surface mounting on a printed circuit board.
US09142922B2 Connector assembly with improved cooling capability
A connector includes a cage that has two side walls, a top cover and a rear wall that are combined to form a hollow enclosure. The enclosure is separated into two module-receiving bays by at least one spacer with a top and bottom wall that extends between the sidewalls to form a central portion between a top and bottom bay, the central portion acting as an air passage between a front face and the sides of the connectors. Air openings are formed in the sidewalls of the cage assembly and they communicate with the central portion. The bottom wall of the spacer is provided with a large opening that extends a substantial distance of module-receiving bay and provides an air flow path from the air openings to the bottom module-receiving bay. An insert with apertures in communication with the central portion can be positioned.
US09142916B2 Connector assembly with receptacle carriers
A connector assembly which has a housing and a cover. The housing has a connector mating face and a cover mating face. The cover is removably attached to the housing. The cover has a wire receiving cavity with an opening at the end of the cavity. One or more receptacle carrier receiving cavities extend through respective openings on either side of the housing, thereby allowing one or more receptacle carriers to be inserted into the respective receptacle receiving cavities through the respective openings on either side of the housing. The cover can be positioned on the housing in different orientations.
US09142912B1 Magnetic coupling systems
This patent pertains to magnetic coupling systems. One implementation includes magnetic jumper cables, which include magnetic couplers and elongate, insulated, electrically-isolated electric conductors.
US09142906B2 Power plug capable of simple assembly
A power plug for connecting with a power outlet includes at least two metal connecting poles, two outputting cavities, and two conductive resilient sheets. The two outputting cavities are defined in a lower case of the power plug to connect an external device. The two conductive resilient sheets are received within an inner space of the power plug. The at least two metal connecting poles pass through an exterior surface of the power plug into the internal space to form two connecting terminals. Each of the conductive resilient sheets is connected between one of the two connecting terminals and a corresponding outputting cavity to transport electrical power from the power jack to the external device.
US09142899B2 Apparatus and methods for powering motor control centers using backfeed modules
A power backfeed apparatus includes a housing configured be removably positioned in a compartment of a motor control center (MCC), a contact assembly supported by the housing and comprising at least one contact configured to face a corresponding at least one power conductor of the MCC when the housing is disposed in the compartment and a power cable connector supported by the housing and configured to support connection of an external power cable thereto when the housing is disposed in the compartment, the power cable connector configured to be electrically coupled to the at least one contact of the contact assembly. A contact engagement mechanism forces the at least one contact into contact with the at least one power conductor to electrically couple the at least one contact and the at least one power conductor.
US09142895B2 Coaxial connector assembly
A coaxial connector assembly includes an outer housing holding an outer contact, a dielectric holder received in the outer contact, and a center contact received in the dielectric holder. The dielectric holder has a front and a cavity extending axially along the dielectric holder bounded by a cavity wall. The dielectric holder has an expansion slot formed in the cavity wall offset from, and proximate to, the front. The center contact has a socket at a mating end configured to receive a pin contact of a mating connector assembly. The center contact has deflectable beams at the mating end configured to deflect outward when mated with the pin contact. The center contact has flared tip ends at the distal ends of the beams. The flared tip ends are received in the expansion slot when the deflectable beams are deflected outward during mating with the pin contact.
US09142883B2 Film-like member and attaching method thereof
An attaching method of attaching a film-like member shaped like a plane face to a member having a surface shaped like a curved face including a first step of determining, by an analysis, a region where stress higher than that in a case where the film-like member is shaped like the plane face is generated when the film-like member is attached to the member shaped like the curved face, a second step of forming a slit at the region where the stress higher than that in the case where the film-like member is shaped like the plane face is generated, and a third step of attaching the film-like member having the formed slit to the member having the surface shaped like the curved face.
US09142882B2 Adjustable spiral antenna for portable use
A spiral, helical antenna is configured to produce a generally circular polarized radiation pattern covering a range of frequencies, over a ground plane. The antenna is comprised of a spring-like spiral conductor that may be held in compression by a size and shape regulating outer nonconductive membrane. The assembly may be compressed and or extended to adjust the antenna for best performance in a particular situation. The assembly may be compressed into a generally flattened state for storage and or transportation, and extended at a later time for use. Accurate antenna dimensions and good performance are afforded by the use of high quality spring materials in conjunction with precise membrane dimensions.
US09142873B1 Wireless communication antennae for concurrent communication in an access point
One or more access points in a wireless communication system, wherein at least one of those access points includes a set of more than one antennae capable of concurrent communication, and at least one of those more than one antennae is isolated from a remainder of that set of antennae during concurrent communication. Isolation includes one or more of disposed a first antenna in a null region of a second antenna, disposing a first antenna to communicate polarized and substantially orthogonal to a second antenna, disposing a set of antennae to communicate at two or more carrier frequencies, wherein each first antenna adjacent to a second antenna operate at distinct such carrier frequencies, or disposing a set of antennae to communicate using two or more substantially distinct protocols, wherein substantially each first antenna adjacent to a second antenna operate at substantially distinct such protocols.
US09142871B2 Inner connecting element of a cavity power divider, cavity power divider and manufacturing method thereof
Embodiments of the present disclosure disclose an inner connecting element of a cavity power divider, the cavity power divider and a manufacturing method thereof. Two ends of the inner connecting element of the cavity power divider are respectively an input end and an output end, and the inner connecting element of the cavity power divider is in a sheet form. The cavity power divider comprises a cavity and at least three connectors. The cavity is provided with one connector at an input end thereof and with at least two connectors at an output end thereof. The connecting element is included in the cavity, with the input end and the output end of the connecting element being connected respectively with the connectors at the input end and the output end of the cavity.
US09142866B2 Method for rapid battery exchange in electric vehicles
A system and method for the rapid exchange of batteries in an electric vehicle. The electric vehicle contains a removable battery housed in the vehicle's undercarriage. The electric vehicle moves through the exchange system either by propelling itself or by being propelled by the system. As the vehicle is propelled forward, the removable battery within the vehicle is unlocked from the vehicle and replaced with a charged battery. The charged battery forces the removable battery out of the rear of the vehicle as the vehicle moves forward through the exchange. The vehicle remains powered throughout the exchange process. Once the charged battery is aligned in position under the vehicle and connected to the vehicle through corresponding contacts, the charged battery is located into place in the vehicle's undercarriage and the vehicle is ready for additional driving.
US09142855B2 Electrolyte for electrochemical device, method for preparing the electrolyte and electrochemical device including the electrolyte
Disclosed is an electrolyte for an electrochemical device. The electrolyte includes a composite of a plastic crystal matrix electrolyte doped with an ionic salt and a crosslinked polymer structure. The electrolyte has high ionic conductivity comparable to that of a liquid electrolyte due to the use of the plastic crystal, and high mechanical strength comparable to that of a solid electrolyte due to the introduction of the crosslinked polymer structure. Further disclosed is a method for preparing the electrolyte. The method does not essentially require the use of a solvent. Therefore, the electrolyte can be prepared in a simple manner by the method. The electrolyte is suitable for use in a cable-type battery whose shape is easy to change due to its high ionic conductivity and high mechanical strength.
US09142852B2 Bicarbonate and carbonate as hydroxide carriers in a biological fuel cell
The present invention relates generally to a process that helps alleviate the pH gradient between anode and cathode compartments in any biological fuel cell or electrolytic cell configuration in which a pH gradient between anode and cathode is limiting the voltage efficiency. By providing acid to the cathode compartment in the form of CO2, the pH gradient is reduced and voltage efficiency and power output are increased. In one embodiment, carbon dioxide produced in the anode chamber is recycled to the cathode chamber.
US09142850B2 Tri-block copolymer and electrolyte membrane made from the same
Provided are a tri-block copolymer and an electrolyte membrane prepared therefrom. The tri-block copolymer has a structure of polar moiety-containing copolymer block/non-polar moiety-containing copolymer block/polar moiety-containing copolymer block, or non-polar moiety-containing copolymer block/polar moiety-containing copolymer block/non-polar moiety-containing copolymer block, and is useful for an electrolyte membrane for fuel cells. The electrolyte membrane for fuel cells prepared from the tri-block copolymer exhibits superior dimensional stability and excellent fuel cell performance.
US09142847B2 Fuel cell load controller
A method for distributing power includes identifying a value of a variable in a fuel cell system, where the fuel cell system is configured to provide electrical power to a load. Based at least in part on the identified value of the variable, it is determined that the variable has exceeded a threshold. A first portion of the electrical power is determined for use in correcting the variable, and the first portion of the electrical power is used to correct the variable.
US09142845B2 Solid oxide fuel cell stack heat treatment methods and apparatus
Systems and methods are provided for fuel cell stack heat treatment. An eductor may be used to recycle air into the air inlet stream or to recycle fuel into the fuel inlet stream. An eductor may also be used to exhaust air away from the furnace. The stack heat treatment may include stack sintering or conditioning. The conditioning may be conducted without using externally supplied hydrogen.
US09142837B2 Lithium ion secondary battery and preparation process of same
A separator-type lithium ion secondary battery having large capacity and charge-discharge performance not destroying the separator, even with an active material layer having concavo-convex structure of high aspect ratio. The battery comprises a first electrode comprising a first current collector, and a first active material layer formed by plural convex first active material parts provided on the first current collector, a second electrode comprising a second current collector, and a second active material layer formed by plural convex second active material parts provided on the second current collector, and a separator provided between the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are integrated so that the convex first active material part is faced between the adjacent convex second active material parts, and the convex first active material part does not enter between the convex second active material parts.
US09142821B2 Electrode assembly and secondary battery using the same
Disclosed are an improved electrode assembly which may allow an electrode plate to be more easily impregnated with an electrolyte and also ensure gas to be easily discharged, and a secondary battery having the electrode assembly. The electrode assembly includes at least one cathode plate formed by coating an electrode current collector with a cathode active material, at least one anode plate formed by coating an electrode current collector with an anode active material, and a separator interposed between the cathode plate and the anode plate and having at least one vent formed therein.
US09142817B2 Battery separator and battery using the same
The present invention relates to a battery separator including: a porous substrate; and a layer of a crosslinked polymer supported on at least one surface of the porous substrate, in which the crosslinked polymer is obtained by reacting (a) a reactive polymer having, in the molecule thereof, a first reactive group containing active hydrogen and a second reactive group having cationic polymerizability with (b) a polycarbonate urethane prepolymer terminated by an isocyanate group.
US09142810B2 Rechargeable battery
In a rechargeable battery, a case is combined with an upper surface of a bare cell by being fixed to a lead plate electrically coupling a protection circuit board of a protection circuit module to the bare cell. Alternatively, the case is combined with the bare cell by being fixed to the protection circuit board so as not to be separated from the bare cell, thereby improving the reliability of the products.
US09142808B2 Organic light-emitting display device and method of manufacturing the same
The organic light-emitting display device includes: a substrate including a transistor region; and a thin-film transistor formed over the transistor region of the substrate and having a planarization film which is disposed over a source/drain electrode and a pixel defining layer which includes an aperture exposing a portion of a first electrode electrically connected to the source/drain electrode and defining a pixel region, wherein an outgassing hole is formed in a region of the pixel defining layer other than the aperture to expose the planarization film.
US09142804B2 Organic light-emitting device including barrier layer and method of manufacturing the same
An organic light-emitting device including a barrier layer that includes a silicon oxide layer and a silicon-rich silicon nitride layer. The organic light-emitting device includes a flexible substrate that includes a barrier layer and plastic films disposed under and over the barrier layer. The barrier layer includes a silicon-rich silicon nitride layer and a silicon oxide layer. The order in which the silicon-rich silicon nitride layer and the silicon oxide layer are stacked is not limited and the silicon oxide layer may be first formed and then the silicon-rich silicon nitride layer may be stacked on the silicon oxide layer. The silicon-rich silicon nitride layer has a refractive index of 1.81 to 1.85.
US09142800B2 Substrate glass for LEDs with layer containing scattering particles and method for production thereof
A composite material for LED's is provided. The composite material has a coating comprising scattering particles with an index of refraction greater than 1.6.
US09142796B2 Organic light emitting diode display device
Disclosed is an organic light emitting diode display device in which at least one lateral surface of an encapsulation substrate is inclined to prevent disconnection of a film connected to a pad, thereby achieving a narrow bezel and enhanced reliability. The display device includes a substrate, an organic light emitting diode array including a thin film transistor arranged on the substrate and an organic light emitting diode connected to the thin film transistor, a pad disposed on the substrate and configured to receive a drive signal to drive the organic light emitting diode array, an encapsulation substrate bonded to the substrate to face each other so as to cover the organic light emitting diode array, and a film connected to the pad and provided with a drive chip thereon. At least one lateral surface of the encapsulation substrate is inclined.
US09142790B2 PhotoSensor and photodiode therefor
According to example embodiments, a photodiode includes a photoelectric layer on a first electrode, a second electrode on the photoelectric layer, and a first phosphorescence layer on the second electrode.
US09142787B2 Silk transistor devices
The invention relates to ecosustainable and biocompatible, low cost, ambient friendly electronic and optoelectronic devices, such as transistors and light-emitting transistors, made with silk fibroin or blended with other biopolymers, methods for fabrication and methods of using the silk-based electronics and optoelectronics. The silk-based electronics and optoelectronics can be implanted in vivo and in vitro for biomedical applications, such as for drug discovery or drug screening assays and devices. The silk-based devices may be used in the food industry and embedded in packaging for tracking and sensing, for security purposes or exploited as disposable not harmful for the environment efficient general electronic and optoelectronic devices.
US09142784B2 Highly efficient carbazole-based compound, and organic electroluminescence device comprising same
The present invention relates to a highly efficient carbazole-based compound and to an organic electroluminescence device including the same. According to the present invention, provided are a compound for an organic electroluminescence device and an organic electroluminescence device including the compound, in which a carbazole-based phosphine oxide compound, which is a compound intended for an organic electroluminescence device, is employed to overcome the problems of conventional compounds for organic electroluminescence devices, i.e. those of instable thermal stability and low efficiency, and particularly, the compound of the present invention exhibits superior efficiency in pure-blue phosphorescent devices.
US09142782B2 Organic light-emitting material, device and method
Composition having an organic semiconducting material and a triplet-accepting material of formula (I) with a triplet energy level lower than the triplet energy level of the organic semiconducting material, in which each Ar is optionally substituted aryl or heteroaryl group, n is 1-3, m is 1-5, q is 0 or 1, each R3 is H or a substituent, and each R4 is H or a substituent. Where R4 is not H, R4 and (Ar)m bound to the same carbon atom may be linked by a direct bond or a divalent group. Where n or m is at least 2, adjacent Ar groups may be linked by a divalent group. Where q=0, R3 is not H and is linked to (Ar)n by a direct bond or a divalent group.
US09142779B2 Patterning of OLED materials
A method of making a patterned OLED layer or layers. The method uses a shadow mask having, for example, a free-standing silicon nitride membrane to pattern color emitter material with a feature size of less than 10 microns. The methods can be used, for example, in the manufacture of OLED microdisplays.
US09142774B2 Nonvolatile memory device and method for manufacturing the same
According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile memory device includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a memory cell provided between the first electrode and the second electrode. The memory cell includes a retention unit, a resistance change unit, and an ion supply unit. The retention unit is provided on the first electrode and has an electron trap. The resistance change unit is provided on the retention unit. The ion supply unit is provided between the resistance change unit and the second electrode and includes a metal element.
US09142771B2 Superlattice phase change memory device
According to one embodiment, a memory device includes a stacked film stacked in a superlattice structure. The stacked film includes a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer different in composition. The first layer is provided between the second layer and the third layer. The second layer includes a first atom reversibly moved by application of energy. The third layer includes a second atom reversibly moved by application of energy. The second atom is different from the first atom.
US09142769B2 Magnetic field-partitioned non-volatile memory
A non-volatile memory cell and a magnetic field-partitioned non-volatile memory for multi-bit storage are provided. The non-volatile memory cell for multi-bit storage includes a bottom electrode. A resistance-changing memory material covers the bottom electrode. A top electrode including a high-mobility material is disposed on the resistance-changing memory material. The top electrode has two post portions supporting a bar-shaped portion. At least two bits are stored in portions of the resistance-changing memory material connecting to the top electrode when an external magnetic field is applied along different directions.
