Document Document Title
US09179773B2 Spill containing refrigerator shelf assembly
The specification discloses a method for containing spills on shelving and the like, and the resulting support members made in accordance with the method, by providing the generally flat top surface of a support with a hydrophobic surface which is arranged in a spill containment pattern and which is generally in the plane of the top surface of the support. The majority of the top surface of the support consists of one or more spill containment areas which are of a non-hydrophobic nature and which are bounded by the hydrophobic surfaces, such that spills on the shelving collect in the non-hydrophobic spill containment area or areas and are prevented from spreading by the hydrophobic surfaces.
US09179768B2 Table furniture and assembly kit for generating an array of items of furniture
An item of table furniture has a table top and a table frame supporting the table top. The table top, in plan view, is formed with first pair of opposite edges and a second pair of opposite edges. One edge of the first pair of edges is convex and the other edge of the first pair of edges is concave. The convex curvature and the concave curvature of the first pair of edges has a predetermined first radius of curvature of substantially equal size. One edge of the second pair of edges is longer than the other edge of the second pair of edges. Such a table can be arranged together with items of table furniture of the same kind and also with other items of furniture to an array in many ways.
US09179767B2 Connector piece for connecting multiple legs
A leg connector for securing legs that support a load includes a core and at least three coupling portions extending away from the core and arranged equidistantly around the core. Each coupling portion includes fins that bend inwardly when the coupling portion is inserted into an exposed end of a corresponding one of the legs. Each of the coupling portions includes a hole that receives a fastener to secure the respective coupling portion with a corresponding one of the legs.
US09179763B2 Camera float
A hand grip designed to be used in or near water that may be connected to either an image capturing device or the case that holds the image capturing device. The hand grip has a main body with a first end and a second end and a mounting piece located on at least one of the first end or the second end of the main body that allows for attachment of image capturing devices. The hand grip is adapted to float in water to provide angles and views of photographs from an image capturing device connected to the mounting piece while in the water.
US09179753B2 French manicure application devices, kits and method
An apparatus, kit and method for applying a French manicure to a user's own nails or those of a customer using a simple finger guide which permits the positioning of a finger relative to a reservoir of acrylic nail polish powder. In one form, the apparatus is comprised of a finger guide which can be removably associated with an acrylic nail polish powder-containing vessel. Alternative embodiments include those with a finger guide being integrally formed with the vessel/jar. A method for applying a French manicure using the apparatus of the invention is also contemplated. The kit includes a supply of one or more acrylic nail polish powders, a finger guide, and the necessary materials to cause the acrylic nail polish powder to be converted to a solid nail polish coating.
US09179750B2 Combination beverage and sandwich container
Combination beverage and food containers. Various embodiments are configured to store a consumable beverage or otherwise consumable liquid as well as at least one second item which may comprise an edible foodstuff, such as for example, sandwich wedges, bagels, donuts, etc.
US09179743B2 Snap fastener
Provided is a resin snap fastener, which has excellent heat resistance, rigidity and toughness, and reduced decrease in rigidity when absorbing water, and which does not emit endocrine disrupters. The snap fastener is obtained by molding a resin composition comprising 45-100 parts by weight of wollastonite with respect to 100 parts by weight of a polyamide resin.
US09179736B2 Orthotic for use in footwear
An orthotic is disclosed. The orthotic has a convex element that has a periphery. The convex element is positioned in a plane. The periphery is structured and arranged to deform into a gap in at least of a horizontal, a vertical, or a lateral direction relative to the plane. The convex element is structured and arranged for placement between a plantar surface of a foot and a second surface. The gap is defined by a top surface of the convex element and a bottom surface of the foot or a bottom surface of a body of an insert. The periphery of the convex element is structured and arranged to deform into the gap as a force is applied to the body and to rebound as the force dissipates.
US09179733B2 Article of footwear having an elevated plate sole structure
An article of footwear is provided having an elevated plate structure incorporated in the sole structure and optionally including a fluid-filled chamber. The elevated plate structure can include an upper plate and a plurality of legs extending downward toward the outsole. End portions of the legs can engage an upper region of the outsole. The elevated plate structure can form a cage region that can optionally include a fluid-filled chamber substantially disposed therein. The elevated plate structure can further include a lower plate disposed at an upper region of the outsole, which can form a lower portion of the cage region. Portions of the legs can be integrated with impact-attenuating members in the heel region in various configurations and can provide features for the impact-attenuating members, such as support, impact-attenuation and adjustable impact-attenuation features.
US09179731B2 Sole with adjustable sizing
A system and method of manufacturing a customized sole with adjustable sizing is disclosed. The sole includes a fixed region and an adjustable region. The adjustable region is deformable when the sole is heated to a melting point associated with the adjustable region. The shape and size of the sole may be adjusted by deforming the adjustable region.
US09179729B2 Tightening systems
A tightening system can be used with a helmet or other wearable article. The tightening system can have a forehead strap that is space apart from a yoke, which can be configured to engage a back side of a wearer's head. A lace can extend between the forehead strap and the yoke and a tightening mechanism can be configured to adjust tension on the lace. One or more intermediate tenders can engage the lace in the gap between the forehead strap and the yoke so that the lace path between the forehead strap and the yoke is non-linear. The yoke can have a height adjustment mechanism. The tightening mechanism can be configured to provide a clicking sound during rotation in both the tightening direction and the loosening direction. The tightening mechanism can include a rotation limiter to prevent over-tightening and/or over-loosening of the tightening mechanism.
US09179726B2 Wearable utility instrument assembly
A wearable utility instrument assembly including a headgear and at least one utility instrument. The utility instrument is shaped and sized to be securely retained and concealed within the brim portion of the headgear. The utility instrument is removable from the brim portion and deployed via a hand-grip of the utility instrument that is accessible to the wearer of the headgear while the utility instrument is retained in the brim portion.
US09179720B1 Brim templates, covers and methods of modifying brims on caps and visors
Brim templates, covers and methods of modifying and changing brims on caps and visors. Novel digitally printed on indicia designs, words and/or colors can be placed on fabric brim covers. The brim covers can have an upper cover with overhanging edges that wrap about perimeter edges of existing hat brim, and a lower cover for covering a lower surface of the existing hat brim. The covers can be attached with by peeling off backing layers that reveal sticky surfaces that allow the covers to be easily attached to existing brims and easily removable from the existing brims without damaging the brims.
US09179715B1 Bathing suit top with adjustable back
Some embodiments of the present invention include an adjustable bathing suit top including a frontside configured to cover a wearer's chest and an adjustable backside. The backside may include a horizontal strap attached to the frontside of the bathing suit top and the horizontal strap is configured to fit around the circumference of the wearer's back. A first vertical strap and a second vertical strap are connected to the frontside of the bathing suit top, each of the first vertical strap and the second vertical strap are attached to the horizontal strap by a loop. The loops are capable of sliding along a length of the horizontal strap. A plurality of rings are wrapped around both of the vertical straps to hold the vertical straps together and the rings are capable of sliding along a length of the vertical straps.
US09179697B2 Vending machine for popping kernels
The present invention relates to a popcorn vending machine, comprising a kernel holding chamber configured to store and dispense kernels, a heating chamber comprising an inlet configured to receive kernels from the kernel holding chamber, a microwave emitter configured to produce microwave energy within the heating chamber and heat the kernels, a single-mode resonant microwave applicator configured to generate a stable focused high intensity microwave region within the heating chamber, at least one air blower disposed in communication with the heating chamber, wherein the air blower is configured to blow air into the heating chamber, thereby moving kernels within the heating chamber and selectively removing popped flakes from the high intensity microwave region when popped, and a heating chamber outlet connected to the heating chamber for receiving popped flakes from the heating chamber and dispensing the popped flakes into a container.
US09179679B2 Synergistic herbicidal composition containing penoxsulam and flazasulfuron
An herbicidal composition containing (a) penoxsulam and (b) flazasulfuron provides synergistic control of selected weeds.
US09179674B2 Macrocyclic picolinamide compounds with fungicidal activity
The invention relates to compounds of macrocyclic picolinamides of Formula I suitable to control or prevent growth of fungi.
US09179653B1 Automated fish tank cleaning assembly
An automated fish tank cleaning assembly automatically cleans a fish tank. The assembly includes an upper housing and a processor coupled to and positioned in the upper housing. Support arms are extend from the upper housing supporting the upper housing on a fish tank. Each of a plurality of rollers is coupled an associated one of the support arms. Each of the rollers is operationally coupled to the processor wherein the rollers move the upper housing relative to the fish tank. A lower housing is coupled to the upper housing by a connection conduit extending between the upper housing and the lower housing. A plurality of cleaning arms is coupled to and extends from the lower housing. Each of a plurality of brushes is coupled to a distal end of an associated one of the cleaning arms relative to the lower housing.
US09179650B2 Top-fill hummingbird feeder with vertically operative base sealing mechanism
A top-fill hummingbird feeder has a liquid container with a lower bottom opening which can be screw-threaded into a central collar of a feeding basin. An insert is received within the central collar and is configured to be vertically movable between a first position in which fluid is allowed to flow from the liquid container to the basin, and a second position in which fluid flow from the container to the basin is prevented.
US09179649B2 Wild bird feed dispenser with squirrel-resistant mechanism
Implementations described and claimed herein provide systems and methods for preventing non-birds, such as squirrels, from accessing feed in a bird feeder. In one implementation, a mechanical link couples a first perch and a second perch to the roof assembly. The mechanical link may be configured to move both the first perch relative to the first feed port and the second perch relative to the second feed port upon movement of the first perch relative to the housing and/or upon movement of at least a portion of the roof assembly relative to the housing. As such, the bird feeder provides access to the feed in the bird feeder to wild birds, while preventing non-birds, such as squirrels, from accessing the feed.
US09179642B2 Mucking device
Apparatus and methods for mucking livestock enclosures and separating bedding material from animal waste are disclosed. Various embodiments are directed toward a mucking device having a scoop portion with a basket connected to a handle and a sliding lid that can be opened and closed by sliding a rotating sleeve along an inner shaft of the handle. The scoop of the mucking device can be inverted by rotating the inner shaft relative to the rotating sleeve, thus causing the basket to be disposed above the lid. Bedding material can be sifted out of the basket while retaining the animal waste. Once a desired amount of bedding material has been separated, the scoop can be opened by sliding the rotating sleeve along the inner shaft to open the lid and thus release the retained animal waste and residual bedding material. Other embodiments are directed toward methods for using the mucking device.
US09179639B2 Milking system and method for milking a herd of dairy animals
A milking system for milking a herd of dairy animals includes a first milking device and a second milking device, an identification device for identifying dairy animals to be milked of a herd of dairy animals, and a control device for determining an estimated treatment time of each dairy animal to be milked. The control device also classifies each dairy animal to be milked with the aid of a criterion on the basis of the estimated treatment time in at least a first or second group of dairy animals. The milking system admits the first group of dairy animals to preferably only the first milking device and admits the second group to preferably only the second milking device.
US09179633B2 Canola variety hybrid VR 9561 GS
A novel canola variety designated VR 9561 GS and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred canola varieties. Methods for producing a canola plant that comprises crossing canola variety VR 9561 GS with another canola plant. Methods for producing a canola plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into VR 9561 GS through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the canola seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This discovery relates to the canola variety VR 9561 GS, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of canola variety VR 9561 GS. This discovery further relates to methods for producing canola varieties derived from canola variety VR 9561 GS.
US09179625B2 Soybean variety A1036312
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1036312. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1036312. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1036312 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1036312 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US09179624B2 Soybean variety A1036232
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1036232. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1036232. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1036232 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1036232 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US09179613B2 Genetic loci on maize chromosomes 3 and 4 that are associated with fusarium ear mold resistance
The invention relates to methods and compositions for identifying and selecting maize plants with enhanced resistance to Fusarium ear mold. Maize plants generated by the methods of the invention are also a feature of the invention.
US09179590B2 Stabilizer for a lower link of a three-point hitch of a tractor
Stabilizer for a lower draft link of a three-point hitch of a tractor, the stabilizer comprising a first stabilizer member and a second stabilizer member which is movably connected to the first stabilizer member by a spring-loaded centering mechanism, wherein the second stabilizer member can be rotated with regard to the first stabilizer member to modify the overall length of the stabilizer. A locking bracket is pivotally connected to the first stabilizer member for blocking a rotation between the stabilizer members by engaging the locking bracket with a blocking groove formed in a circumference of the second stabilizer member. Furthermore, a locking cover is provided for disabling a movement between the stabilizer members in a closed position. A section of the locking cover is faced to the locking bracket, wherein the section is formed such in that the locking bracket can be removed from the blocking groove for releasing a rotation of the second stabilizer member even in the closed position of the locking cover.
US09179589B2 Soil plug processing mechanism
A soil plug processing mechanism for processing soil plugs which occur during ground maintenance. The soil plug processing mechanism having a separating device for picking up and processing the soil plugs by separating the soil plug material into fine particles and coarse particles. The separating device has at least one rotatable rotary sieve which has a rotatably driveable sieve drum with an outside surface which is configured at least partially as a sieve area.
US09179588B2 Vehicle and method for working top dressing material into grass blades
A method and vehicle for brushing top dressing material into a golf green, fairway or other supporting surface. The method and vehicle employs at least four brushes to contact each blade of grass located beneath the brush pattern of the vehicle. The brushes are arranged to contact and push the grass blades back and forth with the brushes arranged at various angles to achieve the back and forth motion to work the top dressing material down between grass blades.
US09185834B2 Isolated ethernet physical layer (PHY)
A network device comprises an Ethernet physical layer (PHY) comprising an isolation, protection, and electromagnetic interference suppression barrier operative for isolated power and data transfer.
US09185829B2 Air-conditioning system and air-conditioning method for server room management
A system for a server room management includes an air-conditioning control device including: an acquisition unit; a setting unit that sets content for generating supply air at temperature, absolute humidity, and relative humidity within target range, based on outside air temperature and humidity as well as return air temperature; and a controller controlling amount of outside air, amount of return air, control amount of humidifier, control amount of cooler, and amount of air blown by blower, based on the content. If the outside air is within range greater than absolute humidity upper limit, or within range greater than enthalpy upper limit and greater than the temperature upper limit, the setting unit compares outside air and return air, and then determines, in accordance with the comparison, whether to set the content so that the cooler performs cooling by minimizing or maximizing the amount of the outside air.
US09185820B2 Monolithically integrated RF system and method of making same
Radio frequency system (250) which includes a first and second sub-assembly (100, 200), each formed of a plurality of layers of conductive material (504, 508, 516) disposed on a substrate (102) and arranged in a stack. The stacked layers form signal processing components (108, 110) and at least one peripheral wall (104, 204) surrounding a walled area (118, 218) of each substrate. The second sub-assembly is positioned on the first sub-assembly with a first walled area of a first substrate aligned with a second walled area of a second substrate.
US09185812B2 Lead-free solder paste
In a conventional Sn—Zn based lead-free solder, Zn crystallized to a large size of several tens of micrometers, and it was difficult to suppress the formation of coarse crystallizates and to increase the bonding strength without changing the soldering temperature. There were alloys which improved strength by the addition of a minute amount of a Group 1B metal, but the alloys had an increased melting temperature so that reflow could not be performed with the same temperature profile as for Sn—Pb, so the alloys had advantages and disadvantages.By using a solder paste formed by mixing an ethanol solution containing nanoparticles having a particle diameter of 5-300 nm and containing at least one of Ag, Au, and Cu with a flux and solder powder for an Sn—Zn based lead-free solder paste, the formation of an alloy of Au, Au, or Cu with Zn occurs during soldering, thereby forming fine clusters in the resulting liquid phase of molten solder, and a fine solder structure is obtained following melting.
US09185811B2 Method of producing printed circuit board, and printed board produced by the method
A method of producing a printed circuit board includes: forming a metal layer on a support plate; forming a mask layer on the metal layer; forming a pattern plating having a stem as plating up to a level of the mask layer, and a cap as a portion of plating exceeding the mask layer and having an outgrowth lying over the surface of the mask layer; laminating an insulating base on a conductive circuit board constituted by the support plate, the metal layer and the pattern plating to form a circuit board intermediate in which the pattern plating is buried in the base; removing the support plate and the metal layer to form an exposed surface; and mechanically polishing the exposed surface until the stem of the pattern plating is removed, to increase the width of the conductive pattern on the exposed surface.
US09185805B2 Method of manufacturing a circuit substrate
A thin circuit substrate and a circuit module are arranged such that the circuit module includes an IC mounted on a circuit substrate, the IC includes an IC body and an solder bump located on a mounting surface of the IC body, and the circuit substrate includes a substrate including a recess formed by recessing a portion of a mounting surface of the substrate on which the IC is to be mounted, and a terminal protruding from the mounting surface of the substrate. The terminal is to be electrically connected to the solder bump.
US09185801B2 Halogen-free resin composition, copper clad laminate using the same, and printed circuit board using the same
A halogen-free resin composition includes (A) 100 parts by weight of epoxy resin; (B) 2 to 15 parts by weight of oxydianiline (ODA); and (C) 2 to 20 parts by weight of amino triazine novolac (ATN) resin. The halogen-free resin composition includes specific ingredients, and is characterized by specific proportions thereof, to thereby achieve a low dielectric constant, a low dielectric dissipation factor, high heat resistance, and high flame retardation, and thus is suitable for producing a prepreg or resin film to thereby be applicable to copper clad laminates and printed circuit boards.
US09185799B2 Printed wiring board
A printed wiring board includes a core substrate including an insulative substrate, a first conductive layer formed on first surface of the insulative substrate, and a second conductive layer formed on second surface of the insulative substrate, a first buildup laminated on first surface of the core and including an interlayer insulation layer, a conductive layer formed on the insulation layer, and a via conductor penetrating through the insulation layer and connected to the conductive layer, and a second buildup laminated on second surface of the core and including an interlayer insulation layer, a conductive layer formed on the interlayer insulation layer, and a via conductor penetrating through the insulation layer and connected to the conductive layer. The insulation layer of the first buildup has thermal expansion coefficient set higher than thermal expansion coefficient of the insulation layer of the second buildup.
US09185797B2 Foil element
A foil element and a method for producing such a foil element. The foil element includes a dielectric carrier layer, which spans an xy plane of a Cartesian coordinate system having an x-axis, a y-axis and a z-axis, and at least one electrically conductive layer which is arranged on the carrier layer and in which a conductor track is shaped in a frame-shaped region of the foil element. The frame-shaped region is formed by the area of a larger, outer rectangle having sides each running parallel to the x-axis or y-axis, from which area the area of a smaller, inner rectangle with the same orientation as the outer rectangle is cut out. A mechanical property of the carrier layer is different along the x-axis and the y-axis. More than 50% of the length of at least one conductor track section runs obliquely with respect to the x-axis and the y-axis.
US09185788B2 Method and system for controlling convection within a plasma cell
A plasma cell for controlling convection includes a transmission element configured to receive illumination from an illumination source in order to generate a plasma within a plasma generation region of the volume of gas. The plasma cell also includes a top flow control element disposed above the plasma generation, which includes an internal channel configured to direct a plume of the plasma upward, and a bottom flow control element disposed below the plasma generation region, which includes an internal channel configured to direct gas upward toward the plasma generation region. The top flow control element and the bottom flow control element are arranged within the transmission element to form one or more gas return channels for transferring gas from a region above the plasma generation region to a region below the plasma generation region.
US09185787B2 High temperature electrolysis glow discharge device
A glow discharge cell includes an electrically conductive cylindrical vessel, a hollow electrode, a cylindrical screen, a first insulator, a second insulator and a non-conductive granular material. The hollow electrode is aligned with a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical vessel and extends at least from the first end to the second end of the cylindrical vessel. The hollow electrode has an inlet, an outlet, and a plurality of slots or holes. The cylindrical screen is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical vessel and disposed between the hollow electrode and the cylindrical vessel to form a substantially equidistant gap between the cylindrical screen and the hollow electrode. The first insulator seals the first end of the cylindrical vessel around the hollow electrode. The second insulator seals the second end of the cylindrical vessel around the hollow electrode. The non-conductive granular material is disposed within the substantially equidistant gap.
US09185784B2 Line synchronized electrical device and controlling method thereof
A controlling method for an electrical apparatus and a device thereof are provided in the present invention. The method includes the steps of: (a) providing an electrical apparatus and an AC power; (b) generating a control signal synchronized to the AC power; and (c) controlling the electrical apparatus by the control signal. The device includes a threshold detector, a phase-locked loop coupled to the threshold crossing detector and an output circuit coupled to the phase-locked loop.
US09185779B2 Sensor device for reducing erroneous activation of a light source
A sensor device includes a sensor that transmits radio waves of a predetermined frequency and receives reflected waves of the transmitted radio waves. The sensor device detects presence of a moving body based on a difference between a frequency of the transmitted radio waves and a frequency of the reflected waves to activate a light source in accordance with the detection. A processor generates a sensor signal indicating the detection of the sensor. A determination unit determines whether or not the sensor signal has an intensity that is greater than a predetermined threshold. A controller controls activation of the light source when determined that the intensity of the signal is greater than the threshold. The controller restricts activation of the light source when determined that the intensity of the sensor signal is greater than the threshold until a first specified time elapses from the determination.
US09185774B2 System and method for detecting a property of a strobe cover
A method and system for determining at least one property of a strobe cover are disclosed. The determined property of the strobe cover may then be analyzed to determine whether it is the proper property for the strobe device. The property of the strobe cover may include the color of the strobe cover (such as clear, blue, amber, etc.), the shape of the strobe cover (such as a strobe cover with a lens or a strobe cover without a lens), the material of the strobe cover, etc. The method and system may include determining the property of the strobe cover and checking whether the determined property is the expected property of the strobe cover (such as the expected color of the strobe cover). The strobe cover may include one or more property indicators. The one or more property indicators may interface with a circuit, such as mechanically interface with the circuit, in order for the circuit to determine the property of the strobe cover.
US09185773B2 Electric light bulb type light source apparatus
An electric light bulb type light source apparatus includes a base, an insulated power source circuit, a light source unit, a light source drive circuit, a speaker, a speaker drive circuit, a plurality of substrates, and a casing. The insulated power source circuit has a transformer that insulates a primary side circuit from a secondary side circuit, converts a voltage to a first DC power source voltage, and outputs the first DC power source voltage. The light source drive circuit drives the light source unit by using the first DC power source voltage output from the power source circuit. The speaker drive circuit drives the speaker by using the first DC power source voltage output from the power source circuit. On the plurality of substrates, the power source circuit, the light source drive circuit, and the speaker drive circuit are mounted. The casing contains the plurality of substrates.
US09185766B2 Rolling blackout adjustable color LED illumination source
A system and method for producing white light in an adjustable light emitting diode (LED) illumination device is provided. The system and method varies the “off” time for one of multiple sets of light emitting diodes (LEDs) or channels in succession in order to compensate for and stabilize the color-shifting or degradation that gradually occurs in LEDs. Each channel corresponds to a different color. By varying the “off” time of only one channel at a time, the system efficiently utilizes the majority of the LEDs, thereby enabling the production of a more stable white light with fewer LEDs.
US09185758B2 Controlling current flowing through LEDs in a LED light fixture
An alternating current (“AC”)-powered light emitting diode (“LED”) driver is described herein for driving one or more arrays of series-connected LEDs. The LED driver includes a first transistor that includes a collector-emitter path connected in series with at least one LED of an array of series-connected LEDs. The LED driver also includes a second transistor configured to selectively activate the first transistor based on a level of current through the array of series-connected LEDs. The array of series-connected LEDs has a turn-on voltage.
US09185755B2 Regulator for LED lighting color mixing
A system includes a first light emitting diode configured to produce light of a first color and a second light emitting diode configured to produce light of a second color. A constant current circuit is configured to provide a first current, wherein (i) the first current is approximately constant, (ii) a first portion of the first current flows through the second light emitting diode, and (iii) a remaining portion of the first current flows through the first light emitting diode. A current regulating circuit is configured to control the first portion of the first current flowing through the second light emitting diode. The current regulating circuit is connected in series with the second light emitting diode, the constant current circuit, and a reference potential. The first light emitting diode is connected in series directly between the constant current circuit and the reference potential.
US09185751B2 Display device
A display device includes: a high-side potential variable-voltage source which outputs a high-side output potential and a low-side potential variable-voltage source which outputs a low-side output potential; an organic EL display unit in which pixels are arranged; a high-side potential difference detecting circuit which detects a high-side potential applied to a first pixel and a low-side potential difference detecting circuit which detects a low-side potential applied to a second pixel; a high-side potential voltage margin setting unit and a low-side potential voltage setting unit which regulate the output potential of the high-side potential variable-voltage source and the low-side potential variable-voltage source to set a potential difference between the high-side potential of the first pixel and a reference potential to a predetermined potential difference and set a potential difference between the low-side potential of the second pixel and a reference potential to a predetermined potential difference; and a signal processing circuit.
US09185741B2 Remote control operation using a wireless home entertainment hub
A remote control that switches assignment of actuators from operations of a currently active source device to operations of an automatically detected active source device is disclosed. The remote control may receive a selection to change a parameter of the active source device based on activation of the actuators on the remote control. The active source device may present content and may be registered with the wireless home entertainment hub. The registration may prevent the active source device from association and communication with a different wireless home entertainment hub.
US09185735B2 Methods and devices for facilitating bluetooth pairing using a camera as a barcode scanner
Embodiments of the systems, devices and methods described herein generally facilitate performing Bluetooth pairing between a first device and a second device. In accordance with one example embodiment, a first device generates a barcode that encodes Bluetooth pairing data for transmission to the second device, wherein the pairing data comprises a Bluetooth address associated with the first device, and wherein the pairing data further comprises a personal identification number usable to complete the Bluetooth pairing, the barcode is transmitted to the second device, and Bluetooth pairing is performed with the second device.
US09185726B2 System and method of communication using distributed channel access parameters
A method includes in response to receiving a modified enhanced distributed channel access (EDCA) parameter set IE at a station, determining a value of an EDCA parameter based on a delta value in the modified EDCA parameter set IE and based on a base value of the EDCA parameter.
US09185725B2 Request-response procedure for wireless network
This document provides a solution where a requesting wireless apparatus indicates in a probe request message that the requesting wireless apparatus supports a collision avoidance mechanism that enables a responding wireless apparatus to reduce a number probe response messages by responding to a plurality of probe response messages with a single probe response message.
US09185717B2 Type II relay node initialization procedures
A relay node including one or more components configured to encode a message to be transmitted to an access node, the message used to identify the relay node as a relay node during initialization of the relay node.
US09185712B2 Single antenna interference cancellation in a mobile communication system
Methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture for single antenna interference cancellation in a mobile communication system are disclosed. An example method disclosed herein for a wireless device comprises determining a number of bursts to be received in a time division multiple access frame comprising a plurality of timeslots, and when the number of bursts exceeds a threshold number of bursts for which single antenna interference cancellation can be performed, performing single antenna interference cancellation for a subset of the bursts received in the time division multiple access frame.
US09185710B2 Radio communication system and radio base station
A high-power radio base station includes a resource setter configured to determine a ratio of the number of second resources at which the radio communicator should stop radio transmission to the sum of the number of the second resources and the number of first resources at which the radio communicator should execute radio transmission. The resource setter determines the ratio on the basis of a first number and a second number, the first number being the number of mobile terminals that are assumed to be connected with the radio base station, rather than the low-power radio base station, when cell range expansion (CRE) is not applied, but are connected with the low-power radio base station by virtue of application of cell range expansion, the second number being the number of mobile terminals connected with the radio base station when cell range expansion is applied. The resource setter determines the ratio in such a manner that the greater the proportion of the second number to the first number, the smaller the ratio.
US09185708B2 Method and apparatus for mapping of absolute power grant values in wireless communications
A method and apparatus for adjusting power grants in wireless communications. Multiple power grant tables are stored and one or more tables are designated during communication.
US09185706B2 Anchor carrier selection in multi-carrier wireless network
Mechanism to receive control signals transmitted from a base station to the user equipment in a manner that minimizes power consumption on the user equipment while still maintaining some acceptable level of performance is described. The user equipment periodically measures the signal quality of component carriers used by the base station and requests control signaling (anchor) carrier reselection. Either a single component carrier can be chosen if the single carrier has sufficient quality or multiple component carriers can be selected when the quality of the single quality is low. The anchor carrier reselection may also be triggered to manage the system as a whole. For fast moving user equipments, anchor carrier hopping pattern can be provided to increase robustness and reduce reselection signaling overhead.
US09185703B2 Method for transmitting/receiving signal and device therefor
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and a device therefor, the method comprising: setting a first cell having a first TDD UL-DL configuration and a second cell having a second TDD UL-DL configuration; receiving data through a DL subframe of the first cell; and transmitting reception response information on the data through a UL subframe of the second cell, wherein the relationship between the DL subframe and the UL subframe is determined by a parameter value set in a specific TDD UL-DL configuration, which is the TDD UL-DL configuration having the least number of DL subframes from TDD UL-DL configuration(s), in which subframes set as a DL in the first or second cell are all set as DLs.
US09185695B2 Systems and methods for OFDMA and SC-FDMA switching
A method for selecting an uplink modulation scheme may include receiving downlink control information (DCI). The format of the DCI may be decoded. The uplink modulation scheme may be determined according to the format of the DCI. The uplink modulation scheme may be selected. An uplink signal may be transmitted according to the uplink modulation scheme.
US09185689B2 Apparatus and method for resource allocation in wireless communications
A method for a base station to allocate resources to a mobile station, the resources being included in one or more subbands each including a plurality of resource units, the method including: allocating a part of a first one of the subbands to the mobile station, the part including one or more resource units in the first one of the subbands; and indicating to the mobile station the allocated part of the first one of the subbands by indicating a resource allocation pattern corresponding to the allocated part of the first one of the subbands.
US09185687B2 Transmission and reception bandwidth setting method, mobile terminal and base station in radio communication system that defines a plurality of signal bandwidths
In a radio communication system defining a plurality of bandwidths, mobile terminals of kinds respectively corresponding to the plurality of bandwidths are accommodated in the system, and a minimum transmission bandwidth of the plurality of bandwidths is set as a transmission bandwidth of a downlink common channel. Or, every mobile terminal accommodated in the radio communication system is provided with a capability for processing a bandwidth equal to or greater than a predetermined value, and equal to or more than two transmission bandwidths that are equal to or less than a predetermined value are set as a transmission bandwidth of a downlink common channel. In the latter case, the mobile terminal identifies a bandwidth of a received downlink common channel.
US09185673B2 Machine type communication preregistration
A method and apparatus for machine type communication (MTC) preregistration are provided. The methods provide single or periodic preregistrations and may be machine to machine (M2M) application function (AF) or device (MTC user equipment based). The devices in the system may be divided into groups and accessed by on a group Internet Protocol (IP) address. Two wake up cycles may be provided, one for control and one for uploading information (a reporting cycle). During the control cycle, the devices may wake up and listen to the control channel for any paging messages. Depending on the paging information, individual devices or the entire group may access the system. In the reporting cycle, all the devices may wake up and access the system to connect to the M2M system to upload data.
US09185671B2 Method for reducing power consumption in bluetooth and CDMA modes of operation
Techniques are provided for synchronizing a wakeup schedule for a first module and a wakeup schedule for a CDMA module in a wireless mobile unit operable in a synchronous communication system. In one embodiment, a next CDMA wakeup time is determined. A new wakeup time for the first module can then be synchronized to a next CDMA wakeup time when a next CDMA wakeup time is earlier than a next wakeup time for the first module
US09185668B2 Dynamic TDD data channel transmission method and apparatus for wireless communication system
A data channel transmission method and apparatus is provided for the wireless communication system operating in a dynamic Time Division Duplex (TDD) mode. The dynamic TDD data channel transmission method and apparatus herein optimizes system performance in adaptation to the variation of the uplink and downlink traffic, and configures the radio frame such that all of the subframes have a static region, thereby operating along with other terminals without compromising channel estimation performance.
US09185660B2 Power adaptation apparatus and power adaptation method for controlling uplink/downlink power
A power adaptation apparatus for a wireless communication channel includes a power ratio compensator. The power ratio compensator is capable of receiving a channel quality indicator and compensating a power ratio parameter according to the channel quality indicator, wherein the power ratio parameter defines a relation between power of the wireless communication channel and power of another wireless communication channel, and is referenced for setting the power of the wireless communication channel.
US09185653B1 Memory efficient filtering
In a method and apparatus for providing memory efficient filtering of a received broadcast signal, a wireless device assembly compares a filter expression to packet data in the broadcast signal to determine whether the packet data contains a particular bit pattern indicated by the filter expression. The wireless device assembly is able to perform such filtering with an associated host assembly in a sleep mode or with that host in an active mode. If the host assembly is in a sleep mode, and if the packet data contains the particular bit pattern indicated by the filter expression, the wireless device assembly communicates a wakeup signal to the host assembly for changing the host assembly from the sleep mode to an active mode. On the other hand, if the packet data does not contain the particular bit pattern indicated by the filter expression, the wireless device assembly does not communicate the wakeup signal to the host assembly.