US09142768B2 Resistive memory with small electrode and method for fabricating the same
Systems and methods are disclosed involving a resistive memory with a small electrode, relating to the field of semiconductor resistive memory in ULSI. An illustrative resistive memory may include an Al electrode layer, a SiO2 layer, a Si layer, a resistive material layer and a lower electrode layer in sequence, wherein the Al electrode layer and the resistive material layer are electrically connected through one or more conductive channel and the conductive channel is formed by penetrating Al material into the Si layer via defects in the SiO2 layer and dissolving Si material into the Al material. Methods may include forming a lower electrode layer, a resistive layer, a Si layer and a SiO2 layer over a substrate; fabricating a Al electrode layer over the SiO2 layer; and performing an anneal process to the resultant structure. Consistent with innovations herein, a small electrode may be obtained via a conventional process.
US09142742B2 Thin-film LED with P and N contacts electrically isolated from the substrate
A thin-film light emitting diode includes an insulating substrate, a reflective metal electrode on the insulating substrate forming a current spreading layer, and an epitaxial structure on the electrode.
US09142740B2 Optoelectronic element and manufacturing method thereof
An optoelectronic element includes an optoelectronic unit having a first top surface; a first metal layer on the first top surface; a first transparent structure surrounding the optoelectronic unit and exposing the first top surface; and a first contact layer on the first transparent structure, including a connective part electrically connected with the first metal layer.
US09142736B2 LED (light-emitting diode) encapsulation and manufacturing method thereof
The present invention provides an LED encapsulation and a manufacturing method thereof. The LED encapsulation includes: a first frame (10), a plurality of LED elements (20), encapsulant (30), and the quantum dot rail (40). The first frame (10) includes a PCB (12) and four sidewalls (14). The four sidewalls (14) surround and circumferentially delimit an accommodation space (18). The plurality of LED elements (20) is mounted on the PCB (12) and in electrical connection therewith. The encapsulant (30) is filled in the accommodation space (18). The four sidewalls (14) each have a top end portion forming a mounting section (16). The quantum dot rail (40) is mounted in the mounting sections (16) so that the quantum dot rail (40) is located above the encapsulant (30). The first frame (10), the plurality of LED elements (20), and the quantum dot rail (40) are collectively and integrally encapsulated so as to be fixedly assembled together.
US09142727B2 Semiconductor light emitting device
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor light emitting device includes a stacked body, first and second electrodes. The stacked body includes a light emitting layer. The first and second electrodes are provided on the stacked body. The device further includes an insulating layer covering the stacked body, a first conversion electrode electrically connected to the first electrode, a second conversion electrode electrically connected to the second electrode (50), and a light blocking body covering a side surface of the stacked body. The first conversion electrode, the second conversion electrode, and the light blocking body include, in a portion contacting with the insulating layer, a member with a reflectance of 80 percent or more for light emitted from the light emitting layer.
US09142721B2 Semiconductor light emitting device and manufacturing method of the same
A semiconductor light emitting device includes a substrate; a base layer made of a first conductivity-type semiconductor and disposed on the substrate; a plurality of nanoscale light emitting units disposed in a region of an upper surface of the base layer and including a first conductivity-type nano-semiconductor layer protruding from the upper surface of the base layer, a nano-active layer disposed on the first conductivity-type nano-semiconductor layer, and a second conductivity-type nano-semiconductor layer disposed on the nano-active layer; and a light emitting laminate disposed in a different region of the upper surface of the base layer and having a laminated active layer.
US09142719B2 Patterned substrate and light-emitting diode having the same
A patterned substrate for epitaxially forming a light-emitting diode includes: a top surface; a plurality of spaced apart recesses, each of which is indented downwardly from the top surface and each of which is defined by a recess-defining wall, the recess-defining wall having a bottom wall face, and a surrounding wall face that extends from the bottom wall face to the top surface; and a plurality of protrusions, each of which protrudes upwardly from the bottom wall face of the recess-defining wall of a respective one of the recesses. A light-emitting diode having the patterned substrate is also disclosed.
US09142712B2 Method for manufacturing light emitting element
A method for manufacturing a light emitting element, including steps of preparing a wafer that has a substrate with a first main face and a second main face, in which the first main face is provided with a plurality of convex components and valleys that connect these convex components, and a semiconductor structure that is provided on the first main face; and dividing the wafer by laser scribing in which a laser beam is emitted from the second main face side along first dividing lines and second dividing lines to obtain a plurality of light emitting elements. The convex components are in the form of pyramids, prisms, or truncated pyramids, each of which having a polyhedral bottom face with a plurality of apexes, edge lines that extend from the apexes, and side faces that link the edge lines to each other. The convex components are disposed regularly so that a plurality of bounded regions, which are regions defined by virtual boundary between side faces of adjacent convex components in the valleys, are present around the convex components. And the first dividing lines and the second dividing lines are lines that extend in a direction that intersects straight lines that link the centers of the plurality of bounded regions around a single convex component.
US09142710B2 Light-emitting element, light-emitting device, display device, electronic device, and lighting device
A light-emitting element which uses a plurality of kinds of light-emitting dopants emitting light in a balanced manner and has high emission efficiency is provided. Further, a light-emitting device, a display device, an electronic device, and a lighting device each having reduced power consumption by using the above light-emitting element are provided. A light-emitting element which includes a plurality of light-emitting layers including different phosphorescent materials is provided. In the light-emitting element, the light-emitting layer which includes a light-emitting material emitting light with a long wavelength includes two kinds of carrier-transport compounds having properties of transporting carriers with different polarities. Further, in the light-emitting element, the triplet excitation energy of a host material included in the light-emitting layer emitting light with a short wavelength is higher than the triplet excitation energy of at least one of the carrier-transport compounds.
US09142691B2 Replaceable solar bulb assembly for use with a solar receiver array
A replaceable solar bulb assembly generates electrical energy that includes a photo voltaic cell for converting solar energy into electrical energy. A housing includes at least one reflector for focusing the solar energy on the photo voltaic cell. A connector removably and mechanically connects the housing to a solar receiver array and electrically connects the photo voltaic cell to the solar receiver array.
US09142690B2 Semiconductor device having a bonding pad and shield structure and method of manufacturing the same
A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes providing a device substrate having a front side and a back side corresponding to a front side and a back side of the semiconductor device, forming, on the front side of the device substrate, a metal feature, forming, on the back side of the device substrate, an insulating layer, forming, on the back side of the semiconductor device, a trench exposing the metal feature, forming a bonding pad in the trench in electrical communication with the metal feature, and forming, on the insulating layer, a metal shield, in which the metal shield and the bonding pad have different thicknesses relative to each other.
US09142688B2 Gallium nitride-based diode and method of fabricating the same
A GaN-based diode may include an intrinsic GaN-based semiconductor layer, GaN-based semiconductor layers configured to have a first conductivity type and bonded to the intrinsic GaN-based semiconductor layer. A first electrode made of metal is placed on a surface opposite a surface bonded to the GaN-based semiconductor layers of the intrinsic GaN-based semiconductor layer; a second electrode is placed on a surface opposite to a surface bonded to the intrinsic GaN-based semiconductor layer of the GaN-based semiconductor layers of the first conductivity type. Voltage-resistant layers configured to have a second conductivity type are formed in regions of the intrinsic GaN-based semiconductor layer that come in contact with edges of the first electrode.
US09142687B2 Semiconductor diode device
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a first semiconductor region, a first electrode, a second semiconductor region, a third semiconductor region, a fourth semiconductor region, a fifth semiconductor region, and a second electrode. The first electrode forms a Schottky junction with the first region. The second region is provided between the first region and the first electrode. The third region is provided between the first region and the first electrode and forms an ohmic junction with the first electrode. The fourth region is provided between the first region and the third region. The fourth region has a higher impurity concentration than the first region. The fifth region is provided between the third region and the first electrode. The fifth region has a higher impurity concentration than the third region. The second electrode is provided on opposite side of the first region from the first electrode.
US09142685B2 Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device provided with charge storage layer in memory cell
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes a semiconductor portion, a first oxygen-containing portion located on the semiconductor portion, a silicon-containing portion located on the first oxygen-containing portion, a first film located on the silicon-containing portion and including a lamination of a first portion containing silicon and oxygen and a second portion containing silicon and nitrogen, a first high dielectric insulating portion located on the first film and having an oxide-containing yttrium, hafnium or aluminum, a second oxygen-containing portion located on the first high dielectric insulating portion, a second high dielectric insulating portion located on the second oxygen-containing insulating portion and having an oxide-containing yttrium, hafnium or aluminum, a third oxygen-containing portion located on the second high dielectric insulating portion, and a second film located on the third oxygen-containing portion.
US09142682B2 Thin film transistor and manufacturing method thereof
A thin film transistor and a manufacturing method thereof. The thin film transistor includes: a gate electrode; a gate insulating layer disposed on the gate electrode; a first semiconductor disposed on the gate insulating layer; a second semiconductor disposed on the first semiconductor and having a different plane shape from the first semiconductor; and a source electrode and a drain electrode that are disposed on the second semiconductor and face each other.
US09142677B2 FinFET having gate in place of sacrificial spacer source/drain mask
A FinFET and a method for manufacturing the same are disclosed. In one aspect, the method comprises forming a semiconductor fin having trapezoid cross-section. The method also includes forming one of a source region and a drain region. The method also includes forming a sacrificial spacer. The method also includes forming another one of the source region and the drain region using the sacrificial spacer as a mask. The method also includes removing the sacrificial spacer. The method also includes forming a gate stack in place of the sacrificial spacer, the gate stack comprising a gate conductor and a gate dielectric isolating the gate conductor from the semiconductor fin.
US09142658B2 Compound semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
A compound semiconductor device includes: a compound semiconductor layer; and a gate electrode formed above the compound semiconductor layer; and a source electrode and a drain electrode formed on both sides of the gate electrode, on the compound semiconductor layer, wherein the source electrode has a plurality of bottom surfaces along transit electrons out of contact surfaces with the compound semiconductor layer, and the plural bottom surfaces are located at different distances from the transit electrons, with the bottom surface closer to the gate electrode being more apart from the transit electrons.
US09142657B2 Gated thyristor power device
An improved gated thyristor that utilizes less silicon area than IGBT, BIPOLARs or MOSFETs sized for the same application is provided. Embodiments of the inventive thyristor have a lower gate charge, and a lower forward drop for a given current density. Embodiments of the thyristor once triggered have a latch structure that does not have the same Cgd or Ccb capacitor that must be charged from the gate, and therefore the gated thyristor is cheaper to produce, and requires a smaller gate driver, and takes up less space than standard solutions. Embodiments of the inventive thyristor provide a faster turn off speed than the typical >600 ns using a modified MCT structure which results in the improved tail current turn off profile (<250 ns). Additionally, series resistance of the device is reduced without comprising voltage blocking ability is achieved. Finally, a positive only gate drive means is taught as is a method to module the saturation current using the gate terminal.
US09142644B2 Semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same
The present inventive concept has been made in an effort to increase the width of a channel in a silicon carbide MOSFET using a trench gate.According to the exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, the width of a channel can be increased, compared with the conventional art, by forming a plurality of protrusions extending to the p type epitaxial layer on both sides of the trench.
US09142643B2 Method for forming epitaxial feature
The present disclosure provides an integrated circuit device and method for manufacturing the integrated circuit device. The disclosed method provides substantially defect free epitaxial features. An exemplary method includes forming a gate structure over the substrate; forming recesses in the substrate such that the gate structure interposes the recesses; and forming source/drain epitaxial features in the recesses. Forming the source/drain epitaxial features includes performing a selective epitaxial growth process to form an epitaxial layer in the recesses, and performing a selective etch back process to remove a dislocation area from the epitaxial layer.
US09142638B2 Semiconductor device and manufacturing method of semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes an electron transit layer formed on a substrate; an electron supply layer formed on the electron transit layer; a doping layer formed on the electron supply layer, the doping layer being formed with a nitride semiconductor in which an impurity element to become p-type and C are doped; a p-type layer formed on the doping layer, the p-type layer being formed with a nitride semiconductor in which the impurity element to become p-type is doped; a gate electrode formed on the p-type layer; and a source electrode and a drain electrode formed on the doping layer or the electron supply layer. The p-type layer is formed in an area immediately below the gate electrode, and a density of the C doped in the doping layer is greater than or equal to 1×1017 cm−3 and less than or equal to 1×1019 cm−3.
US09142629B2 Semiconductor device having shared diffusion layer between transistors
A device includes a first transistor including a first gate electrode including first and second parallel electrode portions each extending in a first direction, and a first connecting electrode portion extending in a second direction approximately orthogonal to the first direction and connecting one ends of the first and second parallel electrode portions to each other, and first and second diffusion layers separated from each other by a channel region under the first gate electrode, a first output line connected to the first diffusion layer of the first transistor, and a second transistor comprising a second gate electrode extending in the second direction, and the second transistor being configured to use the second diffusion layer of the first transistor as one of two diffusion layers that are separated from each other by a channel region under the second gate electrode.
US09142628B2 Metal oxide thin film transistor
A metal oxide thin film transistor (TFT) includes a gate electrode, a gate insulating layer, a metal oxide active layer, a source electrode, and a drain electrode. The gate electrode is formed on a substrate. The gate insulating layer is formed on the substrate and covers the gate electrode. The metal oxide active layer is formed on the gate insulating layer. The drain electrode and the source electrode are formed on two opposite ends of the metal oxide active layer in a spaced-apart manner, in which at least one of the orthographic projection of the source electrode and the orthographic projection of the drain electrode on the substrate does not overlap the gate electrode.
US09142621B2 Compound semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same
A compound semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same according to the present invention is disclosed. The compound semiconductor device comprises a substrate having at least a first doped region and at least a second doped region, and a semiconductor layer disposed on the substrate, wherein doping conditions of said first doped region and said second doped region may be different from each other.
US09142619B2 Group III nitride semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
[Problem] To provide a group III nitride semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing the same in which dislocation density in a semiconductor layer can be precisely reduced.[Solution] In manufacturing a group III nitride semiconductor device 1, a mask layer 40 is formed on a substrate 20, followed by selectively growing nanocolumns 50 made of a group III nitride semiconductor through a pattern 44 of the mask layer 40 in order to grow a group III nitride semiconductor layer 10 on the mask layer 40.
US09142613B2 Semiconductor device
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a first semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type, and a second semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type provided on part of the first semiconductor layer in each of a first region and a second region separated from each other. A first distance is a distance between both ends of the first insulating film in a direction connecting the fourth semiconductor layer and the sixth semiconductor layer. The first distance in the first region is longer than the first distance in the second region. A second distance is a distance between the third semiconductor layer and the seventh semiconductor layer. The second distance in the first region is longer than the second distance in the second region.
US09142612B2 Semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same
An aspect of the present embodiment, there is provided a semiconductor device, including a first electrode, a first semiconductor layer having a first conductive type connected to the first electrode, a second semiconductor layer having a second conductive type contacted to the first semiconductor layer, a third semiconductor layer having the first conductive type, an impurity concentration of the third semiconductor layer being smaller than an impurity concentration of the second semiconductor layer, the third semiconductor layer contacting to the second semiconductor layer to be separated from the first semiconductor layer by the second semiconductor layer, a gate insulator provided on the second semiconductor layer, and the first semiconductor layer and the third semiconductor layer arranged at both sides of the second semiconductor layer, respectively, a gate electrode on the gate insulator; and a second electrode connected to the third semiconductor layer.
US09142610B2 Semiconductor device including supporters on a lower electrode thereof and method of fabricating the same
A semiconductor device and a method of fabricating the same, the device including a substrate having a transistor formed thereon; a plurality of lower electrodes formed on the substrate; a first supporter and a second supporter on the plurality of lower electrodes; a dielectric film formed on the lower electrode, the first supporter, and the second supporter; and an upper electrode formed on the dielectric film, wherein the first and second supporters are positioned between the lower electrodes, and the first and second supporters include a first material and a second material.