US09185646B2 Apparatus and method for wireless communication networks with energy harvesting
A base station transmits energy related information to a mobile station, wherein the energy related information is related to at least one of an energy harvester module and an energy storage module coupled to the base station. The energy related information includes: an energy level and a maximum storage capacity of the energy storage module; an energy harvest rate and energy consumption rate. The base station and the mobile station perform energy trade off, where when the serving base station has an energy level below a threshold, the mobile station uses certain configuration to send information to the serving base station where the configuration can use more resources, such as RF chains, thereby increasing energy consumption of the mobile station while enabling the base station to conserve energy.
US09185638B2 Method and apparatus for selecting neighbor cells in mobile communication system
A neighbor cell search method and apparatus of a User Equipment (UE) is provided for performing the cell search procedure with the utilization of a Physical Cell Identity (PCI) list of PCIs used by evolved Node Bs (eNBs) for a Closed Subscriber Group (CSG) which is from an eNB in a Long Term Evolution (LTE) system. The cell search method includes selecting a cell of a base station, receiving system information including a Physical Cell Identity (PCI) list used by neighbor Closed Subscribed Group (CSG) cells of the base station, determining whether the terminal is in an any cell selection state for selecting any cell, and searching, when the terminal is in the any cell selection state, neighbor cells without application of the PCI list. The cell search method and apparatus are capable of performing the cell search procedure to appropriate eNBs, resulting in improvement of network attachment efficiency.
US09185633B2 Radio base station, mobile station, mobile communcation method for improving positioning reference signal reception processing time in the mobile station
A radio base station that includes an upper-layer information transmission unit configured to transmit a length of Cyclic Prefix (CP) used in neighboring cells and a Positioning Reference Signal (PRS) transmission unit configured to transmit the PRS generated based on the length of CP, in a subordinate cell included in the neighboring cells.
US09185620B2 Adaptive UL-DL configurations in a TDD heterogeneous network
Technology for traffic offloading to generate a low interference flexible subframe (FlexSF) of an adaptive uplink-downlink (UL-DL) time-division duplexing (TDD) subframe configuration in a heterogeneous network (HetNet) is disclosed. One method can include an evolved Node B (eNB) monitoring a traffic loading metric for a specified traffic loading condition. The eNB can offload traffic scheduled for a packet of a macro user equipment (UE) from a macro cell to a FlexSF of a UL-DL subframe configuration of a small cell when the specified traffic loading condition exists. The eNB can be a macro eNB of the macro cell or a small eNB of the small cell.
US09185619B2 Method and apparatus for mitigating interference in femtocell deployments
Methods and apparatuses are provided for mitigating interference among access points, and/or devices communicating therewith, in unplanned network deployments. Based on determining that one or more served devices potentially interfere with one or more access points, an inter-frequency handover (IFHO) threshold or data rate can be adjusted for the device to cause IFHO or reduce occurrence of interference, and/or a coverage area can be modified so the device can communicate with one or more other access points to mitigate potential interference. Based on determining interference from one or more devices served by other access points, an access point can switch operating modes to a hybrid or open access point to allow the one or more devices to handover to the access point, and/or can boost downlink transmit power to cause the one or more devices to perform IFHO from the other access points to mitigate potential interference.
US09185616B2 Access control for macrocell to femtocell handover
Access to a femtocell can be controlled as part of handover of a mobile device from macrocell to femtocell. Macro network platform issues a handover (HO) request towards femto network platform and a single virtual femto node, which represents a plurality of femto access points (APs). Location estimate(s) for the mobile device drives selection of a target femto AP. Selection of the target AP results in acceptance of the HO request. The mobile device also can request macro-to-femto (MTF) handover. HO neighbor list(s) is generated by decoding a network-issued identifier for each femto APs in a set of femtocells, and selectively ranking each femto AP based at least on channel quality; access privileges of the mobile device to each of the identified femto APs determines selectivity. Validation of mobile device's access right(s) drives acceptance of the MTF HO request to a top ranked femto AP.
US09185610B2 Handling cell reselection to intra-frequency, inter-frequency, and inter-rat cells of home PLMN
A method and apparatus for wireless communications are provided. A first cell on which a user equipment (UE) is camped may be identified as a visited Public Land Mobile Network (VPLMN) of the UE. Information of a second cell among neighboring cells of the first cell may be received via a broadcast message from the first cell. The second cell may be part of a home PLMN (HPLMN) and the HPLMN may not be an equivalent PLMN (EPLMN) to the VPLMN associated with the first cell. Alternatively, the second cell may belong to an Equivalent HPLMN (EPLMN). When the second cell is determined to be a best cell according to absolute priority reselection rules or a highest ranked cell among the neighboring cells of the first cell, the second cell may not be barred for a period of time from being considered or identified as a candidate for reselection.
US09185604B2 Qualifying available reverse link coding rates from access channel power setting
Methods and apparatuses are disclosed regarding data rate and resource allocation decisions which are made for a communications channel, such as a wireless reverse connection. The wireless reverse connection may be between stations. One of the stations may be a base station and another station may be a field unit. The field unit may transmit data to a base station at a first data rate, based on a first resource allocation. Also, the field unit may transmit, to the base station, an indication, such as a digital data word, that the field unit has the capability to support the transmission of uplink data at a second data rate. The base station may transmit a second resource allocation to the field unit. After receiving the second resource allocation, the field unit may transmit additional uplink data to the base station at the second data rate based on the second resource allocation.
US09185596B2 Apparatus and method for avoiding data loss associated with a QoS reservation failure
Apparatus and methods are disclosed for avoiding data loss associated with a quality of service (QoS) reservation failure. One such method of wireless communication operable at an access terminal includes receiving a request from an access network for a preselected communication, establishing a radio link with the access network in response to the received communication request, transmitting a Quality of Service (QoS) reservation request message to the access network to request QoS in response to the received communication request, receiving a QoS reservation rejection message from the access network indicating a rejection of the requested QoS, transmitting a RESV request message to the access network in response to the QoS reservation rejection message, and receiving the preselected communication over a preselected flow in response to the RESV request message.
US09185585B2 Method and system for simulating the physical level of a radio network
A method of simulating transmission of data from a transmitter to a receiver in a radio communications network, the method including calculating an average amount of data to be transmitted to the receiver in a considered transmission time interval based on a relationship between an interferential condition assumed to be experienced at the receiver and a data transmission throughput, the relationship being determined by a link-level simulation of the link between the transmitter and the receiver.
US09185582B2 System and method to support data applications in a multi-homing, multi-mode communication device
A method of transmitting and receiving data from a multi-homing network device to a data network is disclosed and includes defining a network policy and transmitting the network policy to a routing module. Further, the method includes receiving a route scope from the routing module. The route scope identifies a subset of data interfaces to the data network that satisfy the network policy wherein the subset of data interfaces are selected from a set of available data interfaces and wherein the subset of data interfaces includes at least one data interface.
US09185579B2 Systems and methods for measuring available bandwidth in mobile telecommunications networks
A network device receives probe packets communicated by a user equipment device. The network device communicates response packets back to the user equipment device, including timestamps, and/or other information. The user equipment device may be configured to test the performance of different portions of a wireless network (i.e., determine an available bandwidth measurement throughput (ABMT) of the wireless network) by accessing different network devices (or information associated with different network devices).
US09185577B2 Transmission apparatus, reception apparatus, wireless communication system, control program and integrated circuit
To realize transmission performances equivalent to those of an MU-MIMO BLAST ZF-THP system without increasing a signal processing amount in a base station apparatus in a downlink MU-MIMO transmission system. A transmission apparatus is provided with a plurality of transmission antennas, generates a transmission signal addressed to each reception apparatus based on information indicating spatial correlation of channels to and from a plurality of reception apparatuses, space-multiplexes the generated each transmission signal in the same wireless resource, and transmits it to each reception apparatus. The transmission apparatus includes: an ordering determination part 601 which determines an order in which a transmission signal addressed to each reception apparatus is generated based on information indicating spatial correlation of channels; a linear filter generation part 603 which generates a linear filter based on the determined order; a THP part 605 which performs a THP process by using the determined order and the linear filter; and a linear filter multiplication part 607 which multiplies an output of the THP part 605 by the linear filter.
US09185575B2 Systems and methods for promoting use of wireless services exclusively
Provided herein are systems and methods for providing exclusive wireless service proposals to subscribers. A method for providing an exclusive wireless service proposal to a subscriber includes the steps of conducting measurements of at least one metric; sending measurement data acquired during the step of conducting to a measurement analysis machine (MAM), the MAM being configured to analyze the measurement data; analyzing the measurement data; predicting performance of at least one of wireless voice and wireless data services based upon the results of the analysis step; generating a proposal for exclusive wireless services based upon the measurement data and the performance prediction; and providing the proposal to a subscriber. Systems for performing this and additional or alternative methods are also disclosed.
US09185573B2 User equipment, network node and methods therein
Embodiments herein relate to a method in a user equipment (10) for handling In Device Coexistent, IDC, configuration. The user equipment (10) is IDC capable and being served by a network node (12) in a communications network. The user equipment (10) receives from the network node (12), an IDC configuration for at least one IDC scheme. The user equipment (10) further adapts at least one parameter related to a radio measurement performed by the user equipment (10) based on the received IDC configuration.
US09185561B2 Protection against rerouting in an NFC circuit communication channel
A method for protecting information contained in a security module of a telecommunication device provided with a near-field communication router, wherein a routing table between the ports of the router contains at least one channel identifier calculated from an identifier of a radiofrequency port of a near-field communication circuit associated with the router.
US09185558B2 Authentication server and authentication method by authentication server
An authentication server capable of determining securely and accurately whether an access source is a cellular phone or a computer when a content is accessed with being limited to cellular phone users. The authentication server including a transmission delay time measuring unit that measures a transmission delay time between the authentication server and a communication terminal over a plurality of times, a transmission delay time distribution property determining unit that determines whether or not a distribution property of the transmission delay time measured over the plurality of times is discrete, and a content access authentication unit recognizing that the communication terminal is a wireless communication terminal and approving the access to the contents when the distribution property of the transmission delay time is determined as being discrete and recognizing that the communication terminal is a wired communication terminal and denying the access to the contents when the distribution property of the transmission delay time is determined as not being discrete.
US09185557B2 Serving GPRS support node and controlling method
A system is provided which is capable of connecting a call without degrading the security level in a mobile terminal network, even when a call addressed to a user equipment (UE) arrives via the Internet or a home network. A femto base station receives a packet addressed to a UE via the Internet or a home network, and starts a paging procedure. The UE establishes an RRC connection to the femto base station. The UE transmits, to the femto base station, a paging response addressed to the SGSN. The femto base station performs NAS verification. If the femto base station detects the paging response to a paging request that the femto base station itself has issued, the femto base station changes the service type of the service request received from the UE from the paging response to signaling.
US09185555B2 Method for authentication of a wireless backup system for an optical network unit
An apparatus comprising a first passive optical network (PON) component configured to couple to a second PON component via an optical link and authenticate the second PON component based on authentication information to authorize a backup wireless link between the first PON component and the second PON component. The backup wireless link corresponds to a wireless backup system for the PON. The authentication information is associated with an identifier of the wireless backup system. Also included is a network component comprising a first passive optical network (PON) component configured to receive authentication information for a wireless backup system for a PON from a second PON component and compare the authentication information to expected authentication information at the first PON component to authorize a wireless link between the first PON component and the second PON component for the wireless backup system.
US09185553B2 Systems/methods of preferential communications
A wireless network may comprise a plurality of base stations and a plurality of access points, such as femtocells, which may be installed in homes and/or offices, as deemed necessary to provide improved signal quality and increased data throughput while off-loading capacity from one or more near-by base stations. A user device may be configured to detect proximity to an access point and establish communications preferentially with the access point while refraining from communicating with a base station even though the user device is within a service region of the base station and can communicate with that base station.
US09185552B2 Method and apparatus to establish trust and secure connection via a mutually trusted intermediary
Systems and methods for establishing secure communications between two network elements through a trusted intermediary when no direct communication path is available. Separate secure communication links are established between the network elements and the trusted intermediary to facilitate secure end to end communication.
US09185536B1 Apparatus and method for obtaining inconspicuous user input on a mobile device
Mobile device, method for operating the same, and associated computer-readable instructions on a non-transitory medium for obtaining inconspicuous user input on a mobile device. The mobile device automatically detects whether an accessory port is engaged with an accessory, such as a headset, for example. In response to at least one change in an indication of the detection, the device automatically performs a sequence of operations. According to one particular embodiment, alarm sequence of operations can include a transmission of an alarm notification to a predefined recipient, for example.
US09185527B2 System, server and method capable of displaying user status
A server includes a communication module, a database and a processor. The communication module receives identification information of a user of a mobile terminal and a movement status and a geographic position of the user from the mobile terminal. The processor determines real time traffic condition of the geographic position of the user according to the real time traffic information of the area where the user is located stored in the database and evaluates a time period to be spent from the geographic position of the user to the display terminal according to the movement status of the user and the real time traffic condition of the area. The communication module further transmits the geographic position of the user, the evaluated time period and the identification information of the user to the display terminal. A system including the server and a method of displaying a user status are also disclosed.
US09185526B2 Systems, methods, and devices for policy-based control and monitoring of use of mobile devices by vehicle operators
A system and computer executable instructions running on a mobile device for controlling one or more functions of the mobile device in response to vehicle state data. The mobile device includes a processor and memory coupled to the processor, wherein a receiver in electronic communication with the processor detects a data signal transmission. A default rules-based policy, initially stored in memory of the mobile device, defines how the various functions of the mobile device perform in response to the vehicle state data. A customized rules-based policy is subsequently uploaded into the memory of the mobile device and replaces at least some of the default rules-based policy. Software within the mobile device confirms that the data signal transmission is from an approved transmitter and, if so, causes one or more of the functions on the mobile device to perform in accordance with the customized rules-based policy based.
US09185523B2 Method of correcting global position error
Provided is a method of processing information on a tuple comprising latitude, longitude, and a timestamp collected from a position information collection device. The method includes changing a significant level value for calculating the statistical value of the speeds of past tuples in order to determine whether the current tuple has an error.
US09185522B1 Apparatus and method to transmit content to a cellular wireless device based on proximity to other wireless devices
A system for exchanging GPS or other position data between wireless devices for purposes of group activities, child location monitoring, work group coordination, dispatching of employees etc. Cell phones and other wireless devices with GPS receivers have loaded therein a Buddy Watch application and a TalkControl application. The Buddy Watch application communicates with the GPS receiver and other wireless devices operated by buddies registered in the users phone as part of buddy groups or individually. GPS position data and historical GPS position data can be exchanged between cell phones of buddies and instant buddies such as tow truck drivers via a buddy watch server. Emergency monitoring services can be set up with notifications to programmable individuals in case an individual does not respond. Positions and tracks can be displayed. TalkControl simplifies and automates the process of joining talk groups for walkie talkie services such as that provided by Nextel.
US09185514B1 Orchestration of application updates over a wireless communication network
Embodiments disclosed herein provide systems and methods for orchestrating application updates over a wireless communication network. In a particular embodiment, a method provides registering a first application with an update controller and, in response to registering the first application, determining first network data update parameters for the first application and determining network constraints on application data updates over a wireless communication network. The method further provides determining when the first application is allowed to request data updates based on the first network data update parameters and the network constraints and notifying the first application of when the first application is allowed to request data updates over the wireless communication network.
US09185511B2 Wireless communication method, wireless communication system, and wireless communication apparatus
A wireless communication method includes: detecting, at a wireless communication apparatus, a collision of data transmitted from a plurality of wireless communication terminals during a first period that is in a communication-enabled state; shifting, when the collision has been detected, a second period, which belongs to the same frame as the first period and is in a communication-disabled state, to a communication-enabled state; transmitting, at the wireless communication apparatus, a request to the plurality of wireless communication terminals for retransmission of the data and receiving data transmitted from the plurality of wireless communication terminals in response to the request, using the shifted second period.
US09185506B1 Comfort noise generation based on noise estimation
Features are disclosed for generating comfort noise that matches a frequency spectrum of original background noise. For example, a spectral shape of an estimated noise component can be determined. A frame of white noise can be modified based at least in part on the spectral shape of the noise component. The modified frame of white noise can be converted to a time-domain noise signal. The level of the time-domain noise signal can be adjusted to match an original level of the noise after noise reduction. Residual echo suppression can sometimes cause background noise to be eliminated, causing silence. The adjusted time-domain noise signal can be added after residual echo suppression to maintain continuity of background noise levels.
US09185499B2 Binaural hearing aid with frequency unmasking
A hearing aid includes: at least one microphone for provision of at least one microphone audio signal in response to sound received at the at least one microphone; a signal separation unit configured to provide an estimate of a target signal and an estimate of a masker signal based on the at least one microphone audio signal; a frequency modifying unit configured to modify a frequency content of at least one of the estimate of the target signal and the estimate of the masker signal, to thereby output the estimated target signal and the estimated masker signal substantially in different frequency bands; and a receiver for conversion of a combination of the estimate of the target signal and the estimate of the masker signal output by the frequency modifying unit into an acoustic signal for transmission towards an eardrum of a user of the hearing aid.
US09185480B2 Acoustically actuated mechanical valve for acoustic transducer protection
A portable electronic device including an outer case having a wall in which a transducer-associated acoustic hole is formed. An inner case may be positioned inside the outer case. The inner case can include an acoustic port that opens to the transducer-associated acoustic hole and a relief port that opens to the outer case. A transducer having a diaphragm facing the acoustic port of the inner case is mounted within the inner case. A valve is further positioned over the relief port. The valve is configured to reduce an impact of an incoming air burst on the diaphragm.
US09185469B2 Summarizing image collection using a social network
A method for reducing the number of images or the length of a video from a digital image collection using a social network, includes receiving a digital image collection captured by a user to be viewed by a viewer; wherein the viewer and the user are members of the same social network and using a processor to access the social network to determine a relationship between a viewer and the user. The method further includes using the processor to determine a set of summarization parameters based on the relationship between the viewer and the user and using the processor to reduce the number of images or the length of the video from the digital image collection using the determined set of summarization parameters to be viewed by the viewer.
US09185463B2 System and method for providing personalized channel setting to social television viewer
A method of sharing usage data of multimedia content is provided. The method comprises providing a set of media channels, providing access, to one or more pre-selected remote users, to usage data regarding consumption of the multimedia content, and selectively restricting access of at least a portion of the usage data to at least a portion of the remote users.
US09185461B2 Spot notification method, spot notification device, and spot notification device program
A spot notification device includes: a viewing history acquisition unit that acquires a program viewing history of a user; a program metadata acquisition unit that acquires program metadata including a name and locational information on a spot introduced in a program; a spot list generation unit that generates, on the basis of the viewing history and the program metadata, a spot list including the name and locational information on the spot; a current location acquisition unit that acquires a current location of the user; an activity history holding unit that holds the current location in time series as an activity history; a notifying spot determination unit that sets a search range in accordance with the activity history and refers to the spot list to search for the spot present within the search range; and a spot notification unit that notifies the user of information relating to the spot.
US09185460B2 Reception apparatus, reception method, program, and information processing system
Disclosed herein is a reception apparatus including: a reception portion configured to receive audio video content; a trigger extraction portion configured to extract trigger information for operating an application program transmitted along with the audio video content and executed in interlocked relation to the audio video content; a table acquisition portion configured to acquire a correspondence table for associating the trigger information with commands for controlling the operation of the application program; a command determination portion configured such that, based on the acquired correspondence table, the command determination portion determines the commands associated with the extracted trigger information; and a control portion configured to control the operation of the application program in response to the determined commands.
US09185452B2 Digital television signal, digital television receiver, and method of processing digital television signal
A method of processing a digital television (DTV) signal in a DTV receiver, the method includes receiving a digital television signal including a plurality of extended text table (ETT) instances that appear in transport stream packets with common PID values, the ETT instances having common table ID values, each ETT instance comprising a section header and a message body, the section header containing a table identification (ID) extension field that serves to establish uniqueness of each ETT instance, the message body containing an extended text message (ETM) which provides detailed descriptions of a virtual channel or an event associated with each ETT instance, wherein the section header further contains a protocol version field indicating a protocol version and a section syntax indicator field indicating a section syntax indicator, demodulating the digital television signal and identifying at least one pertinent ETT instance from the plurality of ETT instances.
US09185440B2 Information transmission method and device, information recording or reproduction method and device, and recording medium
An information transmission method capable of reproducing the atmosphere of a concert hall or a live performance hall, wherein bio-information of a speaker, player, actor or conductor, who serves as a source of speech, sounds or music and/or bio-information of a performer included within an image are multiplexed with respect to information of speech or music and/or information of the image for transmission thereof. At the receiving side, sense stimulation based on the bio-information is provided to the viewer, or information of speech or music and/or information of the image are controlled on the basis of the bio-information to thereby reproduce presence or live appeal.
US09185431B2 Motion detection device and method, video signal processing device and method and video display device
In a motion detection device that detects motion from two frames of a video signal, a pattern matching detector determines pattern similarity between pixel blocks centered on a pixel of interest in the two frames to detect pattern motion. An edge detector detects edge presence and direction in a vicinity of the pixel of interest. A frame difference detector generates a smoothed frame difference signal for the pixel of interest. The smoothing is carried out within appropriate extents selected according to the detected pattern motion and edge direction. A motion information corrector generates motion information for the pixel of interest from the frame difference signal. Appropriate selection of the smoothing extent reduces motion detection mistakes. The motion information is useful in motion adaptive video signal processing.
US09185421B2 System and method for video transcoding
A video transcoding system includes a video decoder, a video encoder, and a video interface. The video decoder is configured to decode a received video signal. The video encoder is configured to encode video data decoded from the received video signal by the video decoder. The video interface couples an output of the video decoder to an input of the video encoder and is configured to transfer video data having a first chroma subsampling ratio. The video decoder is further configured to provide video data having a second chroma subsampling ratio that includes fewer chrominance samples than the first chroma sampling ratio to the video interface, and to provide non-video information generated from decoding the received video signal to the video interface using video interface bandwidth usable based on a difference between the first chroma subsampling ratio and the second chroma subsampling ratio.
US09185416B2 Image encoding apparatus
Provided is a moving picture coding apparatus for increasing a compression ratio of a moving picture signal while maintaining high image quality. To minimize the number of bits required for a residual block, quantized transform coefficients are adaptively divided into a plurality of subsets according to a size of a transform block, and non-zero quantized transform coefficients of each subset are scanned and encoded. Also, an intra prediction mode of the current block is determined using reference pixels obtained by filtering reference pixels of the current block. Accordingly, it is possible to minimize the amount of data required for the residual block of the current block.
US09185410B2 Image coding method, image decoding method, image coding apparatus, and image decoding apparatus
An image coding method includes: selectively adding a motion vector of each of one or more associated blocks to a list; selecting a motion vector from the list as a selected motion vector; and coding a current block to be coded or a motion vector of the current block using the selected motion vector, and for each of the associated blocks, when a specific block that is one of the associated block and the current block is coded with reference to another picture that temporally matches a specific picture including the specific block, the motion vector of the associated block is not scaled and is added to the list at the time of adding the motion vector to the list.
US09185396B2 Lens module and display apparatus having the same
A lens module includes a lens panel and a lens driving part. The lens panel includes a first substrate, a second substrate and a liquid crystal layer. The first substrate includes first electrodes and second electrodes alternately disposed thereon that partially overlap each other and are electrically insulated from each other. The second substrate is opposite to the first substrate. The liquid crystal layer is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. The lens driving part provides a substantially equal voltage to both ends of each of the first and second electrodes.
US09185391B1 Adjustable parallax distance, wide field of view, stereoscopic imaging system
An imaging system and methods for using an imaging system where the operator is able to variably adjust the parallax distance for enhanced stereo performance are disclosed. In addition, by coordinating the parallax distance with the optical settings of the camera, artificial 3D experiences can be created that give a user the perception of observing a scene from a distance different than that actually employed. The imaging system may also include a plurality of stereo camera supersets, wherein a first one or more stereo camera supersets are positioned at a different height relative to a first stereo camera superset. Novel specific uses of the camera system, such as in capturing events of interest are described. Useful techniques for extracting or encoding wide field of view images from memory are also disclosed.
US09185378B2 Method and apparatus for generating multimedia data having decoding level, and method and apparatus for reconstructing multimedia data by using the decoding level
Provided is a multimedia data generation method which includes allocating one or more pieces of image object information to each of a plurality of nodes, generating a scene tree by linking nodes according to correlation between the object information allocated to each node, and adding an event execution level attribute to each node, wherein the event execution level attribute determines whether to execute an event by using the image object information allocated to each node, thereby generating multimedia data in which the added event execution level attribute is represented with a scene description language and recorded on an area of a scene descriptor.
US09185377B1 Color processing system and apparatus
A color processing system includes a color interpolation unit coupled to receive color and white (W) signals and accordingly generate interpolated white signals and difference signals; a color correction unit configured to correct the difference signals, thereby resulting in corrected color signals; and a sensitivity control unit configured to generate adjusted color signals according to the corrected color signals, the interpolated white signals, and surrounding illumination.
US09185366B2 Digital E8-VSB reception system and E8-VSB data demultiplexing method
A method of processing a digital television (DTV) signal is disclosed. Herein, the DTV signal is generated by performing Reed-Solomon (RS) encoding on additional data, multiplexing the RS-encoded additional data with main data, RS encoding the multiplexed additional and main data, interleaving the RS-encoded additional and main data, trellis encoding the interleaved additional and main data, and transmitting a Radio Frequency (RF) DTV signal including the trellis-encoded additional and main data. The method to process the DTV signal includes receiving the DTV signal including the additional data multiplexed with the main data through an antenna, in which signaling information is periodically inserted in the additional data. The received DTV signal is demodulated including performing channel equalization on the demodulated DTV signal. Trellis decoding is performed on the channel-equalized DTV signal. Further, the additional data from the trellis-decoded DTV signal is extracted including removing dummy data from the extracted additional data.
US09185365B2 Apparatus and method for controlling sensor node using vibration sensor and magnetic sensor
An apparatus and method for controlling a sensor node are provided that may calculate an azimuth angle and a slope of the sensor node using a 2-axis magnetic sensor and a 3-axis acceleration sensor, and may detect a target approaching the sensor node. The apparatus may include a calculation unit to calculate an azimuth angle and a slope of a sensor node, based on a magnetic values measured by a 2-axis magnetic sensor and a acceleration values measured by a 3-axis acceleration sensor; a sensor control unit to filter the magnetic values and the vibration values and to amplify the filtered magnetic values and the filtered vibration values, when the azimuth angle and the slope are calculated; and a detection unit to detect a target based on the amplified magnetic values and the amplified vibration values.
US09185364B1 Sub-surface marine light unit with variable wavelength light emission and an integrated camera
A lighting element of a sub-surface marine light unit can be manufactured with an integrated camera. The lighting element can include a light emitting component able to illuminate an area within a sub-surface environment and a camera configured to provide a view within an illuminated sub-surface area illuminated by the light emitting component. The camera can be housed within the enclosure of the lighting element. The light unit can be a thru hull marine light affixed to the sub-surface portion of a hull of a marine vessel and a movable light affixed to an apparatus of a marine vessel.
US09185360B2 Systems and methods for detecting obstructions in a camera field of view
A system mounted on a vehicle for detecting an obstruction on a surface of a window of the vehicle, a primary camera is mounted inside the vehicle behind the window. The primary camera is configured to acquire images of the environment through the window. A secondary camera is focused on an external surface of the window, and operates to image the obstruction. A portion of the window, i.e. window region is subtended respectively by the field of view of the primary camera and the field of view of the secondary camera. A processor processes respective sequences of image data from both the primary camera and the secondary camera.
US09185356B2 Bacterial identification
The present invention provides for separation of bacterial species and serotypes using electrophoretic methods.
US09185355B2 Network surveillance system
A method for estimating the activity topology of a set of sensed data windows is described. Each of the sensed data windows related to a corresponding sensed region. The method includes the steps of determining a subset of sensed data windows that are not connected; and excluding the subset of sensed data windows from the set of sensed data windows. In one embodiment, the sensed data windows corresponding to image windows such as would be provided by a visual surveillance system.
US09185346B2 Real-time communications methods providing pause and resume and related devices
Operating a receiver communication device during a real time communication session including a real time media content data stream provided by another communication device may include receiving the real time media content data stream of the communication session from the other communication device wherein packets of the real time media content data stream include an identification of the real time media content data stream. A pause request may be transmitted from the receiver communication device to the other communication device with the pause request including the identification of the real time media content data stream and a pause request sequence number. After transmitting the pause request, a pause acknowledge message may be received from the other communication device with the pause acknowledge message including the identification of the real time media content data stream and the pause request sequence number. Related devices and methods are also discussed.
US09185342B2 Systems and methods for implementing instant social image cobrowsing through the cloud
In accordance with disclosed embodiments, there are provided methods, systems, and apparatuses for implementing instant social image cobrowsing through the cloud, including, for example, means for loading an application at the client device, the application displaying a graphical interface at the client device; receiving input at the graphical interface of the client device to initiate an instant share session; generating an action at the client device to request an instant share session; communicating the action from the client device to a remote host organization via a public Internet; receiving, at the client device, a pointer to a dynamically created co-browse site at the host organization responsive to communicating the action from the client device to the remote host organization; following the pointer to the dynamically created co-browse site at the host organization communicably linking the client device with the host organization; and exchanging a video telephony stream between the client device and a remote party through the dynamically created co-browse site. Other related embodiments are disclosed.
US09185333B2 Method and system for accessing content for presentation via a set-top box
An approach is provided for presenting, via a set-top box, a first media content to a user. The user is prompted with an option to experience a second media content relating to the first media content. The set-top box presents the second media content to the user upon selection of the option by the user.
US09185326B2 System and method enabling visual filtering of content
There is presented a system and method enabling visual filtering of content. The system comprises a server, a content database storing content units and accessible through the server, and a filtering and display application. The filtering and display application is configured to enable visual filtering of the content units by filtering a plurality of graphical representations corresponding to a plurality of content units stored by the system, to extract a first plurality of graphical representations for displaying to a user, displaying the first plurality of graphical representations as active graphical representations selectable by the user in a first featured display, and dynamically filtering the first plurality of graphical representations and replacing the first featured display with another featured display of a first subset of active graphical representations selectable by the user according to an input received from the user.
US09185316B2 Data sampler, data sampling method, and photo detecting apparatus including data sampler that minimizes the effect of offset
A data sampler and a photo detecting apparatus compensate a reference signal with offset information measured from a unit pixel, and compare an offset-compensated reference signal with a data signal, thereby minimizing the impact of an offset occurring with an increase of gain in the data sampler.
US09185314B2 Mitigating the effects of signal overload in analog front-end circuits used in image sensing systems
Output voltage of a charge-to-voltage converter used in an image sensing system is compared with one or more thresholds to determine if the output voltage exceeds predetermined threshold levels. If the output voltage exceeds one or more of the threshold levels, the input terminal of the charge-to-voltage converter is connected to a reference voltage to prevent the charge-to-voltage converter from saturating. Problems that could be caused due to overload of the voltage-to-charge converter are obviated. In an embodiment, the charge-to-voltage converter is implemented by an operational amplifier (OPAMP). A pair of comparators compares the output of the OPAMP with corresponding threshold voltages. The result of the comparison is used to generate a signal for connecting the input of the OPAMP to the reference voltage, thereby preventing saturation of the OPAMP.
US09185309B1 Systems and methods for causing a stunt switcher to run a snipe-overlay DVE
Disclosed herein are systems and methods for causing a stunt switcher to run a snipe-overlay video effect (DVE). An example method involves (i) selecting a first log-entry from a traffic log, the first log-entry corresponding to a snipe-overlay DVE, to a snipe video, and to a start time; (ii) selecting a second log-entry from the traffic log, the second log-entry corresponding to a video component (VC) and the start time; (iii) causing the VC to start being channeled through the stunt switcher proximate the start time; (iv) making a determination that a threshold time-period has passed since the start time; and (v) responsive to making the determination (a) causing the snipe video to be sent to the stunt switcher, and (b) causing the stunt switcher to run the snipe-overlay DVE, thereby overlaying the snipe video on the VC as the VC is being channeled through the stunt switcher.
US09185304B2 Image pickup apparatus and processing method for result of image pickup
The present invention is applied to an image pickup apparatus for which, for example, a CMOS solid-state image pickup element is used. One screen image is divided into a plurality of blocks, and a motion is detected for each of the blocks to control the exposure time of the block.
US09185296B2 Optical unit with shake correcting function
Provided is an optical unit with a blur correction function, wherein even when a photoreflector and a drive mechanism for blur correction are provided in a movable module provided with an optical element, sizes in an optical axis direction and a direction crossing the optical axis direction can be prevented from increasing. In an optical unit (100) with a blur correction function, a drive mechanism (500) for blur correction is provided between the outer peripheral surface of an image capturing unit (1) and a fixed body (200) (upper cover (250)), and a first photoreflector (580) and a second photoreflector (590) are provided between a bottom portion (substrate (15)) of the image capturing unit (1) and the fixed body (200) (lower cover (700)), between which a swing support (180) is provided. The first photoreflector (580) is provided in a position overlapping in the direction of an optical axis (L) with an axis line (X0) out of two axis lines (X0, Y0) when the image capturing unit (1) is swung, and the second photoreflector (590) is provide in a position overlapping in the direction of the optical axis (L) with the axis line (Y0).