US09142608B2 Manufacturing method of semiconductor device and semiconductor device
A step of forming a stacked film serving as a lower electrode, a step of forming an insulating film serving as a capacitive film on the stacked film, and a step of patterning the insulating film and the stacked film are performed. In the step of forming the stacked film, a film containing titanium, a film containing titanium and nitrogen, a main conductive film containing aluminum, a film containing titanium, and a film containing titanium and nitrogen are sequentially formed from below. The ratio of the surface roughness of the upper surface of the stacked film to the thickness of the insulating film is 14% or less.
US09142607B2 Metal-insulator-metal capacitor
A capacitor suitable for inclusion in a semiconductor device includes a substrate, a first metallization level, a capacitor dielectric, a capacitor plate, an interlevel dielectric layer, and a second metallization level. The first metallization level overlies the substrate and includes a first metallization plate overlying a capacitor region of the substrate. The capacitor dielectric overlies the first metallization plate and includes a dielectric material such as a silicon oxide or silicon nitride compound. The capacitor plate is an electrically conductive structure that overlies the capacitor dielectric. The interlevel dielectric overlies the capacitor plate. The second metallization layer overlies the interlevel dielectric layer and may include a second metallization plate and a routing element. The routing element may be electrically connected to the capacitor plate. The metallization plates may include a fingered structure that includes a plurality of elongated elements extending from a cross bar.
US09142603B2 Organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display and method of manufacturing the same
An organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display and a method of manufacturing the same are disclosed. In one aspect, the OLED display comprises a driving thin-film transistor (TFT), a data line electrically connected to the driving TFT and having a first color, an OLED, and a light absorption layer. The OLED is electrically connected to the driving TFT. The light absorption layer is formed over the data line and has a second color different from the first color.
US09142592B2 Integrated circuit including ESD device
An integrated circuit including ESD device is disclosed. One embodiment includes a semiconductor region being electrically isolated from adjacent semiconductor regions by an isolating region. Both an ESD device and a device configured to emit radiation are formed within the semiconductor region.
US09142581B2 Die seal ring for integrated circuit system with stacked device wafers
An integrated circuit system includes a first device wafer bonded to a second device wafer at a bonding interface of dielectrics. Each wafer includes a plurality of dies, where each die includes a device, a metal stack, and a seal ring that is formed at an edge region of the die. Seal rings included in dies of the second device wafer each include a first conductive path provided with metal formed in a first opening that extends from a backside of the second device wafer, through the second device wafer, and through the bonding interface to the seal ring of a corresponding die in the first device wafer.
US09142576B2 Solid-state image sensor, method for the same, and electronic device
There is provided a solid-state image sensor including a photoelectric conversion part which generates a charge corresponding to received light and accumulates the charge therein, a charge holding part in which before the charge accumulated in the photoelectric conversion part is transferred to a floating diffusion region, the charge is held for a predetermined time, a first transfer gate which transfers the charge accumulated in the photoelectric conversion part to the charge holding part, a second transfer gate which transfers the charge held in the charge holding part to the floating diffusion region, and a charge discharging gate which discharges the charge in the photoelectric conversion part. Before charge accumulation in the photoelectric conversion part for the next frame is started, part of the charge accumulated in the charge holding part is discharged.
US09142574B2 Semiconductor device and fabrication method thereof
For forming a gate electrode, a conductive film with low resistance including Al or a material containing Al as its main component and a conductive film with low contact resistance for preventing diffusion of Al into a semiconductor layer are laminated, and the gate electrode is fabricated by using an apparatus which is capable of performing etching treatment at high speed.
US09142573B1 Thin film transistor substrate and method for producing same
Each of the auxiliary capacitors (6a) includes a capacitor line (11b) comprised of the same material as the gate electrode (11a) and provided in the same layer as the gate electrode (11a), the gate insulating film (12) provided so as to cover the capacitor line (11a), a capacitor intermediate layer (13c) provided using the oxide semiconductor and provided on the gate insulating film (12) so as to overlap the capacitor line (11b), and a capacitor electrode (15b) provided on the capacitor intermediate layer (13c), and the capacitor intermediate layer (13c) is conductive.
US09142559B2 Semiconductor integrated circuit device
A semiconductor integrated circuit device includes a pair of complementary signal lines, a first transistor including a gate, a source, and a drain, one of the source and the drain of the first transistor being coupled to one of the pair of the complementary signal lines, and a second transistor including a gate, a source, and a drain, the gate of the second transistor being coupled to the gate of the first transistor, one of a source and a drain of the second transistor coupled to an other of the source and the drain of the first transistor, and an other of the source and the drain of the second transistor being coupled to the other of the pair of the complementary signal lines. A direction of a gate width of the first transistor is different from a direction of a gate width of the second transistor.
US09142556B2 Dummy gate cell, cell-based IC, and portable device
A dummy gate cell includes an nMOS transistor and a pMOS transistor, wherein a drain electrode of the nMOS transistor is not connected to a drain electrode of the pMOS transistor and the dummy gate cell is disposed in an unused area not occupied by a basic cell in a cell-based IC.
US09142555B2 Semiconductor device
Provided is a semiconductor device having improved performance. A semiconductor substrate is formed with unit LDMOSFET elements. The unit LDMOSFET elements have respective source regions electrically coupled to each other via a first source interconnect line and a second source interconnect line. The unit LDMOSFET elements have respective gate electrodes electrically coupled to each other via a first gate interconnect line and also electrically coupled to a second gate interconnect line in the same layer as that of the second source interconnect line via the first gate interconnect line. The unit LDMOSFET elements have respective drain regions electrically coupled to a back surface electrode via a conductive plug embedded in a trench of the semiconductor substrate. Each of the first source interconnect line and the first gate interconnect line has a thickness smaller than that of the second source interconnect line. Over the plug, the first gate interconnect line extends.
US09142553B2 Semiconductor device and structure
A 3D device, including: a first layer including first transistors, the first transistors interconnected by a first layer of interconnection; a second layer including second transistors, the second transistors overlaying the first layer of interconnection, where the first layer includes a first clock distribution structure, where the second layer includes a second clock distribution structure and a second clock origin, where the second clock origin is connected to the first clock distribution structure with a plurality of through layer vias, and where the second layer thickness is less than 1 micrometer.
US09142543B2 Semiconductor device having an ESD protection circuit
An ESD protection circuit having a smaller area is provided. The ESD protection circuit includes: a P-type diffusion resistor 12 whose one end is connected to an input terminal 11 formed in the N-type well; a diode 14 disposed between the diffusion resistor 12 and the N-type well connected to the power supply terminal; an NMOS transistor 15 whose drain is connected to the other end of the diffusion resistor 12; and a parasitic diode formed between the power supply terminal and the ground terminal.
US09142536B2 Semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same
A method for manufacturing the semiconductor device may include forming a capping layer including a bit line contact hole on a substrate, forming a spacer on inner walls of the bit line contact hole, forming a bit line contact in the bit line contact hole, forming a bit line layer on the substrate, exposing the spacer by etching the bit line layer, and etching the spacer.
US09142532B2 Chip-on-wafer bonding method and bonding device, and structure comprising chip and wafer
[Problem] Provided is a technique for bonding chips efficiently onto a wafer to establish an electrical connection and raise mechanical strength between the chips and the wafer or between the chips that are chips laminated onto each other in the state that resin and other undesired residues do not remain on a bond interface therebetween.[Solution] A method for bonding plural chips each having a chip-side-bond-surface having metal regions to a substrate having plural bond portions has the step (S1) of subjecting the metal regions of the chip-side-bond-surface to surface activating treatment and hydrophilizing treatment; the step (S2) of subjecting the bond portions of the substrate to surface activating treatment and hydrophilizing treatment; the step (S3) of fitting the chips subjected to the surface activating treatment and the hydrophilizing treatment onto the corresponding bond portions of the substrate subjected to the surface activating treatment and the hydrophilizing treatment to bring the metal regions of the chips into contact with the bond portions of the substrate; and the step (S4) of heating the resultant structure, which includes the substrate, and the chips fitted onto the substrate.
US09142526B2 Semiconductor package with solder resist capped trace to prevent underfill delamination
The invention provides a semiconductor package. The semiconductor package includes a substrate. A first conductive trace is disposed on the substrate. A first conductive trace disposed on the substrate. A semiconductor die is disposed over the first conductive trace. A solder resist layer that extends across an edge of the semiconductor die is also included. Finally, an underfill material is provided that fills a gap between the substrate and the semiconductor die.
US09142524B2 Semiconductor package and method for manufacturing semiconductor package
A semiconductor package includes a semiconductor chip including a circuit forming surface and a side surface, and a sealing insulation layer that seals the circuit forming surface and the side surface of the semiconductor chip, the sealing insulation layer having a first surface on a side of the circuit forming surface. At least one wiring layer and at least one insulation layer are formed one on top of the other on the first surface. The wiring layer formed on the first surface is electrically connected to the semiconductor chip. The insulation layer has a reinforcement member installed therein.
US09142512B2 Semiconductor memory device having a wiring in which a step is provided
A semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array layer which includes a first wiring line, a memory cell stacked on the first wiring line, and a second wiring line formed on the memory cell so as to intersect the first wiring line, wherein a step is formed in the first wiring line so that the height of an upper surface of the first wiring line in the memory cell array region where the memory cell array is formed is higher than the height in a peripheral region around the memory cell array region.
US09142504B2 Semiconductor device structures
Methods of forming features are disclosed. One method comprises forming a resist over a pool of acidic or basic material on a substrate structure, selectively exposing the resist to an energy source to form exposed resist portions and non-exposed resist portions, and diffusing acid or base of the acidic or basic material from the pool into proximal portions of the resist. Another method comprises forming a plurality of recesses in a substrate structure. The plurality of recesses are filled with a pool material comprising acid or base. A resist is formed over the pool material and the substrate structure and acid or base is diffused into adjacent portions of the resist. The resist is patterned to form openings in the resist. The openings comprise wider portions distal to the substrate structure and narrower portions proximal to the substrate structure. Additional methods and semiconductor device structures including the features are disclosed.
US09142502B2 Semiconductor device packaging having pre-encapsulation through via formation using drop-in signal conduits
A semiconductor device package having pre-formed and placed through vias and a process for making such a package is provided. One or more signal conduits are placed in a holder that is subsequently embedded in an encapsulated semiconductor device package. The ends of the signal conduits are exposed and the signal conduits are then used as through package vias, providing signal-bearing pathways between interconnects or contacts on the bottom and top of the package. Holders can be provided in a variety of geometries and materials, depending upon the nature of the application. Further, multiple holders with signal conduits can be provided in a single package to provide for more complex interconnect configuration demands in, for example, system-in-a-package applications.
US09142496B1 Semiconductor package having etched foil capacitor integrated into leadframe
A method for fabricating a packaged semiconductor device begins by placing a first mask on a foil of porous conductive material bonded on a strip of a first metal. The surface of the conductive material and the inside of the pores are oxidized. The first mask leaves areas unprotected. The pores of the unprotected areas are filled with a conductive polymeric compound. A layer of a second metal is deposited on the conductive polymeric compound in the unprotected areas. The first mask is removed to expose un-oxidized conductive material. The foil thickness of the un-oxidized conductive material is removed to expose the underlying first metal. This creates sidewalls of the foil and leaves un-removed the capacitor areas covered by the second metal. A second mask is placed on the strip, the second mask defines a plurality of leadframes having chip pads and leads, and protecting the capacitor areas. The portions of the first metal exposed by the second mask are removed. Sidewalls of the first metal are coplanar with the foil sidewalls. The second mask is removed.
US09142484B2 Power module package
An integrated power module includes a substantially planar insulated metal substrate having at least one cut-out region; at least one substantially planar ceramic substrate disposed within the cut-out region, wherein the ceramic substrate is framed on at least two sides by the insulated metal substrate, the ceramic substrate including a first metal layer on a first side and a second metal layer on a second side; at least one power semiconductor device coupled to the first side of the ceramic substrate; at least one control device coupled to a first surface of the insulated metal substrate; a power overlay electrically connecting the at least one semiconductor power device and the at least one control device; and a cooling fluid reservoir operatively connected to the second metal layer of the at least one ceramic substrate, wherein a plurality of cooling fluid passages are provided in the cooling fluid reservoir.
US09142482B2 Transient thermal management systems for semiconductor devices
Thermal management systems for semiconductor devices are provided. Embodiments of the invention provide two or more liquid cooling subsystems that are each capable of providing active cooling to one or more semiconductor devices, such as packaged processors. In operation, a first liquid cooling subsystem can provide active cooling to the semiconductor device(s) while the second cooling subsystem is circulating a heat transfer fluid within its own subsystem. The second liquid cooling subsystem can be then switched into operation and provides active cooling to the semiconductor device(s) while the first cooling subsystem is circulating heat transfer fluid within its own subsystem. In alternate embodiments, the heat transfer fluid remains in the subsystem, but does not circulate within the subsystem when the subsystem is not providing cooling to the semiconductor device(s). The subsystems comprise heat dissipation units. The switching between cooling systems allows the semiconductor device(s) to be maintained at a lower operating temperature than if switching between cooling subsystems were not employed.
US09142481B2 Integrated circuit packaging system with heatsink cap and method of manufacture thereof
A method of manufacture of an integrated circuit packaging system includes: providing a substrate; attaching an integrated circuit to the substrate; molding an encapsulation directly on the integrated circuit and the substrate; forming a trench in the encapsulation having a trench bottom surface and surrounding the integrated circuit; and mounting a heatsink having a heatsink rim over the integrated circuit with the heatsink rim within the trench and the heatsink electrically isolated from the substrate.
US09142479B2 Electronic device and semiconductor device
Provided is an electronic device having a semiconductor device and a mounting board. The semiconductor device has a die pad, a semiconductor chip on the die pad, a coupling member coupling the die pad to the semiconductor chip, and a semiconductor package member covering the upper portion of the semiconductor chip and the side surface of the die pad. In this semiconductor device, the plane area of the coupling member coupling the mounting board to the die pad is smaller than the plane area of the lower surface of the die pad exposed from the semiconductor package material. This makes it possible to reduce separation between the die pad and the semiconductor chip resulting from cracks, due to temperature cycling, of the coupling member present between the die pad and the semiconductor chip.
US09142476B2 Semiconductor package, cooling mechanism and method for manufacturing semiconductor package
A semiconductor package includes a substrate with a first surface on which a semiconductor device is mounted and a second surface opposite to the first surface, and a loop heat pipe including an evaporator and attached to the second surface of the substrate, wherein the substrate has a groove structure in the second surface, the groove structure being in contact with a porous wick provided in the evaporator.
US09142466B2 Using spectra to determine polishing endpoints
Methods of determining a polishing endpoint are described using spectra obtained during a polishing sequence. In particular, techniques for using only desired spectra, faster searching methods and more robust rate determination methods are described.
US09142465B1 Precise annealing of focal plane arrays for optical detection
Precise annealing of identified defective regions of a Focal Plane Array (“FPA”) (e.g., exclusive of non-defective regions of the FPA) facilitates removal of defects from an FPA that has been hybridized and/or packaged with readout electronics. Radiation is optionally applied under operating conditions, such as under cryogenic temperatures, such that performance of an FPA can be evaluated before, during, and after annealing without requiring thermal cycling.
US09142464B1 Method for fabricating semiconductor apparatus
A method for fabricating a semiconductor apparatus includes forming a diffusion barrier film on a semiconductor substrate, forming a semiconductor film on the semiconductor substrate in which the diffusion barrier film is formed, forming a silicide film on the semiconductor film, forming a conductive film on the silicide film, forming an upper portion of a pillar structure in a first region of the semiconductor substrate by patterning the conductive film, the silicide film, and the semiconductor film, forming a lower portion of the pillar structure by patterning the diffusion barrier film and the semiconductor substrate in the first region, and forming a gate electrode on an outer side of a patterned semiconductor substrate.
US09142463B2 Semiconductor device
By connecting a protection diode (71) wherein p-anode layers (21) and n-cathode layers (22) are alternately formed in a polysilicon layer, and p-n junctions (74) that are in a reverse blocking state when there is a forward bias are alternately short circuited with a metal film (53), to a power semiconductor element (IGBT (72)), it is possible to achieve a balance between a high breakdown capability and a smaller chip area, a rise of breakdown voltage is suppressed even when a clamping voltage is repeatedly applied, and furthermore, it is possible to prevent destruction caused by a negative surge voltage input into a gate terminal (G).