US09185279B2 Imaging system
An imaging system includes an imaging body having an optical system and an imaging element, a power supplier configured to supply power to the imaging element, and a housing configured to hold the imaging body and the power supplier, wherein the optical system includes at least one optical element projecting from the housing, and a distance AP between a gravity center A of a portion including the optical system and a gravity center P of the entire imaging system and a distance BP between a gravity center B of the power supplier and the gravity center P of the entire imaging system satisfy the following condition. AP>BP
US09185270B2 Ghost artifact detection and removal in HDR image creation using graph based selection of local reference
In high dynamic range (HDR) image creation, a ghost artifact detection method divides the images (brackets) into multiple tiles, and selects one bracket for each tile as the local reference bracket. The local reference brackets are selected via optimization of an objective function which includes both a component that measures exposure quality of individual tiles and a component that measures correlation between neighboring tiles. The minimization can be realized by constructing a graph for the objective function and calculating a minimum cut of the graph using a graph cut algorithm. Graph examples for three and four image sets are given. Ghost artifact detection is then performed on a tile-by-tile basis by using the local reference bracket for each tile. Ghost maps are generated this way and used for HDR image creation. This method minimizes artifacts due to inconsistencies in local reference bracket selection in areas involved in ghost-inducing objects.
US09185260B2 Steganographic encoding and decoding
This patent document relates generally to steganography and digital watermarking. One claim recites an apparatus comprising: electronic memory for buffering samples corresponding to imagery; and a programmed processor. The processor is programmed for: analyzing the samples corresponding to the imagery to determine whether a color value comprises color saturation; adjusting the samples to adjust the color saturation into a linear region, the adjusting yielding adjusted samples; encoding the auxiliary information in the adjusted samples, said encoding adapted to an anticipated watermark detection. Of course, other claims and combinations are provided too.
US09185258B2 Image reader
An image reader includes a reading carriage, on which a reading unit is mounted and which performs scanning along a document-sheet platen in a scanning direction, and an annular belt that draws the reading carriage. The belt includes a first side extending in the scanning direction to which the reading carriage is fixed, and a second side that is disposed to be spaced from the first side. The detection unit that detects a document sheet mounted on the document-sheet platen is disposed in a region between the first side and the second side of the belt in a direction intersecting with the scanning direction.
US09185256B2 Image reading device, image forming apparatus, and non-transitory computer readable medium storing image reading program
Provided is an image reading device including a light source that includes a unit irradiating an image with light beams of plural colors and adjusting light intensities of the respective light beams of the plural colors, a reading unit that reads the image irradiated with the light beams of the plural colors from the light source, and outputs image information, and an adjustment unit that adjusts, for a case where an image is read in color, the light intensities of the respective light beams of the plural colors so that values of pieces of image information corresponding to the respective colors fall within a range, and adjusts, for a case where an image is read in black and white, the light intensities of the respective light beams of the plural colors so that values of pieces of image information output from the reading unit fall within a range.
US09185251B2 Method and device for displaying and selecting functions and associated conditions using a set of hard keys
An operation device according to the present disclosure includes a number of hard keys, a function icon display unit, a condition icon display unit, a function item receiving unit, a function item change unit, a condition item receiving unit, and a setting condition receiving unit. The function icon display unit can display a number of function icons indicating the function item respectively assigned to the number of hard keys. The condition icon display unit can display a condition icon indicating a condition item. The function item change unit changes an assignment to the hard keys from the function item to the condition item. The condition item receiving unit displays a condition icon corresponding to the condition item assigned to the hard key. The setting condition receiving unit receives a setting condition indicated by the condition item corresponding to the hard key for which the selection was received.
US09185246B2 Camera system comprising color display and processor for decoding data blocks in printed coding pattern
A camera system including: a substrate having a coding pattern printed thereon anda handheld digital camera device. The camera device includes: a digital camera unit having a first image sensor for capturing images and a color display for displaying captured images to a user; and an integral processor configured for: controlling operation of the first image sensor and color display; decoding an imaged coding pattern printed on a substrate; and performing an action in the handheld digital camera device based on the decoded coding pattern. The decoding includes the steps of: identifying a data block in the imaged coding pattern; decoding a control block to determine the size of data to be extracted from a data area; and decoding the coding pattern contained in ae data area of the data block.
US09185236B2 Method and apparatus for visualizing record data
A method for visualizing record data with a mobile forensic device for collecting and managing the record data including partner information when an event, such as a call or text service, occurs, includes: calculating an event occurrence frequency for each partner information using the collected record data; and classifying the partner information on the basis of a grade according to the calculated event occurrence frequency. Further, the method includes generating graphic data showing a relation between the partner information and user information of a mobile terminal on the basis of the classified grade; and displaying the graphic data.
US09185235B2 Aggregating data in a mediation system
Records received from one or more sources in a network are processed. For each of multiple intervals of time, a matching procedure is attempted on sets of one or more records, including comparing identifiers associated with different records to generate the sets and determining whether or not a completeness criterion is satisfied for one or more of the sets. The processing also includes, for at least some of the intervals of time, processing at least one complete set, consisting of one or more of the received records on which the matching procedure is first attempted during the interval of time and one or more records stored in a data store before the interval of time, and for at least some of the intervals of time, processing at least one incomplete set, consisting of one or more records stored in the data store before the interval of time.
US09185229B2 Method of joining a conference call
In a computer-implemented method of joining a user to a conference call event an interface associated with a time management software application is displayed. The interface displays information relating to the conference call event including a date for a conference call which is subject of the conference call event and a start time of the conference call. While displaying the interface, a menu offering one or more options is displayed; these one or more options include an option to join the conference call. When an indication of a selection of the option to join the conference call is received, information associated with the conference call is located; this information includes a telephone number for a conference call bridge. A connection with the conference call bridge using the telephone number is initiated.
US09185228B1 Buffering voice data in network-based instant connect communication
Systems and methods for managing voice data in network-based instant connect communications. In an instant connect call, instead of immediately playing voice data when it is received, the voice data is buffered on the recipient's device and the recipient is notified of the incoming voice data. The recipient may then play the voice data at a later time before the instant connect call session times out. The recipient may also take the floor and delete the buffered voice data, reject the voice data, or ignore the voice data until the session times out and the buffered voice data is deleted. The recipient can also prevent voice data from being delivered by selecting an answer mode of operation of the recipient's device that enables the recipient to approve senders before voice data is transmitted.
US09185223B1 Real time feedback of script logic
A system, method, and computer readable medium for real time feedback of script logic that comprises counting at least one agent utilizing at least one panel associated with at least one caller, establishing an average length of time required to utilize the at least one panel associated with the at least one caller, tallying a number of callers terminating interaction during utilization of the at least one panel, calculating statistics associated with the counted agents per panel, the established average length of time required per panel and the tallied number of callers terminating interaction per panel, and displaying the calculated statistics.
US09185217B2 Emergency mobile notification handling
Systems and methods for handling emergency notification messages such as Commercial Mobile Alert System (CMAS) alerts. In an example scenario, a call center maintains personal profiles of a number of clients, including contact information for persons or other entities designated by the clients to receive information about the clients. The call center receives from a device associated with a particular client of the call center that the client's device has received a text-based emergency notification message. The call center notifies one or more of the designated entities. The notification may include the content of the emergency notification message, and may include an audio version of the notification message. An indication or the notification message may also be placed in a database accessible to one or more of the designated persons or entities.
US09185209B2 Call-details recording device and call-details recording method
A call-details recording device including: a detecting unit detecting a connection or disconnection of a call; a recording unit recording, when the detecting unit detects the call connection, details of the call by storing the voice data of the call-details in a storage device; and a reproduction enabling unit storing, when the detecting unit detects the call disconnection, the voice data recorded by the recording unit in a reproducible format in an accessible area of the storage device, wherein the detecting unit further detects execution of an interrupting operation of interrupting the conversation, and the reproduction enabling unit stores, when the detecting unit detects the interrupting operation, the voice data recorded by the recording unit to a point of time when executing the interrupting operation from a point of time when connecting the call in the reproducible format in the accessible area.
US09185208B2 Calendar-callback voicemail
Calendar-callback voicemail that provides proposed callback times is described herein. Calendar-callback voicemail includes a calendar callback service that access, among other things, calendar information and location information. The calendar callback service uses that information to provide a proposed callback time to the caller, which the caller may accept or reject. A recipient of the voicemail can access the calendar callback service to schedule times in which callback times are not to be proposed. Further, the calendar callback service may connect the caller and the recipient at the time of the proposed call.
US09185196B2 Method for determining gaze direction and device for same
A device for supporting, in motion, a mobile terminal having a display surface, including a supporting element forming a hand grip for the device; and a plate mounted such that it can move in relation to the supporting element, the plate forming a housing receives mobile terminal in the use position, in which the display surface can be observed by a user. The device also has a plurality of reference light sources linked to the supporting element, which can emit light towards the user's eye and which are disposed in the environment of the housing in a two-dimensional array, the array being coplanar with the display surface of the mobile terminal that is intended to be received in the housing.
US09185194B2 Handheld electronic device, support assembly, and support assembly fabricating method
The present invention provides a support assembly mounted between a rear cover and a screen of a handheld electronic device to support and fasten a component of the handheld electronic device. The support assembly includes an appearance part and an internal structure support part, where the appearance part and the internal structure support part are fabricated through integral molding of an amorphous alloy; the internal structure support part is formed by extending the top or the middle of the appearance part inwards; and an average thickness of the internal structure support part is less than 2 mm. The present invention simplifies a process of assembling the handheld electronic device. The present invention further provides a support assembly fabricating method and a handheld electronic device.
US09185187B2 Posted information sharing
An exemplary posted information sharing system includes: an information-processing system; and a server, wherein the information-processing device includes an executing unit that executes an application program, and an accessing unit that accesses an item of posted information depending on the application program that is being executed or whose execution is suspended, the posted information being stored on the server, and the server includes a providing unit that provides access to the posted information by the information-processing device, in response to a request from the accessing unit.
US09185183B2 Method and system for providing location-based user information via a map
A method and system for providing location-based user information using a map is disclosed. The method includes displaying a plurality of local areas on a map. If one of the plurality of local areas is selected, user information corresponding to the selected local area is loaded, where the user information contains a name of a user, a phone number of the user, a subscribed local area where a wireless communication network service to which the user subscribes is provided, and a current local area where the user is currently receiving a wireless communication network service. The selected local area is displayed by distinguishing the selected local area from non-selected other local areas, a local time of the selected local area, and the user name from among the loaded user information. When displaying the user name, the phone number, the subscribed local area and the current local area are selectively displayed in addition to the user name.
US09185179B2 Re-establishing push notification channels via user identifiers
Embodiments enable recovery of push notification channels via session information associated with user identifiers. A proxy service creates session information describing push notification channels (e.g., subscriptions) for a user and associates the session information with a user identifier. The session information is stored in a cloud service or other storage area separate from the proxy service. After failure of a user computing device or the proxy service, the session information is obtained via the user identifiers and the push notification channels are re-created with the session information. In some embodiments, the proxy service enables delivery of the same notification to multiple computing devices associated with the user identifier.
US09185172B2 System and method for rendering a remote view at a client device
Examples of systems and methods are provided for facilitating rendering at a local client device a remote view associated with a remote application on a remote server. A method may comprise generating the remote view of the remote application based on display output data of the remote application, wherein a portion of the display output data is visible in the remote view, tracking coordinates and dimensions of the portion of the display output that is visible, receiving a message from the remote server comprising coordinates and dimensions of one of a window box, a dialog box and an object, comparing the coordinates and dimensions of the portion of the display output data that is visible with the coordinates and dimensions of the one of the window box, the dialog box and the object, and adjusting the portion of the display output data that is visible based on the comparison.
US09185165B1 Data replicating systems and data replicating methods
Methods and systems for synchronizing data may enable a computer to synchronize data by connecting to a peer computer via a network connection. The computer may receive a remote table from the peer computer, wherein the remote table comprises an object comprising a vector. The computer may determine whether the object is present in a local table. When the object is present in the local table, the computer may determine whether the vector in the remote table and the vector in the local table match. When the vectors do not match, the computer may determine whether a record of a change to the object is present in a local transaction log. The computer may receive data from the peer computer indicating whether a record of a change to the object is present in a remote transaction log when the vectors do not match. The computer may replace the vector in the local table with the vector in the remote table and record a change to the object in the local transaction log when the record of the change to the object in the local transaction log is less recent than the record of the change to the object in the remote transaction log.
US09185159B2 Communication between a server and a terminal
In process for modeling a display coming from an application on a server, the display being destined for a remote terminal, the display is modeled to compose an image according to display information coming from the application by stacked layers, each layer consisting of pixels and being associated with a corresponding first alteration data set, each pixel being characterized by a transparency factor of the pixel; the first alteration data set indicating characteristics of the layer connected with the alterations performed by the application, the resulting image consisting of image pixels and being associated with a second alteration data set, the second alteration data set indicating whether the image was altered due to the modification of the layers by the application, the image pixels being composed of the superimposed corresponding pixels of the layers.
US09185152B2 Bidirectional communication on live multimedia broadcasts
A bidirectional connection between a multimedia stream distribution system and a user is used to communicate operational data to and from the user. The bidirectional connection is separate from a multimedia connection that transfers a multimedia stream from the multimedia stream distribution system to the user. Providing a bidirectional connection separate from the multimedia connection is advantageous, among other reasons, because the operational data can be collected effectively at the multimedia stream distribution system independent of any limitations in the multimedia connection. To organize users and reduce processing load, the multimedia stream distribution system assigns users to user groups based on shared characteristics. Groups may be used to propagate information to the users as well as analyze information collected from the users in an efficient manner.
US09185147B1 System and methods for remote collaborative intelligence analysis
A system provides collaboration and exchange of information among a group of users based on creation, sharing and exchange of multimedia objects. The system further provides techniques to share the multimedia objects in the form of cards among analysts. A graphical user interface providing a number of views through which multimedia objects can be viewed and manipulated is also disclosed.
US09185144B2 Apparatus, system, and method of managing data transmission, and recording medium storing transmission management program
A transmission system is accessible to association information that associates, for each one of one or more sessions, terminal identification information for identifying each one of a plurality of transmission terminals that are currently participating in the session, with reservation identification information for identifying reservation of communication on which the session is based. The transmission system obtains reservation identification information associated with the counterpart transmission terminal using the association information and counterpart terminal identification information. The transmission system determines whether reservation identification information associated with the request transmission terminal matches the reservation identification information associated with the counterpart transmission terminal to generate a determination result. Based on the determination result, a request for starting communication with the counterpart transmission terminal is accepted or rejected.
US09185135B2 Location based enforcement of mobile policy
Disclosed are systems, apparatus, devices, methods, computer program products, computer media, and other implementations, including a method that includes communicating data representative of one or more location-based restrictions corresponding to a venue area to a mobile device determined to be located within the venue area, and controlling, by at least one venue server, use at the mobile device of services available at the venue area from one or more nodes associated with the venue area based, at least in part, on a determination, by the at least one venue server, of whether the mobile device complies with the location-based restrictions corresponding to the venue area.
US09185134B1 Architecture for moderating shared content consumption
Features are disclosed for facilitating content consumption and communication among a group of users. A content consumption group may be formed including any number of users, and content may be selected. Group members may consume roughly the same portion of the content at roughly the same time and share the consumption experience regardless of geographic location, user device, content format, on-demand consumption preferences, and the like. Policies may be defined or selected regarding the rate of content consumption, the communications and other inputs that may be submitted by group members, and the like. A shared content consumption management system may receive data from various user devices regarding each group member's current content consumption position, enforce group policies, and distribute group inputs. Group members may also communication in real time through various chats and other interactive features.
US09185128B2 Malware analysis methods and systems
Methods of analyzing malware and other suspicious files are presented, where some embodiments include analyzing the behavior of a first malware sample on both a virtual machine and a physical computing device, the physical device having been booted from a secondary boot source, and determining whether the behavior of the malware sample was different on the virtual machine and the physical computing device. In certain embodiments, a notification indicating that the behavior was different may be generated. In other embodiments, a malware analysis computing device that is configured to receive a base hard drive image may be networked booted, and the behavior of the malware sample on the malware analysis computing device may be analyzed. In certain embodiments, a malware-infected hard drive image may then be copied off the malware analysis computing device for further forensic analysis.
US09185127B2 Network protection service
A network protection method is provided. The network protection method may include receiving a Domain Name System (DNS) request, logging the DNS request, classifying the DNS request based on an analysis of a DNS name associated with the DNS request, taking a security action based on the classification, analyzing network traffic after taking the security action, and providing substantially real-time feedback associated with the network traffic to improve future DNS request classifications. The method may further include receiving a DNS response and logging the DNS response. The analysis of the DNS name may include receiving DNS data related to the DNS name from a plurality of sources, receiving reputation data related to the plurality of sources, scoring each of the plurality of sources based on the reputation data, and aggregating the DNS data related to the DNS name based on the scoring.
US09185121B2 Detecting malicious circumvention of virtual private network
An embodiment directed to a method is associated with a VPN that may be used to access resource servers. Upon determining that the VPN has been accessed by a specified client, resource servers are identified, which each has an address and may receive traffic routed from the client through the VPN. The method further comprises sending a message corresponding to each identified resource server to the client, wherein the message to corresponding to a given one of the identified resources is intended to cause a response to be sent from the client to the address of the given identified resource server. Responses to respective messages sent to the client are used to determine whether a route for traffic from the client to the VPN has been compromised.
US09185120B2 Method and system for mitigating interest flooding attacks in content-centric networks
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for mitigating interest flooding attacks in content-centric networks (CCNs). During operation, the system receives, at a physical interface of a router, an interest packet; obtains current interest satisfaction statistics associated with the physical interface; and determines whether to forward or drop the interest packet based on the current interest satisfaction statistics.
US09185114B2 Methods and systems for secure storage segmentation based on security context in a virtual environment
A computer system identifies a request to place a workload in a hypervisor-based host. The computer system identifies a security level of the workload. The computer system identifies a security level of a storage device associated with the hypervisor-based host. If the security level of the workload corresponds to the security level of the storage device, the computer system grants the request to place the workload in the hypervisor-based host. If the security level of the workload does not correspond to the security level of the storage device, the computer system denies the request to place the workload in the hypervisor-based host.
US09185111B2 Cryptographic authentication techniques for mobile devices
A method of authenticating a computing device to a back-end subsystem. In one embodiment a prover black-box in the computing device regenerates a credential containing a key pair from a PIN and a protocredential, and authenticates cryptographically to a verifier black-box in the back-end subsystem; then the verifier black-box sends an authentication token to the prover black-box as verifiable confirmation of the cryptographic authentication, the prover black-box sends the authentication token to an application front-end in the computing device, the application front-end sends the authentication token to an application back-end in the back-end subsystem, and the application back-end verifies the authentication token.
US09185108B2 Token sharing system and method
A scalable system and method for authenticating entities such as consumers to entities with a diverse set of authentication requirements, such as merchants, banks, vendors, other consumers, and so on. An authentication credential such as a token can be shared among several resources as a way to authenticate the credential owner.
US09185104B2 Method and apparatus for communication, and method and apparatus for controlling communication
Method and apparatus for communication between client and service provider using external server, and a method and apparatus for controlling communication between a client and a service provider are provided. The method includes: receiving from the service provider a first authentication token indicating that the service provider has authenticated communication with the client by logging on the service provider; storing, in the external server, authentication information containing the first authentication token and additional information relating to communication with the service provider; receiving, when there is a request to access the service provider, authentication information corresponding to the request from the external server; and communicating with the service provider using the received authentication information. It is possible to alleviate the burden on a user to enter his or her ID and password, and to remove necessity for a user to enter the ID and password after registration has been performed once.
US09185101B2 User authentication based on historical user behavior
Embodiments are directed to systems, methods and computer program products for providing user authentication based on historical user patterns. Embodiments receive from a user, a request to execute a user action associated with an application, wherein execution of the user action requires validation of authentication credentials; collect a set of data comprising information related to usage patterns associated with the apparatus of the user; determine a user pattern score associated with the user; determine a level of authentication; determine which authentication types are associated with the level of authentication; request authentication credentials corresponding to the authentication types; receive authentication credentials from the user; validate the authentication credentials, thereby resulting in a successful validation of the authentication credentials; and, in response to the successful validation, execute the user action.
US09185100B1 Device pairing using a cryptographic commitment process involving measured motion values
A method includes receiving, in a first device, an access request. The method further includes measuring a motion of the first device to determine a first motion value, performing a pairing protocol with a second device, and granting the access request responsive to a successful pairing in accordance with the pairing protocol. The pairing protocol comprises a cryptographic commitment process. The successful pairing is based at least in part on a determination that a second motion value supplied by the second device substantially matches the first motion value. The cryptographic commitment process comprises sending a committed first motion value to the second device prior to receiving the second motion value from the second device.
US09185092B2 Confidential communication method using VPN, system thereof, program thereof, and recording medium for the program
In a confidential-communication system that uses a first-communication network that is Internet capable of confidential communication using VPN, and a second communication network that is an audio-circuit network, a method is implemented wherein a send/receive-processing portion 5 of a communication control device 3 completes authentication between users by implementing a P2P connection between each communication control device 3 by referencing specific information that specifies another party of a P2P connection in a memory portion 4 on the communication device 3 before confidential communication starts using VPN; a confidential-communication preparation portion 70 of the communication control device 3 exchanges via the second communication network VPN joint information required to establish a VPN link with the first communication network; and a switching portion 71 of the communication control device 3 starts confidential communication using VPN over a first-communication network.
US09185090B1 Method and apparatus for simplified, policy-driven authorizations
A system and method uses a set of XACML policies to identify an action or other single degree of variations of various entities that may be called using requests, and uses information from the policy that is useful for obtaining one or more XACML subjects and resources from a request to access the resource, and then builds an XACML policy request using the action or other single degree of variation, and the one or more subjects and resources to determine if authorization for performing the action or other single degree of variation on the one or more resources on behalf of the one or more subjects is granted. Only if the authorization is granted is the action or other single degree of variation performed on the one or more resources.
US09185079B2 Method and apparatus to tunnel messages to storage devices by overloading read/write commands
Embodiments of systems, apparatuses, and methods for securely transferring data between a storage system and an agent are described. In some embodiments, a system establishes a tunnel between the storage system and the agent. The system further securely transfers the data between the storage system and the agent using the tunnel. In one embodiment, the tunnel uses an action and results mailbox to transfer the data. In another embodiment, the tunnel is based on a trusted send facility.
US09185075B2 Internet security system
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for processing a data packet in a packet forwarding device. A data packet is received. A virtual local area network destination is determined for the received data packet, and a set of rules associated with the virtual local area network destination is identified. The rules are applied to the data packet. If a virtual local area network destination has been determined for the received data packet, the data packet is output to the destination, using the result from the application of the rules. If no destination has been determined, the data packet is dropped. A security system for partitioning security system resources into a plurality of separate security domains that are configurable to enforce one or more policies and to allocate security system resources to the one or more security domains, is also described.
US09185073B2 Systems and methods for data packet processing
Systems and methods for performing efficient network address (NAT) translation are described herein. In some aspects, partial NAT entries are created for data packets before all the IP fragments of the data packets are received. Further, the IP fragments are transmitted before all the IP fragments of the data packets are received. In some aspects, unique IP-IDs are generated for IP fragments and/or data packets at a NAT device.
US09185066B2 Enabling wireless device communication
A wireless communication device is configured to communicate with at least one other electronic user communication device that is connected to communicate on an electronic communication network. The user's device automatically creates a communication list comprising the at least one other electronic user communication device on the network, and the user communication device sends the communication list to a remote server device. So configured, the user communication device can automatically create a communication list of devices with which the user can use instant messaging or chat-like communications, without having to separately discover, search, or otherwise locate such devices and add them as friends or buddies or approved communication devices to a communication list. Accordingly, the electronic user communication device will provide to a user a communication list without additional registration or other set-up procedures.
US09185061B2 Offline IM chat to avoid server connections
An instant message (IM) connection is established at an IM server in the usual manner, under the policies and security rules promulgated by the IM service provider. Using this connection to the IM server, an offline IM chat request is made at the IM server for establishing an offline connection directly between consenting IM clients. The request may be included in a message to the IM server from a client, or the request may be in the form of IM session parameter, for the client, that authorizes an offline chat as the preferred type of IM session under certain conditions. These conditions may result in the IM server being unavailable or may instead authorize the IM server to unload the client from an online session to an offline session based on IM server loading level or other factors that are under the control of the server. The conditions may also specify the presence of other IM clients as a criteria for establishing an offline chat; the clients may be present in an online chat session or merely available.
US09185047B2 Hierarchical profiled scheduling and shaping
Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method and related network node including one or more of the following: determining, by the network node, that a port of the network node is ready to receive a packet; identifying a packet having a highest packet priority among a plurality of packets received via a plurality of interfaces, wherein the step of identifying includes, for each of a plurality of components at a first hierarchy level: identifying a first level highest priority packet among a plurality of packets available to the component, based on a packet priority associated with each of the plurality of packets available to the component, sharing the packet priority of the first level highest priority packet with at least one component at a second hierarchy level; and transmitting the packet having the highest priority to the port.
US09185044B2 Rate reduction for an application controller
Rate reduction for an application controller is provided. Computing resources used by an application controller receiving an amount of traffic from a network device can be determined. A determination whether the computing resources used by the application controller are approaching a computing capacity of the application controller can be made. A message can be sent to the network device to reduce the amount of traffic sent to the application controller in response to a determination that the application controller is approaching the computing capacity. A reduced amount of traffic can be received from the network device. Incrementally increasing amounts of traffic can be received from the network device after receiving the reduced amount of traffic from the network device.
US09185042B2 System and method for automated quality of service configuration through the access network
A system comprises a plurality of access nodes configured to provide one or more services to customer equipment; and a plurality of transport elements coupled together to form a network. Each transport element is configured to receive data packets committed to the network by one or more of the other transport elements and to commit data packets to the network, each data packet assigned to one of a plurality of traffic classes. Each respective transport element is further configured to shape a first set of traffic comprising data packets received from another transport element based on the respective traffic class of each data packet and to shape a second set of traffic comprising data packets to be committed to the network by the respective transport element based on the respective traffic class of each data packet, the first set of traffic shaped separately from the second set of traffic. Each respective transport element is further configured to shape the shaped first set of traffic together with the shaped second set of traffic based on respective weights associated with the first set of traffic and the second set of traffic.
US09185039B1 Application testing through object level code inspection
Testing of a service is enabled through extraction of object data from an application interacting with the service. An application is executed on a physical or emulated host device, and assembly code is generated for the executing application. The assembly code is analyzed to identify objects associated with the application, and to identify relationships between the objects. Data stored in member variables of the objects is retrieved by setting analysis points at which to extract member variable data during execution of the application. Based on the object data, relationship data, and retrieved member variable data, transaction data is identified for a transaction between the application and the service. The transaction data may be provided to enable a test device to replay the transaction during load testing or other testing of the service.
US09185031B2 Routing control system for L3VPN service network
A routing control system comprising a system controller and master and slave routing servers, wherein the master routing server includes a plurality of logical controllers, each of which performs routing control for each of the user networks, the system controller monitors a load state of the master routing server and migrates at least one of the plurality of logical controllers from the master routing server to the slave routing server when the load state has satisfied a predetermined condition, so that the slave routing server inherits routing control for a particular user network associated with the migrated logical controller.
US09185019B2 Systems and methods for providing dynamic connection spillover among virtual servers
A method for an appliance to switch handling of transport layer connection requests from a first virtual server of the appliance managing a first plurality of services to a second virtual server of the appliance managing a second plurality of services upon exceeding, by the first virtual server, a maximum connection threshold determined dynamically from a status of the first plurality of services The appliance establishes a predetermined threshold identifying a maximum active transport layer connection capacity for the first virtual server that comprising a sum of a predetermined connection capacity for each of the plurality of services. The appliance determines via monitoring that the status of a service of the plurality of services indicates the service is not available and adjusts the predetermined threshold to comprise the sum of the predetermined connection capacity for each of the plurality of services having a status of available.
US09185014B2 Real-time adaptive processing of network data packets for analysis
A network monitoring system that summarizes a plurality of data packets of a session into a compact session record for storage and processing. Each session record may be produced in real-time and made available during the session and/or after the termination of the session. Depending on protocols, a network monitoring system extracts different sets of information, removes redundant information from the plurality of data packets, and adds performance information to produce the session record. The network monitoring system may retrieve and process a single session record or multiple session records for the same or different protocols to determine cause of events, resolve issues in a network or evaluate network performance or conditions. The session record enables analysis in the units of session instead of individual packets. Hence, the network monitoring system can analyze events, issues or performance of the network more efficiently and effectively.
US09185001B2 Backhaul network performance monitoring using segmented analytics
A system may be configured to monitor traffic associated with a network device; determine a time at which a particular portion of traffic was received by the network device; identify one or more attributes associated with the particular portion of the traffic; determine one or more performance indicators associated with the particular portion of the traffic; and determine that an alert threshold has been met. The determining may be based on at least one of: the one or more attributes or the one or more performance indicators. The system may output, based on determining that the alert threshold has been met, information regarding the time at which the particular portion of the traffic was received by the network device, the one or more attributes, and the one or more performance indicators associated with the particular portion of the traffic.
US09184999B1 Logical topology in a dynamic data center network
A system for configuring a network topology in a data center is disclosed. The data center includes nodes having ports capable of supporting data links that can be connected to other nodes. The system includes a memory and a processing unit coupled to the memory. The processing unit receives demand information indicative of demands between nodes. The processing unit determines a set of constraints on the network topology based on the nodes, feasible data links between the nodes, and the demand information. The processing unit determines an objective function based on a sum of data throughput across data links satisfying demands. The processing unit performs an optimization of the objective function subject to the set of constraints using a linear program. The processing unit configures the network topology by establishing data links between the nodes according to results of the optimization.
US09184996B2 Thin client system, management server, client environment management method and program
The thin client system is capable of automatically providing an appropriate client environment according to the performance of each terminal. The thin client system includes at least one terminal, a client environment server where a client environment used by the terminal operates, and a management server which allocates the predetermined client environment based on a utilization request of the client environment from the terminal, wherein the management server comprises a client environment management unit which receives from the terminal, terminal identification information for identifying the terminal, and terminal part information for identifying a terminal part which is a component of the terminal, and uses a client environment component that is set in advance so as to correspond to the terminal part information to generate the client environment in the client environment server.
US09184991B2 Method and apparatus for developing service processor solutions
A computer-implementable method. In one embodiment, the method includes the step of initializing operation of a physical service processor to communicatively couple to a remote file system over a communications link. The remote file system has a computer-executable development module for modifying at least one network configuration setting for the physical service processor. The method also includes the step of causing the development module to modify at least one network configuration setting on a virtual service processor that is operative to emulate operation of the physical service processor, and the step of initializing operation of the virtual service processor with the at least one modified network configuration setting. The method further includes the step of verifying that the virtual service processor, when initialized with the at least one modified network configuration setting, operates without error.
US09184961B2 FM analog demodulator compatible with IBOC signals
A method includes: receiving an FM radio signal including an analog-modulated portion; digitally sampling an analog-modulated portion of the radio signal to produce a plurality of samples; using a ratio between an average magnitude and an RMS magnitude of a block of the samples to compute a signal quality metric; detecting sum and difference components of the baseband multiplex signal content; using the baseband content to produce an output signal; and blending the output signal from stereo to monaural as the signal quality metric falls below a threshold value.
US09184960B1 Frequency shifting a communications signal(s) in a multi-frequency distributed antenna system (DAS) to avoid or reduce frequency interference
Frequency shifting a communications signal(s) in a multiple frequency (multi-frequency) distributed antenna system (DAS) to avoid or reduce frequency interference is disclosed. Related devices, methods, and DASs are disclosed. Non-limiting examples of frequency interference include frequency band interference and frequency channel interference. As a non-limiting example, frequency interference in a multi-frequency DAS may result from non-linearity of a signal processing component generating an out-of-band harmonic of a first, in-use communications signal in a first frequency band, within different frequency band(s) of other in-use communications signal(s). To avoid or reduce such interference, embodiments disclosed herein involve predicting frequency interference that may result from processing received, in-use communications signals in multiple frequency bands to be distributed in a multi-frequency DAS. Frequency shifting is performed to avoid or reduce any interfering signal products produced from the signal processing of any in-use communications signals, from interfering in the frequencies of other in-use communications signals.
US09184958B2 System and method of encoding and transmitting codewords
Systems and methods are provided for encoding and transmitting codewords. A message is encoded in two encoders. For at least one of the two encoders, the message is algebraically modified prior to being encoded. In a specific example, the message is algebraically modified prior to being encoded in each of two traditionally non-systematic encoders, with the result that the output is equivalent to that of a turbo encoder.