US09142459B1 Wafer dicing using hybrid laser scribing and plasma etch approach with mask application by vacuum lamination
Methods of dicing semiconductor wafers, each wafer having a plurality of integrated circuits, are described. In an example, a method of dicing a semiconductor wafer having a plurality of integrated circuits involves applying an adhesive layer to a front side of the semiconductor wafer. A mask layer is laminated onto the front side of the semiconductor wafer, the mask layer covering and protecting the integrated circuits. The adhesive layer adheres the mask layer to the front side of the semiconductor wafer. The mask layer is patterned with a laser scribing process to provide gaps in the mask layer, the gaps exposing regions of the semiconductor wafer between the integrated circuits. The semiconductor wafer is plasma etched through the gaps in the mask layer to singulate the integrated circuits.
US09142457B2 Dicing die bond film and method of manufacturing semiconductor device
The present invention provides a dicing die bond film in which yielding and breaking of the dicing film are prevented and in which the die bond film can be suitably broken with a tensile force. In the dicing die bond film of the present invention, the tensile strength of the contact part in which the outer circumference of the push-up jig contacts the dicing film at 25° C. is 15 N or more and 80 N or less and the yield point elongation is 80% or more, the tensile strength of the wafer bonding part of the dicing film at 25° C. is 10 N or more and 70 N or less and the yield point elongation is 30% or more, [(the tensile strength of the contact part)−(the tensile strength of the wafer bonding part)] is 0 N or more and 60 N or less, and the breaking elongation rate of the die bond film at 25° C. is more than 40% and 500% or less.
US09142444B2 Semiconductor component and method for producing a semiconductor component
A semiconductor component comprises a semiconductor body with at least one protective trench in the semiconductor body. An insulation layer is situated at least at the bottom of the protective trench. An electrically conductive layer having a thickness D is formed on the insulation layer in the protective trench, wherein the electrically conductive layer only partly fills the protective trench.
US09142437B2 System for separately handling different size FOUPs
A system for separately handling different size FOUPs includes an end effector having a surface thereon for supporting a FOUP. The end effector and surface is configured to support different size FOUPs. A fixture or means for engaging and maintaining a FOUP, of different size FOUPs, included to position and maintain each of a different size FOUP on the end effector during transport thereof. A shelf is configured to receive each of said different size FOUPs. The end effector is thus capable of transporting either a first size FOUP or a second, smaller size FOUP.
US09142436B2 Statistical analysis method and substrate process system
A data analyzing method includes receiving monitor data from the substrate processing apparatus; producing representative value data based on the monitor data; associating apparatus condition information indicating a condition of the substrate processing apparatus at the time of production of the monitor data, with the representative value data; storing the representative value data and the apparatus condition information associated with the representative value data and in a database; retrieving the representative value data and the apparatus condition information associated with the representative value data from the database; comparing an exclusion parameter with the retrieved apparatus condition information, the exclusion parameter including information indicating whether the retrieved representative value data should be included in analysis processing targets; and determining whether the retrieved representative value data should be included in the analysis processing targets, based on the comparison result.
US09142421B2 Double patterning lithography techniques
Techniques are disclosed for double patterning of a lithographic feature using a barrier layer between the pattern layers. In some cases, the techniques may be implemented with double patterning of a one- or two-dimensional photolithographic feature, for example. In some embodiments, the barrier layer is deposited to protect a first photoresist pattern prior to application of a second photoresist pattern thereon and/or to tailor (e.g., shrink) one or more of the critical dimensions of a trench, hole, or other etchable geometric feature to be formed in a substrate or other suitable surface via lithographic processes. In some embodiments, the techniques may be implemented to generate/print small features (e.g., less than or equal to about 100 nm) including one- and two-dimensional features/structures of varying complexity.
US09142420B2 Extensions of self-assembled structures to increased dimensions via a “bootstrap” self-templating method
Methods for fabricating sublithographic, nanoscale arrays of openings and linear microchannels utilizing self-assembling block copolymers, and films and devices formed from these methods are provided. Embodiments of the invention use a self-templating or multilayer approach to induce ordering of a self-assembling block copolymer film to an underlying base film to produce a multilayered film having an ordered array of nanostructures that can be removed to provide openings in the film which, in some embodiments, can be used as a template or mask to etch openings in an underlying material layer.
US09142415B2 Deposition apparatus, method of forming thin film using the deposition apparatus, and method of manufacturing organic light emitting display apparatus using the deposition apparatus
A deposition apparatus for performing a deposition process on a substrate includes: an injection unit including a plasma generating member which receives a raw material gas and converts the raw material gas to a deposition source material in a radical form; and a plasma processor disposed adjacent to the injection unit and facing a side of the injection unit, wherein the plasma processor performs a plasma process in a direction facing the substrate.
US09142405B2 Thin film transistor, method of manufacturing active layers of the thin film transistor, and display device
A thin film transistor including a first polycrystalline semiconductor layer disposed on a substrate, a second polycrystalline semiconductor layer disposed on the first polycrystalline semiconductor layer, and metal catalysts configured to adjoin the first polycrystalline semiconductor layer and spaced apart from one another at specific intervals.
US09142403B2 Method of forming boron-containing silicon oxycarbonitride film and method of forming silicon oxycarbonitride film
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure a method of forming a boron-containing silicon oxycarbonitride film on a base is provided. The method includes forming a boron-containing film on the base, and forming the boron-containing silicon oxycarbonitride film by laminating a silicon carbonitride film and a silicon oxynitride film on the boron-containing film.
US09142392B2 Self-cleaning radio frequency plasma source
A self-cleaning radio frequency (RF) plasma source for a semiconductor manufacturing process is described. Various examples provide an RF plasma source comprising an RF antenna and a rotatable dielectric sleeve disposed around the RF antenna. The dielectric is positioned between a process chamber and cleaning chamber such that portions of the surface of the dielectric may be exposed to either the process chamber or the cleaning chamber. As material is deposited on the outer surface of the dielectric in the process chamber, the dielectric sleeve is rotated so that the portion containing the buildup is exposed to the cleaning chamber. A sputtering process in the cleaning chamber removes the buildup from the surface of the sleeve. The dielectric sleeve is then rotated so that it exposed to the process chamber. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.
US09142389B2 Microwave power delivery system for plasma reactors
A microwave power delivery system for supplying microwave power to a plurality of microwave plasma reactors (8), the microwave power delivery system comprising: a tuner (14) configured to be coupled to a microwave source (4) and configured to match impedance of the plurality of microwave plasma reactors to that of the microwave source; and a waveguide junction (18) coupled to the tuner and configured to guide microwaves to and from the plurality of microwave plasma reactors, wherein the waveguide junction comprises four waveguide ports including a first port coupled to the tuner, second and third ports configured to be coupled to respective microwave plasma reactors, and a fourth port coupled to a microwave sink (20), wherein the waveguide junction is configured to evenly split microwave power input from the tuner through the first port between the second and third ports for providing microwave power to respective microwave plasma reactors, wherein the waveguide junction is configured to decouple the second and third ports thereby preventing any reflected microwaves from one of the microwave plasma reactors from feeding across the waveguide junction directly into another microwave plasma reactor causing an imbalance, wherein the waveguide junction is further configured to feed reflected microwaves received back through the second and third ports which are balanced in terms of magnitude and phase to the tuner such that they can be reflected by the tuner and re-used, and wherein the waveguide junction is further configured to feed excess reflected power which is not balanced through the fourth port into the microwave sink.
US09142388B2 Capacitively coupled remote plasma source
This disclosure describes systems, methods, and apparatus for capacitively coupling energy into a plasma to ignite and sustain the plasma within a remote plasma source. The power is provided by a first electrode that at least partially surrounds or is surrounded by a second electrode. The second electrode can be grounded or floating. First and second dielectric components can be arranged to separate one or both of the electrodes from the plasma and thereby DC isolate the plasma from one or both of the electrodes.
US09142384B2 Method of welding a frozen aqueous sample to a microprobe
The invention relates to a method of welding a vitreous biological sample at a temperature below the glass transition temperature of approximately −137° C. to a micromanipulator, also kept at a temperature below the glass transition temperature. Where prior art methods used IBID with, for example, propane, or a heated needle (heated resistively or by e/g/laser), the invention uses a vibrating needle to locally melt the sample. By stopping the vibration, the sample freezes to the micromanipulator. The heat capacity of the heated parts is small, and the amount of material that stays in a vitreous condition thus large.
US09142374B1 Solenoid linear actuator and method of making same
A solenoid linear actuator comprises a unibody soft magnetic core with a central body and an upper disk and narrower end extrusions, and a pair of soft magnetic bodies on the two ends of the solenoid. When the solenoid is energized, unibody core is magnetized and attracted to the soft magnetic plates from below, pulling unibody core downward. The extrusions on the two ends of unibody core actuate external mechanisms (pushers and cantilevers, respectively) to accomplish various electrical switching operations. A permanent magnet can be added to the upper side to assist the actuation.
US09142373B2 Electromagnetic relay
An electromagnetic relay has a fixed touch piece having a fixed contact, a movable touch piece having a movable contact contactably and separably opposed to the fixed contact, and configured to elastically deform, an auxiliary member configured to energize the movable touch piece to the fixed contact piece side, an electromagnet, and an intermediate member configured to be operated by magnetization of the electromagnet and elastically deform the movable touch piece.
US09142372B2 Contactor isolation method and apparatus
A contactor unit includes an input lead connectable to a first lead of an energy output device, an output lead connectable to a first lead of a voltage bus, a contactor that connects and disconnects the input lead from the output lead, a driver configured to operate the contactor, a serial data link connectable to a system controller that is external to the contactor unit, and an integrated circuit (IC) positioned within the contactor unit and configured to output a control command to the driver to open the contactor based on at least one of a current in either the input lead or the output lead and a voltage differential across the contactor, and output a contactor control status via the serial data link.
US09142371B2 Actuator for contactor
An actuator for a contactor comprises an electromagnet having a closing coil, a holding coil, fixed cores wound with the closing coil and the holding coil respectively, a movable core provided on one side of the fixed cores, and a yoke. A main contact movable member operates to perform closing or interrupting by attraction or release of the movable core with respect to the fixed core. The actuator has a trip spring, energy-stored during the closing, that performs the interrupting upon stopping energization to the holding coil and thereby releasing the stored-energy. The actuator has an auxiliary contact operating with the operation of the movable core and performing energization switching with respect to the closing coil and the holding coil. The trip spring is provided on one side of the electromagnet in a horizontal direction while the auxiliary contact is provided on the other side.
US09142359B2 Electrode material for aluminum electrolytic capacitor and process for producing the electrode material
The present invention provides an electrode material for use in an aluminum electrolytic capacitor that does not necessitate an etching treatment. Specifically, the present invention provides an electrode material for use in an aluminum electrolytic capacitor, the electrode material comprising a sintered body of at least one of aluminum and an aluminum alloy.
US09142355B2 Capacitors adapted for acoustic resonance cancellation
An embodiment of the present invention provides a method, comprising reducing the losses due to electro-mechanical coupling and improving Q in a multilayered capacitor by placing a first capacitor layer adjacent at least one additional capacitor layer and sharing a common electrode in between the two such that the acoustic vibration of the first layer is coupled to an anti-phase acoustic vibration of the at least one additional layer.
US09142350B2 Synthesis of ordered L10-type FeNi nanoparticles
Particles of iron and nickel are added to a flowing plasma stream which does not chemically alter the iron or nickel. The iron and nickel are heated and vaporized in the stream, and then a cryogenic fluid is added to the stream to rapidly cause the formation of nanometer size particles of iron and nickel. The particles are separated from the stream. The particles are preferably formed as single crystals in which the iron and nickel atoms are organized in a tetragonal L10 crystal structure which displays magnetic anisotropy. A minor portion of an additive, such as titanium, vanadium, aluminum, boron, carbon, phosphorous, or sulfur, may be added to the plasma stream with the iron and nickel to enhance formation of the desired crystal structure.
US09142345B2 Bent conduction sheet member, covering member and conductive winding assembly combining same
A conductive winding assembly combining a bent conduction sheet member and a covering member is provided. The bent conduction sheet member has a channel. The covering member includes a connection part, a first lateral plate, a second lateral plate, and a hollow part. A first groove is arranged between the first lateral plate and the connection part. A second groove is arranged between the second lateral plate and the connection part. The bent conduction sheet member is inserted into the covering member through the first groove and the second groove, and the connection part is inserted into the channel. The bent conduction sheet member is partially accommodated within the hollow part, and the bent conduction sheet member is partially exposed outside the covering member through the hollow part.
US09142344B2 Electronic component
An electronic component having a laminate having a plurality of insulator layers. A coil is provided consisting of a plurality of coil conductors that are connected by via-conductors piercing through the insulator layers, the coil winding helically about an axis along a direction of lamination. External electrodes are provided on surfaces of the laminate, in which at least some pairs of the coil conductors that neighbor each other with one of the insulator layers provided therebetween have parallel sections that overlap each other when viewed in the direction of lamination. The parallel sections are connected in parallel by the via-conductors or the external electrodes, and each pair of the coil conductors that neighbor each other with one of the insulator layers provided therebetween do not overlap each other when viewed in the direction of lamination, except for the parallel sections, and connections between the coil conductors and the via-conductors.
US09142343B2 Coil component
A coil component 1 includes a substrate 2, a planar spiral conductor 10a formed on a top surface 2t of the substrate 2, a lead conductor 11a connected to an outer peripheral end of the planar spiral conductor 10a, a dummy lead conductor 15a formed on the top surface of the substrate 2 and between an outermost turn of the planar spiral conductor 10a and an end 2X2 of the substrate 2 and free from an electrical connection with another conductor within the same plane, external electrodes 26a and 26b arranged in parallel with the top surface of the substrate 2, and a bump electrode 25a formed on a surface of the lead conductor 11a and connects the lead conductor 11a with the external electrode 26a. The external terminals 26a and 26b have a larger area than the bump electrodes 15a and 15b for securing a bonding strength.
US09142339B2 Compact optical transconductance varistor
A compact radiation-modulated transconductance varistor device having both a radiation source and a photoconductive wide bandgap semiconductor material (PWBSM) integrally formed on a substrate so that a single interface is formed between the radiation source and PWBSM for transmitting PWBSM activation radiation directly from the radiation source to the PWBSM.
US09142338B2 Oil transformer insulation module
An exemplary oil transformer insulation module includes at least a first flat layer and a second layer adjacent and substantially and parallel to the first layer. The first and second layers include planar first insulation material and are connected to and spaced apart from a third corrugated layer that is arranged between the first and second layers. The third layer includes planar second insulation material, has lateral edges, and is corrugated such that all the cavities formed by the corrugated form can be flooded with a liquid via the lateral edges.
US09142337B2 Electric fence insulator assembly
An electric fence insulator assembly configured for attaching to tree trunks, pipes, posts and t-posts of various size, shape and materials is disclosed. The electric fence insulator assembly comprises two panels disposed at an obtuse angle and connected by a connecting member containing a clamp. Attached to the rear of each panel is a cord gripping member. The electric fence insulator assembly is fitted between the two panels and an elasticized cord wraps around the tree trunk, pipe or post, then wedged into the first gripping member at one end and wedged into the second gripping member at its other end. This configuration minimizes the contact area of the electric fence insulator assembly with the tree trunk. The shape of the insulator is designed to maximize stability and provide a secure attachment to trees, pipes and posts. A stretchable cord allows for expansion and adjustability as the tree grows.
US09142328B2 Molecule for functionalizing a support, attachment of a radionuclide to the support and radionuclide generator for preparing the radionuclide, and preparation process
Molecule for attaching a radioactive parent nuclide to a support, comprising at least one functional group for attaching the radioactive parent nuclide; and a molecular moiety suitable for establishing a nonpolar bond to the support.