US09184954B1 Systems and methods for directed soft data perturbation in layered decoding
Systems and method relating generally to data processing, and more particularly to systems and methods for perturbing soft data in a layered decoder system.
US09184953B2 Programmable signal processing circuit and method of demodulating via a demapping instruction
A programmable signal processing circuit has an instruction processing circuit (23, 24. 26), which has an instruction set that comprises a demapping instruction. The instruction processing circuit (23, 24, 26) has an operand input (30a) for receiving a complex number operand of the demapping instruction from a register file (22) and a result output (34) for writing a demapping result of the demapping instruction to the register file (22). The instruction processing circuit (23, 24, 26) determines at least four bit metrics in response to the demapping instruction, each indicating a relative position of the complex number relative to respective border line in a complex plane. The instruction processing circuit (23, 24, 26) writes a combination of the at least four bit metrics together to the result output (34) in the demapping result.
US09184944B2 Interface control
An apparatus, method and computer program, the apparatus comprising: communication circuitry configured to drive, on a first occasion, a first transition of a first electrical parameter on an electrical interface to another apparatus; determination circuitry configured to determine feedback information dependent upon a measured electrical parameter on the electrical interface; and control circuitry configured to use the determined feedback information to control the power output of the communication circuitry to achieve, on a second occasion subsequent to the first occasion, the first transition of the first electrical parameter on the electrical interface within a threshold time period.
US09184943B2 Multicarrier-signal receiving apparatus and multicarrier-signal transmitting apparatus
A multicarrier-signal transmitting apparatus sets a phase rotation amount for each subcarrier of a plurality of subcarrier groups, wherein the phase rotation amount being set with a setting among at least three settings. The settings being phase rotation amounts for subcarrier groups which each include a plurality of continuous subcarrier groups where each number of the continuous subcarrier groups included in each subcarrier group set is different from each other. Also, the multicarrier-signal transmitting apparatus adds, based on the phase rotation amount, a phase rotation to reference signals and a data signal of each subcarrier of the plurality of subcarrier groups.
US09184925B1 Local event overlays to global social media network
A system includes a local social media context server aboard a vehicle, the local social media context server including logic to implement a local social media context for a passenger aboard the vehicle, the local social media context being configured with a duration commensurate with a duration of a trip by the passenger on the vehicle; an antenna coupled to the local social media context server; and logic to prioritize content posted to the local social media context by the person for promotion to the person's global social media context.
US09184923B2 Methods for controlling a power state of a network entity
One embodiment of the present invention relates to a network system having a first device, a second device, and a third device. The first device is coupled to a far end of a first network. The second device coupled to a far end of a second network. The third device is coupled to a near end of the second network. The third device provides a state transition request via the second network to the second device and the second device causes a transition of state in the first device.
US09184919B2 Systems and methods for generating and using multiple pre-signed cryptographic responses
Systems and methods are disclosed for generating and using multiple pre-signed cryptographic responses. In one implementation, the method includes generating multiple cryptographic datasets. Each cryptographic dataset has a different validity period. The method further includes upon a user request, identifying one or more cryptographic datasets that are still valid among the multiple cryptographic datasets. The method further includes identifying a cryptographic dataset having the shortest validity period among the one or more cryptographic datasets that are still valid. The method also includes providing the identified cryptographic dataset to the user.
US09184913B2 Authenticating a telecommunication terminal in a telecommunication network
A method for authenticating a telecommunications terminal having an identity module includes: storing a first private key, a first public key and a first signature, the first signature being based on signing the first public key using a second private key; generating identity information and a second signature, the second signature being based on signing the identity information using the first private key; transmitting the first public key, the identity information, and the first and second signatures to a server device; verifying, by the server device, the authenticity of the first public key using a second public key; and verifying, by the server device, the authenticity of the identity information using the verified first public key. The identity information includes International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) information.
US09184911B2 Secure session capability using public-key cryptography without access to the private key
A server establishes a secure session with a client device where a private key used in the handshake when establishing the secure session is stored in a different server. During the handshake procedure, the server receives a premaster secret that has been encrypted using a public key bound with a domain for which the client device is attempting to establish a secure session. The server transmits the encrypted premaster secret to the different server for decryption along with other information necessary to compute a master secret and session keys for the secure session. The different server decrypts the encrypted premaster secret, generates the master secret, and generates session keys that are used in the secure session for encrypting and decrypting communication between the client device and the server and transmits those session keys to that server.
US09184910B2 Distributed single sign on technologies including privacy protection and proactive updating
Technologies for distributed single sign-on operable to provide user access to a plurality of services via authentication to a single entity. The distributed single sign-on technologies provide a set of authentication servers and methods for privacy protection based on splitting secret keys and user profiles into secure shares and periodically updating shares among the authentication servers without affecting the underlying secrets. The correctness of the received partial token or partial profiles can be verified with non-interactive zero-knowledge proofs.
US09184909B1 Apparatus and methods for clock and data recovery
Apparatus and methods for clock and data recovery (CDR) are provided herein. In certain configurations, a first CDR circuit captures data and edge samples from a first input data stream received over a first lane. The data and edge samples are used to generate a master phase signal, which is used to control a phase of a first data sampling clock signal used for capturing the data samples. Additionally, the first CDR circuit generates a master phase error signal based on changes to the master phase signal over time, and forwards the master phase error signal to at least a second CDR circuit. The second CDR circuit processes the master phase error signal to generate a slave phase signal used to control a phase of a second data sampling clock signal used for capturing data samples from a second input data stream received over a second lane.
US09184906B1 Configurable pulse amplitude modulation clock data recovery
Embodiments include systems and methods for using generalized pulse amplitude modulation (PAM-X) signaling with an at-rate not-return-to-zero (NRZ) clock data recovery (CDR) system. Some implementations include dual-mode signaling for an at-rate CDR (e.g., using standard NRZ signaling at lower operating frequencies and pseudo-NRZ signaling derived from PAM-X signaling at higher operating frequencies. Embodiments derive an apparent direction of signal transition from PAM-X signaling. The direction can be used to calculate pseudo-NRZ values. For example, when the PAM-X signal transitions in an upward direction, a pseudo-current NRZ value and a pseudo-previous NRZ value of ‘−1’ and ‘+1’ can be generated, respectively. An at-rate NRZ CDR can use the pseudo-NRZ values and a derived error value to make an offset determination. The offset determination can then be used to offset a generated clock signal in the CDR system.
US09184888B2 Method of resource block (RB) bundling
A method of sizing bundled resource blocks (RBs) having at least one user equipment (UE)-specific demodulation reference signal in an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) system is disclosed. According to one embodiment, the method includes: receiving configuration information related to at least one UE-specific demodulation reference signal; receiving a plurality of resource blocks (RBs) from a network, wherein the plurality of resource blocks comprises the at least one UE-specific demodulation reference signal, at least one cell-specific demodulation reference signal or data, wherein a number of the plurality of RBs is dependent on a size of a system bandwidth, the size of the system bandwidth corresponding to one of four size ranges; and processing at least one of the received plurality of RBs by bundling the plurality of RBs into RB bundles, wherein the size of each RB bundle is based on the one of the four size ranges.
US09184886B2 TD LTE secondary component carrier in unlicensed bands
A method is provided for communication in a wireless telecommunication system. The method comprises adaptively designating, by a network element following a frame-based communication protocol, for use as a secondary component carrier in a carrier aggregation scheme, at least a portion of radio resources on an unlicensed band.
US09184881B2 Method for feeding back confirmation information on a physical uplink shared channel
A method for feeding back confirmation information on a physical uplink shared channel, this method includes: an eNodeB carries, in downlink control information, a number value of the downlink sub-frame corresponding to the confirmation information which is fed back by one uplink sub-frame, and transmits data on a plurality of continuous downlink sub-frames after the sub-frame carrying the downlink control information, wherein the number of the downlink sub-frames which transmit the data is equal to an number of the downlink sub-frames corresponding to the confirmation information fed back by the one uplink sub-frame; after the user equipment receives the downlink sub-frame which carries the downlink control information, the data is received from the downlink sub-frame which transmits the data after this downlink sub-frame, and the confirmation information received is fed back to the eNodeB through a physical uplink shared channel through an uplink sub-frame.
US09184880B2 Method and device enabling a dynamic bundle size HARQ mechanism
A method, device and computer program product for transmitting data blocks in an LTE or similar wireless communication system supporting HARQ and TTI bundling, with dynamic TTI bundle sizing is provided. Each TTI bundle includes a number of redundancy versions of a data block, for example differently encoded versions of the data block which can be combined together in accordance with Type-II HARQ. Plural TTI bundles can be transmitted as necessary in accordance with HARQ, for example in response to a NACK. The present technology involves adjusting the TTI bundle size for a given HARQ process, wherein at least two TTI bundles have different sizes. In various embodiments, the TTI bundle size progressively decreases with retransmissions so that the last TTI bundle is not excessively large, thereby reducing resource waste. TTI bundle size adjustment may be implemented in the uplink, downlink, or both.
US09184877B1 Method and apparatus for decoding independently encoded signals
A received signal that includes a plurality of user signals is demodulated. The plurality of user signals includes at least a first user signal and a second user signal. The first user signal corresponds to first user data that has been modulated independently of second user data corresponding to the second user signal, and the first user signal is encoded with a first finite state machine encoder independently of the other user signals. The first finite state machine encoder has a number of states S1. The second user signal is encoded with a second finite state machine encoder independently of the other user signals, and the second finite state machine encoder has a number of states S2. Demodulating the received signal includes calculating distances between (i) each transmit symbol in the received signal and (ii) expected symbol values, wherein each expected symbol value corresponds to user data for multiple users including the first user and the second user. The first user data in the received signal is decoded based on the calculated distances utilizing a finite state machine decoder having S1 states.
US09184871B2 Method for network coding for cooperative relay network in wireless communication system
A method is described for processing a signal at a relay node in a wireless communication system. More specifically, in one embodiment, the relay node receives a codeword broadcast from a source node. The codeword is partitioned into a plurality of sub-blocks. Then, the relay node generates two network encoded codewords by combining linearly the plurality of sub-blocks, and transmits the two network encoded codewords to a destination node. The destination node detects the codeword by using a zero-forcing receiver.
US09184863B2 Methods and apparatus to multiplex light signals
Methods and apparatus to multiplex light signals are disclosed herein. An example method includes conveying a first light signal via a first optical path and conveying a second light signal via a second optical path. The example method also includes frequency-division multiplexing and time-division multiplexing the first light signal and the second light signal to enable generation of a multiplexed light signal. The example method further includes directing the multiplexed light signal into an optical detector.
US09184862B2 Method, apparatus and system for transmitting SDH/Sonet section overhead bytes
The present invention relates to the field of communications technologies and discloses a method, an apparatus and a system for transmitting SDH/Sonet section overhead bytes, which reduce a burden of an intermediate node of a PTN network in a process of transmitting DCC bytes in the PTN network. In the present invention, a pseudo wire is established between a local end node and a peer end node. The local end node separates target overhead bytes from section overhead bytes of an SDH/Sonet frame, where the target overhead bytes include DCC bytes; packages the target overhead bytes to obtain a dedicated overhead packet; and sends the dedicated overhead packet to the peer end node, where the dedicated overhead packet is transmitted as a service packet of the pseudo wire. The embodiments of the present invention are mainly applied to a process of transmitting an SDH/Sonet service in the PTN network.
US09184861B2 Method and devices for synchronization
This invention relates to methods and devices for time and frequency synchronization. The invention has particular application where time and frequency synchronization over packet networks using, for example, the IEEE 1588 Precision Time Protocol (PTP) is being carried out. The primary challenge in clock distribution over packet networks is the variable transit delays experienced by timing packets, packet delay variations (PDVs). Embodiments of the invention provide a method for time offset alignment with PDV compensation where a synchronized frequency signal is available at a slave device via Synchronous Ethernet and is used to determine the compensation parameters for the PDV.
US09184859B2 Apparatus and method for determining received signal level in ray-tracing wave propagation environment
An apparatus for determining a received signal level of a radio wave in a ray-tracing wave propagation environment includes a reception unit configured to receive the radio wave; and an analyzing unit configured to determine the received signal level of the radio wave in the ray-tracing wave propagation environment. Further, the analyzing unit is configured to analyze a correlation of the height and altitude of a surface roughness that recognizes the surface of a surrounding obstacle depending on the length of wavelength in the course of delivery of a received signal of the radio wave and analyze precisely the scattering of the received signal depending on the surface roughness to determine the received signal level of the radio wave when determining the received signal level.
US09184856B2 Detecting wireless noise within time period in which no data is purposefully wirelessly communicated
Wireless noise is detected within a time period specifically held after a data packet is wirelessly communicated, where no data is purposefully wirelessly communicated during this time period. The time period may be an inter-frame space (IFS) period within which no data is to be wirelessly communicated, and that is a period waited for prior to accessing a wireless medium over which data is wirelessly communicated. One or more actions are performed to counteract the noise. The frequency at which a liquid crystal display is being driven may be decreased so that harmonics caused thereby that caused the noise are no longer within the wireless communication frequency range. An opposite-in-phase version of the noise may also or alternatively be combined with a signal when data is subsequently wirelessly received. The signal includes a data component and a noise component, the opposite-in-phase version of the noise canceling out the noise component.
US09184853B2 Reception device
A first phase setting circuit generates a first phase setting signal. A first synchronous signal generator generates a first synchronous clock signal having a phase set by the first phase setting signal from a multi-phase local clock signal. By removing a phase fluctuation component representing phase fluctuation of the reception data signal from a first signal including a frequency component representing a frequency offset between a multi-phase local clock signal and a reception data signal and the phase fluctuation component, a second generation unit generates a second signal including the frequency component. The first phase setting circuit updates the first phase setting signal according to the second signal.
US09184852B2 Receiving device and receiving method
A receiving device includes: an amplification fiber configured to include properties to amplify signal light when pumping light is supplied to the amplification fiber and to attenuate the signal light when the pumping light is stopped supplying to the amplification fiber; a receiver configured to receive the signal light output from the amplification fiber; a pumping light source configured to supply the pumping light to the amplification fiber; and a controller configured to control supplying and stopping of the pumping light from the pumping light source to the amplification fiber, so that a level of the signal light input to the receiver is contained within a dynamic range of the receiver.
US09184850B2 Method of monitoring an optoelectronic transceiver with multiple flag values for a respective operating condition
An optoelectronic transceiver includes an optoelectronic transmitter, an optoelectronic receiver, memory, and an interface. The memory is configured to store digital values representative of operating conditions of the optoelectronic transceiver. The interface is configured to receive from a host a request for data associated with a particular memory address, and respond to the host with a specific digital value of the digital values. The specific digital value is associated with the particular memory address received from the host. The optoelectronic transceiver may further include comparison logic configured to compare the digital values with limit values to generate flag values, wherein the flag values are stored as digital values in the memory.
US09184838B2 Information communication method for obtaining information using ID list and bright line image
An information communication method for obtaining information from a subject includes transmitting position information indicating a position of an image sensor used to capture the subject, and receiving an ID list that is associated with the position indicated by the position information. The method also includes setting an exposure time of the image sensor so that a bright line corresponding to an exposure line included in the image sensor appears according to a change in luminance of the subject. The method further includes obtaining a bright line image including the bright line by capturing the subject that changes in luminance by the image sensor with the set exposure time, obtaining the information by demodulating data specified by a pattern of the bright line included in the obtained bright line image, and searching the ID list for identification information.
US09184827B2 Relay device and auxiliary relay device
A relay device that relays a signal in which a plurality of signals having respectively different frequencies are multiplexed between a first communication device on a transmission side and a second communication device on a reception side. The relay device includes: a demultiplexing unit; a relay-method decision unit; a signal regeneration unit; and a multiplexing unit. The demultiplexing unit demultiplexes a signal received from the first communication device to a plurality of frequencies. The relay-method decision unit decides which relay method is performed on a signal having been demultiplexed by the demultiplexing unit. The signal regeneration unit performs demodulation, decoding, coding, and modulation on a signal decided to undergo regenerative relay by the relay-method decision unit. The multiplexing unit multiplexes a signal decided to undergo transparent relay by the relay-method decision unit and a signal regenerated by the signal regeneration unit.
US09184825B2 Relay station, relay method, radio communication system, and radio communication apparatus
A relay node in a mobile communication network for relaying communications between a base station and a mobile terminal The relay node includes a first communication unit that communicates with the base station via a backhaul link using at least one of a first modulation method and a first multiplexing method, and a second communication unit that communicates with the mobile terminal via an access link using at least one of a second modulation method and a second multiplexing method. The relay node also includes a communication control unit that selects the at least one of the first modulation method and the first multiplexing method, or selects the at least one of the second modulation method and the second multiplexing method based on a characteristic of a link, a type of link or a type of data included in a communication signal.
US09184819B2 Selecting antennas in downlink cooperative scheduling
It is presented a method for obtaining a set of selected antennas in a mobile communication network, wherein each one of the selected antennas is intended to be used in data transmissions to a first mobile communication terminal. The method is performed in a network node of the mobile communication network and comprises candidate the steps of: obtaining a set of candidate antennas, wherein each one of the candidate antennas is arranged to send out the same cell identifier and at least some of the candidate antennas have different coverage areas; evaluating performance of at least a subset of the candidate antennas in relation to the first mobile communication terminal; and determining a set of selected antennas based on the performance of the candidate performance antennas having been evaluated. A corresponding network node, computer program and computer program product are also presented.
US09184813B2 Method for reducing interference at a terminal of a wireless cellular network, wireless cellular network, node and central node of a wireless network
A method for reducing interference at a terminal of a wireless cellular network is described. The terminal experiences interference from a plurality of interfering nodes in the wireless cellular network. The method includes selecting the precoders of the interfering nodes such that the sum of distances between the interference projector matrices for the terminal is minimized.
US09184801B2 Apparatus and methods for near-field communication based device configuration and management
Methods and apparatus for activating a mobile device for use with a service provider. In one embodiment, a powered-off mobile device having an inserted Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) may be programmed with configuration data while “in box” (e.g., at a point of sale (POS), in a warehouse, etc.) using a near field communication (NFC) data interface. In another exemplary embodiment, information that is stored to a NFC accessible memory can be accessed when the device is non-functional e.g., to retrieve backup data.
US09184780B2 Transceiver and related switching method applied therein
A transceiver includes a power amplifying circuit, a first balance-unbalance circuit, a switchable matching circuit, and a low-noise amplifying circuit. The power amplifying circuit generates differential output signals during a transmitting mode of the transceiver. The first balance-unbalance circuit converts the differential output signals into a single-ended output signal. The switchable matching circuit receives the single-ended output signal on a signal port of the transceiver during the transmitting mode, and converts a single-ended receiving signal on the signal port into a single-ended input signal during a receiving mode of the transceiver. The low-noise amplifying circuit converts the single-ended input signal into a low-noise input signal during the receiving mode.
US09184779B2 Dynamic medium switch in co-located PLC and RF networks
An electronic communication device comprises a first transceiver capable of a bi-directional communication session on a first communication medium; a second transceiver capable of a bi-directional communication session on a second communication medium; and a control logic coupled to the first transceiver and the second transceiver and capable of implementing a convergence layer, wherein the control logic is configured to receive, from the first transceiver, a first signal; and cause, in response to the first signal, data received and transmitted by the first transceiver on the first communication medium as part of a communication session to be received and transmitted instead by the second transceiver on the second communication medium.
US09184775B2 Methods and apparatus for adaptive nonlinear coincident interference cancellation
Methods and apparatus to cancel an interfering signal using an analog cancellation stage followed by a digital cancellation stage. In an exemplary embodiment, the interfering signal is processed to determine modulation type for removal in the analog domain. The digital stage provides further interference reduction in the digital domain.
US09184774B2 Systems and methods for implementing a multi-sensor receiver in a DSM3 environment
In accordance with one embodiment, a method is implemented in a vectored system for improving a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of a far end transmitted signal on a victim line in the system. The method comprises mitigating, by the vectored system, self-induced far-end crosstalk (self-FEXT) on the victim line based on self-FEXT mitigation coefficients and receiving, by a second sensor, information relating to at least one of: self-FEXT of the vectored system, external noise, and the far end transmitted signal. The method further comprises learning, at the second sensor, coefficients relating to self-FEXT coupling into the second sensor and removing self-FEXT from the second sensor based on the learned coefficients. Upon removal of self-FEXT from the second sensor, a linear combiner configured to combine information relating to the victim line and the second line is learned.
US09184770B2 Broadcast transmitter and method of processing broadcast service data for transmission
A method processing broadcast data in a broadcast transmitter is described. The method may include randomizing broadcast service data, encoding the randomized broadcast service data at a code rate of D/E. D
US09184764B1 High-speed low-latency current-steering DAC
A digital to analog converter (DAC) includes a quantity of N cells including a Least Significant Bit (LSB) cell, a Most Significant Bit (MSB) cell and, N−2 cells ordered therebetween. Each of the N cells is configured to carry a current of I, 2*I, 4*I, 8*I, . . . , 2^(N−1)*I, respectively. At least the LSB cell includes a first cell element and a second cell element driven by a first current input and a second current input, respectively. A difference between a magnitude of the first current input and a magnitude of the second input current is approximately equal to I.
US09184760B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device using analog-to digital (AD) conversion realizes reliable control so that, at the time of AD converting reference voltage, a low-voltage transistor in a reference voltage generating circuit is not destroyed by voltage held in a sample and hold circuit. In a semiconductor device, when an instruction of detecting a reference voltage value is received, a switch control unit controlling switching of an input signal of an internal AD converter temporarily automatically couples an input node of a sample and hold circuit and a ground node and, after that, couples the input node of the sample and hold circuit and an output node of a reference voltage generating circuit.
US09184756B2 Variable dynamic range receiver
Embodiments of the present invention may provide a signal processing circuit that may comprises an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), and an output restriction circuit. The output restriction circuit may reduce the accuracy of the digital output of the ADC when signal content exceeds a pre-determined spectrum mask in an undesirable band. In one embodiment, the input signal spectrum may be actively monitored and when the input spectrum is inconsistent with an intended application, the output resolution may be restricted, for example, by truncating least significant bits (LSBs) of the digital output or adding digital noise.
US09184749B2 Impedance calibration circuits
Impedance calibration circuits are provided. The impedance calibration circuit includes an operation control signal generator and an impedance calibrator. The operation control signal generator receives temperature code signals to generate an operation control signal enabled when an internal temperature is changed from a first temperature to a second temperature. The impedance calibrator receives an external command signal or the operation control signal to generate pull-up code signals for pulling up an output signal and pull-down code signals for pulling down the output signal according to an external resistor.
US09184745B2 Proximity switch assembly and method of sensing user input based on signal rate of change
A proximity switch assembly and method for detecting activation of a proximity switch assembly is provided. The assembly includes a plurality of proximity switches each having a proximity sensor providing a sense activation field and control circuitry processing the activation field of each proximity switch to sense activation. The assembly and method detects a signal associated with each proximity switch, determines a rate of change of the signal associated with the first switch and a rate of change of the signal associated with a neighboring second switch and determines whether to activate the first switch based on at least one of the first rate of signal change and second rate of signal change.
US09184743B2 Control apparatus for switching device
A control apparatus for a switching device which suppresses surge voltages at the time of current shutoff of a switching device to protect from overcurrents although the switching device is not in an overcurrent state, including a current sensor, a comparator, a timer latch, a control circuit, and a transistor. The current sensor detects the current of a switching device and outputs a detected voltage. The comparator outputs a signal when the detected voltage is equal to or greater than a reference voltage. When the time duration of the output signal is equal to or greater than a setting time, the timer latch outputs a surge suppression detection signal, based on which the control circuit outputs to the transistor a driving signal to turn off the switching device. The reference voltage is smaller than a reference voltage used when detecting an overcurrent flowing in the switching device.
US09184739B2 Gate drive circuit
A gate drive circuit for driving an IGBT serving as a power semiconductor device includes a constant-current gate drive circuit that charges a gate capacity of the IGBT at a constant current, and a constant-voltage gate drive circuit that is connected in parallel to the constant-current gate drive circuit between input and output terminals thereof via a series circuit constituted by a MOSFET and a resistor, and charges the gate capacity of the IGBT at a constant voltage, wherein the gate drive circuit charges the gate capacity of the IGBT using both the constant-current gate drive circuit and the constant-voltage gate drive circuit at the time of driving the IGBT.
US09184738B2 PWM (pulse width modulation) signal outputting circuit and method of controlling output of PMW signal
A PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) signal outputting circuit includes a counting unit for counting a number of clocks to output a counter value, and for resetting the counter value to resume counting when a reset signal is input to the counting unit; a dead time value storage unit for storing a dead time value; and a plurality of PWM signal outputting units for setting a start setting value and a termination setting value. The PWM signal outputting unit generates a termination signal and a start signal. Further, the PWM signal outputting unit is configured to output a PWM signal, which is raised according to the start signal generated by itself and is decreased according to the termination signal generated by itself. Further, the PWM signal outputting units is configured to generate the termination signal when the counter value matches to the termination setting value generated by itself.
US09184737B1 Process mitigated clock skew adjustment
A device includes process mitigating timing (PMT) circuitry. The PMT circuitry allows for adjustment of a clock signal while compensating for process variation within the PMT circuitry. The PMT circuitry may include process mitigating buffer (PMB) circuitry. The PMB circuitry may utilize replica circuitry and a calibrated resistance to generate a calibrated bias voltage. The calibrated bias voltage may be used to drive component buffer circuits to create a calibrated current response. The calibrated current response may correspond to a selected output impedance for the component buffer circuits. The select output impedance may be used in concert with a variable capacitance to adjust a clock signal in manner that is independent of the process variation within the PMT circuitry.
US09184735B1 High-voltage input receiver using low-voltage devices
An input receiver for stepping down a high-voltage domain input signal into a low-voltage-domain stepped-down signal includes a waveform chopper. The waveform chopper chops the high-voltage domain input signal into a first chopped signal and a second chopped signal. A high-voltage-domain receiver combines the first chopped signal and the second chopped signal into a high-voltage-domain combined signal. A step-down device converts the high-voltage-domain combined signal into a stepped-down low-voltage-domain signal.
US09184731B2 Method and apparatus for preventing digital step attenuator output power peaking during attenuation state transitions
A method and circuit for significantly reducing positive switching transients (glitches) of digital step attenuators (DSA's) by controlling the timing of state transitions for individual attenuator stages within a DSA. Such control prevents the DSA output power from peaking during attenuation state transitions and ensures that any transient glitch during the transition results in reduced power at the DSA output. Attenuation stage timing delay can be implemented on an integrated circuit die or “chip” for monolithic implementations of a DSA by adding circuitry which ensures that any attenuation state changes result in increased attenuation rather than decreased attenuation, thereby reducing or eliminating positive transient glitches at the DSA output.
US09184727B2 SAW device and method for post-seal frequency trimming
A surface acoustic wave (SAW) device includes a piezoelectric crystal substrate on which an acoustic channel is formed, at least one electro-mechanical transducer operatively associated with the acoustic channel, and an encapsulating casing having a cover spaced above the acoustic channel and thereby defining a sealed volume around the substrate. A mass deposition device within the casing is spaced between the acoustic channel and the cover, preferably as gold-coated heating wire spanning the acoustic channel and having ends that are connectable to an electric power source outside the casing. Stress and aging shifts can be induced after sealing of the cover. Tuning is achieved by evaporating metal molecules off the heated wire onto the acoustic channel as the frequency is monitored, until the mass loading of metal molecules on the transducer produces the target frequency.
US09184715B2 Method and apparatus for processing audio in mobile terminal
A method and an apparatus for processing audio data that controls pressure of a played sound to improve a quality of audio are provided. The method for processing audio in a mobile terminal includes: receiving the audio from a microphone; calculating by a controller a sound pressure level of the received audio; determining a sound pressure state of the received audio based on the calculated sound pressure level; and controlling an input gain of the audio based on the determination result.
US09184713B2 Low distortion amplifier
A variable gain amplifier circuit (200) comprising an amplifier element (202) having an input (208, 210) and an output (220, 222); a feedback loop (224, 226) having a feedback impedance (228, 230) connected between the input (208, 210) and output (232, 234) of the amplifier element (202); an input branch (212, 214) having an input resistance connected between an input of the variable gain amplifier circuit and the input (208, 210) of the amplifier element (202); and a plurality of switches for selecting a gain of the variable gain amplifier circuit (200); characterised in that the variable gain amplifier circuit (200) further comprises an intermediate element (204) having an input and an output, the input being connected to a node between one of the switches and the feedback impedance (228, 230), such that the output can provide a signal which can be used to attenuate a signal component in the output (220, 222) of the amplifier element (202) caused by a non-linearity in the plurality of switches.
US09184695B2 Terminal box for solar cell module, and solar cell module including the same
It is an object of the invention to provide a terminal box for a solar cell module in which a positive terminal and a negative terminal are electrically isolated from each other, an occurrence of a short circuit is reduced, and reliability is enhanced, and a solar cell module including the same. In order to achieve this object, a terminal box for a solar cell module contains terminals configured to derive an output from a solar cell panel to the outside, and includes a container and a lid body covering an aperture of the container. The container includes a first region in which a first terminal configured to connect a first output conductor of the solar cell panel is disposed, a second region in which a second terminal configured to connect a second output conductor of the solar cell panel is disposed, and a partitioning portion provided so as to partition the first region and the second region and including a groove on an aperture surface of the container. The lid body includes a projection contained in the groove.
US09184692B2 Method for controlling the power supply of an electric motor
A method and electrical system for controlling the power supply of an electric motor, in particular the electric motor of a vehicle that can be electrically driven, includes a control device that controls the power supply of the electric motor by an energy store. The energy store comprises a plurality of modules that are exposed to stress due to repeated charging and/or discharging and undergo an aging process as a result of said stress. In order to decouple the service life of the energy store from the service life of a vehicle, for example, the control device controls the charging and/or discharging of at least two modules differently such that said modules exhibit a stress difference so as to selectively reduce the aging process of the module being exposed to less stress.
US09184683B2 Applied-voltage electrical angle setting method for synchronous motor, and motor control device
An applied-voltage electrical angle setting method for a synchronous motor includes detecting applied voltage and current of the synchronous motor M, calculating current peak value Ip based on the detected values while calculating present applied voltage phase α, calculating target current phase βtarg based on the current peak value Ip followed by calculating target applied voltage phase αtarg corresponding to the target current phase in a target value setting unit 20, and calculating new applied voltage electrical angle instruction value θvtarg, based on change angle Δθv obtained by correcting a difference between the present applied voltage phase α and the target applied voltage phase αtarg by response time constant L/R of the synchronous motor, rotational speed ω calculated based on the applied voltage and the current, and the previous applied voltage electrical angle instruction value θvtarg, in a voltage electrical angle instruction value setting unit 10.
US09184681B2 Vehicle including motor control device, and control method for vehicle
A vehicle, including a motor having a rotor, a resolver that detects a rotation angle of the rotor and a control device, and a control method for the vehicle are provided. The control device executes rectangular-wave control over the motor using the rotation angle of the rotor, detected by the resolver, executes zero learning for learning a deviation between an origin of an actual rotation angle of the rotor and an origin of the detected rotation angle of the rotor, corrects the detected rotation angle of the rotor on the basis of a result of the zero learning, and, when the zero learning has not been completed yet, executes avoidance control for avoiding a rapid variation in output of the motor.
US09184676B2 Varying capacitance rotating electrical machine
A varying capacitance rotating electrical machine provides capacitor elements, such as capacitor plates, that move with respect to each other as separated by a thin film of fluid, for example air, on which one capacitor element floats. In one embodiment, multiple plates provide for three-phase operation. Narrow gaps provided by the floating capacitor elements increase the power density of rotating electrical machine.
US09184674B2 Power conversion apparatus that provides power conversion between AC and DC power
A power conversion apparatus includes: a bridge circuit between AC and DC ends; a converter circuit between the bridge circuit and the DC end; and a control device for the converter circuit. The converter circuit includes: first and second switches in series between terminals of the bridge circuit; third and fourth switches in series between terminals of the DC end; and a reactor between an intermediate point of the first and second switches and an intermediate point of the third and fourth switches. The control device includes: a first controller defining a part of a cycle of an AC voltage as a stop period and stopping switching the first and second switches during the stop period; and a second controller performing voltage/power factor correction controls over an entire cycle by switching the third and/or fourth switches.
US09184672B2 DC to AC power conversion with resonance valley detection
A DC-to-AC power conversion method is provided, including: generating an AC reference signal and an AC zero crossing detection signal; generating an error signal based on the AC reference signal and an output current or an output voltage at an AC output terminal; generating a turn-off signal based on the error signal and an input current at a DC input terminal; detecting or predicting a valley voltage of a resonance voltage to generate a turn-on signal; generating first, second, third and fourth switching signals based on the AC zero crossing detection signal, the turn-off signal and the turn-on signal; and controlling first, second, third and fourth switching elements of power conversion modules with the first, second, third and fourth switching signals, to enable the first and second power conversion modules to convert the input current of the DC input terminal to the output current of the AC output terminal.
US09184665B2 Control circuit of power converter with temperature control and method for controlling power converter
A control circuit of a power converter and a method for controlling the power converter are provided. The control circuit of the power converter comprises a switching circuit and a temperature-sensing device. The switching circuit generates a switching signal in response to a feedback signal, and the switching circuit generates a current-sensing signal for regulating an output of the power converter. The temperature-sensing device generates a temperature signal in response to temperature of the temperature-sensing device.
US09184654B2 Assembly for converting an input AC voltage to an output AC voltage
An assembly for converting an assembly input AC voltage to an assembly output AC voltage may include: plural converters, each including a rectifier stage for rectifying an input AC voltage to a DC voltage, the rectifier including: first and second input terminals between which the input AC voltage is applied; first and second thyristors connected in series, wherein the first input terminal is connected between the first and second thyristors; first and second diodes connected in series, wherein the second input terminal is connected between the first and second diodes; and first and second output terminals between which the DC voltage is achieved, wherein the first thyristor and the first diode are connected to the first output terminal, and the second thyristor and the second diode are at least indirectly connected to the second output terminal.
US09184644B2 Method for manufacturing a compact drive unit
In compact drive, spiroid gear unit, and method for manufacturing a drive unit that includes at least an electric motor, a brake, a gear unit, and a frequency converter, the output shaft of the gear unit and the rotor shaft are positioned in parallel to each other, and the shaft-center distance is determined by at least one gear stage. The first gear stage includes a first toothed member connected to the rotor shaft, and a second toothed member, which engages with the first toothed member and is connected to an intermediate shaft, the brake, including at least a brake-rotor shaft, being integrated in the housing of the compact drive, the brake-rotor shaft being parallel to the rotor shaft, and the brake-rotor shaft being connected to a toothed member, which engages with the second toothed member.
US09184635B2 Wireless power transmitter and wireless power transmission method
A wireless power transmitter which wirelessly transmits a power to a wireless power receiver. The wireless power transmitter includes a transmission resonance coil configured to wirelessly transmit a power; a power source configured to supply the power to the transmission resonance coil; and a detector configured to detect an existence state of the wireless power receiver. Further, the power source supplies the power with a transmission pattern which is discrete at a predetermined time interval for a specific time to detect the existence state of the wireless power receiver and minimize a loss of the power, and the power source continuously supplies the power if the wireless power receiver exists.
US09184629B2 Stored-power system including power management
A stored-power system operating method includes: providing a human-input power-up signal from a stored-power source; turning on power for a power-using-system in response to the human-input power-up signal; and waiting for a predetermined power-down signal provided by the power-using system and determined by current to turn off power to the power-using-system to zero power consumption.
US09184623B1 Circuits for and methods of implementing a charge/discharge switch in an integrated circuit
A circuit for implementing a charge/discharge switch in an integrated circuit is described. The circuit comprises a supply bias path coupled to a first node, wherein the supply bias path provides a charging bias current to the first node; a charge transistor connected between the first node and a first terminal of a capacitor; a charge switch coupled between the first node and a ground potential, wherein the charge switch enables charging of the capacitor by way of the first node; a discharge transistor connected between the first terminal of the capacitor and a second node; a discharge switch coupled between the second node and a reference voltage, wherein the discharge switch enables discharging of the capacitor by way of the second node; and a ground bias path coupled between the second node and ground, wherein the ground bias path provides a discharging bias current to the second node. A method of implementing a charge/discharge switch in an integrated circuit is also described.
US09184622B2 Power pack charging from intermittent sources
Systems and methods to control charging of power packs. Capacities of a first and second power pack associated with a charging station are monitored. When an energy harvesting device is producing energy, it is connected to a rechargeable device when the capacities of the first and second power pack are below a respective threshold. When the energy harvesting device is producing energy, it is connected to the first power pack and the second power pack is connected to the rechargeable device when the first power pack capacity is below a first threshold and the second power pack capacity is above a second threshold. The second power pack is connected to the rechargeable device when the energy harvesting device is not producing energy, the first power pack capacity is below the first threshold, and the second power pack capacity is above the second threshold.
US09184615B2 Battery pack and method of controlling the same
A battery pack including a battery including a battery cell, a first switching unit at a main current path between the battery and a terminal, a second switching unit at the main current path between the battery and the terminal, and serially coupled to the first switching unit, a third switching unit at a bypass current path coupled in parallel to at least a part of the main current path, and configured to block or to allow an electric current on the bypass current path, and a controller for dividing a charging section of the battery, and for controlling at least one of the first switching unit, the second switching unit, or the third switching unit according to divided charging sections to charge the battery.
US09184614B2 Circuit for storing electrical energy
A circuit for storing electrical energy, in particular for installation within a motor vehicle, comprises at least one capacitor and a temperature-dependent resistor by means of which the at least one capacitor can be charged. The circuit may be included in a motor vehicle. Alternatively, a motor vehicle may be retrofit to include the circuit.
US09184610B2 Dual mode charging device
A charging device for charging an electronic device includes a plug module and an interface module. The plug module includes a plug portion, two connecting portions formed on a side of the plug portion, two first electrical wires positioned in the connecting portions, two condenser lenses, two first optical fibers, two first transmitting lenses. The first optical fibers connect the first transmitting lenses to the condenser lens. The interface module includes a main body, two positioning portions formed on a side of the main body, two second electrical wires extending the positioning portions; two second optical fibers, two second transmitting lenses, and a photoelectric conversion chip. The second optical fibers connect the second transmitting lenses to the photoelectric conversion chip. The first transmitting lenses are aligned with the second transmitting lenses.
US09184602B2 Cell balancing circuit and battery pack having the same
A cell balancing circuit includes a plurality of battery cells coupled in series, balancing switches, each balancing switch being coupled in parallel to a respective battery cell, balancing resistors, each balancing resistor being coupled in series to the respective battery cell, a balancing controller that individually controls the balancing switches such that the battery cells are discharged through the balancing resistors, and positive temperature coefficient (PTC) elements, each PTC element being positioned adjacent to a respective balancing resistor and electrically coupled to the respective balancing switch coupled in series to the respective balancing resistor.
US09184599B2 Gunstock for BB bullet gun
The invention provides a gunstock for BB bullet gun, comprising a gunstock body, a battery compartment provided in the gunstock body for holding a rechargeable battery, and a rear cover arranged at the rear end of the body, wherein the battery compartment is provided at the front end thereof with a fast locking conductive device; the rear cover is provided with a charging coil for charging the rechargeable battery; the charging coil contacts the rechargeable battery via a conductive elastic plate. The charging mode is changed because the rechargeable battery in the art is replaced by a wireless rechargeable battery. The battery does not need to be dismantled and taken out when charging, so that the charging becomes simple and easy to be operated. In addition, the fast locking conductive device arranged at the front end of the battery compartment and the conductive elastic plate arranged on the rear cover overcome the defects of space occupation and disorder caused by a relatively long wire needed in the art. Therefore, the invention has advantages of simple and convenient operation of charging, and compact structure.
US09184598B2 Signal discrimination for wireless key fobs and interacting systems
A wireless charging system for a vehicle. The system includes a wireless power transmitter, a detector device associated with the wireless power transmitter, and a controller operatively associated with the wireless power transmitter. The controller senses whether a vehicle control signal is present using the detector device, stops transmission of electromagnetic energy from the wireless power transmitter to a receiving device if a vehicle control signal is present, and resumes transmission of electromagnetic energy from the wireless power transmitter to the receiving device after a predetermined period of time.
US09184595B2 Wireless energy transfer in lossy environments
Described herein are improved configurations for a wireless power transfer for electronic devices that include at least one source magnetic resonator including a capacitively-loaded conducting loop coupled to a power source and configured to generate an oscillating magnetic field and at least one device magnetic resonator, distal from said source resonators, comprising a capacitively-loaded conducting loop configured to convert said oscillating magnetic fields into electrical energy, wherein at least one said resonator has a keep-out zone around the resonator that surrounds the resonator with a layer of non-lossy material.
US09184579B2 Wall grommet for power connection
A wall grommet, which can be installed through the surfaces of walls to route wiring in the walls' interior spaces. In particular, the wall grommet is configured for running power cords inside walls and presenting the electrical connectors of a power cord in a manner such that power cords are hidden from view. The grommet may comprise a housing, which defines an interior space that is adapted to hold either the female connector or male connector of a power cord. The housing may be configured to enclose and secure the electrical connector of the power cord in the housing.
US09184576B2 Method and device for coating the junction area between at least two elongated elements, in particular between electric cables
A method of coating the junction area between elongated elements, in particular between electric cables. This method includes the steps of: arranging a rigid tubular support having two axially separable tubular halves; mounting an elastic tubular sleeve in an elastically radially expanded condition on an outer surface of the support; interposing a lubricating material between the support and sleeve; arranging a circumferentially continuous sealing element between the halves to prevent the lubricant from percolating between the halves; positioning the support around the junction area; and moving the halves apart from each other to enable the sleeve to collapse on the junction area. A device for coating the junction area between elongated elements and a method of making the device and a joint for electric cables.
US09184567B2 Quantum cascade laser
A quantum cascade laser includes a substrate having a conductivity type, substrate having a first region, a second region, and a third region; a semiconductor lamination provided on a principal surface of the substrate, the semiconductor lamination including a mesa stripe section provided on the second region, an upper cladding layer having the same conductivity type as the substrate, a first burying layer, and a second burying layer, the mesa stripe section including a core layer; and an electrode provided on the semiconductor lamination. The first and second burying layers are provided on the first and third regions and on both side faces of the mesa stripe section. The upper cladding layer is provided on the mesa stripe section, the first burying layer, and the second burying layer. The first and second burying layers include a first and second semi-insulating semiconductor regions comprised of a semi-insulating semiconductor material.
US09184559B2 Electron-beam-pumped light source
The present invention is intended to provide an electron-beam-pumped light source capable of irradiating one surface of a semiconductor light-emitting device uniformly with an electron beam, and capable of obtaining a high light output without increasing an accelerating voltage of the electron beam and, in addition, capable of efficiently cooling the semiconductor light-emitting device. An electron-beam-pumped light source of the present invention includes: an electron beam source and a semiconductor light-emitting device excited by an electron beam emitted from the electron beam source, and characterized in that the electron beam source includes a planar electron beam emitting portion and arranged in the periphery of the semiconductor light-emitting device, and light exits from a surface through which the electron beam from the electron beam source of the semiconductor light-emitting device enters.
US09184552B2 Method and apparatus for reducing the amplitude modulation of optical signals in external cavity lasers
A laser apparatus includes an external cavity laser (ECL) where the optical signal is modulated by an electrical modulation signal for modulating in frequency the laser output signal. The modulation in frequency produces a modulation of intensity (power) of the laser output signal, also denoted amplitude modulation (AM). A method of controlling the AM amplitude of a signal emitted by an ECL includes a gain medium, a phase element with variable transmissivity induced by the modulation, and a spectrally selective optical filter that selects and keeps the AM amplitude below a certain desired value or minimizes such value. A control method and a laser apparatus are also described in which the reduction of the AM component of the output power is achieved by acting on the gain of the gain medium of the ECL.
US09184550B2 Silicon-based cooling package for laser gain medium
Embodiments of silicon-based thermal energy transfer apparatus for gain medium crystal of a laser system are provided. For a disk-shaped crystal, the apparatus includes a silicon-based manifold and a silicon-based cover element. For a rectangular cuboid-shaped gain medium crystal, the apparatus includes a first silicon-based manifold, a second silicon-based manifold, and first and second conduit elements coupled between the first and second manifolds. For a right circular cylinder-shaped gain medium crystal, the apparatus includes a first silicon-based manifold, a second silicon-based manifold, and first and second conduit elements coupled between the first and second manifolds.
US09184549B2 Compact coherent high brightness light source for the mid-IR and far IR
Compact laser systems are disclosed which include ultrafast laser sources in combination with nonlinear crystals or waveguides. In some implementations fiber based mid-IR sources producing very short pulses and/or mid-IR sources based on a mode locked fiber lasers are utilized. A difference frequency generator receives outputs from the ultrafast sources, and generates an output including a difference frequency. The output power from the difference frequency generator can further be enhanced via the implementation of large core dispersion shifted fibers. Exemplary applications of the compact, high brightness mid-IR light sources include medical applications, spectroscopy, ranging, sensing and metrology.
US09184543B2 Electrical connector
A power-supplying electrical connector includes an engagement mechanism configured to engage a power-receiving electrical connector, the engagement mechanism having a pair of engaging members, and an indicator member configured to disengage from the engagement mechanism and move from a charging-disabled position to a charging-enabled position, when the engagement mechanism has engaged the power-receiving electrical connector. While the indicator member is held in the charging-disabled position, the engagement mechanism is configured to cause the first engaging member and the indicator member to disengage after a second engaging member of the pair of engaging members and the indicator member has engaged while the power-supplying electrical connector is attached to the power-receiving electrical connector, and while the power-supplying electrical connector and the power-receiving electrical connector remain attached and engaged, the engagement mechanism is configured to cause the second engaging member and the indicator member to disengage.
US09184541B2 Terminal and terminal-provided wire
A terminal-provided wire (10) includes a wire (13) with a core (11) whose end is exposed, and a terminal (20) crimped to the end of the core (11) and connectable to a mating side. The terminal (20) includes a front terminal portion (21) and a rear terminal portion (22). The rear terminal portion (22) includes a bottom plate portion (26) on which the core (11) is to be placed, a pair of wire barrel portions (27) extending from the bottom plate portion (26) and to be crimped to the core (11), an easily breakable portion (28) extending in an axial direction from the bottom plate portion (26) and to be broken at the time of disassembling, and a fixing portion (29) extending in the axial direction from the easily breakable portion (28). The front terminal portion (21) includes an auxiliary crimping portion (25) to be placed on the bottom plate portion (26) in such a manner as to be sandwiched between the bottom plate portion (26) and the core (22) and to be crimped to the core (22) together with the wire barrel portions (27) to partly highly compress the core (22), a fixing portion (24) to be fixed to the fixing portion (29) and a connecting portion (23) extending in the axial direction from the fixing portion (24).
US09184537B2 Self-rejecting connector apparatus and locking method thereof
A self-rejecting connector apparatus ensures that the connector apparatus of the present invention become fully engaged or fully locked when a rejection force, which pushes connector locks out of any partial-lock or partial-mate condition, ceases to be generated. A specially-shaped spring element, which is used to generate the rejection force, is blocked from being removed from the connector apparatus of this invention until the connector apparatus is fully engaged or fully locked.
US09184530B2 Direct connect orthogonal connection systems
A direct-attach orthogonal electrical connection system with improved high frequency performance is provided. A conductive member is provided between first and second components, each having signal and ground conductors. The conductive member is electrically coupled to ground conductors of both the first and second components and may also have openings through which signal conductors of the first and second components may connect. As such, signal conductors may be positioned relative to the conductive member such that a uniform impedance is maintained along a signal path throughout the interconnection, reducing noise and reflections. The first-type conductive elements may be formed with multiple beams of different lengths to create multiple points of contact distributed along an elongated dimension. For example, a third beam may be fused to a mating portion to allow a tolerance for deviations in alignment between two directly attached connectors.
US09184521B2 Connector assembly and electronic device
A connector assembly adapted to be disposed in a casing of an electronic device is provided. The connector assembly includes a connector and a locking member. The locking member includes a supporting portion and a holding portion connected to the supporting portion. The connector is disposed on the supporting portion. The locking member is adapted to clamp at an end of a substrate disposed in the casing, and the supporting portion and the holding portion lean against an upper side and a lower side of the end of the substrate respectively. An electronic device including the connector assembly aforementioned is also provided.
US09184515B1 Terminal blocks for printed circuit boards
A screwless terminal block and insulation displacement connector device includes a housing and slide slidably engaged in the housing, the device operable to receive a lead wire having lead wire conductors and an insulation layer, and to further receive a conductive connector. Movement of the slide to a closed position with a lead wire inserted in the device causes the lead wire to contact sharp connector edges, which, with continued downward force, cut the insulation layer. Continued downward force, to full closure of the device, forces lead wire conductors into compressed multiple electrical contact with the connector.
US09184511B2 System and method for downlink channel sounding in wireless communications systems
In accordance with an embodiment, a method of operating a base station configured to communicate with at least one user device includes transmitting a reference signal to the at least one user device, receiving channel quality information from the at least one user device, and forming a beam based on the channel quality information received from the at least one user device.
US09184505B2 Dielectric cavity antenna
There is provided a dielectric cavity antenna including: a multilayer substrate having an opening formed in at least a portion of a predetermined surface thereof; a dielectric cavity inserted into the multilayer substrate to radiate an electromagnetic wave signal through the opening; a feed line feeding power to the dielectric cavity; and at least one metal pattern formed in an inner portion of the dielectric cavity or on a surface thereof to thereby be electromagnetically coupled to the feed line.
US09184498B2 Extending beamforming capability of a coupled voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) array during local oscillator (LO) signal generation through fine control of a tunable frequency of a tank circuit of a VCO thereof
A method includes implementing a coupled Voltage Controlled Oscillator (VCO) array with a number of VCOs, and arranging a number of switched capacitor elements in a geometric proportion in a tank circuit of each VCO to provide for finesse in control of a tunable frequency of the tank circuit. The method also includes utilizing a voltage control input of a varactor element of the tank circuit solely for achieving phase separation between the each VCO and another VCO of the coupled VCO array based on the provision of finesse in the control of the tunable frequency of the tank circuit, and mixing Local Oscillator (LO) signals generated through the number of VCOs of the coupled VCO array with signals from antenna elements of an antenna array to introduce differential phase shifts in signal paths coupled to the antenna elements during performing beamforming with the antenna array.
US09184488B2 Antenna assembly device
An object of the present invention is a device for assembling the components of a panel antenna that comprises at least one volumic radiating element comprising a base atop which is mounted a radiating plane, and at least one component of the antenna's mechanical structure. The device comprises a dielectric member comprising a central area comprising a first fastening means cooperating with the radiating component, lateral areas comprising second fastening means cooperating with longitudinal edges of the antenna's mechanical structure, and an intermediate area comprising a third means of flexible linking between the first and the second fastening means.
US09184481B2 Power combiners and dividers based on composite right and left handed metamaterial structures
Techniques, apparatus and systems that use composite left and right handed (CRLH) metamaterial structures to combine and divide electromagnetic signals at multiple frequencies. The metamaterial properties permit significant size reduction over a conventional N-way radial power combiner or divider. Dual-band serial power combiners and dividers and single-band and dual-band radial power combiners and dividers are described.
US09184472B2 Battery pack and method of manufacturing battery pack with interconnected half contact pads
A method of manufacturing a battery pack of a plurality of bare cells is disclosed. The method comprises: preparing a protective circuit module comprising N pads, wherein each pad comprises a first half pad and a second half pad, N is a natural number greater than 1, the plurality of bare cells comprises M tabs, and M is a natural number equal to N; connecting first through Mth tabs to the first half pads of first through Nth pads, respectively; and electrically connecting the first half pads to the second half pads in a sequential order of potential.
US09184471B2 Light-weight bipolar valve regulated lead acid batteries and methods therefor
Light-weight VRLA batteries comprise a thin lead substrate that is supported by non-conductive, preferably plastic frames that provide structural stability to accommodate stress and strain in the bipole assembly. In particularly preferred batteries, the plastic frames are laser welded together and phantom grids and electrode materials are coupled to the respective sides of the lead substrate. Where the phantom grid is an ultra-thin lead grid, the lead grid is preferably configured to provide a corrosion reserve of less than 10 charge-discharge cycles and the bipole assembly is charged in an in-tank formation process. Where the phantom grid is a non-conductive grid, the lead grid is preferably a plastic grid and the bipole assembly is charged in an in-container formation process. Consequently, weight, volume, and production costs are significantly reduced while specific energy is substantially increased.
US09184465B2 Ion conductor and solid state battery
A main object of the present invention is to provide an ion conductor which has excellent ion conductivity and high electrochemical stability. The present invention resolves the problem by providing an ion conductor represented by a general formula: (AxM1−x−yM′y)Al2O4 (“A” is a monovalent metal, “M” is a bivalent metal, “M′” is a trivalent metal, and “x” and “y” satisfy relations: 0
US09184460B2 Hybrid membranes containing titanium dioxide doped with fluorine
Hybrid membranes based on crystalline titanium dioxide containing fluorine atoms within the crystalline lattice comprising atoms of titanium and oxygen are described; these hybrid membranes are particularly suitable for the production of fuel cells and electrolyzers. A process for producing the aforesaid hybrid membranes is also described.
US09184459B2 Sulfonated polymers useful for forming fuel cell membranes
The invention relates to a polymer comprising at least one polymeric chain of a first type, the said chain comprising at least two blocks, the same or different, the said blocks comprising repeat units derived from the polymerisation of styrene monomers, the said units comprising at least one phenyl pendant group carrying at least one —SO3R group, R possibly being a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or cationic counter-ion, the said two blocks being separated by a spacer group, the spacer group is a perfluorocarbon group.
US09184451B2 Power supply apparatus with reserve battery modules and method for providing backup power
A power supply apparatus has at least one modular reserve battery magazine with a plurality of compartments. A plurality of reserve battery modules may be respectively replaceably provided in corresponding ones of the plurality of compartments, each of the plurality of reserve battery modules being configured to provide power when a reserve battery provided therein is activated. Each reserve battery module of the plurality of reserve battery modules includes a sleeve and a reserve battery provided within the sleeve, the sleeve being configured to fit within one of the plurality of compartments in a predetermined orientation. Each sleeve may be detachably connectable within any compartment of the plurality of compartments and includes electrical connections so that each reserve battery module of the plurality of reserve battery modules is separately replaceable while the power supply apparatus remains remotely located.
US09184450B2 Li-air hybrid battery and method for manufacturing the same
The present invention provides a lithium-air hybrid battery and a method for manufacturing the same, which has a structure in which a liquid electrolyte electrode and a solid electrolyte electrode are stacked on both sides of an ion conductive glass ceramic. That is, disclosed is a lithium-air hybrid battery and a method for manufacturing the same, which has a structure in which a lithium metal negative electrode includes a liquid electrolyte and a porous air positive electrode comprising a carbon, a catalyst, a binder and a solid electrolyte are separately stacked on both sides of an impermeable ion conductive glass ceramic, and the liquid electrolyte is present only in the lithium metal negative electrode.
US09184447B2 Lithium secondary battery of high power property with improved high power density
Disclosed is a high-output lithium secondary battery including: a cathode including a cathode active material having an average particle diameter (with respect to capacity) of 0.03 to 0.1 μm/mAh and a layered structure; an anode including crystalline graphite and amorphous carbon as anode active materials, wherein the amount of the amorphous carbon is between 40 and 100 wt % based on the total weight of the anode active materials; and a separator.
US09184440B2 Electrodes and rechargeable batteries
The present invention provides cathodes, methods of making cathodes, and electrochemical cells (e.g., batteries) that employ these cathodes having improved properties over traditional cathodes, methods, or electrochemical cells.
US09184437B2 Potato-shaped graphite particles with low impurity rate at the surface, method for preparing the same
Modified graphite particles are obtained from graphite or based on graphite. The particles have impurities in their internal structure and have on the surface a low, even nil, rate of an impurity or several impurities. In addition, these particles have at least one of the following characteristics: a tab density between 0.3 and 1.5 g/cc; a potatolike shape; and a granulometric dispersion such that the D90/D10 ratio varies between 2 and 5 and the particles have a size between 1 and 50 μm. These particles can be used for fuel cells, electrochemical generators, or as moisture absorbers and/or oxygen absorbers and they have important electrochemical properties. The electrochemical cells and batteries thus obtained are stable and safe.
US09184431B2 Modular battery system and components
A battery cell connector for a battery module includes a pair of cantilevered arms and base portions that are linked at the base portion by a bridge. An interconnect board for connecting a plurality of battery cells includes a circuit board and a plurality of battery cell connectors. A battery block system includes a battery block that has a tray and a plurality of battery cells, and an interconnect board in mating relationships with the tray. A battery system includes first and second bus bars, a first and second pluralities of battery cells, and an interconnect board having a plurality of battery cell connectors linking the first and second plurality of battery cells.
US09184428B2 Non-aqueous electrolytes for lithium ion batteries
The present invention is generally related to electrolytes containing anion receptor additives to enhance the power capability of lithium-ion batteries. The anion receptor of the present invention is a Lewis acid that can help to dissolve LiF in the passivation films of lithium-ion batteries. Accordingly, one aspect the invention provides electrolytes comprising a lithium salt; a polar aprotic solvent; and an anion receptor additive; and wherein the electrolyte solution is substantially non-aqueous. Further there are provided electrochemical devices employing the electrolyte and methods of making the electrolyte.
US09184425B2 Battery pack
In a battery pack according to the embodiment of the present invention, when coupling bosses of a second case are coupled to coupling holes of a first case, the first case and the second case can be easily coupled to each other by reducing the thicknesses of some portions of a rib having the coupling holes before the coupling bosses are coupled to the coupling holes. In addition, the first case and the second case can be smoothly coupled to each other at the initial step of coupling the coupling bosses and the coupling holes to each other by opening the outermost portion of the first case facing the top end of the rib having the coupling holes.
US09184424B2 Battery assembly
A battery assembly includes a first battery frame assembly having a first plastic frame member and a first thermally conductive plate. The first plastic frame member has a rectangular ring-shaped peripheral wall and a plurality of cross-members. The battery assembly further includes a first thermally conductive plate having peripheral edges encapsulated within the first substantially rectangular ring-shaped peripheral wall. The plate further includes exposed portions configured to contact air passing through a first plurality of channels in the peripheral wall and past the first thermally conductive plate and through a second plurality of channels in the peripheral wall. The battery assembly further includes a first battery cell configured to contact the first thermally conductive plate.
US09184421B2 Pouch-type secondary battery having sealing margin for improved durability
Disclosed is a pouch-type secondary battery having a sealing margin for improved durability, including a sealing area formed by melting sealing layers of an upper pouch film and a lower pouch film along edges of a pouch casing, characterized in that a sealing margin is greater than a movement distance of a sealing residue flowing out of the sealing area, the sealing margin being a distance measured from an intersection point of a first straight line and a second straight line to a boundary line of the sealing area, the first straight line extending horizontally from a surface of the sealing area, when viewed in cross section of the secondary battery, and the second straight line corresponding to a tangent line having an average gradient among possible tangent lines at each point on a cross-sectional slope line of the pouch casing adjacent to the sealing area.
US09184416B2 Organic electro luminescent display device
An organic EL display device includes plural pixels that is arranged on a substrate in a matrix, a light shielding film that shields boundaries of the plurality of pixels, and a light emitting area in which an organic layer that is arranged between a lower electrode and an upper electrode, and formed of a plurality of layers including a light emitting layer that emits a light comes in contact with the lower electrode, in each of the plurality of pixels, in which the light shielding film has wide portions and narrow portions which are arranged along sides of the pixels, and different in width from each other.
US09184411B2 Organic light emitting diode display device
An OLED display device with a passivation film formed between a sealing member and a pad portion through a structural alteration of the sealing member and first and second protective layers prevents deterioration of image quality and a driving faults caused by short circuits and electro-static discharge.
US09184403B2 Organic light emitting display apparatus
An organic light emitting display apparatus including a substrate including a plurality of pixel areas; a pixel electrode on the substrate; an opposite electrode on the pixel electrode, the opposite electrode transmitting light; an organic light emitting layer between the pixel electrode and the opposite electrode, the organic light emitting layer emitting a first light toward the opposite electrode; a light emitting layer on the opposite electrode, the light emitting layer absorbing a portion of the first light and emitting a second light; and a sealing layer on the light emitting layer, the sealing layer sealing the pixel electrode, the opposite electrode, the organic light emitting layer, and the light emitting layer.
US09184402B2 Phosphorescent organic light emitting diodes with high efficiency and brightness
An organic light emitting device including a) an anode; b) a cathode; and c) an emissive layer disposed between the anode and the cathode, the emissive layer comprising an organic host compound and a phosphorescent compound exhibiting a Stokes Shift overlap greater than 0.3 eV. The organic light emitting device may further include a hole transport layer disposed between the emissive layer and the anode; and an electron transport layer disposed between the emissive layer and the cathode. In some embodiments, the phosphorescent compound exhibits a phosphorescent lifetime of less than 10 μs. In some embodiments, the concentration of the phosphorescent compound ranges from 0.5 wt. % to 10 wt. %.
US09184398B2 Light-emitting elements comprising iridium organometallic complexes comprising 4-arylpyrimidines
Provided is a novel substance that can emit phosphorescence. Alternatively, provided is a novel substance with high emission efficiency. An organometallic complex in which a 4-arylpyrimidine derivative is a ligand and iridium is a central metal is provided. Specifically, an organometallic complex having a structure represented by a general formula (G1) is provided. In the general formula (G1), R1 represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group having 6 to 10 carbon atoms, R2 represents any of hydrogen, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group, R3 represents hydrogen or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and Ar1 represents a substituted or unsubstituted arylene group having 6 to 10 carbon atoms.
US09184397B2 Heteroleptic iridium complexes as dopants
Novel phosphorescent heteroleptic iridium complexes with phenylpyridine and dibenzo-containing ligands are provided. Alkyl substitution at specific positions on the ligands gives rise to compounds with improved OLED properties, including saturated green emission.
US09184395B2 Aromatic amine derivative and organic electroluminescent element using same
To provide an organic EL element material that is capable of enhancing the light emission efficiency and the lifetime of the element as compared to an ordinary organic EL element material, and an organic EL element using the same. Specifically, to provide an aromatic amine derivative represented by Ar1Ar2Ar3N, and an organic EL element using the same. Representative compounds include the following.
US09184393B2 Composition and organic photoelectric converter
A composition containing a polymer having a structural unit represented by the following formula (1) and a structural unit represented by the following formula (2), and a fullerene with a carbon number of 70 or more or a fullerene derivative having a fullerene skeleton with a carbon number of 70 or more: wherein, Q, R, R1 and R2 each independently denote a hydrogen atom, and so on.
US09184392B2 Polymer and organic solar cell including same
A polymer includes a unit of a chemical formula and has a number-average molecular weight of 10,000-1,000,000, and improves the lifespan, efficiency, electrochemical stability and thermal stability of an organic solar cell, and an organic solar cell including a photoactive layer comprising the polymer.
US09184385B2 Arrays of nonvolatile memory cells and methods of forming arrays of nonvolatile memory cells
An array of nonvolatile memory cells includes a plurality of vertically stacked tiers of nonvolatile memory cells. The tiers individually include a first plurality of horizontally oriented first electrode lines and a second plurality of horizontally oriented second electrode lines crossing relative to the first electrode lines. Individual of the memory cells include a crossing one of the first electrode lines and one of the second electrode lines and material there-between. Specifically, programmable material, a select device in series with the programmable material, and current conductive material in series between and with the programmable material and the select device are provided in series with such crossing ones of the first and second electrode lines. The material and devices may be oriented for predominant current flow in defined horizontal and vertical directions. Method and other implementations and aspects are disclosed.
US09184384B2 Memory cells and methods of forming memory cells
Some embodiments include methods of forming memory cells. An opening is formed over a first conductive structure to expose an upper surface of the first conductive structure. The opening has a bottom level with a bottom width. The opening has a second level over the bottom level, with the second level having a second width which is greater than the bottom width. The bottom level of the opening is filled with a first portion of a multi-portion programmable material, and the second level is lined with the first portion. The lined second level is filled with a second portion of the multi-portion programmable material. A second conductive structure is formed over the second portion. Some embodiments include memory cells.
US09184379B1 Capping thin-film resistors to control interface oxidation
A thin cap of metal alloy or metal-silicon compound is formed over a ternary oxide or ternary nitride ReRAM embedded resistor. At least one metal in the cap is the same as a metal in the embedded resistor. If the cap oxidizes slightly (e.g., incidental to a vacuum break, anneal, or subsequent treatment or deposition), the overall resistance of the memory cell is much less affected than it would be by the same amount of oxidation directly on a surface of the uncapped oxide or nitride embedded resistor.
US09184377B2 Resistance variable memory cell structures and methods
Resistance variable memory cell structures and methods are described herein. A number of embodiments include a first resistance variable memory cell comprising a number of resistance variable materials in a super-lattice structure and a second resistance variable memory cell comprising the number of resistance variable materials in a homogeneous structure.
US09184374B2 Magnetoresistive element
According to one embodiment, a magnetoresistive element includes first, second and third magnetic layers, and first and second nonmagnetic layers. The third magnetic layer has stack layers including a first stack layer close to the second magnetic layer, and a second stack layer far from the second magnetic layer. Each of the first and second stack layers includes a first layer made of a ferromagnetic material and a second layer made of a nonmagnetic material, and a first ratio of a film thickness of the first layer to that of the second layer in the first stack layer is higher than a second ratio of a film thickness of the first layer to that of the second layer in the second stack layer.