US09142327B2 Canister for transporting and/or storing radioactive materials comprising radially stacked radiological protection components
A canister for transporting/storing radioactive materials, comprising two concentric shells between which is housed a radiological protection device forming a barrier against gamma radiation, comprising a first and a second metal radiological protection components superimposed along a radial direction of the canister, the first component being supported against the outer shell and the second component being supported against the inner shell. In addition, the components are in contact with each other along an interface taking, in section along any plane integrating the longitudinal axis, the form of a straight line segment inclined in relation to this axis.
US09142322B2 Memory manager
An embodiment of a manager includes at least one input node configured to receive information regarding a region of an integrated circuit, and a determiner configured to determine, in response to the information, a likelihood that the region will cause an error. For example, the region may include a memory, and contents of the memory may be transferred to another, more reliable memory, if the likelihood that the memory will cause an error in the data that it stores equals or exceeds a likelihood threshold.
US09142317B2 Embedded memory device and memory controller including the same
An embedded memory device includes a mask ROM including a plurality of mask ROM cells and an address decoder configured to decode an address of the plurality of mask ROM cells; and an e-fuse memory configured to replace a part of data stored in the mask ROM with replacement data, the e-fuse memory including, a plurality of e-fuse memory cells configured to store the replacement data, and an e-fuse address selector configured to decode an address of the plurality of e-fuse memory cells and to selectively cause data of one or more of the plurality of e-fuse memory cells to be output based on the decoding result.
US09142312B1 Adapting read reference voltage in flash memory device
In one embodiment, a method comprises determining an adaptation for a reference voltage used in a flash memory device as a function of a first count of items read from the flash memory device and a second count of items read from the flash memory device; and shifting the reference voltage at least in part by the adaptation.
US09142309B2 Generation of a composite read based on neighboring data
A victim group of one or more cells is read using a first read threshold to obtain a first raw read which includes one or more values. The victim group of cells is read using a second read threshold to obtain a second raw read which includes one or more values. A neighboring read, corresponding to a neighboring group of one or more cells associated with the victim group of cells, is obtained. A composite read is generated, including by selecting from at least the first raw read and the second raw read based at least in part on the neighboring read.
US09142308B2 Semiconductor memory device, memory system including the same, and operating method thereof
Disclosed are a semiconductor memory device, a memory system including the same, and an operation method thereof. The semiconductor memory device includes: a memory cell array including a plurality of memory cells; and a plurality of page buffers configured to supply currents to bit lines when a sensing operation is performed and sense currents of the bit lines to sense data of the plurality of memory cells and generate current paths between the bit lines and a ground according to program states of the plurality of memory cells.
US09142300B2 Memory system including nonvolatile memory
According to one embodiment, a memory system includes a nonvolatile memory and a control circuit. The nonvolatile memory includes a storage area having a plurality of memory cells configured to store data. The control circuit determines whether data write to the storage area is possible or impossible.
US09142299B2 Semiconductor memory device which stores plural data in a cell
A memory cell array is configured to have a plurality of memory cells arranged in a matrix, each of the memory cells being connected to a word line and a bit line and being capable of storing n values (n is a natural number equal to or larger than 3). A control circuit controls the potentials of the word line and bit line according to input data and writes data into a memory cell. The control circuit writes data into the memory cell to a k-valued threshold voltage (k<=n) in a write operation, precharges the bit line once, and then changes the potential of the word line an i number of times to verify whether the memory cell has reached an i-valued (i<=k) threshold voltage.
US09142289B2 Method for driving variable resistance element, and nonvolatile memory device
A driving method for driving a variable resistance element and a nonvolatile memory device, which achieves stable storage operation. In a low resistance write process, a low resistance writing voltage pulse having the negative polarity is applied once to a variable resistance layer included in a variable resistance element while in a high resistance write process, a high resistance writing voltage pulse having the positive polarity is applied more than twice to the same variable resistance layer. Here, when a voltage value of one of the high resistance writing voltage pulses is VH1 and a voltage value of the other high resistance writing voltage pulse applied subsequently is VH2, VH1>VH2 is satisfied.
US09142287B2 Coding for crossbar architecture
A method for encoding bits to be stored within a crossbar memory architecture performed by a physical computing system includes designating, with the physical computing system, a subset of crosspoints within a crossbar matrix, the crossbar matrix comprising a number of disjointed intersecting wire segments, the subset corresponding to a predetermined path through the crossbar matrix; and encoding, with the physical computing system, a number of data bits to be placed along the predetermined path; in which the encoding causes bits pertaining to at least one of the wire segments to be subject to a constraint when the data bits are placed along the predetermined path.
US09142286B2 Integrated circuit memory device with read-disturb control
A device (e.g., an integrated circuit memory device such as a static random access memory device) includes word line drivers. Each of the word line drivers includes a pull-up device that is coupled to a node via a shared line. A precharge device is coupled between a power supply and the node. The precharge device and a pull-up device for a selected word line driver are controlled to allow the power supply to charge the node and then to allow the charge stored in the node to flow into a word line corresponding to the selected word line driver.
US09142282B2 Power supply scheme for small swing data line and method of operating the same
A circuit includes a plurality of buffers configured to provide data on a corresponding signal line. Each of the plurality of buffers may be coupled to a power supply voltage through a corresponding diode. A plurality of receiving circuits may be coupled to receive the data provided on a corresponding one of the plurality of signal lines. The plurality of receiving circuits may be directly powered by the power supply voltage.
US09142281B1 Method and apparatus for calibrating write timing in a memory system
A system that calibrates timing relationships between signals involved in performing write operations is described. This system includes a memory controller which is coupled to a set of memory chips, wherein each memory chip includes a phase detector configured to calibrate a phase relationship between a data-strobe signal and a clock signal received at the memory chip from the memory controller during a write operation. Furthermore, the memory controller is configured to perform one or more write-read-validate operations to calibrate a clock-cycle relationship between the data-strobe signal and the clock signal, wherein the write-read-validate operations involve varying a delay on the data-strobe signal relative to the clock signal by a multiple of a clock period.
US09142279B2 DRAM refresh method and system
A DRAM refresh method used with a memory system organized into rows of memory cells, each of which has an associated data retention time, with the system arranged to refresh predefined blocks of memory cells simultaneously. For each block of memory cells that are to be refreshed simultaneously, the minimum data retention time for the memory cells in the block is determined. Then, an asymmetric refresh sequence is created which specifies the order in which the blocks of memory cells are refreshed, such that the blocks having the shortest minimum data retention times are refreshed more often than the blocks having longer minimum data retention times.
US09142272B2 Dual asynchronous and synchronous memory system
Embodiments relate to a dual asynchronous and synchronous memory system. One aspect is a system that includes a memory controller and a memory buffer chip coupled to the memory controller via a synchronous channel. The memory buffer chip includes a memory buffer unit configured to synchronously communicate with the memory controller in a nest domain, and a memory buffer adaptor configured to communicate with at least one memory interface port in a memory domain. The at least one memory interface port is operable to access at least one memory device. A boundary layer is connected to the nest domain and the memory domain, where the boundary layer is configurable to operate in a synchronous transfer mode between the nest and memory domains and to operate in an asynchronous transfer mode between the nest and memory domains.
US09142271B1 Reference architecture in a cross-point memory
The present disclosure relates to reference and sense architecture in a cross-point memory. An apparatus may include a memory controller configured to select a target memory cell for a memory access operation. The memory controller includes word line (WL) switch circuitry configured to select a global WL (GWL) and a local WL (LWL) associated with the target memory cell; bit line (BL) switch circuitry configured to select a global BL (GBL) and a local BL (LBL) associated with the target memory cell; and sense circuitry including a first sense circuitry capacitance and a second sense circuitry capacitance, the sense circuitry configured to precharge the selected GWL, the LWL and the first sense circuitry capacitance to a WL bias voltage WLVDM, produce a reference voltage (VREF) utilizing charge on the selected GWL and charge on the first sense circuitry capacitance and determine a state of the target memory cell based, at least in part, on VREF and a detected memory cell voltage VLWL.
US09142270B2 Pipelining in a memory
A system including a memory cell array including a plurality of memory cells, and a writing device to generate multiple back-to-back write pulses to write to target memory cells from among the plurality of memory cells, the multiple back-to-back write pulses overlapping during an overlap duration, the overlap duration being adjustable based on a performance parameter of the memory cell array.
US09142268B2 Dual-voltage domain memory buffers, and related systems and methods
Dual-voltage domain memory buffers, and related systems and methods are disclosed. To reduce area needed for voltage level shifters for voltage level shifting, latch banks are provided in a voltage domain of memory buffer read circuitry, separate from the voltage domain of a write data input to the latch banks. A write data input voltage level shifter is disposed between the write data input and the latch banks to voltage level shift write data on the write data input to the voltage domain of the latch banks. In this manner, voltage level shifters are not required to voltage level shill the latch bank outputs, because the latch banks are in the voltage domain of the memory buffer read circuitry. In this manner, semiconductor area that would otherwise be needed for the voltage level shifters to voltage level shift latch bank outputs is not required.
US09142267B1 Power generator for data line of memory apparatus
The invention provides the power generator includes a bias voltage generator and a voltage clamping circuit. The bias voltage generator receives a reference voltage and generates a bias voltage according to the reference voltage. The voltage clamping circuit is coupled to the bias voltage generator. The voltage clamping circuit receives a supply voltage and the bias voltage and respectively outputs a plurality of data line power to the data transporting buffers by clamping the supply voltage according to the bias voltage. Wherein, the supply voltage is varied between a voltage range, and voltage levels of the data line powers are all constant.
US09142256B2 Method and apparatus for creating a custom track
A method and system for creating and editing video and/or audio tracks is described. The method includes providing at least one artist, venue, and track available for selection and providing at least one clip associated with the at least one artist, venue, and track. The method also includes allowing a user to create a custom track from the at least one clip. The system includes a plurality of video cameras for recording a live performance at a plurality of positions. The system also includes at least one server for storing a plurality of video clips created from the plurality of video cameras and an application stored on the at least one server for allowing a user to access the plurality of video clips via the Internet.
US09142254B2 Capturing frames from an external source
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for designating a memory region for receiving image frames from an image frame server, the image frames are from a first sequence of image frames. Each image frame in the first sequence of image frames is associated with a time position on a first timeline. A needed image frame is selected, the needed image frame associated with a second time position on a second timeline. The second time position is mapped on the second timeline to a first time position on the first timeline. The image frame server is requested to provide an image frame from the first sequence of image frames at the first time position on the first timeline.
US09142252B2 Magnetic disk drive and data rewrite methods
In one embodiment, a magnetic disk drive includes a magnetic disk having data tracks, a magnetic head, a motion mechanism for moving the magnetic head, and a controller. The controller adds a value to a rewrite parameter for a rewrite region based on a number of writes to data tracks related to the rewrite region, the value is chosen to reflect a degree of influence the number of writes have on the rewrite region, and the magnetic head rewrites data of the rewrite region when the rewrite parameter is greater than a threshold. In another embodiment, a method includes writing data tracks in a rewrite region, defining values reflecting a degree(s) of influence on the rewrite region, adding the values to a rewrite parameter upon writing data to the data tracks, determining that the rewrite parameter has reached or exceeded a threshold and rewriting data in the rewrite region.
US09142245B2 Tension transients suppression during acceleration and/or deceleration for storage tape drive
A method according to one embodiment includes receiving or determining primary velocity based on at least one of reading information encoded on a magnetic tape and a parameter associated with a motor of a drive mechanism. At a switching point, a reference velocity is made about equal to the primary velocity. After the switching point, the reference velocity is determined at various intervals. Also after the switching point, a value representative of a difference between the reference velocity and the primary velocity is determined, and a speed of the motor of the drive mechanism is adjusted for minimizing the difference between the reference velocity and the primary velocity. A system according to one embodiment includes a controller for controlling a drive mechanism, the controller being configured to perform the foregoing method.
US09142242B1 Remotely controlling appliances based on lighting patterns
Disclosed is a method and apparatus for attaining control a device in a home automation network. The disclosed method may include establishing, by a processor, communication with an appliance controller. A list of appliances controlled by the appliance controller may be requested. The processor may receive the list of appliances from the appliance controller. A control request may be sent to the appliance controller. A series of images may be collected of the lighting patterns generated by a first appliance in the list of appliances in the field of view of the camera. A specific light pattern collected from the series of images may be correlated with the first appliance.
US09142241B2 Perpendicular magnetic recording medium and method of manufacturing the same
A perpendicular magnetic recording medium comprises a magnetic recording layer that records a signal, an underlayer formed of Ru or Ru compound below the magnetic recording layer, a non-magnetic layer formed of a non-magnetic material below the underlayer to control crystal orientation of the underlayer, a soft magnetic layer provided below the non-magnetic layer, and a substrate on which the magnetic recording layer, the underlayer, the non-magnetic layer, and the soft magnetic layer are formed. The non-magnetic layer comprises a first non-magnetic layer formed above the soft magnetic layer and a second non-magnetic layer formed above the first non-magnetic layer. The first non-magnetic layer is formed of amorphous Ni compound while the second non-magnetic layer is formed of crystalline Ni or crystalline Ni compound.
US09142239B2 Patterned magnetic storage medium
According to one embodiment, a patterned magnetic storage medium is disclosed herein. The magnetic storage medium includes a magnetic domain, a substantially non-magnetic region laterally adjacent to the magnetic domain, and an exchange spring structure disposed between the magnetic domain and the laterally adjacent non-magnetic region wherein the exchange spring structure comprises implanted ions.
US09142237B1 Slider of a disk drive having data favorable load/unload attitude
A disk drive includes a drive housing, a storage disk, a head suspension assembly, an actuator assembly and a controller. The storage disk has a disk surface including a data region that stores data. In one embodiment, the head suspension assembly includes a slider and an attitude adjuster. The slider has an inner side edge, an outer side edge and a data transducer. The attitude adjuster can adjust a roll attitude and/or a pitch attitude of the slider relative to the disk surface. The slider moves between a first position wherein the data transducer is not positioned directly over the data region and a second position wherein the data transducer is positioned directly over the data region during one of a load operation and an unload operation. The controller controls an electrical signal to the attitude adjuster during one of the load operation and the unload operation to dynamically adjust the attitude of the slider. The attitude adjuster can include one or more piezoelectric elements that expand and/or contract to adjust the orientation of the slider relative to the storage disk.
US09142232B2 Magnetic stack with separated contacts
An apparatus for two dimensional reading may be constructed, in accordance with some embodiments, with a number of magnetic stacks respectively configured to engage adjacent data tracks of a data storage media. Each magnetic stack can be disposed between top and bottom shields while each shield is segmented into a number of contacts different than the number of magnetic stacks.
US09142222B2 Apparatus and method of enhancing quality of speech codec
An apparatus and method of improving the quality of a speech codec are provided. In the method, a first energy of a signal decoded by a low-band codec is calculated, and a second energy of a signal decoded by a low-band enhancement mode is calculated. Then, when the first energy is less than a first threshold value or less than a product of the second energy and a second threshold value, a size of the decoded signal is scaled. Accordingly, generation of a quantization error with respect to a silence segment is reduced.
US09142219B2 Background speech recognition assistant using speaker verification
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving an acoustic input signal at a speech recognizer. A user is identified that is speaking based on the acoustic input signal. The method then determines speaker-specific information previously stored for the user and a set of responses based on the recognized acoustic input signal and the speaker-specific information for the user. It is determined if the response should be output and the response is outputted if it is determined the response should be output.
US09142211B2 Speech recognition apparatus, speech recognition method, and computer-readable recording medium
A speech recognition apparatus 20 includes: an identification language model creation unit 21 that selects, from learning texts 27 for various fields for generating language models 26 for the fields, a phrase that includes a word whose appearance frequency satisfies a set condition on a field-by-field basis, and generates an identification language model 25 for identifying the field of speech using the selected phrases; a speech recognition unit 22 that executes speech recognition on the speech using the identification language model 25, and outputs text data and word confidences as a recognition result; and a field determination unit 23 that specifies a field that includes the most words whose confidences are greater than or equal to a set value based on the text data, the word confidences, and the words in the learning texts for the fields, and determines that the specified field is the field of the speech.
US09142210B2 Method and device for speaker recognition
A method and device for speaker recognition are provided. In the present invention, identifiability re-estimation is performed on a first vector (namely, a weight vector) in a score function by adopting a support vector machine (SVM), so that a recognition result of a characteristic parameter of a test voice is more accurate, thereby improving identifiability of speaker recognition.