US09184366B2 Capacitive load drive circuit
A capacitive load drive circuit includes first and second capacitive loads, first and second connection path selection sections, and a voltage generation section. The first capacitive load and the second capacitive load are configured to charge and discharge in accordance with a drive signal. The first connection path selection section is configured to selectively supply a plurality of voltages to the first capacitive load, the first connection path selection section being arranged so as to correspond to the first capacitive load. The second connection path selection section is configured to selectively supply a plurality of voltages to the second capacitive load. The second connection path selection section is arranged so as to correspond to the second capacitive load. The voltage generation section is configured to generate and supply the voltages shared by the first connection path selection section and the second connection path selection section.
US09184363B2 Power generator
Disclosed is a generator. The generator in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes: a thermoelectric element, which creates an electromotive force by using a temperature difference between a high-temperature portion and a low-temperature portion; a heat source, which is thermally coupled to the high-temperature portion and transfers heat to the high-temperature portion; and a vibrating capillary-shaped heat-pipe, which has a working fluid injected therein, is thermally coupled to the low-temperature portion, and discharges heat of the low-temperature portion. The generator in accordance with the present invention can increase an efficiency of power generation using the thermoelectric element by employing a highly exothermic vibrating capillary-shaped heat-pipe to maintain the temperature difference required for power generation.
US09184362B2 Electronic-component mounting structure
An electronic-component mounting structure includes an electronic component which includes a metal substrate, a semiconductor ceramic layer located on the metal substrate, a pair of split electrodes located on the semiconductor ceramic layer, and plating films located on the split electrodes and the metal substrate, and a mounting body on which lands to be connected to the respective split electrodes of the electronic component are provided. The position of a peripheral end portion of each land to be connected to the corresponding split electrode is located farther inside than the position of a peripheral end portion of the split electrode. In addition, a plane area of the land is smaller than that of the split electrode.
US09184353B2 Light-emitting device
Disclosed is a light-emitting device (1) including a light-emitting element (2) emitting primary light, and a light converter (3) absorbing a part of the primary light emitted from the light-emitting element (2) and emitting secondary light having a longer wavelength than the primary light. The light converter (3) contains a green light-emitting phosphor (4) and a red light-emitting phosphor (5). The green light-emitting phosphor (4) is composed of at least one phosphor selected from a divalent europium-activated oxynitride phosphor substantially represented by the following formula: EuaSibAlcOdNe and a divalent europium-activated silicate phosphor substantially represented by the following formula: 2(Ba1-f-gMIfEug)O.SiO2, while the red light-emitting phosphor (5) is composed of at least one phosphor selected from tetravalent manganese-activated fluoro-tetravalent metalate phosphors substantially represented by the following formulae: MII2(MIII1-hMnh)F6 and/or MIV(MIII1-hMnh)F6. Consequently, the light-emitting device (1) has excellent color gamut (NTSC ratio).
US09184352B2 Phosphor dispersion liquid, and production method for LED device using same
The purpose is to provide a phosphor particle dispersion liquid in which the phosphor particles do not settle out when the phosphor dispersion liquid is left to stand. The phosphor dispersion liquid contains phosphor particles, clay mineral particles, inorganic particles, and a solvent. The phosphor dispersion liquid has viscosity η1 of 10 to 500 mPa·s at a shear rate of 1000 (1/s) at 25° C., and viscosity η2 of 1.0×103 to 1.0×105 mPa·s at a shear rate of 1 (1/s) at 25° C.
US09184346B2 Ultraviolet reflective contact
A contact including an ohmic layer and a reflective layer located on the ohmic layer is provided. The ohmic layer is transparent to radiation having a target wavelength, while the reflective layer is at least approximately eighty percent reflective of radiation having the target wavelength. The target wavelength can be ultraviolet light, e.g., having a wavelength within a range of wavelengths between approximately 260 and approximately 360 nanometers.
US09184337B2 Method for producing a light-emitting diode
A method is provided for producing a light-emitting diode. In one embodiment, a series of layers is deposited on the silicon surface of a carrier in a direction of growth and a light-emitting diode structure is deposited on the series of layers. The series of layers includes a GaN layer, which is formed with gallium nitride. The series of layers includes a masking layer, which is formed with silicon nitride. The masking layer follows at least part of the GaN layer in the direction of growth.
US09184324B2 Sun tracking solar power system hardware and method of assembly
A solar energy collection system can include improved mounting hardware for reducing hardware costs and labor required for assembly. For example, mounting hardware can include surfaces for supporting part or all of the weight of a solar module as it is brought into contact with mounting hardware and then moved into a final engaged position. In some systems, a torque tube can include saddle mount assemblies that allow a solar module to be partially engaged and a registered with the saddle mount while being pivoted into a final locked engagement. Some systems can include arrangements sufficient to support the full weight of a solar module in a disengaged position, and as it is moved into a final engaged position. Some systems can include a configuration of apertures and interference or snap-fit features for providing tool-less connections, thereby simplifying the assembly process.
US09184322B2 Titanium incorporation into absorber layer for solar cell
A method for fabricating a photovoltaic device includes forming a film including titanium on a conductive layer formed on a substrate. An absorber layer is formed including a Cu—Zn—Sn containing chalcogenide compound with a kesterite structure of the formula: Cu2-xZn1+ySn(S1-zSez)4+q wherein 0≦x≦1; 0≦y≦1; 0≦z≦1; −1≦q≦1 (CZTS) on the film. The absorber layer is annealed to diffuse titanium therein and to recrystallize the CZTS material of the film. A buffer layer is formed on the absorber layer, and a transparent conductive layer is formed on the buffer layer.
US09184320B2 Photoelectric conversion device
A photoelectric conversion device includes a front electrode, a photoelectric conversion layer formed of a semiconductor material, a transparent conductive layer formed of a transparent conductive oxide, a back electrode formed of a metal material, and a conductive layer formed of a semiconductor material primarily of silicon and having a refractive index higher than the transparent conductive layer contactually sandwiched between the transparent conductive layer and the back electrode. The photoelectric conversion device exhibits a high photoelectric conversion efficiency by keeping low the electrical resistance between the semiconductor layer and the back electrode and by increasing reflectance for light having passed though the semiconductor layer.
US09184316B2 Solid-state imaging apparatus and method for manufacturing same
An insulating layer is layered above a substrate, and a plurality of pixel electrodes are formed above the insulating layer in a matrix with intervals therebetween. A photoelectric conversion layer and an opposing electrode are formed in respective order above the pixel electrodes. A dummy layer is formed above the insulating layer in a region that in plan-view is more peripheral than a pixel region in which the pixel electrodes are formed. The dummy layer is formed from the same material as the pixel electrodes. The dummy layer is composed of a plurality of dummy layer portions that are each equal to each of the pixel electrodes in terms of size in plan-view. The dummy layer functions as a support layer for planarization during polishing by chemical mechanical polishing.
US09184307B2 Silicon carbide semiconductor device
A silicon carbide semiconductor device includes: a drift layer of the a first conduction type; a guard ring region of a second conduction type formed in annular form in a portion of one surface of the drift layer; a field insulating film formed on the one surface of the drift layer and surrounding the guard ring region; a Schottky electrode covering the guard ring region and the drift layer exposed inside the guard ring region and having an outer peripheral end existing on the field insulating film; and a surface electrode pad on the Schottky electrode, wherein an outer peripheral end of the surface electrode pad comes into contact with the field insulating film over the outer peripheral end of the Schottky electrode.
US09184304B2 Multi-source JFET device
A junction field-effect transistor (JFET) device is provided. The JFET includes a drain region, a source region, and a junction gate region disposed between the drain region and the source region, and the source region includes two or more source terminals.
US09184301B2 Planar and nanowire field effect transistors
An integrated circuit includes a plurality of gate-all-around (GAA) nanowire field effect transistors (FETs), a plurality of omega-gate nanowire FETs, and a plurality of planar channel FETs, wherein the plurality of GAA FETs, the plurality of omega-gate nanowire FETs, and the plurality of planar channel FETs are disposed on a single wafer.
US09184297B2 Semiconductor device comprising a void portion in an insulation film and method for manufacturing a semiconductor device comprising a void portion in an insulating film
A change in electrical characteristics of a semiconductor device including an interlayer insulating film over a transistor including an oxide semiconductor as a semiconductor film is suppressed. The structure includes a first insulating film which includes a void portion in a step region formed by a source electrode and a drain electrode over the semiconductor film and contains silicon oxide as a component, and a second insulating film containing silicon nitride, which is provided in contact with the first insulating film to cover the void portion in the first insulating film. The structure can prevent the void portion generated in the first insulating film from expanding outward.
US09184294B2 High mobility strained channels for fin-based transistors
Techniques are disclosed for incorporating high mobility strained channels into fin-based transistors (e.g., FinFETs such as double-gate, trigate, etc), wherein a stress material is cladded onto the channel area of the fin. In one example embodiment, silicon germanium (SiGe) is cladded onto silicon fins to provide a desired stress, although other fin and cladding materials can be used. The techniques are compatible with typical process flows, and the cladding deposition can occur at a plurality of locations within the process flow. In some cases, the built-in stress from the cladding layer may be enhanced with a source/drain stressor that compresses both the fin and cladding layers in the channel. In some cases, an optional capping layer can be provided to improve the gate dielectric/semiconductor interface. In one such embodiment, silicon is provided over a SiGe cladding layer to improve the gate dielectric/semiconductor interface.
US09184290B2 Method of forming well-controlled extension profile in MOSFET by silicon germanium based sacrificial layer
The present disclosure provides a method to improve and control the source/drain extension profile, which is compatible with device scaling. First, a sacrificial layer portion interposed between a channel layer portion and an uppermost surface of a semiconductor substrate having trenches is laterally recessed to provide a lateral recess on each side of the sacrificial layer portion. After filling the lateral recesses and trenches with a doped semiconductor material, a source/drain extension region is formed by a subsequent anneal during which dopants in the doped semiconductor material diffuse into portions of the channel layer portion over the lateral recesses and portions of the semiconductor substrate adjacent the lateral recesses.
US09184288B2 Semiconductor structures with bridging films and methods of fabrication
Semiconductor structures and fabrication methods are provided having a bridging film which facilitates adherence of both an underlying layer of dielectric material and an overlying stress-inducing layer. The method includes, for instance, providing a layer of dielectric material, with at least one gate structure disposed therein, over a semiconductor substrate; providing a bridging film over the layer of dielectric material with the at least one gate structure; and providing a stress-inducing layer over the bridging film. The bridging film is selected to facilitate adherence of both the underlying layer of dielectric material and the overlying stress-inducing layer by, in part, forming a chemical bond with the layer of dielectric material, without forming a chemical bond with the stress-inducing layer.
US09184285B2 Semiconductor device with gate electrodes buried in trenches
Trenches are formed in a base layer and extend parallel to each other. A gate insulating film is formed on the inner wall of each of multiple trenches. A gate electrode GE is buried in each of the trenches. The source layer is formed in the base layer to a depth less than the base layer. The source layer is disposed between each of the trenches. A second conduction type high concentration layer is formed between the source layer and the trench in a plan view. The trench, the source layer, and the second conduction type high concentration are arranged in this order repetitively in a plan view. One lateral side of the trench faces the source layer and the other lateral side of the trench faces the second conduction type high concentration layer.
US09184268B2 Semiconductor device
A trench gate MOS structure is provided on one main surface of a semiconductor substrate which will be an n− drift region. An n shell region is provided in the n− drift region so that it contacts a surface of a p base region close to the n− drift region forming the trench gate MOS structure. The n shell region has a higher impurity concentration than the n− drift region. The effective dose of n-type impurities in the n shell region is equal to or less than 5.0×1012 cm−2. The n− drift region has a resistivity to prevent a depletion layer, which is spread from a p collector region on the other main surface when reverse rated voltage is applied with an emitter as positive electrode, from reaching either n shell region or the bottom of a first trench, whichever is closer to the p collector region.
US09184261B2 Semiconductor device having field plate electrode and method for manufacturing the same
According to one embodiment, in a semiconductor device, a first semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type has a first impurity concentration. A second semiconductor layer of the first conductivity type is formed on the first semiconductor layer and has a second impurity concentration lower than the first impurity concentration. A field plate electrode is formed in a lower portion of a trench formed in the second semiconductor layer through a first insulating film so as to bury the lower portion of the trench. A second insulating film is formed in the upper portion of the trench so as to be in contact with the top surface of the field plate electrode. A gate electrode is formed in the upper portion of the trench through a gate insulating film so as to bury the upper portion of the trench to sandwich the second insulating film.
US09184250B1 Semiconductor arrangement and formation thereof
A semiconductor arrangement and methods of formation are provided. The semiconductor arrangement includes a first contact having first contact dimensions that are relative to first gate dimensions of at least one of a first gate or a second gate, where relative refers to a specific relationship between the first contact dimensions and the first gate dimensions. The first contact is between the first gate and the second gate. The first contact having the first contact dimensions relative to the first gate dimensions has lower resistance with little to no increased capacitance, as compared to a semiconductor arrangement having first contact dimensions not in accordance with the specific relationship. The semiconductor arrangement having the lower resistance with little to no increased capacitance exhibits at least one of improved performance or reduced power requirements than a semiconductor arrangement that does not have such lower resistance with little to no increased capacitance.
US09184247B2 Power semiconductor device capable of maintaining a withstand voltage
Disclosed herein is a power semiconductor device. The power semiconductor device includes a second conductive type first junction termination extension (JTE) layer that is formed so as to be in contact with one side of the second conductive type well layer, a second conductive type second JTE layer that is formed on the same line as the second conductive type first JTE layer, and is formed so as to be spaced apart from the second conductive type first JTE layer in a length direction of the substrate, and a poly silicon layer that is formed so as to be in contact with the second conductive type well layer and an upper portion of the second conductive type first JTE layer.
US09184245B2 Semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same
To provide a highly reliable semiconductor device exhibiting stable electrical characteristics. To fabricate a highly reliable semiconductor device. Included are an oxide semiconductor stack in which a first to a third oxide semiconductor layers are stacked, a source and a drain electrode layers contacting the oxide semiconductor stack, a gate electrode layer overlapping with the oxide semiconductor layer with a gate insulating layer provided therebetween, and a first and a second oxide insulating layers between which the oxide semiconductor stack is sandwiched. The first to the third oxide semiconductor layers each contain indium, gallium, and zinc. The proportion of indium in the second oxide semiconductor layer is higher than that in each of the first and the third oxide semiconductor layers. The first and the third oxide semiconductor layers are each an amorphous semiconductor film. The second oxide semiconductor layer is a crystalline semiconductor film.
US09184241B2 Semiconductor apparatus
A semiconductor apparatus includes a buffer layer formed on a substrate; an SLS (Strained Layer Supperlattice) buffer layer formed on the buffer layer; an electron transit layer formed on the SLS buffer layer and formed of a semiconductor material; and an electron supply layer formed on the electron transit layer and formed of a semiconductor material. Further, the buffer layer is formed of AlGaN and includes two or more layers with different Al composition ratios, the SLS buffer layer is formed by alternately laminating a first lattice layer including AlN and a second lattice layer including GaN, and the Al composition ratio in one of the layers of the buffer layer being in contact with the SLS buffer layer is greater than or equal to an Al effective composition ratio in the SLS buffer layer.
US09184240B2 Method of producing semiconductor wafer, and semiconductor wafer
There is provided a method of producing a semiconductor wafer, including: forming a compound semiconductor layer on a base wafer by epitaxial growth; cleansing a surface of the compound semiconductor layer by means of a cleansing agent containing a selenium compound; and forming an insulating layer on the surface of the compound semiconductor layer. Examples of the selenium compound include a selenium oxide. Examples of the selenium oxide include H2SeO3. The cleansing agent may further contain one or more substances selected from the group consisting of water, ammonium, and ethanol. When the surface of the compound semiconductor layer is made of InxGa1-xAs (0≦x≦1), the insulating layer is preferably made of Al2O3, and Al2O3 is preferably formed by ALD.
US09184237B2 Vertical power transistor with built-in gate buffer
A vertical power transistor is monolithically packaged on a semiconductor die with gate buffer circuitry. The gate buffer circuitry is adapted to deliver a biasing voltage to a gate contact of the vertical power transistor for switching the device between an ON state and an OFF state. By monolithically packaging the gate buffer circuitry together with the vertical power transistor, parasitic inductance between the gate buffer circuitry and the gate of the vertical power transistor is minimized, thereby decreasing the switching time of the vertical power transistor and reducing switching noise.
US09184236B2 Method of transferring graphene using trench and substrate for receiving graphene
A method of transferring graphene includes patterning an upper surface of a substrate to form at least one trench therein, providing a graphene layer on the substrate, the graphene layer including an adhesive liquid thereon, pressing the graphene layer with respect to the substrate, and removing the adhesive liquid by drying the substrate.
US09184231B2 Semiconductor device, method of manufacturing the same, and power module
A semiconductor device includes an n-type drain layer, an n-type base layer provided on the n-type drain layer, a p-type base layer and an n-type source layer partially formed in surface layer portions of the n-type base layer and the p-type base layer, respectively, a gate insulation film formed on a surface of the p-type base layer between the n-type source layer and the n-type base layer, a gate electrode formed on the gate insulation film facing the p-type base layer across the gate insulation film, a p-type column layer formed within the n-type base layer to extend from the p-type base layer toward the n-type drain layer, a depletion layer alleviation region arranged between the p-type column layer and the n-type drain layer and including first baryons converted to donors, a source electrode connected to the n-type source layer, and a drain electrode connected to the n-type drain layer.
US09184228B2 Composite base including sintered base and base surface flattening layer, and composite substrate including that composite base and semiconductor crystalline layer
A composite base of the present invention includes a sintered base and a base surface flattening layer disposed on the sintered base, and the base surface flattening layer has a surface RMS roughness of not more than 1.0 nm. A composite substrate of the present invention includes the composite base and a semiconductor crystal layer disposed on a side of the composite base where the base surface flattening layer is located, and a difference between a thermal expansion coefficient of the sintered base and a thermal expansion coefficient of the semiconductor crystal layer is not more than 4.5×10−6K−1. Thereby, a composite substrate in which a semiconductor crystal layer is attached to a sintered base, and a composite base suitably used for that composite substrate are provided.
US09184227B1 Methods of manufacturing semiconductor devices having self-aligned contact pads
A semiconductor device includes a substrate having a field area that defines active areas, gate trenches in the substrate and extending in a first direction, a buried gate in a respective gate trench, gate capping fences in a respective gate trench over a respective buried gate, the gate capping fences protruding from top surfaces of the active areas and extending in the first direction, bit line trenches in the gate capping fences, a respective bit line trench crossing the gate capping fences and extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, an insulator structure on inner walls of a respective bit line trench, bit lines and bit line capping patterns stacked on the insulator structures in a respective bit line trench, contact pads self-aligned with the gate capping fences and on the substrate between the adjacent bit lines, and a lower electrode of a capacitor on a respective contact pad.
US09184226B2 Embedded tungsten resistor
A high TCR tungsten resistor on a reverse biased Schottky diode. A high TCR tungsten resistor on an unsilicided polysilicon platform geometry. A high TCR tungsten resistor between two parallel polysilicon leads on remaining contact etch stop dielectric. A high TCR tungsten resistor embedded in a intermetal dielectric layer above a lower interconnect layer and below an upper interconnect layer. A method of forming a high TCR tungsten resistor on a reverse biased Schottky diode. A method of forming high TCR tungsten resistor on an unsilicided polysilicon platform geometry. A method of forming high TCR tungsten resistor between two parallel polysilicon leads on remaining contact etch stop dielectric. A method of forming high TCR tungsten resistor embedded in a inter metal dielectric layer above a lower interconnect layer and below an upper interconnect layer.
US09184222B2 Method of manufacturing an organic light-emitting display device
An organic light-emitting display device including a TFT comprising an active layer, a gate electrode comprising a lower gate electrode and an upper gate electrode, and source and drain electrodes insulated from the gate electrode and contacting the active layer; an organic light-emitting device electrically connected to the TFT and comprising a pixel electrode formed in the same layer as where the lower gate electrode is formed; and a pad electrode electrically coupled to the TFT or the organic light emitting device and comprising a first pad electrode formed in the same layer as in which the lower gate electrode is formed, a second pad electrode formed in the same layer as in which the upper gate electrode is formed, and a third pad electrode comprising a transparent conductive oxide, the first, second, and third pad electrodes being sequentially stacked.
US09184217B2 Memory device
According to one embodiment, a memory device includes: a first interconnect extending in a first direction; a plurality of second interconnects extending in a second direction intersecting with the first direction, and having lower ends positioned on the first interconnect; a plurality of third interconnects extending in a third direction intersecting with the second direction; a memory layer provided between the second interconnects and the third interconnects; and selectors respectively provided between the first interconnect and the lower ends of the plurality of second interconnects.
US09184207B2 Pad structures formed in double openings in dielectric layers
An image sensor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a front side and a backside. A first dielectric layer is on the front side of the semiconductor substrate. A metal pad is in the first dielectric layer. A second dielectric layer is over the first dielectric layer and on the front side of the semiconductor substrate. An opening penetrates through the semiconductor substrate from the backside of the semiconductor substrate, wherein the opening includes a first portion extending to expose a portion of the metal pad and a second portion extending to expose a portion of the second dielectric layer. A metal layer is formed in the first portion and the second portion of the opening.
US09184201B2 Solid-state imaging device and manufacturing method of the same, and electronic apparatus
The present disclosure relates to a solid-state imaging device and a manufacturing method of the same, and an electronic apparatus, capable of more reliably suppressing occurrence of color mixing.A trench is formed between PDs so as to be opened to a light receiving surface side of a semiconductor substrate on which a plurality of the PDs, each of which receives light to generate charges, are formed, an insulating film is embedded in the trench and the insulating film is laminated on a back surface side of the semiconductor substrate. Then, a light shielding portion is formed so as to be laminated on the insulating film and to have a convex shape protruding to the semiconductor substrate at a location corresponding to the trench. The present technology can be applied to a back surface irradiation type CMOS solid-state imaging device.
US09184184B2 Display device and method for manufacturing the same
Disclosed are a display device and a method for manufacturing the same. The display device includes a Thin Film Transistor (TFT) substrate and a color filter substrate opposite to each other. The TFT substrate includes a first TFT element and a second TFT element and a light-transmittance region between the first and second TFT elements is a pixel region; and a pixel unit arranged on a surface of the TFT substrate facing the color filter substrate and located on a surface of the pixel region, where the pixel unit includes a transparent reference potential layer arranged on the surface of the TFT substrate facing the color filter substrate and a nontransparent deformation layer arranged over the reference potential layer, with the deformation layer being insulated from the reference potential layer.
US09184180B2 Flexible display apparatus and method of manufacturing same
A method of manufacturing a flexible display apparatus includes: preparing a support substrate; forming a first graphene oxide layer having a first electrical charge on the support substrate; forming a second graphene oxide layer having a second electrical charge on the first graphene oxide layer; forming a flexible substrate on the second graphene oxide layer; forming a display unit on the flexible substrate; and separating the support substrate and the flexible substrate from each other.
US09184177B2 Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device according to an embodiment includes a stacked body, a second insulating film, a third insulating film and a plurality of contacts. The stacked body includes alternatively stacked electrode films and first insulating films, and has an end portion in which a terrace is formed for each pair of the electrode film and the first insulating film. The second insulating film covers the upper faces and the lower faces of the electrode films in the end portion of the stacked body. The second insulating film has a composition different from the composition of the first insulating film. The third insulating film is provided on the end portion of the stacked body. The third insulating film has a composition different from the composition of the second insulating film. The contact passes through the third insulating film and the second insulating film, and contacts the electrode film.
US09184164B2 Nonvolatile memory devices
A nonvolatile memory device includes a string selection transistor, a plurality of memory cell transistors, and a ground selection transistor electrically connected in series to the string selection transistor and to the pluralities of memory cell transistors. First impurity layers are formed at boundaries of the channels and the source/drain regions of the memory cell transistors. The first impurity layers are doped with opposite conductivity type impurities relative to the source/drain regions of the memory cell transistors. Second impurity layers are formed at boundaries between a channel and a drain region of the string selection transistor and between a channel and a source region of the ground selection transistor. The second impurity layers are doped with the same conductivity type impurities as the first impurity layers and have a higher impurity concentration than the first impurity layers.
US09184163B1 Low cost transistors
An integrated circuit containing an analog MOS transistor has an implant mask for a well which blocks well dopants from two diluted regions at edges of the gate, but exposes a channel region to the well dopants. A thermal drive step diffuses the implanted well dopants across the two diluted regions to form a continuous well with lower doping densities in the two diluted regions. Source/drain regions are formed adjacent to and underlapping the gate by implanting source/drain dopants into the substrate adjacent to the gate using the gate as a blocking layer and subsequently annealing the substrate so that the implanted source/drain dopants provide a desired extent of underlap of the source/drain regions under the gate. Drain extension dopants and halo dopants are not implanted into the substrate adjacent to the gate.
US09184162B2 FinFET integrated circuits and methods for their fabrication
Fin field effect transistor integrated circuits and methods for producing the same are provided. A fin field effect transistor integrated circuit includes a plurality of fins extending from a semiconductor substrate. Each of the plurality of fins includes a fin sidewall, and each of the plurality of fins extends to a fin height such that a trough with a trough base is defined between adjacent fins. A second dielectric is positioned within the trough, where the second dielectric directly contacts the semiconductor substrate at the trough base. The second dielectric extends to a second dielectric height less than the fin height such that protruding fin portions extend above the second dielectric. A first dielectric is positioned between the fin sidewall and the second dielectric.
US09184154B2 Methods for fabricating integrated passive devices on glass substrates
A method includes forming a plurality of dielectric layers over a semiconductor substrate; and forming integrated passive devices in the plurality of dielectric layers. The semiconductor substrate is then removed from the plurality of dielectric layers. A dielectric substrate is bonded onto the plurality of dielectric layers.
US09184149B2 Semiconductor device with an interlocking wire bond
In one embodiment, a semiconductor device having a die attach pad, an interlocking wire bond, a semiconductor die and an adhesive material is disclosed. The adhesive material may be configured to adjoin the semiconductor die and the die attach pad. A portion of the interlocking wire bond may be submerged within the adhesive material. In another embodiment, a device having a semiconductor die, a die attach glue and a die attach pad is disclosed. The device may comprise an interlock bonding structure submerged within the adhesive material. In yet another embodiment, a light-emitting device comprising an interlock structure is disclosed.
US09184140B2 Semiconductor packages having emi shielding layers, methods of fabricating the same, electronic systems including the same, and memory cards including the same
Semiconductor packages are provided. In some embodiments, the semiconductor package includes a substrate, a first ground line including a first internal ground line disposed along edges of the substrate and a plurality of first extended ground lines between the first internal ground line and sidewalls of the substrate, a chip on the substrate, a molding member disposed on the substrate to cover the chip, and an electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding layer covering the molding member, the EMI shielding layer extending along the sidewalls of the substrate and contacting the end portions of the plurality of first extended ground lines. The plurality of first extended ground lines include end portions that are exposed at the sidewalls of the substrate.
US09184139B2 Semiconductor device and method of reducing warpage using a silicon to encapsulant ratio
A semiconductor device has a substrate including a base substrate material and a plurality of conductive vias formed partially though the substrate. A plurality of semiconductor die including a base semiconductor material is disposed over the substrate. A ratio of an encapsulant to a quantity of the semiconductor die is determined for providing structural support for the semiconductor die. An encapsulant is deposited over the semiconductor die and substrate. An amount of the encapsulant is selected based on the determined ratio or based on a total amount of the base substrate material and base semiconductor material. Channels are formed in the encapsulant by removing a portion of the encapsulant in a peripheral region of the semiconductor die. Alternatively, a side surface of the semiconductor die is partially exposed with respect to the encapsulant. A portion of the base substrate material is removed to expose the conductive vias.
US09184138B2 Semiconductor integrated device with mechanically decoupled active area and related manufacturing process
A semiconductor integrated device is provided with: a die having a body of semiconductor material with a front surface, and an active area arranged at the front surface; and a package having a support element carrying the die at a back surface of the body, and a coating material covering the die. The body includes a mechanical decoupling region, which mechanically decouples the active area from mechanical stresses induced by the package; the mechanical decoupling region is a trench arrangement within the body, which releases the active area from an external frame of the body, designed to absorb the mechanical stresses induced by the package.
US09184134B2 Method of manufacturing a semiconductor device structure
Embodiments of mechanisms for forming a semiconductor device structure are provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor device structure further includes a dielectric layer on the semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor device structure also includes at least one conductive structure embedded in the dielectric layer. A plurality of crystal grains are composed of the conductive structure, and a ratio of an average grain size of the crystal grains to a width of the conductive structure ranges from about 0.75 to about 40.
US09184129B2 Three-terminal antifuse structure having integrated heating elements for a programmable circuit
The present invention provides antifuse structures having an integrated heating element and methods of programming the same, the antifuse structures comprising first and second conductors and a dielectric layer formed between the conductors, where one or both of the conductors functions as both a conventional antifuse conductor and as a heating element for directly heating the antifuse dielectric layer during programming.
US09184123B1 Package substrate with current flow shaping features
Techniques and structures for achieving a more uniform current density in solder ball contact areas for a ball-grid-array semiconductor package are presented. Current density may be made more uniform by introducing electrically non-conductive regions into one or more areas that form a dedicated power rail within a package substrate that is configured to be connected with a die. Additionally or alternatively, the number of μvias that connect each solder ball contact area with conductive areas within the package substrate may be individually tailored based on the desired current density at each solder ball contact area.
US09184122B2 Integrated circuit packaging system with interposer and method of manufacture thereof
A method of manufacture of an integrated circuit packaging system includes: providing an interposer having an interposer bottom side and an interposer top side; attaching a base integrated circuit to the interposer bottom side; attaching a lead to the interposer bottom side, the lead adjacent the base integrated circuit and entirely below the interposer; and forming an encapsulation partially covering the lead and exposing the interposer top side.
US09184118B2 Micro lead frame structure having reinforcing portions and method
In one embodiment, a micro lead frame structure includes one or more stiffness reinforcing structures formed on leads and/or connecting structures. The stiffness reinforcing structures can be formed by leaving predetermined portions of the micro lead frame at full thickness including, for example, portions of an inner lead, portions of an outer lead, and portions of a connecting bar, combinations thereof, and other structures. The stiffness reinforcing structures are configured to reduce deformation defects and electrical short defects caused by assembly processes.
US09184117B2 Stacked dual-chip packaging structure and preparation method thereof
The invention relates to a power semiconductor device and a preparation method, particularly relates to preparation of stacked dual-chip packaging structure of MOSFET (Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor) using flip chip technology with two interconnecting plates. The first chip is flipped and attached on the base such that the first chip is overlapped with the third pin; the back metal layer of the first chip is connected to the bonding strip of the first pin through a first interconnecting plate; the second chip is flipped and attached on a main plate portion of the first interconnecting plate such that the second chip is overlapped with the fourth pin; and the back metal layer of the second chip is connected to the bonding strip of the second pin through the second interconnecting plate.
US09184113B1 Methods of forming coaxial feedthroughs for 3D integrated circuits
Methods of forming coaxial feedthroughs for 3d integrated circuits that provide excellent isolation of signal paths from the substrate and from adjacent feedthroughs. One method is to form a recess in a substrate and deposit alternate layers of insulation and conductive layers and then thin the substrate to make the layers available from both sides of the substrate, with the first metal layer forming the coaxial conductor and the second metal layer forming the central conductor. Alternatively the coaxial feedthroughs may be formed using a modified pillar process to form the coaxial conductor at the same time as the center conductor is formed so that the coaxial feedthrough is formed without requiring extra steps. Both processes are low temperature processes.
US09184105B2 Semiconductor device packages including thermally insulating materials and methods of making and using such semiconductor packages
Semiconductor devices may include a first semiconductor die comprising a heat-generating region located at a periphery thereof. A second semiconductor die is attached to the first semiconductor die. At least a portion of the heat-generating region is located laterally outside a footprint of the second semiconductor die. A thermally insulating material is located on a side surface of the second semiconductor die. Methods of forming semiconductor devices may involve attaching a second semiconductor die to a first semiconductor die. The first semiconductor die includes a heat-generating region at a periphery thereof. At least a portion of the heat-generating region is located laterally outside a footprint of the second semiconductor die. A thermally insulating material is located on a side surface of the second semiconductor die.
US09184102B2 Method and system for measuring patterned structures
A method and system are presented for determining a line profile in a patterned structure, aimed at controlling a process of manufacture of the structure. The patterned structure comprises a plurality of different layers, the pattern in the structure being formed by patterned regions and un-patterned regions. At least first and second measurements are carried out, each utilizing illumination of the structure with a broad wavelengths band of incident light directed on the structure at a certain angle of incidence, detection of spectral characteristics of light returned from the structure, and generation of measured data representative thereof. The measured data obtained with the first measurement is analyzed, and at least one parameter of the structure is thereby determined. Then, this determined parameter is utilized, while analyzing the measured data obtained with the second measurements enabling the determination of the profile of the structure.
US09184101B2 Method for removing semiconductor fins using alternating masks
A mask set and method for forming FinFET semiconductor devices provides a complementary set of fin-cut masks that are used in DPT (double patterning technology) to remove fins from non-active areas of a semiconductor device, after the fins are formed. Adjacent fins, or adjacent groups of fins, are removed using pattern features from different ones of the multiple fin-cut masks.