US09142209B2 Data pattern analysis
A method and apparatus receive multiple data pattern analysis requests from a controller and substantially simultaneously perform, with multiple data pattern analysis units, multiple data pattern analyses on one or more portions of a data stream.
US09142205B2 Leakage-modeling adaptive noise canceling for earspeakers
A personal audio device, such as a headphone, includes an adaptive noise canceling (ANC) circuit that adaptively generates an anti-noise signal from a reference microphone signal that measures the ambient audio, and the anti-noise signal is combined with source audio to provide an output for a speaker. The anti-noise signal causes cancellation of ambient audio sounds that appear at the reference microphone. A processing circuit uses the reference microphone to generate the anti-noise signal, which can be generated by an adaptive filter. The processing circuit also models an acoustic leakage path from the transducer to the reference microphone and removes elements of the source audio appearing at the reference microphone signal due to the acoustic output of the speaker. Another adaptive filter can be used to model the acoustic leakage path.
US09142195B2 Data forwarding circuit, data forwarding method, display device, host-side device, and electronic apparatus
The timing controller determines the number of data lanes (11, 12, 13), which are used to transfer data, based on information in relation to an amount of data to be transferred during a predetermined time period. Out of the plurality of data lanes (11, 12, 13), the determined number of data lane(s) (11, 12, 13) are used to transfer data. Further, a data lane(s) (11, 12, 13) which is not used in the data transfer is deactivated.
US09142192B2 Simulation of web applications and secondary devices in a web browser, web application development tools, and methods using the same
Device simulators and methods for using the same are disclosed. In some embodiments, the device simulators are capable of permitting accurate pixel to pixel and inch to inch mapping between a simulated display and a display of a target device. Web application development tools utilizing such simulators are also disclosed. In some embodiment, such web application development tools provide a convenient method to convert electronic document source files to interactive document web applications for multiple operating systems and form factors.
US09142187B2 Semiconductor device, image processing system, and program
A semiconductor device includes an adjustment data generation unit receiving at least a part of adjustment values of color attributes of each of n-axis vertices (n is an integer not less than 3), the n axes serving as an adjustment axis in a RGB color space. The adjustment data generation unit calculates the degree of influence which indicates the following index of each of the n-axis vertices based on the distance between each of the n-axis vertices and a target point which is an arbitrary lattice point in the RGB color space. The adjustment data generation unit calculates adjusted coordinates of the target point in the RGB color space based on shifting of each of the n-axis vertices in the RGB color space according to the adjustment value and the degree of influence. The image adjustment unit performs color adjustment of inputted image data.
US09142181B2 Display driver and display diving method
A display driver, which comprises: a first predetermined voltage level providing apparatus, for providing a first predetermined voltage level group comprising at least one first predetermined voltage level; a first image data providing apparatus, for outputting a first image data; and a detection controlling circuit, for determining if an output terminal of the first image data providing apparatus is pre-charged to the first predetermined voltage level according to a relation between an absolute value of a voltage level of the first image data and an absolute value of the first predetermined voltage level.
US09142170B2 Liquid crystal display device including an opening in a color filter
The present application discloses a liquid crystal display device for displaying a video on a display surface with pixels arranged in a matrix. Each of the pixels has three sub-pixels formed with different color filter portions in hue. The display surface includes pixel sets. Each of the pixel sets is defined to include two or three of the pixels next to each other in at least one of the vertical and horizontal directions. An opening is formed on one of the color filter portions every hue in each of the pixel sets.
US09142165B2 Field sequential color display and driving method thereof
A field sequential color display having a display panel and a backlight module is provided. The panel includes a plurality of unit regions, each having a first color unit region and a white color unit region. The panel includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a filter layer and a display medium. The first substrate has a pixel array. The second substrate is disposed opposite to the first substrate. The filter layer is disposed on the second substrate and has a first color filter pattern disposed within the first color unit regions and a white color filter pattern disposed within the white color unit regions. The display medium is between the first and second substrate. The backlight module is disposed at a side of the display panel and has a white light source, a second color light source and a third color light source which are switched in sequence.
US09142160B2 Display apparatus
An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is a display apparatus. In the display apparatus, each row has as many row selection lines as the number of colors of light emitting elements, and row selection signals are supplied via the row selection lines such that a first row selection signal and a second row selection signals are supplied to driving circuits of light emitting elements of each color in first and second periods alternately and a plurality of times at different intervals in each frame. In the first period, light-emission or no-light-emission data signals are supplied over data lines. In the second period, only no-light-emission data signals are supplied. One of the first and second row selection signals is supplied with the same timing for all colors, while the other one of the row selection signals is supplied with timing different among the colors.
US09142157B2 Methods for enhancing longevity in electronic device displays
An electronic device may contain components such as a processor, video circuitry, camera flash, communications circuitry, and other components that may generate heat during operation. The device may have a display with a backlight unit that contains light-emitting diodes. Control circuitry within the electronic device can apply drive powers to the light-emitting diodes in a way that is sensitive to the operating temperature of the light-emitting diodes. The control circuitry can determine whether the temperature of the light-emitting diodes is elevated by determining which components are active in the device. Activity levels can be ascertained by gathering status information on each component. Temperature sensors may be used to make real time temperature measurements. Based on factors such as component activity levels and measured temperature values, the control circuitry can adjust the maximum allowed light-emitting diode drive power level to avoid overdriving the diodes during operation at elevated temperatures.
US09142145B2 Medical training systems and methods
Simulation systems and methods may enable virtual imaging. A data processing unit may receive data from a calibration unit indicating a position and/or orientation of a position and orientation sensor relative to a physical model. The data processing unit may also receive data from the position and orientation sensor indicating a position and/or orientation of the physical model. The data processing unit may generate a virtual image using the data from the position and orientation sensor and the data from the calibration unit. The data processing unit may render the virtual image to a display.
US09142132B2 Collision avoidance system and method for vehicles
A collision avoidance system is configured to be installed in a vehicle, and includes a speed sensing unit to sense a speed of the vehicle, a distance sensing unit to sense a distance between the vehicle and a nearby object, an EPB unit to decelerate the vehicle, and a control unit to compute a length of collision time after which the vehicle is predicted to collide with the object according to the speed of the vehicle and the distance between the vehicle and the object, and to control the EPB unit to decelerate the vehicle when the collision time is not longer than a brake time length.
US09142126B2 Emergency traffic light system
An emergency traffic system is provided. The emergency traffic system may include a power source, a battery, an emergency traffic light, a light sensor, a mounting assemblage, a computer and an existing traffic light system. The emergency traffic system may be mounted on a traffic light system, whereby the light sensor may be secured to at least one traffic light thereof. The computer may receive electrical signals from the light sensor so as to learn and record the history of the traffic light patterns of the traffic light system. In the next step, the computer compares the instant traffic light pattern to the history of traffic light patterns during the operation of the traffic light system being monitored. If the instant traffic light pattern is not found in the history, then the computer transmits the on signal to the emergency traffic light. If the instant traffic pattern is found in the history then the computer continues to monitor the step comparison. If the on signal has been transmitted to the emergency traffic light, then the computer continues to look for the return of a signal from the light sensor, it then reacts to traffic light system working again, and then the computer transmits the off signal to the emergency traffic light.
US09142113B2 Smoke detector with external sampling volume using two different wavelengths and ambient light detection for measurement correction
In accordance with certain embodiments, a smoke detector determines the presence of smoke particles outside its housing based on measurements of light detected at different wavelengths and corrected based on an ambient light level.
US09142112B2 Smoke detector with external sampling volume using two different wavelengths and ambient light detection for measurement correction
In accordance with certain embodiments, a smoke detector determines the presence of smoke particles outside its housing based on measurements of light detected at different wavelengths and corrected based on an ambient light level.
US09142108B2 Security apparatus and method
A security method and apparatus is disclosed. In one embodiment, a security method comprises storing one or more data points representing an alarm condition in a memory, generating an electronic signal from a motion sensor in response to movement of the door or window, comparing the electronic signal to the data points, and detecting an alarm condition of the door or window if the electronic signal substantially matches the data points.
US09142106B2 Tailgating detection
Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for tailgating detection are described herein. One method includes collecting, via a computing device, access log data associated with a profile; processing, by a processor coupled to the computing device, the access log data to obtain a statistical access model; detecting, by the processor, a tailgating sequence based on the statistical access model; and providing, by the processor, a notification that the tailgating sequence has occurred.
US09142093B2 Gaming system having re-awarding of stored awards
A gaming system for conducting a wagering game includes a wager input device for receiving a wager to play a wagering game, at least one display for displaying the wagering game, and at least one controller. The controller is operative to display a first outcome of the wagering game and award a first award associated with the first outcome, store the first award in a stored awards group, cause the at least one display to display the stored awards group, and re-award one or more awards in the stored awards group upon the occurrence of a triggering event.
US09142085B2 Random switching game engine for wagering games
A random switching game engine for wagering games provides the advantage of switching between game engines in response to a triggering event. The switch engine controls which game engine will present a wagering game to the player. The different game engines may have different odds for presenting a winning outcome to a player. After a triggering event has occurred the switch game engine may utilize a random number generator to randomly determine whether a switch between game engines should occur. The triggering event may comprise the start of a game or any other event. A switch game engine may perform the switch by activating one of multiple game engines. The wagering game may be presented according to the same rules, but with different odds of receiving a winning outcome, to prevent a player from noticing that a switch between game engines has occurred, or different games may be presented.
US09142074B2 System for and method of paper note authentication and tracking through NFC
A system for and method of paper note authentication and tracking through NFC is presented. The system and method includes utilizing an authenticating device to receive paper note data using an NFC reader, transmit the paper note data to an authenticating party, receive an authentication determination and/or additional paper note data, and authenticate the paper note where the authentication determination indicates accordingly. The system and method may further include updating the paper note data upon authentication to prevent duplicate authentication attempts.
US09142073B2 Techniques for telephony-based voting
A telephone network voting system receives telephone ballots cast by voters by dialing a telephone number. The telephone number is dialed by voters spread over a large geographic area. The voting calls are routed to points of presence local to or otherwise identified with the caller by using the caller's ANI or other originating number identification. The points of presence then accumulate votes and periodically forward tallies to a centralized location over a data network. Instructions may be transmitted from the centralized location to the points of presence.
US09142058B2 Storage medium, information processing apparatus, information processing method and information processing system
A computer-readable storage medium having stored therein an information processing program to be executed by a computer is provided. The information processing program causes the computer to function as: preferential display object placing means for placing a preferential display object in an imaging range of a virtual stereo camera in a virtual three-dimensional space; stereoscopically visible image rendering means for taking the virtual three-dimensional space using the virtual stereo camera, and rendering a stereoscopically visible image of the virtual three-dimensional space; and display control means for causing the display apparatus to display the stereoscopically visible image rendered by the stereoscopically visible image rendering means. The stereoscopically visible image rendering means renders the preferential display object by using a parallax based on a first depth from the virtual stereo camera, according to a preference order based on a second depth, shallower than the first depth, from the virtual stereo camera.
US09142057B2 Processing unit with a plurality of shader engines
A processor includes a first shader engine and a second shader engine. The first shader engine is configured to process pixel shaders for a first subset of pixels to be displayed on a display device. The second shader engine is configured to process pixel shaders for a second subset of pixels to be displayed on the display device. Both the first and second shader engines are also configured to process general-compute shaders and non-pixel graphics shaders. The processor may also include a level-one (L1) data cache, coupled to and positioned between the first and second shader engines.
US09142056B1 Mixed-order compositing for images having three-dimensional painting effects
Rendering 3D paintings can be done by compositing brush strokes embedded in space. Image elements are rendered into an image representable by a pixel array wherein at least some of the image elements correspond to simulated painting strokes. A method may include determining stroke positions in a 3D space, determining stroke orders, and for each pixel to be addressed, determining a pixel color value by determining strokes intersections with a view ray for that pixel, determining a depth order and a stroke order for intersecting fragments, each fragment having a color, alpha value, depth, and stroke order, assigning an intermediate color to each of the fragments, corresponding to a compositing of nearby fragments in stroke order, and assigning a color to the pixel that corresponds to a compositing of the fragments using the intermediate colors assigned to the fragments. The compositing may be done in depth order.
US09142054B2 System and method for changing hair color in digital images
A system and method for digital hair coloring is described. A starting image of a subject including a hair region is obtained. At least one foreground selection of the starting image is obtained, the foreground selection including a portion of the hair region. At least one background selection of the starting image excluding the hair region is obtained. A matte defining a calculated foreground area of the starting image is calculated based on the foreground selection and the background selection. A target color distribution based on a target hair color is obtained. A color image is generated by applying a color transformation based on the target color distribution to at least the calculated foreground area of the starting image. An output image is generated from the colored image and the starting image.
US09142053B2 Systems and methods for compositing a display image from display planes using enhanced bit-level block transfer hardware
Systems and methods for compositing an image from display planes are disclosed. An internal matrix having transparency data indicating transparency of a macro block of a digital representation of a display is accessed. An external matrix is accessed if the internal matrix indicates the macro block includes a transparent and opaque pixel, wherein the external matrix has transparency data indicating transparency of each pixel in the macro block. A first display plane is read based on the transparency data indicating opaque pixels and the first display plane data is sent to a first buffer. Second display plane data of a second display plane is read and sent to a second buffer if the transparency data indicates transparent pixels. Control data is inserted into the first buffer accordingly such that an image is generated based on at least one of the first and second display plane data and the control data.
US09142052B1 Generating multiple digital images with changed aspect ratio
In an embodiment, a data processing method comprises receiving and storing one or more original graphic image files; for each particular original graphic image file among the graphic image files: determining a first aspect ratio of the particular original graphic image file; determining whether the first aspect ratio is wider, taller, or identical to a specified second aspect ratio associated with one or more target image files; creating and storing the one or more target image files each having the second aspect ratio, by re-sampling the particular original graphic image file to match a first dimension of the one or more target image files, and selectively cropping one or more portions of the particular original graphic image file to form the one or more target image files having the second aspect ratio; wherein the method is performed using one or more computing devices.
US09142045B1 Method for displaying two-dimensional geological image data in log format and displayed product
The present invention relates to a method for displaying two-dimensional geological image data in log format and the displayed image products thereof. The present invention can provide a concatenated display format for two-dimensional image data captured for different planar slices of a geological sample. The present method provides an enhanced format modality for presentation of such image data of a geological sample as a continuous presentation for the slices in the sequence.
US09142043B1 System and method for improved sample test efficiency in image rendering
A method for reducing the number of samples tested for rendering a screen space region of an image includes constructing a trajectory of a primitive extending within an image which is to be rendered. A bounding volume is constructed for a screen space region of the image, the bounding volume characterized as having a bound in a non-screen space dimension which is defined as a function of the primitive's trajectory. The bounding volume is further characterized as overlapping a portion of the screen space region which is to be rendered. One or more sample points which are located within the screen space region, and which are not overlapped by the bounding volume are excluded from testing.
US09142040B2 System, method, and computer program product for processing graphics data associated with shading
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for processing graphics data associated with shading. In operation, a first fragment is received. Further, the first fragment is shaded. While the first fragment is being shaded, a second fragment is received and it is determined whether at least one aspect of the second fragment conflicts with the first fragment. If it is determined that the at least one aspect of the second fragment does not conflict with the first fragment, the second fragment is shaded. If it is determined that the at least one aspect of the second fragment conflicts with the first fragment, information associated with the second fragment is stored, a third fragment is received, and the third fragment is shaded, if it is determined that at least one aspect of the third fragment does not conflict with the first fragment.
US09142038B2 Rendering a digital element
Rendering a digital element is disclosed. An indication that a device is within a region associated with the digital element is received. It is determined that the digital element is to be rendered. A representation of the digital element is generated in a rendered view of the region. The digital element is provided upon receiving an indication that the digital element has been selected.
US09142035B1 Item dimension verification at packing
This disclosure describes systems and methods for automatically verifying stored item dimension values and package utilization at packing. In some implementations, an image(s) of a package that includes items of a shipment set is captured at a pack station and analyzed to determine an actual package utilization. The actual package utilization is compared to an expected package utilization. If a difference between the expected package utilization and the actual package utilization is identified, it may be determined that the stored item dimension values may be inaccurate.
US09142026B2 Confidence map, method for generating the same and method for refining a disparity map
A method for generating a confidence map comprising a plurality of confidence values, each being assigned to a respective disparity value in a disparity map assigned to at least two stereo images each having a plurality of pixels, wherein a single confidence value is determined for each disparity value, and wherein for determination of the confidence value at least a first confidence value based on a match quality between a pixel or a group of pixels in the first stereo image and a corresponding pixel or a corresponding group of pixels in the second stereo image and a second confidence value based on a consistency of the corresponding disparity estimates is taken into account.
US09142014B2 System and method for identifying systematic defects in wafer inspection using hierarchical grouping and filtering
A number of wafers of a same semiconductor device are inspected to generate a plurality of candidate defect lists for identifying systematic defects. Each candidate defect list comprises a plurality of candidate defects obtained from inspecting one of the wafers. Each candidate defect is represented by a plurality of defect attributes including a defect location. The candidate defects in every one or more candidate defect lists are processed as a set by stage one grouping and filtering to generate a stage one defect list for each set. The candidate defects in all the stage one defect lists are then processed together by stage two grouping and filtering to generate a final defect lists for systematic defects. The defect attributes of each defect and a design pattern clip extracted from a design database based on the defect location are used in the hierarchical grouping and filtering.
US09142007B2 Electronic apparatus and image processing method
According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes a calculator and a processor. The calculator calculates a weighted average image between a first image, a second image and a third image, by using a weight based on a difference between the first image and the second image and a difference between the first image and the third image. The processor applies, based on the weight, an image quality process of a first intensity to a first position in the weighted average image, applies an image quality process of a second intensity weaker than the first intensity to a second position in the weighted average image and to applies an image quality process of a third intensity weaker than the second intensity to a third position in the weighted average image.
US09142003B2 Adaptive frame rate control
Displaying frames on an electronic display. Each frame is characterized by a time. Determining a characteristic of data related to each element of a first set of frames, each frame characterized as within a first time period. Determining a rate of change over time of the characteristic. Determining a frame rate based on the determined rate of change. Displaying a second set of frames at the frame rate.
US09142001B2 Performance allocation method and apparatus
In accordance with some embodiments, a graphics process frame generation frame rate may be monitored in combination with a utilization or work load metric for the graphics process in order to allocate performance resources to the graphics process and in some cases, between the graphics process and a central processing unit.
US09141994B2 Systems and methods for activity evaluation
Systems and methods are discussed for providing sensor enhanced safety, recovery, and activity evaluation systems. Sensors that monitor user activity and behavior are worn by a user and/or placed in the user environment. Data from the sensors are processed to obtain a safety, recovery, and/or activity evaluation. Based on the evaluation, recommendations or adjustments to the terms of an insurance policy covering the user, the user's employer, or a facility providing health care to the user to accurately reflect the risks associated with the user, employer, and/or facility.
US09141989B2 Systems and methods for using a social network to provide product related information
Social product related content, such as user reviews, comments, and catalogs, are presented to a user via an e-commerce website by assembling, in response to the user requesting accesses to a webpage of the e-commerce website having information for a product, such as a product detail page, a set of documents that have been cross-referenced to the product and by extracting from the set of documents a subset of documents that have been cross-referenced to individuals within a related persons map of the user. The requested webpage is then presented to the user in a manner that additionally provides the user with access to the subset of documents.
US09141988B2 Systems and methods to provide search results based on time to obtain
Systems and methods for providing search results based on time obtain an item are discussed. In an example, a method can include receiving a search query, generating search results, calculating a time to obtain for each listing in the search results, and arranging the search results for display. The search query can include a current location of a mobile device. The search results can include a plurality of listings, with each listing including a location. The locations representing either a physical location proximate the current location or a delivery time to the current location. The search results can be arranged for display in various manners according to the calculated time to obtain for each result.
US09141985B1 Simplified seller listing service
Disclosed are various embodiments of a method and system for providing a simplified listing process for sellers. A computing device obtains contact information for a seller and a representation of an item that may be purchased through an electronic marketplace. This information is obtained without requiring the seller to register with the electronic marketplace. Using the representation of the item, a seller listing for the item in the electronic marketplace is generated. The seller is notified through the contact information when a buyer purchases the item from the seller through the generated seller listing.
US09141983B2 Shared data sets combined with user-specific purchased data sets
Methods and systems are described for shared data sets combined with purchased data sets in an on-line services environment. In one embodiment, a method includes, identifying a user, associating the user with data in a shared database, and receiving a purchased dataset from the identified user. The method further includes adding the purchased dataset to a delta table associated with the shared database based on determined record relationships and field relationship, and providing access to the purchased dataset to the user through requests for data in the shared database.
US09141971B2 Method for performing real-time click fraud detection, prevention and reporting for online advertising
The present invention provides a method of detecting fraudulent clicks in an online environment to reduce fraudulent paid clicks for online advertisers. The method includes server side and client side code which combined enables a click verification web site to identify valid and invalid clicks and in real-time prevents advertisers from getting billed for fraudulent activity.
US09141969B1 Monitoring content item expansion events across multiple content item providers
This specification describes methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer-readable storage device, for determining expansion rates for events related to expandable content items.
US09141962B2 Method and system for determining a best price for multimedia content
A method and system for determining a best price to rent a multimedia content being offered for viewing by at least one service provider to a plurality of users through a communication network is provided. The service provider offers the multimedia content to the plurality of users at a base price. The method includes receiving a first price from the user that he/she is willing to pay for the multimedia content. The first price is lesser than the base price. The method further includes calculating a number of commercials that need to be shown the user to recover a cost to show the multimedia content at the first price. Furthermore, the method includes calculating a best price that the service provider can offer to the user when the service provider does not have enough commercials to offer the multimedia content at the first price.
US09141961B2 Management of dynamic mobile coupons
Providing for network-based management of dynamic mobile coupons (DMCs) employed in mobile device-related commerce is described herein. Management can include mitigating processing load involved in processing dynamic characteristics of a set of DMCs, facilitating post-transaction evaluation of DMCs, or facilitating a virtual shopping experience in conjunction with redeeming DMCs in a mobile-commerce environment. Communicative association between a mobile device and network components can be implemented to leverage data collected by the mobile device with communication and processing capabilities of the network. Dynamic DMC states are determined from the collected data, which are implemented to facilitate the mobile-commerce. The disclosure provides an integrated mechanism for efficient utilization of DMCs to enhance user experience and satisfaction with mobile commerce.
US09141959B2 Method and system for replaying a voice message and displaying a signed digital photograph contemporaneously
Systems and methods for generating authentic digital memorabilia are described. A signor may be provided a digital photograph. The signor's signature, written message, or voice message may be received. Biometric authentication or verification may be performed on the signor's handwriting or voice sample through comparison with stored samples. If the verification signifies a high likelihood signor's handwriting or voice sample is authentic, creation of digital memorabilia is performed by embedding signor's signature or written message in a digital photograph and linking the signor's voice message with the photograph. The digital memorabilia is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity and distributed to a customer or displayed on a website.
US09141958B2 Method for providing data to a user
An example method for providing a user with service technical data is provided. A server stores original service technical data and annotated data in a server where the annotated data is associated with the original service technical data. The server determines an access level of the user such where the access level of the user determines what service technical data may be sent. A portion of the service technical data is sent from the server to a device associated with the user, based at least in part on the access level of the user. The server also receives additional annotated data generated by the user where the additional annotated data is associated with the original service technical data.
US09141954B2 Method and apparatus for performing a transaction
A system and method for performing a transaction can allow a user to perform a multi-step process on a single web page. The system can receive an initiate-application command from a user at an application server and, in response, initiate an application for facilitating a transaction. The system can present a parameter-request panel, including a set of parameter-request fields, to the user at a client. The system can receive transaction parameters from the user via the set of parameter-request fields. In response to receiving the transaction parameters, the system can present a transaction-options panel, including a set of transaction options associated with the transaction parameters, to the user without obscuring the parameter-request panel. The system can receive from the user a transaction-option selection associated with the set of transaction options and, in response, present a transaction-completion panel to the user without obscuring the parameter-request panel or the transaction-options panel. The transaction-completion panel can include a set of transaction-completion fields associated with the transaction-option selection. The system can receive from the user transaction-completion information via the transaction-completion fields and, in response, complete the transaction.
US09141949B1 Point of sale transaction device
A point of sale transaction device facilitates secure point of sale transactions. The device includes a housing. A processor and display are each coupled to the housing. A female universal serial bus port and camera are each coupled to the housing and operationally coupled to the processor. A power source is electrically coupled to the processor, the display, and the camera. A data storage device extrinsic to the housing has account data for processing a payment transaction. A male universal serial bus port on the data storage device selectively engages to the female universal serial bus port for providing access to the account data by the processor. A router is operationally coupled to the processor for processing a payment transaction with an extrinsic funds account.
US09141938B2 Navigating a synchronized transcript of spoken source material from a viewer window
A method and system for producing and working with transcripts according to the invention eliminates time inefficiencies. By dispersing a source recording to a transcription team in small segments, so that team members transcribe segments in parallel, a rapid transcription process delivers a fully edited transcript within minutes. Clients can view accurate, grammatically correct, proofread and fact-checked documents that shadow live proceedings by mere minutes. The rapid transcript includes time coding, speaker identification and summary. A viewer application allows a client to view a video recording side-by-side with a transcript. Clicking on a word in the transcript locates the corresponding recorded content; advancing a recording to a particular point locates and displays the corresponding spot in the transcript. The recording is viewed using common video features, and may be downloaded. The client can edit the transcript and insert comments. Any number of colleagues can view and edit simultaneously.
US09141935B2 Service operation data processing using checklist functionality in association with inspected items
In one embodiment, a system is provided for performing at least one service operation in association with at least one inspected item. The system includes a service data device configured for displaying at least one data screen including at least one checklist configured for operative use in connection with performance of the service operation on the inspected item, the data device being portable and being configured for processing at least one communication; a service administrator having at least one data storage medium configured for storing at least one of the checklists displayed on the data device, the service administrator further having at least one server for enabling at least one communication between the service administrator and the data device; at least a portion of at least one of the checklists being customizable by at least the service administrator; and, at least a portion of at least one of the checklists being electronically interactive in association with performance of the service operation on the inspected item.
US09141931B2 Inventory distribution method and system
An inventory distribution system and method of providing a plurality of items to a plurality of kiosks is provided. The inventory distribution system may maintain and update a plurality of inventory records associated with the plurality of items provided by the plurality of kiosks, which can be used to determine and update quantities of the plurality of items at specific kiosks. To provide the plurality of items to the plurality of kiosks, the inventory distribution system can provide deliveries to a plurality of distribution agents, where the distribution agents are assigned to a subset of kiosks to maintain and distribute one or more select items to the subset of kiosks.
US09141929B2 Password-protected physical transfer of password-protected devices
A method for password-protected physical transfer of password-protected devices including at a receiving location, generating at least one security file including an encrypted element generated using a one-way encryption function utilizing at least one secure code, transmitting the at least one security file to a shipping location at which the password-protected devices are located, at the shipping location, using at least one shipping location password, loading the at least one security file into at least one password-protected device, shipping the at least one password-protected device to the receiving location and at the receiving location, employing the at least one secure code to supply an input to the at least one password-protected device and employing the at least one security file to enable establishment of at least one receiving location password for the at least one password-protected device which replaces the at least one shipping location password.
US09141923B2 Optimizing contractual management of the total output of a fleet of fuel cells
A fuel cell fleet has a plurality of fuel cell systems each connected to a data server. The data server may be configured to obtain operational data from of the plurality of fuel cell systems. An efficiency controller operably connected to the data server and is configured to predict an efficiency and a power output of the fleet from the operational data and optimize the efficiency of the fleet to minimize the fleet fuel consumption while maintaining a desired fleet output power. The efficiency may be determined by a ratio of the fleet output current or output power to the fleet fuel consumption.
US09141918B2 User contribution based mapping system and method
A computer-implemented user contribution method is provided. The method includes retrieving event data posted by a plurality of users related to a first user, the event data including indications of at least one geographic area. The event data is compared with predetermined trigger data. A quality value of the at least one geographic area is determined based on the comparison of the event data with predetermined trigger data, and an indication of the quality value of the at least one geographic area is transmitted to a second user. A user contribution based mapping system is further provided.
US09141915B2 Method and apparatus for deriving diagnostic data about a technical system
A method and apparatus for deriving diagnostic data about a technical system utilizing learning metrics gained by at least one data driven learning process while generating and updating soft sensor models of said technical system.
US09141914B2 System and method for ranking anomalies
Probable anomalies associated with at least one data metric may be detected across a series of windows of time series data by comparison of data to a threshold. An estimated probability of anomalies for each of the windows of time series data may be determined based on the detected probable anomalies and the threshold. The windows of time series data may be ranked based on the estimated probabilities. Probable anomalies associated with highest ranked windows of time series data may be output to a user.
US09141912B2 Building analytic device
An information analytic system including an information gathering unit configured to gather at least one piece of information from at least one of a plurality of devices connected to a network, an information analysis unit configured to analyze the gathered information, and a rule generation unit configured to generate at least one rule based on the analysis performed by the information analysis unit. The rule analysis unit is configured to analyze each generated rule to identify the rules that can be applied to the corresponding piece information, and to apply applies the identified rule to the corresponding piece of information. The rule analysis unit is also configured to analyze unapplied rules and to determine what additional information is required to apply each unapplied rule to at least one piece of information.
US09141910B2 Inner passage relevancy layer for large intake cases in a deep question answering system
System, computer-implemented method, and computer program product to receive a case by a deep question answering system, identify a policy relevant in generating a response to the case, the policy containing a set of criteria used in generating the response to the case, produce, by a first annotator, of a set of annotators, one or more relevant passages of the case, compute a criteria score for a first criterion, of the set of criteria, based on the one or more relevant passages of the case, an determine that the first criterion is met by the case when the criteria score for the first criterion exceeds a predefined threshold.
US09141908B1 Dynamic information assembly for designated purpose based on suitability reasoning over metadata
A reasoning system is configured to interact with data processing elements of an information processing system. The reasoning system includes a reasoning module configured to perform one or more reasoning operations on metadata. The metadata characterizes data sets associated with the data processing elements in order to identify at least selected portions of one or more of the data sets as being suitable for use in achieving a designated purpose. The reasoning system also includes a dynamic information assembly module configured to utilize results of the one or more reasoning operations to assemble at least a subset of the selected portions so as to achieve the designated purpose. The reasoning system and associated data processing elements may be implemented, by way of example, in cloud infrastructure of a cloud service provider, or on another type of processing platform.
US09141897B2 Image forming apparatus and method of controlling same
A signal generation portion of an image forming apparatus generates a different level of signal according to an output value of a pyroelectric sensor. A recognition portion determines a measurement value on the speed of change of the signal and recognizes which of a first range and a second range the measurement value is. In a power supply portion, when the measurement value falls within the first range in a mode other than a power-saving mode, and the image forming apparatus is brought into the power-saving mode, and, when the measurement value falls within the second range in the power-saving mode, the power-saving mode is cancelled.
US09141892B2 Adjusting one side print data to avoid overlap with the other side print data in two-sided printing
A print data processing method can generate print data for duplex printing so that the scanning accuracy of a barcode printed on one side of a receipt is not reduced by a logo or other graphic that is printed on the other side of the receipt. Whether or not a linear barcode or other code data B is contained in the front print data D1 that is printed on the front of the receipt is determined, and whether graphic data G is contained in the back print data D2 that is printed on the other side of the receipt is determined. If graphic data G is contained, the back print data D2 is adjusted so that the graphic data G is not printed to a position overlapping the code data B on the opposite side of the receipt.
US09141888B2 Method and apparatus for generating labels
A method including selecting a type of label to be printed, inputting information for the label to be printed, wherein the information includes label data defining content of an image to be printed, and parameter data defining at least one parameter of the label to be printed, saving the information for the label to be printed as a file in a memory, and providing the file with a file extension name indicative of the type of label.