US09184100B2 Semiconductor device having strained fin structure and method of making the same
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, at least a first fin structure, at least a second fin structure, a first gate, a second gate, a first source/drain region and a second source/drain region. The semiconductor substrate has at least a first active region to dispose the first fin structure and at least a second active region to dispose the second fin structure. The first/second fin structure partially overlapped by the first/second gate has a first/second stress, and the first stress and the second stress are different from each other. The first/second source/drain region is disposed in the first/second fin structure at two sides of the first/second gate.
US09184098B2 Bidirectional heterojunction compound semiconductor protection devices and methods of forming the same
A protection circuit including a multi-gate high electron mobility transistor (HEMT), a forward conduction control block, and a reverse conduction control block is provided between a first terminal and a second terminal. The multi-gate HEMT includes an explicit drain/source, a first depletion-mode (D-mode) gate, a first enhancement-mode (E-mode) gate, a second E-mode gate, a second D-mode gate, and an explicit source/drain. The drain/source and the first D-mode gate are connected to the first terminal and the source/drain and the second D-mode gate are connected to the second terminal. The forward conduction control block turns on the second E-mode gate when a voltage difference between the first and second terminals is greater than a forward conduction trigger voltage, and the reverse conduction control block turns on the first E-mode gate when the voltage difference is more negative than a reverse conduction trigger voltage.
US09184096B2 Semiconductor structure and manufacturing method for the same
A semiconductor structure and a manufacturing method for the same are provided. The method includes following steps. A first gate structure is formed on a substrate in a first region. A protecting layer is formed covering the first gate structure. A second gate structure is formed on the substrate in second region exposed by the protecting layer and adjacent to the first region.
US09184095B2 Contact bars with reduced fringing capacitance in a semiconductor device
In sophisticated semiconductor devices, the contact structure may be formed on the basis of contact bars formed in a lower portion of an interlayer dielectric material, which may then be contacted by contact elements having reduced lateral dimensions so as to preserve a desired low overall fringing capacitance. The concept of contact bars of reduced height level may be efficiently combined with sophisticated replacement gate approaches.
US09184092B2 Chip package and method for forming the same
A method for forming a chip package, by providing a substrate having a plurality of conducting pads below a lower surface, and a dielectric layer located between the conducting pads, forming a recess in an upper surface of the substrate, forming a hole extending through the bottom of the recess, forming an insulating layer on the sidewall of the recess and in the hole, exposing a portion of the conducting pads through the insulating layer, and forming a conducting layer on the insulating layer and through the hole to contact with the conducting pads.
US09184082B2 Adhesive composition, adhesive sheet and production process for semiconductor device
An adhesive composition including an acrylic polymer, an epoxy thermosetting resin having an unsaturated hydrocarbon group and a thermosetting agent. Also provided is an adhesive sheet having an adhesive layer including the above-mentioned adhesive composition.
US09184075B2 Apparatus for storing substrates
An apparatus for storing a substrate on which a pattern is formed includes a main body storing the substrate, a first pad located at the bottom of the main body and including a first groove supporting one edge of the substrate, a second pad neighboring the first pad and including a second groove supporting the center of the substrate, and a third pad spaced from the first pad, the second pad being disposed between the first and third pads, the third pad including a third groove supporting the other edge of the substrate.
US09184071B2 Multi-story substrate treating apparatus with flexible transport mechanisms and vertically divided treating units
A treating section includes a plurality of treating blocks juxtaposed horizontally. Each treating block is vertically divided into stories. Each story includes treating units and a main transport mechanism. Substrates are transportable between the same stories of the treating blocks. Further, the substrates are transportable between different stories. Thus, the apparatus can transport the substrates flexibly between the treating blocks.
US09184069B2 Heating apparatus, substrate processing apparatus employing the same, method of manufacturing semiconductor devices, and insulator
A heating apparatus comprises a heating element, an inner shell for supporting the heating element, an outer shell disposed along the outer boundary of the inner shell, a cooling medium passage for conveying a cooling medium between the inner shell and the outer shell, a first opening provided in the inner shell, a second opening provided in the outer shell, and a partition arranged to extend from the first opening to the second opening for developing at least a space separated from the cooling medium passage and between the inner shell and the outer shell. The heating apparatus further comprises an insulator for shutting up a gap provided between the partition and the second opening.
US09184067B1 Methods of mitigating defects for semiconductor packages
Semiconductor packages with multiple substrates can incorporate apertures or slots between devices to minimize or reduce formation of defects during a molding process. The apertures or slots can be formed adjacent a top substrate in alignment with removable regions adjacent a bottom substrate whereby the apertures or slots can facilitate outflow of materials from cavities between the substrates. The apertures or slots may subsequently be removed in conjunction with the removable regions during a singulation process thereby producing the desired semiconductor packages with improved device reliability and yield.
US09184065B2 Method of molding semiconductor package
A method of molding a semiconductor package includes coating liquid molding resin or disposing solid molding resin on a top surface of a semiconductor chip arranged on a substrate. The solid molding resin may include powdered molding resin or sheet-type molding resin. In a case where liquid molding resin is coated on the top surface of the semiconductor chip, the substrate is mounted between a lower molding and an upper molding, and then melted molding resin is filled in a space between the lower molding and the upper molding. In a case where the solid molding resin is disposed on the top surface of the semiconductor chip, the substrate is mounted on a lower mold and then the solid molding resin is heated and melts into liquid molding resin having flowability. An upper mold is mounted on the lower mold, and melted molding resin is filled in a space between the lower molding and the upper molding.
US09184063B2 Multi-layer interconnection structure
Provided are a multi-layer interconnection structure and a manufacturing method thereof. The multi-layer interconnection structure includes a substrate; a first wiring on the substrate; an interlayer insulation layer on the first wiring; a second wiring on the interlayer insulation layer; and a via contact including at least one conductive filament penetrating through the interlayer insulation layer between the second wiring and the first wiring to be electrically connected to the first wiring and the second wiring.
US09184061B2 Systems and methods for forming zirconium and/or hafnium-containing layers
A method of forming (and apparatus for forming) a zirconium and/or hafnium-containing layer on a substrate, particularly a semiconductor substrate or substrate assembly, using a vapor deposition process and one or more silicon precursor compounds of the formula Si(OR)4 with one or more zirconium and/or hafnium precursor compounds of the formula M(NR′R″)4, wherein R, R′, and R″ are each independently an organic group and M is zirconium or hafnium.
US09184059B2 Method for increasing pattern density
A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes the steps of providing a hard mask cover using a patterned photoresist layer, wherein the patterned photoresist layer comprises at least four first holes arranged in two rows and two columns. Part of the hard mask is removed to form at least four second holes by taking the pattered photoresist layer as a mask. Next, each of the first holes is widened, and the widened first holes and the second holes are filled up by a filler. Later, the patterned photoresist layer is removed entirely. Part of the hard mask is removed to form at least a fourth hole by taking the filler as a mask. Finally, the filler is removed entirely.
US09184053B2 Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
An area in a top view of a region where a low-voltage field effect transistor is formed is reduced, and an area in a top view of a region where a high-voltage field effect transistor is formed is reduced. An active region where the low-voltage field effect transistors (first nMIS and first pMIS) are formed is constituted by a first convex portion of a semiconductor substrate that projects from a surface of an element isolation portion, and an active region where the high-voltage field effect transistors (second nMIS and second pMIS) are formed is constituted by a second convex portion of the semiconductor substrate that projects from the surface of the element isolation portion, and a trench portion formed in the semiconductor substrate.
US09184050B2 Inverted trapezoidal recess for epitaxial growth
A semiconductor device having an epitaxial layer a method of manufacture thereof is provided. The semiconductor device has a substrate with a trench formed therein and a recess formed below the trench. The recess has sidewalls with a (111) crystal orientation. The depth of the trench is such that the depth is greater than or equal to one-half a length of sidewalls of the recess. An epitaxial layer is formed in the recess and the trench. The depth of the trench is sufficient to cause dislocations formed between the interface of the semiconductor substrate and the epitaxial layer to terminate along sidewalls of the trench.
US09184041B2 Integrated circuit with backside structures to reduce substrate warp
Wafer bowing induced by deep trench capacitors is ameliorated by structures formed on the reverse side of the wafer. The structures on the reverse side include tensile films. The films can be formed within trenches on the back side of the wafer, which enhances their effect. In some embodiments, the wafers are used to form 3D-IC devices. In some embodiments, the 3D-IC device includes a high voltage or high power circuit.
US09184032B1 Performance regulated image intensifier power supply
Power supplies and methods for regulating performance of image intensifiers are disclosed. Performance is regulated by controlling the duty factor of the image intensifiers.
US09184031B2 Plasma equipment and methods of using the same
Plasma equipments are provided. The plasma equipment includes a chamber in which a plasma reaction occurs, a detector outputting a spectrum signal in response to light generated from the plasma reaction, and a plasma monitoring module determining whether the spectrum signal includes an arcing signal or a hunting signal. Related methods are also provided.
US09184030B2 Edge exclusion control with adjustable plasma exclusion zone ring
Systems and methods for edge exclusion control are described. One of the systems includes a plasma chamber. The plasma processing chamber includes a lower electrode having a surface for supporting a substrate. The lower electrode is coupled with a radio frequency (RF) power supply. The plasma processing chamber further includes an upper electrode disposed over the lower electrode. The upper electrode is electrically grounded. The plasma processing chamber includes an upper dielectric ring surrounding the upper electrode. The upper dielectric ring is moved using a mechanism for setting a vertical position of the upper dielectric ring separate from a position of the upper electrode. The system further includes an upper electrode extension surrounding the upper dielectric ring. The upper electrode extension is electrically grounded. The system also includes a lower electrode extension surrounding the lower dielectric ring. The lower electrode extension is arranged opposite the upper electrode extension.
US09184006B2 Relay acoustical noise reduction system
A system for controlling a relay to reduce acoustic noise of connections and disconnections being made within the relay. An impact of closing and opening contacts in a relay may cause the acoustic noise. For instance, when a relay coil causes the contacts to come together for a connection, an acoustic noise may occur. When the relay coil causes the contacts to separate for breaking a connection, another acoustic noise may occur. Reduction of acoustic noise may be realized by controlling movement of the contacts. The present system may control current to the relay coil to slow the movement of contacts while closing and opening to reduce the acoustic noise.
US09183996B2 High voltage current interrupter and an actuator system for a high voltage current interrupter
An actuator system for actuating a high voltage current interrupter is disclosed. The actuator system comprises a transmission link for transmitting kinetic energy from a force provision system to a moveable contact of the current interrupter. The transmission link has a first end which is mechanically connectable to the moveable contact of the current interrupter and a second end facing away from the moveable contact. The actuator system further comprises a damping system comprising a shock-absorbing mass. The shock-absorbing mass is located along the extension of the line of translational movement of the transmission link, at the farther side of the transmission link as seen from the current interrupter, so that upon an opening operation of the current interrupter, the second end of the transmission link will collide with the shock-absorbing mass.
US09183990B2 Electroconductive polymer composition, electroconductive polymer material, electroconductive substrate, electrode and solid electrolytic capacitor
Provided is an electroconductive polymer composition with a good film forming property. Also, provided is an electroconductive polymer material with a high electroconductivity and a high transparency as well as an electroconductive substrate having the electroconductive polymer material on a substrate, and an electrode. Further, provided is an electronic device having the electrode as well as a solid electrolytic capacitor with a high capacitance and a low ESR. Disclosed is an electroconductive polymer composition, containing an electroconductive polymer in which a dopant is doped, a water-soluble polymer resin, and a solvent which contains water and an organic solvent whose dielectric constant is higher than that of water.
US09183986B2 Laminated ceramic electronic component and manufacturing method therefor
A laminated body is divided into a large grain region and a small grain region. The large grain region is located outside the small grain region, and a boundary surface between the regions is located inside the outer surface of the laminated body while surrounding a section in which internal electrodes are present in the laminated body. To obtain the laminated body, firing is carried out with a profile in which the average rate of increase from room to the maximum temperature is 40° C./second or more.
US09183984B2 Grain oriented electrical steel sheet and method for manufacturing the same
A grain oriented electrical steel sheet has a total length of cracks in a film on a steel sheet surface, of 20 μm or less per 10000 μm2 of the film, wherein magnetic domain refinement interval in a rolling direction of the steel sheet, provided in magnetic domain refinement through substantially linear introduction of thermal strain from one side of the steel sheet corresponding to a winding outer peripheral side of a coiled steel sheet at a stage of final annealing in a direction intersecting the rolling direction; and deflection of 3 mm or less per unit length: 500 mm in the rolling direction of the steel sheet.
US09183979B2 Chip inductor and method for manufacturing the same
The present invention relates to a chip inductor including: a metal-polymer composite in which metal particles and polymer are mixed; a wiring pattern provided inside the metal-polymer composite to form a coil; an external electrode provided in a portion of an outer peripheral surface of the metal-polymer composite; and an insulating portion provided between the metal-polymer composite and the wiring pattern and between the metal-polymer composite and the external electrode, and a method for manufacturing the same.
US09183973B2 Diffusion barrier coated substrates and methods of making the same
Devices on a diffusion barrier coated metal substrates, and methods of making the same are disclosed. The devices include a metal substrate, a diffusion barrier layer on the metal substrate, one or more insulator layers on the diffusion barrier layer, and an antenna and/or inductor on the one or more insulator layer(s). The method includes forming a diffusion barrier layer on the metal substrate, forming one or more insulator layers on the diffusion barrier layer; and forming an antenna and/or inductor on an uppermost one of the insulator layer(s). The antenna and/or inductor is electrically connected to at least one of the diffusion barrier layer and/or the metal substrate. Such diffusion barrier coated substrates prevent diffusion of metal atoms from the metal substrate into device layers formed thereon.
US09183954B2 Systems and method for reducing tritium migration
A system and method for reducing tritium migration. In one aspect, the invention is a method of reducing tritium mitigation from a spent nuclear fuel pool containing a body of tritiated water having an exposed surface, the method comprising hermetically sealing the exposed surface of the body of tritiated water with a cover movable between an open-state and a close-state.
US09183943B2 Nonvolatile memory device and control method thereof
A vertical nonvolatile memory device which includes a plurality of cell strings formed in a direction intersecting with a substrate is provided. The vertical nonvolatile memory device is configured to apply a non-selection read voltage to at least one selection line connected to a cell string from among the plurality of cell strings. The vertical nonvolatile memory device is configured to apply the non-selection read voltage to at least one unselected word line of the cell string a desired time period after the applying of the non-selection read voltage to the at least one selection line.
US09183935B2 Semiconductor memory device having programmable select transistors within memory units
A semiconductor memory device includes memory units, each of which includes first and second select transistors and memory cells connected in series between the first and second select transistors. A control circuit applies a first potential difference between a source and a drain of either the first or second select transistor in a first memory unit, thereby programming either the first or second select transistor. The control circuit applies a second potential difference between a source and a drain of either the first or second select transistor in a second memory unit connected in common to the same select gate line as that of the first memory unit, thereby inhibiting either the first or second select transistor from being programmed.
US09183930B2 Method of programming a non-volatile resistive memory
A method for pre-programming a matrix of resistive non-volatile memory cells, the cells including a dielectric material between two conducting electrodes and being initially in an original resistive state, the dielectric material being electrically modified to bring a cell from the original state to another resistive state wherein the resistance of the cell is at least twice and preferably at least ten times lower than the resistance of the cell in the original state. The method includes, prior to mounting a component containing the matrix on a support, programming the matrix by electrically bringing cells from the original state to the other state, leaving the other cells in their original state, and after mounting the component, applying to all the cells an intermediate voltage, to keep in the original state the cells in this state and returning or keeping to/in another state the cells not in the original state.
US09183929B2 Systems, methods and devices for programming a multilevel resistive memory cell
Embodiments disclosed herein may relate to programming a multi-level memory cell with programming pulse sequences that comprise forward-biased and reverse-biased programming pulses.
US09183928B2 Descending set verify for phase change memory
Subject matter disclosed herein relates to a memory device, and more particularly to write performance of a phase change memory.
US09183917B1 Memory device, operating method thereof, and system having the memory device
A method of operating a memory device including a plurality of memory cells may include counting a number of times that the plurality of memory cells during a first time period, comparing the number of times to a reference number, and controlling a refresh interval of a refresh operation for the plurality of memory cells based on a result of the comparison.
US09183900B2 Data paths using a first signal to capture data and a second signal to output data and methods for providing data
Data paths, memories, and methods for providing data from memory are disclosed. An example read data path includes a delay path, and a clocked data register. The data path has a data propagation delay and is configured to receive data and propagate the data therethrough. The delay path is configured to receive a clock signal and provide a delayed clock signal having a delay relative to the clock signal that models the data propagation delay. The clocked data register is configured to clock in data responsive at least in part to the delayed clock signal. The clocked data register is further configured to clock out data responsive at least in part to the clock signal.
US09183899B2 Semiconductor integrated circuit
A semiconductor integrated circuit may include: a memory block partitioned into a first region and a second region; a data latch unit configured to latch data outputted from the memory block in response to a control signal; and a control circuit configured to generate a source signal separated into an odd order and an even order in response to a column access signal consecutively inputted to access the first region or the second region, and to generate the control signal in response to the source signal.
US09183891B2 Memory devices with serially connected signals for stacked arrangements
Disclosed are various embodiments related to stacked memory devices, such as DRAMs, SRAMs, EEPROMs, and CAMs. For example, stack position identifiers (SPIDs) are assigned or otherwise determined, and are used by each memory device to make a number of adjustments. In one embodiment, a self-refresh rate of a DRAM is adjusted based on the SPID of that device. In another embodiment, a latency of a DRAM or SRAM is adjusted based on the SPID. In another embodiment, internal regulation signals are shared with other devices via TSVs. In another embodiment, adjustments to internally regulated signals are made based on the SPID of a particular device. In another embodiment, serially connected signals can be controlled based on a chip SPID (e.g., an even or odd stack position), and whether the signal is an upstream or a downstream type of signal.
US09183890B2 Stacked semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
The stacked semiconductor device including a first chip, a second chip positioned on the first chip, the second chip being connected to a plurality of first penetration electrodes and including a first memory and a memory controller that are each controlled by the first chip, and a second memory positioned on the second chip and connected to a plurality of second penetration electrodes and controlled by the memory controller.
US09183884B2 Downloading video bookmark generating data
A method comprising initializing playback of a video, the video comprising navigation data, at least one menu, at least one trailer, and a movie; obtaining an identifier of the video; downloading, responsive to the identifier and from a remote source, bookmark generating data that identifies a menu selection that is required to advance towards a playing of the movie; generating, responsive to the bookmark generating data, a bookmark for the movie to be utilized by a navigator, the generating enabling a user to avoid to manually navigate past a menu and a trailer provided with the video; and playing, responsive to the bookmark, the movie.
US09183878B2 Reading method for linear tape open
A method for operating a tape storage system includes simultaneously receiving readback signals from a set of data readers reading from data tracks of a set of adjacent data tracks extending along a longitudinal extension of a tape storage medium. Each data track has a width and each data reader has a width that exceeds the width of a data track. In the readback signal, of one of the data readers of the set a simultaneous presence of two defined waveforms is detected stemming from two different servo patterns arranged in servo sections of adjacent data tracks of the set. At least one of lateral position, velocity, gain and timing information is derived from a measure of the energy of the two defined waveforms detected in the readback signal of the data reader and applying this information in the operation of the tape storage system.
US09183877B1 Data storage device comprising two-dimensional data dependent noise whitening filters for two-dimensional recording
A data storage device is disclosed wherein a first 2D data dependent noise whitening (DDNW) filter is configured to perform 2D DDNW of first and second 2D equalized samples to generate first 2D noise whitened samples. A second 2D DDNW filter is configured to perform 2D DDNW of the first and second 2D equalized samples to generate second 2D noise whitened samples. A 2D sequence detector is configured to detect a first data sequence recorded in a first data track from the first and second 2D noise whitened samples and to detect a second data sequence recorded in a second data track from the first and second 2D noise whitened samples.
US09183872B2 Recording control device and method
There is provided a recording control device including a recording control section which controls data recording to a recording medium by irradiating laser light to the recording medium, and a division section which divides the sequential recording range of a prescribed recording layer, near a boundary of two mutually adjacent sequential recording ranges of the recording layer on a back side of the prescribed recording layer when viewed from a laser incident surface of the recording medium, in a case where data is not recorded to an area of one of the two sequential recording ranges, by setting, as a division position in the prescribed recording layer, a position separated by only a prescribed distance, from a position identical to a position of the boundary, on the other side of the two sequential recording ranges in a direction connecting a center and outer peripheral of the recording medium.
US09183871B2 Optical recording device, optical recording method and multi-layer disk
An optical recording device that records to a multi-layer disk having multiple recording layers includes a controller which sets a data area in which user data is recorded, and a calibration area including a main calibration area and at least one sub-calibration area which are used to calibrate the intensity of laser light for recording, with the same layout among the plurality of recording layers, conducts first calibration for performing initial recording in the data area by using the main calibration area, records dummy data in the remainder of the main calibration area, and conducts second calibration for performing additional recording in the data area by using the sub-calibration area.
US09183870B2 Density multiplication and improved lithography by directed block copolymer assembly
Methods to pattern substrates with dense periodic nanostructures that combine top-down lithographic tools and self-assembling block copolymer materials are provided. According to various embodiments, the methods involve chemically patterning a substrate, depositing a block copolymer film on the chemically patterned imaging layer, and allowing the block copolymer to self-assemble in the presence of the chemically patterned substrate, thereby producing a pattern in the block copolymer film that is improved over the substrate pattern in terms feature size, shape, and uniformity, as well as regular spacing between arrays of features and between the features within each array compared to the substrate pattern. In certain embodiments, the density and total number of pattern features in the block copolymer film is also increased. High density and quality nanoimprint templates and other nanopatterned structures are also provided.
US09183866B2 Magnetic disk substrate with offset portion on a main surface within a range of 92.0 to 97.0% in a radial direction from a center, magnetic disk with substrate and magnetic disk device
A magnetic disk substrate having a flat main surface, an end face, and a chamfered face formed between the main surface and the end face. The substrate has an offset portion, present on the main surface within a range of 92.0 to 97.0% in a radial direction from a center of the substrate. A distance from the center of the substrate to the end face of the substrate in a radial direction is 100%, the offset portion being raised or lowered with respect to a virtual straight line connecting two points on the main surface, set at positions of 92.0% and 97.0%. A maximum distance from the virtual straight line to the offset portion in a direction perpendicular to the virtual straight line is a “maximum offset value.”
US09183862B1 Load/unload ramps for multiple disk-stack, shared actuator hard disk drive
A load/unload ramp configured for a multiple disk-stack, shared actuator hard disk drive (HDD) includes two ramp parts configured to swivel-engage together. Each of the two ramp parts may have a sleeve configured for positioning over a swivel pin and a locking pin configured for positioning and movement within a corresponding receptacle constituent to an HDD base. Thus, each ramp part can be positioned to a respective initial locking position onto the base, a first disk stack installed, a first ramp part swiveled to a final locking position engaged with the first disk stack, and fixed to the base. Then an actuator assembly can be inserted and the corresponding actuator arms parked onto the first ramp part, a second disk stack installed, then the second ramp part swiveled to its final locking position engaged with the second disk stack, and fixed to the base.
US09183854B2 Method to make interferometric taper waveguide for HAMR light delivery
A method for making an interferometric taper waveguide (I-TWG) with high critical dimension uniformity and small line edge roughness for a heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) head, wherein the method includes creating an I-TWG film stack with two hard mask layers on top of an I-TWG core layer sandwiched between two cladding layers, defining a photoresist pattern over the I-TWG film stack using deep ultraviolet lithography, transferring the pattern to the first hard mask layer using reactive ion etching (RIE), forming a temporary I-TWG pattern on the second hard mask layer using RIE, transferring the temporary pattern to the I-TWG core using RIE, refilling the cladding layer, and planarizing using chemical mechanical planarization (CMP).
US09183853B2 Magnetic write head having a stacked coil architecture for high data rate performance
Approaches for a magnetic write head having a stacked coil architecture. Embodiments utilize the better process control capability available with thin films' thicknesses, compared to the control capability of vertical gap-filling processes, which provides for better scalability to shorter yoke length magnetic write heads, which are faster at writing data bits than are magnetic write heads having a longer yoke length.
US09183849B2 Audio matching with semantic audio recognition and report generation
System, apparatus and method for determining semantic information from audio, where incoming audio is sampled and processed to extract audio features, including temporal, spectral, harmonic and rhythmic features. The extracted audio features are compared to stored audio templates that include ranges and/or values for certain features and are tagged for specific ranges and/or values. The semantic information may be associated with audio signature dataExtracted audio features that are most similar to one or more templates from the comparison are identified according to the tagged information. The tags are used to determine the semantic audio data that includes genre, instrumentation, style, acoustical dynamics, and emotive descriptor for the audio signal.
US09183833B2 Method and system for adapting interactions
A method and system for adapting automated interactions that allows the interactive behavior of an automated system, or the nature of the interaction elements implemented thereon, to be adapted to properties and/or behaviors of users of such systems in order to enhance operating convenience. Interaction adaptation is performed with reference to user groups to which the users are allocated.
US09183830B2 Method and system for non-parametric voice conversion
A method and system is disclosed for non-parametric speech conversion. A text-to-speech (TTS) synthesis system may include hidden Markov model (HMM) HMM based speech modeling for both synthesizing output speech. A converted HMM may be initially set to a source HMM trained with a voice of a source speaker. A parametric representation of speech may be extract from speech of a target speaker to generate a set of target-speaker vectors. A matching procedure, carried out under a transform that compensates for speaker differences, may be used to match each HMM state of the source HMM to a target-speaker vector. The HMM states of the converted HMM may be replaced with the matched target-speaker vectors. Transforms may be applied to further adapt the converted HMM to the voice of target speaker. The converted HMM may be used to synthesize speech with voice characteristics of the target speaker.
US09183829B2 Integrated accoustic phase array
A system includes a processor and a phased array, coupled to the processor, having an arrayed waveguide for acoustic waves to enable directional sound communication.
US09183826B2 Apparatus and method for providing passive amplification
An apparatus comprises a substantially horn shaped structure configured to amplify sound from a speaker of a device wherein the apparatus comprises packaging of the device.
US09183825B2 Noise reduction apparatus
The noise reduction apparatus according to the present disclosure includes a plurality of loudspeakers, control sound signal generating units, and a plurality of error microphones. Each of the control sound signal generating units generates control sound signal based on the error sound detected by a corresponding error microphone of the plurality of error microphones. The noise reduction apparatus further including an input switching unit that, when a level of the noise at a predetermined position is higher than the predetermined threshold value, feeds an error audio signal at a predetermined control point of the plurality of control points or a control point that is newly set based on the plurality of control points into each of the control sound signal generating units, the number of the newly set control point being less than the number of the plurality of control points.
US09183820B1 Electronic music instrument and method for controlling an electronic music instrument
An electronic music instrument comprises an input device having a plurality of input elements configured for generating at least one digital signal corresponding to a particular note when activated, the input device configured to be organized in sounding input elements and non-sounding control input elements and configured for transposing a range of input elements to an intended range of notes; and a software module, wherein the software module is configured for receiving a transposition state of then input device and for remapping the control input elements according to the transposition state.
US09183818B2 Musical instrument laser tracking device
A musical instrument laser tracking device comprises a musical instrument digital interface adapted to be connected to a musical instrument digital interface port of a musical instrument. A computer system electronically connected to the musical instrument digital interface and incorporating software adapted to produce electronic signals to control a laser projector. A digital-to-analog converter electronically connected to the computer system and adapted to convert the electronic signals from a digital format to an analog format, and a laser projector electronically connected to the digital-to-analog converter and adapted to receive the electronic analog signals from the digital-to-analog converter, generate laser beams accordingly, and shine the laser beams on predetermined objects in predetermined patterns.
US09183814B2 Image displaying apparatus and image displaying method
An image displaying apparatus is provided, which includes: a display unit that displays an image, and which has a horizontal width and a vertical width; an image processing unit which processes the image; and a controller which controls the image processing unit, if an aspect ratio of the image is different from an aspect ratio of the display unit, to extend the image in a first direction until a horizontal width or a vertical width of the image becomes identical to any one of the horizontal width and the vertical width of the display unit, to extend the image in a second direction to maintain the aspect ratio of the image, and to move the extended image in the second direction on the display unit.
US09183811B2 Method of correcting unevenness of display panel and correction system
A process of correcting display unevenness of a liquid crystal panel 40 of the present invention includes following steps. (1) Supply image data to the liquid crystal panel 40 and display the liquid crystal panel 40. (2) Capture an image of a display area of the liquid crystal panel 44 with a camera 66. (3) Generate correction data for the liquid crystal panel based on a captured image result. (4) Store the correction data in a volatile storing device. (5) Generate corrected image data with using the correction data stored in the volatile storing device. (6) Supply the corrected image data to the liquid crystal panel and display the liquid crystal panel 40. (7) Executed repeatedly the processes from (2) to (6).
US09183800B2 Liquid crystal device and the driven method thereof
A liquid crystal device (LCD) and a driving method thereof are disclosed. The LCD includes a display panel, a data driven circuit configured for providing data voltages to the data lines, and a power reducing module. The display panel includes data lines, scanning lines intersecting with the data lines, and a matrix of pixels arranged in intersections of rows and columns. The power reducing module is configured for storing a most-reload-image, comparing the data of the most-reload-image and the data of an input image, determining if the input image is a reload image increasing a power consumption of the data driven circuit, and changing a polarity inversion method of a timing controller. By changing the polarity inversion method of the timing controller basing on the input images, the display performance is guaranteed and the power consumption of the data driven circuit is reduced at the same time.
US09183799B2 Additional application of voltage during a write sequence
With respect to liquid crystal display inversion schemes, a large change in voltage on a data line can affect the voltages on adjacent data lines due to capacitive coupling between data lines. The resulting change in voltage on these adjacent data lines can give rise to visual artifacts in the data lines' corresponding sub-pixels. Various embodiments of the present disclosure serve to prevent or reduce these visual artifacts by applying voltage to a data line more than once during the write sequence. Doing so can allow erroneous brightening or darkening caused by large voltage swings to be overwritten without causing additional large voltage swings on the data line.
US09183793B2 Method for driving electrophoretic display apparatus, electrophoretic display apparatus, electronic apparatus, and electronic timepiece
An electrophoretic display apparatus driving method that allows DC balance to be achieved and reduces variations in size and color tone of a displayed image that may occur in a partial-screen drive method and related apparatus are provided. The drive method includes a first image display step (S2) of displaying a first image in a first color on a display section, a first image adjustment step (S3) of displaying a background of the first image in a second color, a first image deletion step (S4) of displaying the background of the first image in the first color, a second image display step (S12) of displaying a background of a second image in the second color, a second image adjustment step (S13) of displaying the second image in the first color, and a second image deletion step (S14) of displaying the second image in the second color.
US09183791B2 Driving method for image display apparatus and driving method for image display apparatus assembly
Disclosed herein is a driving method for an image display apparatus which includes an image display panel and a signal processing section; the driving method including the steps, further carried out by the signal processing section, of calculating a third subpixel output signal to a (p,q)th first pixel, based at least on a third subpixel input signal to the (p,q)th first pixel and a third subpixel input signal to the (p,q)th second signal, and outputting the third subpixel output signal to the third subpixel of the (p,q)th first pixel; and further calculating a fourth subpixel output signal to the (p,q)th second pixel based at least on the third subpixel input signal to the (p,q)th second pixel and the third subpixel input signal to the (p+1,q)th first pixel and outputting the fourth subpixel output signal to the fourth subpixel of the (p,q)th second pixel.
US09183787B2 Devices and methods for processing image data
A module processes image data to provide gray level signals to be used for displaying an image. The module may include a scale value control member for determining a first scale value. The module may further include a brightness control member for determining a controlled brightness value using a requested brightness value, a brightness control parameter, and a baseline brightness value. The module may further include a modification member for determining a modified scale value using the first scale value and the controlled brightness value. The module may further include a scaler for generating the gray level signals using the image data and at least one of the modified scale value and a damped scale value, the damped scale value being determined using the modified scale value. The module may further include hardware circuitry for implementing at least one of the aforementioned components.
US09183785B2 Organic light emitting display device and method for driving the same
An organic light emitting display device comprising a display panel and a panel driver is disclosed. The display panel includes pixels and sensing lines respectively coupled to the pixels. Each pixel includes an organic light emitting device and a driving transistor to control a current flow in the organic light emitting device. The panel driver is configured to receive an input image data, to generate a sensing data by sensing a characteristic variation of the driving transistor, to generate a peak luminance data to limit peak luminance of an input image, to generate a corrected data by correcting the input image data based on the sensing data, to convert the corrected data to a data voltage based on a plurality of reference gamma voltages set based on the peak luminance data, and to supply the data voltage to the pixels.