US09141886B2 Method for the automated extraction of a planogram from images of shelving
A method for automatically constructing a planogram from photographs of shelving, replacing laborious manual construction includes the following steps: a step (1) in which the images are received, a step (2) in which the images are assembled, a step (3) in which the structure is automatically constructed, a step (4) in which the products are automatically detected, and a step (5) in which the products are positioned in the structure. The product detection step (4) enhances traditional image recognition techniques, using artificial learning techniques to incorporate characteristics specific to the planograms. This product detection step (4) also includes at least two successive classification steps, namely: an initialization step (41) with detection of product categories; and a classification step (42) with the classification of the products themselves, each of these steps including a first image recognition step, followed by a statistical filtering step based on the characteristics specific to the planograms.
US09141885B2 Visual pattern recognition in an image
A system may be configured as an image recognition machine that utilizes an image feature representation called local feature embedding (LFE). LFE enables generation of a feature vector that captures salient visual properties of an image to address both the fine-grained aspects and the coarse-grained aspects of recognizing a visual pattern depicted in the image. Configured to utilize image feature vectors with LFE, the system may implement a nearest class mean (NCM) classifier, as well as a scalable recognition algorithm with metric learning and max margin template selection. Accordingly, the system may be updated to accommodate new classes with very little added computational cost. This may have the effect of enabling the system to readily handle open-ended image classification problems.
US09141880B2 Systems and methods for relating images to each other by determining transforms without using image acquisition metadata
Systems and methods for relating images to each other by determining transform functions between the images and the three-dimensional world coordinate system of the object depicted in the image, without using image acquisition metadata are disclosed. Points of interest are independently selected on each image. An initial transform function is applied to transform the points in the plane of one image to the plane of the other image. A Gaussian Mixture Model is then iteratively applied to the points to determine a best match, which then provides adjustments to the argument values of the transform function which is again applied to the points of interest on each image. This process repeats until the argument values converge to provide the resulting transform function. The resulting function can then be used to identify objects in the images in three dimensional space.
US09141869B2 Method of identifying anomalies in images
A method of identifying anomalies in images produced using an imaging device (70). The method comprises receiving (10), (12) first and second pluralities of candidate anomalies, the candidate anomalies being identified in subsequent images produced with an imaging device. A constellation match (14), (16), (18), (19) is carried out between the first and second pluralities of candidate anomalies to identify a correlation therebetween, represented by a constellation match value. A plurality of constellation match values is determined with a different relative x-y shift between the first and second pluralities of candidate images. If a good correlation is found at a particular x-y shift then the candidate anomalies are common between the first and second images, which is indicative of the first and second images including anomalies.
US09141868B2 Contemporaneously reconstructing images captured of a scene illuminated with unstructured and structured illumination sources
What is disclosed is system and method for contemporaneously reconstructing images of a scene illuminated with unstructured and structured illumination sources. In one embodiment, the system comprises capturing a first 2D image containing energy reflected from a scene being illuminated by a structured illumination source and a second 2D image containing energy reflected from the scene being illuminated by an unstructured illumination source. A controller effectuates a manipulation of the structured and unstructured illumination sources during capture of the video. A processor is configured to execute machine readable program instructions enabling the controller to manipulate the illumination sources, and for effectuating the contemporaneous reconstruction of a 2D intensity map of the scene using the second 2D image and of a 3D surface map of the scene using the first 2D image. The reconstruction is effectuated by manipulating the illumination sources.
US09141864B2 Remote gaze control system and method
The present invention provides techniques for directing the gaze of a subject whose image is captured by a camera, including the direction in which the subject looks, or the distance between the subject and the camera, in such a way that a visually appealing image can be captured by the camera, where a media professional (e.g., an interviewer or a director) or other person knowledgeable in media best practices is non co-located with the subject. The techniques enable the media professional to provide visual hints both manually and automatically to the remotely located subject.
US09141863B2 Managed biometric-based notification system and method
A managed biometric-based notification system and method is provided. The system includes at least one image acquiring system adapted to capture a first content comprising a feature set, a comparison module including at least one processor, at least one database comprising a second content, the second content comprising a feature set, at least one search engine operatively coupled with the at least one image acquiring system and the at least one database, a memory, the at least one processor operatively coupled with the at least one image acquiring system and the at least one search engine, programmed to execute a series of instructions, stored on the memory, to process the feature set of the first content and a feature set of the second content, at least one notification component including at least one transmitted data point, a content management module, and at least one pre-selected receiving node.
US09141858B2 Determining GPS coordinates for images
Systems, methods and articles of manufacture for GPS coordinate determination for images are described herein. Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to equipping an image with GPS coordinates where the image is uploaded onto a mapping site without GPS coordinates. The mapping site is able to equip the image with GPS coordinates by identifying a recognizable structure in the image and then comparing the recognizable structure with stored structures in the mapping site. The stored structures in the mapping site have GPS coordinates for each. The mapping site compares the recognizable structure of the image without GPS coordinates to a structure stored in the mapping site with GPS coordinates. The mapping site then tags the image without GPS coordinates with the GPS coordinates associated with the stored structure that matches the structure of the image.
US09141855B2 Accelerated object detection filter using a video motion estimation module
Systems, apparatus and methods are described related to accelerated object detection filter using a video estimation module.
US09141851B2 Deformable expression detector
A method for deformable expression detection is disclosed. For each pixel in a preprocessed image, a sign of a first directional gradient component and a sign of a second directional gradient component are combined to produce a combined sign. Each combined sign is coded into a coded value. An expression in an input image is detected based on the coded values.
US09141845B2 Method and apparatus for authenticating area biometric scanners
Methods and apparatuses for authenticating a biometric scanner, such as area type finger print scanners, involves estimating unique intrinsic characteristics of the scanner (scanner pattern), that are permanent over time, and can identify a scanner even among scanners of the same manufacturer and model. Image processing and analysis are used to extract a scanner pattern from images acquired with the scanner. The scanner pattern is used to verify whether the scanner that acquired a particular image is the same as the scanner that acquired one or several images during enrollment of the biometric information. Authenticating the scanner can prevent subsequent security attacks using counterfeit biometric information on the scanner, or on the user authentication system.
US09141840B2 Apparatus for deflecting and for widening a visible range
An apparatus (10) for deflecting and for widening a visible range of a camera (24) is provided, wherein the apparatus (10) has a first mirror element (12) which is tilted with respect to the optical axis of the camera (24) in a longitudinal direction in order to supply light to the camera (24) from a visible range lying laterally with respect to the optical axis. In this connection the first mirror element (12) is additionally tilted in a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and the apparatus has a second mirror element (14) besides the first mirror element (12) which is tilted in the longitudinal direction and in the transverse direction with respect to the first mirror element (12).
US09141838B2 Optoelectronic sensor and method for the detection of object information
An optoelectronic sensor (100) for the detection of object information from a monitored zone (108) is provided, wherein the sensor (100) comprises a light transmitter (12) having an associated transmission optics (14) for the beam formation of a transmitted light beam (102, 20, 24) and for a limitation of its beam cross-section to a predefined diameter in a depth of field range; a light receiver (116) for the generation of a received signal from the reflected light beam (112); and a control and evaluation unit (118) for extracting object information from the received signal. In this connection, the transmission optics (14) has at least two optical part regions (18a-b) having different beam-forming properties and the optical part region (18a-b) which acts in a beam-forming manner with respect to the transmitted light beam (20, 24) can be set in order to vary the depth of field range.
US09141832B2 Multiway lossless power combining and outphasing incorporating transmission lines
A power combining and outphasing system and related techniques for simultaneously providing both wide-bandwidth linear amplification and high average efficiency is described. Providing linear amplification encompasses the ability to dynamically control an RF output power level over a wide range while still operating over a wide frequency bandwidth. The system and techniques described herein also operate to maintain high efficiency across a wide range of output power levels, such that a high average efficiency can be achieved for highly modulated output waveforms.
US09141828B2 Mobile device management apparatus and method based on security policies and management server for mobile device management
A mobile device management apparatus has a policy storage unit that receives a plurality of security policies, which are classified into a plurality of profiles assigned priorities of activation and in which operating states of functions of a mobile device are defined. A management server supplies the profiles and the security policies to the mobile device. A policy implementation unit selectively activates the profiles so that control of the mobile device functions can be carried out with minimal communication, and also in response to changing events.
US09141826B2 Methods, systems and computer program products for discreetly monitoring a communications network for sensitive information
A method for monitoring a network for information includes repeatedly searching the network for sensitive information about a subscriber. The network is intermittently searched for obscuring information during the repeated searching to thereby disguise the sensitive information that is the target of the repeated searching. Related systems and computer program products are also discussed.
US09141823B2 Abstraction layer for default encryption with orthogonal encryption logic session object; and automated authentication, with a method for online litigation
Embodiments herein provide methods, apparatus, computer program products, software and means for (1) an abstraction layer for default encryption, (2) with orthogonal encryption logic session object, and (3) automated authentication, (4) with a method for online litigation. In some cases subject matter disclosed herein relates to default data encryption; use a user's registration data to generate an encryption logic and related executable code, including servers and client applications; encryption as an automatic background task occurring through variable encryption logic, with authentication; embodiments are also described for conducting online litigation through pleadings formed as meta-files that trigger litigation related algorithms in order to automate and coordinate litigation.
US09141816B2 Authenticating a replaceable printer component
A replaceable printer component includes a first memory device and a communication link. The first memory device is configured to store a first secret. The communication link is configured to communicatively link the first memory device to a printer controller when the replaceable printer component is installed in a printing system. The printing system comprises a second memory device storing a second secret. The second memory device is communicatively linked to the printer controller. The printer controller is configured to determine an authenticity of the replaceable printer component based on the first secret and the second secret.
US09141815B2 System and method for intelligence based security
Included in the present disclosure are a system, method and program of instructions operable to protect vital information by combining information about a user and what they are allowed to see with information about essential files that need to be protected on an information handling system. Using intelligent security rules, essential information may be encrypted without encrypting the entire operating system or application files. According to aspects of the present disclosure, shared data, user data, temporary files, paging files, the password hash that is stored in the registry, and data stored on removable media may be protected.
US09141812B2 Stateful reference monitor
A Stateful Reference Monitor can be loaded into an existing commercial operating system, and then can regulate access to many different types of resources. The reference monitor maintains an updateable storage area whose contents can be used to affect access decisions, and access decisions can be based on arbitrary properties of the request.
US09141811B2 Coerced encryption on connected devices
Techniques for coercing users to encrypt synchronized content stored at their personal computing devices. In some aspects, one or more computing devices receive, from a personal computing device, an indication of whether data stored in at least a portion of a storage device of the personal computing device is protected by disk encryption. In response to determining, based on the indication, that the portion of the storage device is not protected by encryption, synchronization data for synchronizing a copy of one or more synchronized content items stored in the portion of the storage device with another copy of the synchronized content items stored at one or more server computing devices is withheld from the personal computing device until disk encryption on the personal computing device is enabled so as to coerce the user to enable disk encryption on the personal computing device.
US09141806B2 Mining source code for violations of programming rules
A method for software code analysis includes automatically processing a body of software source code (23) by a computer (22) in order to identify a group of sequences of instructions that are characterized by a common pattern. A sequence within the group containing a deviation from a norm of the common pattern is found and reported as a potential vulnerability in the software source code.
US09141801B2 Apparatus and method for analyzing permission of application for mobile devices and detecting risk
An apparatus for analyzing a permission of an application for a mobile device, the apparatus comprising: an executable file acquisition unit; a file extraction module; and an execution permission analyzing module configured to detect a security risk which can be caused by the permission on the basis of the permission described in the extracted file, wherein the information related to the permission of the application includes information on permission that is declared in the application, permission that the application uses and a function that uses the permission of the application.
US09141800B2 Method and apparatus for detecting intrusions in a computer system
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for detecting intrusions in a processor-based system. One embodiment of the method includes calculating a first checksum from first bits representative of instructions in a block of a program concurrently with executing the instructions. This embodiment of the method also includes issuing a security exception in response to determining that the first checksum differs from a second checksum calculated prior to execution of the block using second bits representative of instructions in the block when the second checksum is calculated.
US09141799B2 Operation of a dual instruction pipe virus co-processor
Circuits and methods are provided for detecting, identifying and/or removing undesired content. According to one embodiment, a system includes a system memory, a general purpose processor, an instruction memory and a virus co-processor. The processor is coupled to the system memory and operable to store a data segment therein. The instruction memory includes a virus signature, having a first instruction of a first instruction type and a second instruction of a second instruction type, for detection of a computer virus. The co-processor is coupled to the instruction memory and the system memory and is operable to access the data segment. The co-processor includes first and second instruction pipes operable to execute the first and second instruction types, respectively. The first and second instruction pipes include first and second write back circuits, respectively, that are linked to ensure a ordered write back of instructions.
US09141797B1 Detection of fake antivirus in computers
Detection of fake antivirus includes classifying text content of a user interface of an application program and scanning files associated with the application program for suspicious code. The user interface may be a graphical user interface (GUI) window of the application program. The text content may be obtained from a painted portion of the GUI window and by intercepting text changing operations performed on the GUI window. The text content may be input to a learning model to determine whether or not the application program belongs to the antivirus category. The application program is deemed to be fake antivirus when the application program is classified as belonging to the antivirus category and has a file with suspicious code.
US09141791B2 Monitoring for anomalies in a computing environment
A method of monitoring for anomalies in a computing environment comprises, with a processor building an anomaly detection system based on topology guided statistical analysis, and creating a number of correlation rules based on a number of detected anomalies and information provided by a security alerts database.
US09141788B2 Software self-checking systems and methods
Software self-checking mechanisms are described for improving software tamper resistance and/or reliability. Redundant tests are performed to detect modifications to a program while it is running. Modifications are recorded or reported. Embodiments of the software self-checking mechanisms can be implemented such that they are relatively stealthy and robust, and so that it they are compatible with copy-specific static watermarking and other tamper-resistance techniques.
US09141775B2 Mashup service support method and apparatus
A mashup service support method includes externally receiving a mashup service application, acquiring and managing an authentication key corresponding to the received mashup service application, and executing the received mashup service application using the acquired authentication key. A user can use a variety of web services by normally operating a mashup service application through Open API due to the storing and managing of an authentication key.
US09141770B1 Entitlement transfer during a repair activity
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method, computer program product, and system for managing activation keys associated with a computing system. In one embodiment, in accordance with the present invention, the computer implemented method includes the steps of detecting a repair activity on a computing system, determining whether at least one system identifier (ID) associated with a component of the computing system has changed in comparison to system IDs associated with components of the computing system before the detected repair activity, responsive to determining that at least one system ID associated with a component of the computing system has changed, retrieving one or more activation keys that correspond to the determined at least one system ID, and determining whether the one or more retrieved activation keys are associated with a system ID that does not match any system ID associated with a component of the computing system.
US09141768B2 Terminal and control method thereof
A mobile terminal includes a display unit for displaying an electronic book, a user interface for selecting a specific portion to be extracted from the electronic book, a controller for extracting the selected specific portion and copyright information related to the extracted specific portion, and a memory for storing the extracted specific portion and the copyright information. The controller applies the extracted specific portion to an application such that the specific portion is displayed within the application and the copyright information is displayed on the display unit when the specific portion is applied to the application. When the extracted specific portion is applied to the application, the copyright information is automatically included in the applied specific portion. The display unit of the mobile terminal includes an electronic paper display and a liquid crystal display (LCD) and the electronic book is displayed on the electronic paper display.
US09141759B2 Group performance monitoring system and method
The present invention provides group performance monitoring systems and methods. In one exemplary embodiment, a group monitoring device includes a display configured to display, during an athletic activity, a plurality of individual performance metrics relating to a plurality of individuals engaged in the athletic activity, each individual performance metric relating to one of the plurality of individuals; and an input to manipulate the display.
US09141756B1 Multi-scale complex systems transdisciplinary analysis of response to therapy
Described herein are methods and systems to measure dynamics of disease progression, including cancer growth and response, at multiple scales by multiple techniques on the same biologic system. Methods and systems according to the invention permit personalized virtual disease models. Moreover, the invention allows for the integration of previously unconnected data points into an in silico disease model, providing for the prediction of disease progression with and without therapeutic intervention.