US09183784B2 Display device and driving method thereof for compensating a threshold voltage deviation characteristic of the display
A first reference voltage is applied to a plurality of pixels during a data writing period when data is written and a second reference voltage is applied to the plurality of pixels during a light emitting period when the plurality of pixels emit light, in which each of the plurality of pixels includes a switching transistor to transfer a data voltage applied to a data line to a first node; a driving transistor controlling a driving current flowing into an OLED according to the voltage of the first node and a first power supply voltage; and a storage capacitor including a first electrode connected to the first node and a second electrode receiving one of the first reference voltage and the second reference voltage. A difference between the first reference voltage and the second reference voltage is determined according to a threshold voltage deviation characteristic of the display unit.
US09183778B2 Organic light emitting display and driving method thereof
An organic light emitting display is driven in a simultaneous (or concurrent) emission scheme. The organic light emitting display includes: a display unit including a plurality of pixels coupled to scan lines, control lines, and data lines; a control line driver for providing control signals to the pixels through the control lines; and a power driver for applying a power at different levels to the pixels of the display unit during a plurality of periods of one frame. The control signals and the power are concurrently provided to the pixels included in the display unit.
US09183768B2 Support systems
A support locator includes at least one body portion and at least one support portion, wherein the support portion is configured for engaging and retaining at least one strut member which holds a banner taught, and wherein the body portion is releasably connectable to a corner forming portion of a sheet of material forming the banner on the non-printed side of the banner, wherein the support portion projects substantially orthogonally out from a substantially planar body portion and wherein the plane of the body portion is parallel to that of the sheet material.
US09183766B2 Metallized shrinkable label
The present invention is a metallized shrinkable label and a method for producing the same. The label of the invention is composed of a shrinkable film base and a graphic. The graphic is created by combining pigmented inks, a metallic coating and a shrink-resistant coating which is printed in a predetermined pattern with gaps so that upon exposure of the label to heat, the gaps close thereby forming a continuous graphic layer. Advantageously, the shrink-resistant coating minimizes discoloration and pleating of the metallic coating.
US09183765B2 Consumer product array, retail displays and methods of doing the same
The present invention relates to arrays of consumer products, retail displays of arrays of consumer products and methods for displaying an array of consumer products.
US09183763B2 Cardiac simulation device
The present invention describes a device and system for simulating normal and disease state cardiac functioning, including an anatomically accurate left cardiac simulator for training and medical device testing. The system and device uses pneumatically pressurized chambers to generate ventricle and atrium contractions. In conjunction with the interaction of synthetic mitral and aortic valves, the system is designed to generate pumping action that produces accurate volume fractions and pressure gradients of pulsatile flow, duplicating that of a human heart. Through the use of a remote handheld electronic controller and manual adjustments from a main control panel, the air pressure level, fluidic pressure, and heart rate is controlled to induce contractions that simulate a wide variety of heart conditions ranging from normal heart function to severely diseased or injured heart conditions.
US09183733B2 Controlled power-efficient operation of wireless communication devices
A low cost, robust, wireless sensor that provides an extended period of operability without maintenance is described. The wireless sensors are configured to communicate with a base unit or repeater. When the sensor unit detects an anomalous ambient condition (e.g., smoke, fire, water, etc.) the sensor communicates with the base unit and provides data regarding the anomalous condition. The sensor unit receives instructions to change operating parameters and/or control external devices.
US09183732B2 Dual band nurse call system
A nurse call station and system capable of scalable accommodating a plurality of wireless nodes by incorporating a dual band of 900 MHz and 2.4 GHz for use in transmission and repeating an identification signal. The nurse call system is comprised of various components that includes but is not limited to gateway nodes, transmitter nodes, repeaters, end nodes and locators. Transmitter nodes may be comprised of various transmitter styles including wireless check in stations, wireless emergency call stations and resident bed stations.
US09183730B1 Method and system for mitigating invasion risk associated with stranger interactions in a security system environment
A security system can mitigate invasion risk faced by a homeowner or other person responding to a stranger who is seeking to interact with the responder or to gain premises access, for example when a supposed deliveryman approaches the front door. The homeowner can make an entry into a user interface of the security system in preparation for interacting with the stranger, such as to answer the front door. If the user does not make a second entry within a specified period of time indicating that the interaction was safely completed, the security system can raise an alarm or otherwise dispatch help. If the stranger turns out to be an intruder and forces the homeowner to make the second, all-clear entry, the homeowner can make a duress entry that appears to be an all-clear entry but in fact triggers a silent alarm or otherwise summons help.
US09183728B2 Self-detection of lost device status using device-to-device communications with one or more expected neighboring devices
Methods and apparatus are provided for self-detection of lost device status using device-to-device communications with one or more expected neighboring devices. A device can detect when the device itself is lost, by determining one or more expected neighboring devices for one or more time periods; monitoring a local environment for one or more of the expected neighboring devices using device-to-device communication; detecting when the device is lost based on device-to-device communication and whether a threshold criteria of the expected neighboring devices in proximity to the device for a given interval of time; and sending at least one relay message to notify an owner of the lost device. The threshold criteria comprises, e.g., whether a minimum number of expected neighboring devices are nearby or whether at least one fixed neighboring device is nearby. The device-to-device communications employ one or more of short range relay communications and low-power mesh communications.
US09183726B1 Digital measuring device
A digital measuring device includes a housing, at least one measuring head, at least one measuring sensor, at least one digital measurement circuit, and at least one power supply unit. The measuring head is arranged outside the housing. The measuring head functions to carry out an operation of tightening a tire valve core, connecting a valve stem, or measuring tire tread. The measuring sensor is arranged inside the housing and coupled to the measuring head to measure and detect a detection signal indicating an output of a tire valve core tightening torque, a tire pressure, or a tire tread depth. The digital measurement circuit is connected to the measuring sensor for computing, displaying, and issuing an alarm regarding the tightening torque that the measuring head applies to tighten a tire valve core, the tire pressure, or the tire tread depth. The power supply unit supplies a desired direct-current working power to the measuring sensor and the digital measurement circuit. As such, a device that is capable of digital measurement, displaying, and issuing an alarm regarding the tire valve core tightening torque, the tire pressure, or the tire tread depth is formed.
US09183724B2 System to monitor the ingestion of medicines
A system for monitoring ingestion of medicine (21) comprises forming a digestible radio frequency identification (RFID) tag (10). The RFID tag is attached to the medicine. The RFID tag and medicine are ingested. A signal from the RFID tag is monitored.
US09183723B2 Filter clog detection and notification system
A gas filter clogging detection system for monitoring filter performance and condition based on indicators of the accumulation of dirt and other particles on a filter positioned in a gas conduit, in which a notification system provides alerts and reports when the amount of clogging reaches a pre-determined threshold.
US09183721B2 Device and method for monitoring a person in water
A device is provided for monitoring waters, particularly swimming pools, including at least one control unit assigned to one person which includes at least one sensor device, one analysis device and one transmitter; at least one receiving device disposed within the waters; at least one transmission device which is signal-connected to the receiving device; and at least one display unit which is signal-connected to the transmitter. The transmitter is designed such that it emits signals of a predetermined pattern in the event of an alarm, and the receiving device is designed such that it recognizes a case of alarm based on the predetermined pattern of the signal and emits an alarm signal to at least one display unit.
US09183718B2 Security tag detacher with user-controllable dwell time and method therefor
System for detaching an electronic article surveillance (EAS) tag includes a detaching element to selectively unlock a locking element of an EAS tag when the EAS tag is placed in a detachment position. A control system is arranged to cause the detaching element to transition from a deactivated state, in which the tag in the detachment position will remain locked, to an activated state in which the tag is unlocked. This transition will result in beginning or starting a dwell time. The control system is maintains the detaching element in the activated state while awaiting receipt from a user interface of a user manually initiated termination signal. The termination signal indicates a user intention to terminate the dwell time. In response to the termination signal, the control system causes the detaching element to transition from the activated state to a deactivated state.
US09183717B1 RFID loss-prevention using synthesized-beam readers
An RFID loss-prevention system (LPS) based on synthesized-beam readers (SBRs) permits authorized items to leave a facility and may perform a security action if an unauthorized item leaves the facility. A checkout reader first authorizes an item tagged with an RFID tag to exit a facility by reading an identifier from the tag, obtaining an exit authorization, and sending the identifier to a database. An SBR configured to direct at least two beams along a facility exit path reads tagged items exiting the facility, determines at least one of a travel direction and a tag location, and uses the determination to indicate that a tag is exiting or has exited the facility. The LPS then uses the database to determine if the exiting/exited tag is authorized to leave the facility.
US09183714B2 Entrance security system
An entrance denial security system comprises an entrance barrier closing an entrance into a secured area having a plurality of structural tubular elements with hollow cores forming a rigid integral barrier. At least one optical fiber sensor line is laced through the hollow cores of the structural elements for detecting a fault condition signifying an unauthorized intrusion attempt. A processor in communication with the fiber sensor line generates a fault signal in response to a fault signal level. A communication device operatively associated with the processor communicates the fault signal and an alarm. The system also includes a plurality of tubular elements lying a common plane and the sensor line is routed through the tubular elements. In one instance, the tubular elements are PVC pipe.
US09183712B2 Security system and alarm activation control
A controller arms an alarm aspect of a corresponding security system. The corresponding security system is initially configured to audibly activate an alarm in response to detecting motion of free-to-roam entities in a monitored location. The free-to-roam entities can be provided unrestricted access into the monitored location. In addition to monitoring for presence of motion at the monitored location, the security system monitors the location for presence of a disarming device. At times of detecting presence of the disarming device at the monitored location, the security system prevents activation of the alarm based on detecting the motion of the free-to-roam entities.
US09183706B2 Reel-type games and gaming machines
Games such as reel-type slot games may have various features, including: an attribute accumulate feature which a player attempts to form combinations of collectable special symbols; a geometric pattern feature in which symbols within a geometric pattern or area may take on special attributes or features; a moving trigger feature; a symbol-triggered game transformation feature using logical rules; a player symbol selection in which reel symbols are player selected; and a reel-locking feature.
US09183701B2 Gaming system and method for rewarding players
A gaming system and method of rewarding players of electronic gaming machines connected by a network to a host computer which stores player-useable points at a network-accessible location, awards a personal points multiplier to a player, and applies the personal points multiplier to at least some of the points.
US09183685B2 Travel itinerary based on user profile data
Methods and systems for an improved navigation environment are provided. The navigation system can route users to preferred locations based on user profile data and past experience with the present driver and other drivers. The system provides more cost-effective and time-sensitive routing by incorporating other information about destinations. Further, the navigation system provides enhanced guidance in foreign or unfamiliar locations by incorporating experience from other drivers and other data.
US09183673B2 Simulation apparatus, simulation method and non-transitory computer readable recording medium
In accordance with an embodiment, a simulation apparatus includes a two-dimensional section dividing processing unit, a two-dimensional simulator, a one-dimensional combining processing unit, and a three-dimensional shape combining processing unit. The two-dimensional section dividing processing unit divides a three-dimensional shape as a simulation target into at least one set of two-dimensional sections intersecting with each other and defines the three-dimensional shape as the two-dimensional sections. The two-dimensional simulator runs a two-dimensional shape simulation in each time step for each of the two-dimensional sections obtained by the dividing and acquires a two-dimensional shape. The one-dimensional combining processing unit extracts a film configuration for each intersection of the two-dimensional sections from the acquired two-dimensional shape and combines the film configurations to acquire one-dimensional film configurations. The three-dimensional shape combining processing unit creates a three-dimensional structure from the acquired one-dimensional film configurations on the basis of information on the intersection.
US09183647B2 Imaging, data acquisition, data transmission, and data distribution methods and systems for high data rate tomographic X-ray scanners
The present invention is an X-ray system having a source-detector module, which includes X-ray sources and detectors, for scanning an object being inspected, a scan engine coupled to the source-detector module for collecting scan data from the source detector module, an image reconstruction engine coupled to the scan engine for converting the collected scan data into one or more X-ray images, and a scan controller coupled with at least one of the source detector module, the scan engine, and the image reconstruction engine optimize operations of the X-ray system.
US09183644B2 Methods and systems for the treatment of stereoscopic images, corresponding computer program products, and storage carrier
In an embodiment, a first individual image and a second individual image constituting an encoded stereoscopic image, for example in JPEG format with respective levels of encoding quality and united in a multiple-image file, for example of the Multiple-Picture Object (MPO) type. The second level of encoding quality is lower than the first level of encoding quality. During decoding, the first individual image encoded with a first level of encoding quality and the second individual image encoded with a second level of encoding quality lower than the first level of encoding quality are extracted from the multiple-image file, then using information of the first extracted individual image for enhancing the second extracted individual image.
US09183642B2 Graphical data processing
A method of controlling graphical data compression levels for a series of images of varying area in order to maintain a consistent image quality, irrespective of image area. An image of a first area is compressed using a first compression value. When the first image is decompressed for display, it is associated with a first image quality. When a new image with a different area is generated, it is compressed using a new compression value derived from the first compression value. The new compression value is suitable for delivering an image quality, when the new image is decompressed for display, substantially the same as the image quality of the first image.
US09183639B2 Image frame processing including usage of acceleration data in assisting object location
Apparatuses, methods and storage medium associated with computing, including processing of image frames, are disclosed herein. In embodiments, an apparatus may include an accelerometer and an image processing engine having an object tracking function. The object tracking function may be arranged to track an object from one image frame to another image frame. The object tracking function may use acceleration data output by the accelerometer to assist in locating the object in an image frame. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US09183634B2 Image processing apparatus and image processing method
An image processing apparatus includes an image acquisition unit acquiring a plurality of images, a corresponding point acquisition unit, a first fundamental matrix estimation unit, an epipole coordinate deriving unit, an epipole coordinate determination unit, and a fundamental matrix determination unit. The corresponding point acquisition unit acquires first corresponding points. The first fundamental matrix estimation unit calculates first fundamental matrices based on the first corresponding points. The epipole coordinate deriving unit calculates first epipole coordinates that correspond to the first fundamental matrices. The epipole coordinate determination unit determines one of the first epipole coordinates as a second epipole coordinate. The fundamental matrix determination unit determines the first fundamental matrix corresponding to the second epipole coordinate as a second fundamental matrix.
US09183629B2 Method and system of automatic determination of geometric elements characterizing a bone deformation from 3D image
The invention relates to a method for automatically determining, on a bone comprising a head portion contiguous to a neck portion, parameters for characterizing a bump deformation on the head-neck junction of the bone from acquired 3D medical image, the method comprising the following steps: i) constructing a 3D surface model of the bone; ii) fitting a sphere on the spherical portion of the head of the bone; iii) determining a neck axis characterizing the neck portion of the bone; iv) determining from the fitted sphere and the neck axis, a clock face referential on the head of the bone rotating around the neck axis; v) determining a 3D curve on the 3D surface model characterizing the head-neck junction of the bone; vi) determining, from the 3D curve, the summit of the bump deformation of the head-neck junction of the bone; vii) determining, from said summit of the bump deformation, first and a second parameters (α3D, iMax) characterizing the maximum bump deformation of the head-neck junction of the bone.
US09183627B2 Medical imaging apparatus and method of controlling the same
Provided is a medical imaging apparatus including: a scanner configured to obtain projection data of an object; a three-dimensional restoring module configured to restore a volume of the object based on the projection data; a volume segmentation module configured to segment a plurality of material volumes corresponding to a plurality of materials included in the object based on the volume of the object; a reprojection module configured to generate a plurality of reprojection images according to the plurality of materials by reprojecting the plurality of material volumes from a plurality of virtual viewpoints; and an image fusion module configured to generate a plurality of fusion images according to the plurality of virtual viewpoints, each of the plurality of fusion images being generated by fusing reprojection images according to plurality of materials obtained from the same virtual viewpoint.
US09183620B2 Automated tilt and shift optimization
In a method for calculating corrections for tilt in an image, one or more processors receive a digitized image from a camera. The one or more processors initiate display of the digitized image in a screen on the camera, the screen having user-selectable focus points. The one or more processors receive from a user a focus point selection of an area of the displayed image to correct for tilt, and in response, the one or more processors correct the digitized image for tilt in the area such that an object is in focus in the area.
US09183612B2 Wearable display device use-based data processing control
Techniques are described for controlling operation of both a host device and a wearable display device connected to the host device based on a use status of the wearable display device. The techniques include automatically determining a use status of a wearable display device based on feedback from one or more touch sensors within the wearable display device that indicates whether the wearable display device is worn by a user. Based on the determined use status, the wearable display device controls its own operation (e.g., controls operation of display screens of the wearable display device, a communication session with the host device, and display processing of data received from the host device). The wearable display device also sends an indication of the use status to the host device. The host device then controls its own data processing for the wearable display device based on the indicated use status.
US09183610B2 Method for graphics driver level decoupled rendering and display
The invention provides a method for driving a graphic processing unit (GPU), where a driver applies two threads to drive one ore more GPUs. The method includes the steps of: (a) activating a rendering thread and a displaying thread in response to invoking by an application thread of a graphics application; (b) sending according to the rendering thread a plurality of rendering instructions for enabling generation of at least a first rendered frame and a second rendered frame; and (c) sending according to the displaying thread one or more interpolating instructions and one or more displaying instructions, the one or more interpolating instructions enabling execution of interpolation according to the at least a first rendered frame and the second rendered frame to create one or more interpolated frames, and the one or more displaying instructions enabling display of the one or more interpolated frames.
US09183607B1 Scoreboard cache coherence in a graphics pipeline
A method in system for latency buffered scoreboarding in a graphics pipeline of a graphics processor. The method includes receiving a graphics primitive for rasterization in a raster stage of a graphics processor and rasterizing the graphics primitive to generate a plurality pixels related to the graphics primitive. An ID stored to account for an initiation of parameter evaluation for each of the plurality of pixels as the pixels are transmitted to a subsequent stage of the graphics processor. A buffer is used to store the fragment data resulting from the parameter evaluation for each of the plurality of pixels by the subsequent stage. The ID and the fragment data from the buffering are compared to determine whether they correspond to one another. The completion of parameter evaluation for each of the plurality of pixels is accounted for when the ID and the fragment data match and as the fragment data is written to a memory.
US09183606B1 Trusted processing location within a graphics processing unit
A method of extending trust from a trusted processor to a graphics processing unit to expand trusted processing in an electronic device comprises inserting a trusted kernel into the graphics processing unit, monitoring the activity level of the graphics processing unit, suspending graphics processing on at least a portion of the graphics processing unit, repurposing a portion of the graphics processing unit to perform trusted processing, and releasing the portion of the graphics processing unit from trusted processing.
US09183602B2 Medical device interfacing using a camera
Methods, computer systems, and computer readable media for interfacing a medical device with an electronic medical record are provided. An image of an output of the medical device is received from a camera associated with the medical device. The image is analyzed to generate a result. The result is stored in the electronic medical record.
US09183601B2 Method and apparatus for collection of protocol adherence data
A data capture and storage apparatus for use in confirming administration of medication in a clinical trial or other medication administration scenario is provided. The apparatus includes a data capture device for capturing one or more types of data related to administration of a medication, a storage device for storing the captured data and a processor for processing the stored captured data. The processor further includes an analysis element for performing a local analysis of the stored captured data. The processor is further adapted to identify a particular medication prescription regimen in accordance with the clinical trial or medication administration scenario, determine one or more procedures for administering such prescription regimen, identify one or more activity sequences associated with such procedures, capture activity sequences of actual administration of such prescription regimen compare the captured activity sequences to the identified activity sequences to determine differences therebetween, and providing a notice if differences are determined.
US09183598B2 Identifying event-specific social discussion threads
Techniques, systems, and articles of manufacture for identifying event-specific social discussion threads. A method includes identifying a spatial relationship and one or more additional relationships across two or more topical clusters derived from a text source, extracting one or more temporally evolving discussion sequences across the two or more topical clusters, identifying at least one social discussion thread across the two or more topical clusters by identifying a correlation between the one or more additional relationships and the one or more temporally evolving discussion sequences, and to identifying a geographically-constrained social discussion thread among the at least one identified social discussion thread by identifying a correlation between the spatial relationship across the two or more topical clusters and the at least one identified social discussion thread.
US09183595B1 Using link strength in knowledge-based authentication
An improved technique generates questions to authenticate a user as part of a group. Along these lines, a KBA system, upon receiving a request to authenticate a particular user, collects facts having references to users of the group of users. The collected facts, however, may also include references to users not in the group of users. In building a set of questions for the particular user, the KBA system is capable of favoring facts having references to users of the group of users and few, if any, references to users not in the group of users; conversely, the KBA system is capable of discarding facts having too many references to users not in the group of users. The particular user's responses to the set of questions are indicative of whether the particular user belongs to the group.
US09183582B2 Tiling process for digital image retrieval
Techniques for digital image retrieval are described. In an embodiment a system stores a plurality of tiles for a plurality of versions of a particular image. Each respective image of the plurality of versions has a different resolution. Each respective tile of the plurality of tiles comprises a bounded region of the respective version of the particular image. Based on a display resolution where a portion of the particular image will be visible, the system determines a final image resolution for the particular image. The system fetches one or more tiles of the respective version of the particular image that has the final resolution. The one or more tiles include the portion of the particular image that will be displayed. The system applies the one or more tiles to a model and renders the model.
US09183580B2 Methods and systems for resource management on portable devices
Methods and arrangements involving portable devices are disclosed. One arrangement enables a content creator to select software with which that content should be rendered—assuring continuity between artistic intention and delivery. Another arrangement utilizes the camera of a smartphone to identify nearby subjects, and take actions based thereon. Others rely on near field chip (RFID) identification of objects, or on identification of audio streams (e.g., music, voice). Some of the detailed technologies concern improvements to the user interfaces associated with such devices. Others involve use of these devices in connection with shopping, text entry, sign language interpretation, and vision-based discovery. Still other improvements are architectural in nature, e.g., relating to evidence-based state machines, and blackboard systems. Yet other technologies concern use of linked data in portable devices—some of which exploit GPU capabilities. Still other technologies concern computational photography. A great variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed.
US09183576B2 Methods and systems for inserting media content
A method and system for providing a content object is disclosed with an in-stream ad unit inserted into the content object for a content object player. The content object is audio and/or video. The processed content object is downloaded or streamed to the content object player. A method for content insertion is provided. In this method, a first media data is received from a server and a placement request is transmitted to a content provider service. As a result, a placement response is received from the content provider service. The placement response includes data identifying a second media data associated with the first media data. The second media data is retrieved and merged with the first media data. After the merge, the first and second media data are transmitted to the server.
US09183575B2 Pay per look billing method and system for out-of-home advertisement
Methods, apparatuses and systems for calculating an amount to be billed in respect of running an out-of-home advertisement during a period of time.
US09183571B2 System and method for providing advertisement data to a mobile computing device
A mobile computing device includes a processor, a display coupled to the processor, a memory coupled to the processor and configured to store user-specific data, and a location-determining circuit configured to determine the location of the portable electronic device. The processor is configured to provide advertisement data on the display based upon the location of the portable electronic device and the user-specific data.
US09183563B2 Electronic questionnaire
A questionnaire is presented to a user in a more efficient manner in which the user is more likely to participate. The questionnaire is sent electronically to the user's vehicle and presented audibly to the user. The user responds audibly to the questions in the questionnaire. The user's responses are converted to text and sent back to the provider server for tallying.
US09183556B2 Display control apparatus and method
A display control apparatus that can display a video includes an inputting unit configured to input the video, a designation unit configured to designate an area in the video, a detection unit configured to detect that a coordinate in the designated area of the video has been pointed, and a display control unit configured to control a display size of a predetermined area in the video in such a manner that the display size of the predetermined area is larger when the detection unit detects that the coordinate in the designated area has been pointed than when the detection unit does not detect any pointing of the coordinate in the designated area.
US09183547B2 System and method for replicating offline scheduling transactions from a client to a server
A facility for replicating offline scheduling transactions directed to a server is provided. The facility is implemented as a client-side application that integrates with and utilizes components of a store-and-forward application, which is operable to execute on a client to guarantee that transactions submitted on the client are replicated and carried out on a service hosted on a remote server even in light of intermittent connectivity between the client, the server, and networks. Records describing transactions intended remote service are written to an outbox of the store-and-forward application on the client. If the item is intended for the scheduling application, the facility is invoked by the store-and-forward application to send the item to the scheduling application. Otherwise, the facility returns the item to the outbox for processing by other components of the store-and-forward application.
US09183542B2 Association of a groupware object with sequentially-updated content items
A system may include identification of a relation between a standards-compliant groupware object and one or more sequentially-updated content items, and creation of the groupware object. The groupware object may include a first Uniform Resource Identifier for subscribing a feed reader of a client device to a channel including the one or more sequentially-updated content items, and a second Uniform Resource Identifier to access a copy of the one or more sequentially-updated content items stored on the client device.
US09183540B2 Mobile device analytics engine
A mobile computing platform for a mobile device, which has an interface for a remote connection to a backend server, includes a mobile analytics engine. The mobile analytics engine is configured to implement a mobile analytics model, which defines data, query and report structures for analytics of business data stored on the backend server. The mobile analytics engine uses model metadata to provide a generic reporting and analytics interface to support diverse mobile business analytics applications.
US09183531B2 Computer systems and computer methods for automated on-demand customizable assembling and high throughput printing of documents
In some embodiments, the instant invention provides for a computer-implemented method that includes at least the following steps of: periodically receiving investment transactional data identifying investment transactions of a plurality of investors; automatically determining, based on the investment transactional data, a document to be mailed to each investor of the plurality of investors; automatically generating a delivery data for each mailing to be mailed to each investor of the plurality of investors, where the delivery data includes: bucslip data or trade confirmation data, assembling data, and unique production control bar code data generated based on the assembling data and an investment transaction identifier from the investment transactional data; and printing a unique production control bar code based on the unique production control bar code data, where the unique production control bar code is configured to be used for: assembling each mailing envelope, and tracking such mailing envelope.
US09183527B1 Analyzing infrastructure data
One aspect provides a method of generating an infrastructure analysis report, including: accessing infrastructure data stored in a database relating to one or more fluid conveyance infrastructure assets, wherein the infrastructure data is one or more of sensed data, contextual data and institutional knowledge data; and generating an analysis report based on a failure risk and consequence analysis of the one or more fluid conveyance infrastructure assets. Other aspects are described and claimed.
US09183521B2 Inventory management system
A statistical inventory management system may optimize inventory investment using historical usage and/or consumption of an inventory component by determining one or more target inventory levels (e.g., replenishment levels). Historical usage data may be summed for a plurality of at least partially non-overlapping time periods that may be each equal in duration to a supplier lead-time period for the component to create lead-time usage data. The lead-time usage data may be utilized to more accurately determine future inventory levels (e.g., target inventory levels) because the lead-time usage data may have a reduced variance compared to, for example, day-to-day usage. The inventory management system may be employable by a computing system having a display module (e.g., GUI) that allows a user to receive at least one graphical representation indicative of at least one target inventory level of at least one inventory component (e.g., by selectively interacting with the display module).
US09183518B2 Methods and systems for scheduling a predicted fault service call
Disclosed is a fault prediction system and method that uses non-fatal event data received from a terminal to make predictions concerning future fatal faults for the terminal and to schedule a predicted service call. A complex fault pattern associated with a fault is applied to the non-fatal event data to predict the fault. A corrective action is provided for each predicted fault and historical data is used to predict a time to the predicted fault to govern the type of service response to create to prevent the fault.
US09183513B2 Aggregration, standardization and extension of social networking contacts to enhance a television consumer experience
A system and method for the aggregation, standardization and extension of social networking contacts to enhance a television consumer experience are described. An embodiment of a system includes a device connected to one or more devices with social networking technology. The device is accessed by a user to invite one or more contacts to join an aggregated social network via an aggregated social networking contact list. The aggregated social networking contact list is to include all contacts associated with the one or more social networking technology devices. The device is to receive and store aggregated social network content and to receive main content. The device is to cause the display of the stored aggregated social network content overlayed on the main content via a user interface on a display device. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09183507B1 Context based inference of save location
A user may store content in a data store that includes multiple repositories corresponding to one or more categories, where each of the repositories may include one or more containers for content storage. An inference application may be configured to automatically save the content to a location within the one or more containers of the repository. For example, the inference application may be configured to detect content to be saved for a user. The inference application may analyze one or more attributes of the user and the content to infer a repository category to which the content is related, and determine a confidence level associated with the inferred repository category. In response to a determination that the confidence level is above a threshold, the content may be automatically saved to a determined location within one or more containers of a repository corresponding to the inferred repository category.
US09183502B2 Rule based content modification and interaction platform
A rule input to generate a rule is received. The rule provides an action for an event. A content experience engine generates the rule for a set of content. The content experience engine receives an interaction input based upon the set of content from the content experience configuration. The content experience engine generates an enhanced set of content based upon the rule and the interaction input.
US09183498B2 Health and fitness management system
A health and fitness management system is provided that has a health and fitness application operating, e.g., on a smart phone, that can wirelessly communicate with an activity module worn on the user which has an accelerometer. The application accepts food and weight inputs (e.g., from the smart phone) and user activity units (e.g., from the activity unit) and develops a user intrinsic metabolism. The application includes fitness arc and health quotient graphical indicators that guide the user on health and fitness activities.
US09183497B2 Performance-efficient system for predicting user activities based on time-related features
A recommender system uses an activity decision tree to model the changes in a user's behavior according to a plurality of time-related features. The system determines historical activities for the user, and generates a decision tree for the user's historical activities. Each leaf node of the decision tree is associated with an activity-prediction model that computes a probability for a corresponding activity. The system selects a path of the decision tree from a root node to a leaf node of the decision tree based on a target time. The selected path traverses two or more non-leaf nodes that are each associated with a temporal decision model that compares the target time against a temporal classifier. The system then determines a probability for a user activity based on an activity-prediction model of the selected path.
US09183495B2 Structural plasticity in spiking neural networks with symmetric dual of an electronic neuron
A neural system comprises multiple neurons interconnected via synapse devices. Each neuron integrates input signals arriving on its dendrite, generates a spike in response to the integrated input signals exceeding a threshold, and sends the spike to the interconnected neurons via its axon. The system further includes multiple noruens, each noruen is interconnected via the interconnect network with those neurons that the noruen's corresponding neuron sends its axon to. Each noruen integrates input spikes from connected spiking neurons and generates a spike in response to the integrated input spikes exceeding a threshold. There can be one noruen for every corresponding neuron. For a first neuron connected via its axon via a synapse to dendrite of a second neuron, a noruen corresponding to the second neuron is connected via its axon through the same synapse to dendrite of the noruen corresponding to the first neuron.
US09183482B2 Method and system for determining an association of a set of radio-frequency identification tags
Devices, methods, and systems comprising one or more shielding elements repositionable, e.g., slidably disposed, along a structure, e.g., a stylus, the structure further comprising a set of one or more radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags, where the one or more shielding elements effect the radio frequency (RF) transmissibility of the set of one or more RFID tags, and a computing device comprising a processor, where the processor is configured to determine an association of a set of received one or more RFID tags with a unique identifier.
US09183481B2 Persistent nodes for RFID
An RFID transponder in one embodiment comprises a radio frequency (RF) transceiver, processing logic coupled to the RF transceiver, a switch coupled to the processing logic, a tunneling device coupled to the switch and a differential sensing circuit having a first input coupled to the tunneling device and a second input coupled to a predetermined reference voltage. In one embodiment, the tunneling device can discharge to a voltage below the predetermined reference voltage.
US09183478B2 Method and apparatus for performing automatic switching of media
An image formation apparatus includes: a tray selection unit configured, based on print size information designated in print data, to select one of medium trays; an edit region setup unit configured, when the size of the print medium in the selected medium tray is different from print medium corresponding to the designated print medium size, to analyze the print data based on an orientation of the print medium in the selected medium tray and to set an edit region of the print data; a drawing unit configured, on the basis of the print data and the edit region, to create image data within the edit region; and an image formation unit configured to print the image data on the print medium fed from the selected medium tray.
US09183475B2 Image processing method and apparatus configured for printing a plurality of monochrome images having different parameters
An image processing apparatus acquires monochrome image data and, for a pattern of each parameter, converts the acquired monochrome image data into intermediate image data. The intermediate image data is expressed in a set of signal values of a plurality of color elements.
US09183474B2 Image forming apparatus for adjusting boundary data
An image-forming apparatus that generates print image data for a printing apparatus including a printing unit for each color, on which, as the printing unit, at least a low-resolution printing unit having a relatively low resolution and a high-resolution printing unit having a relatively high resolution are mounted, includes: a color conversion processing unit that converts colors of an original image into color data for the printing apparatus; a rasterizing unit that generates data about a shape corresponding to a resolution of the printing unit from the original image; and an adjustment processing unit that generates overwriting image data about an overwriting-side object by synthesizing the color data generated by the color conversion processing unit and the data relating to the shape generated by the rasterizing unit, and generates the print image data by performing an overwriting process of overwriting base image data with the overwriting image data.
US09183450B2 Inspection apparatus
An inspection apparatus and method are provided, wherein even when an image that cannot be processed by a current image processing algorithm is input to an image processing unit while a working line is in operation, the inspection can be continued by newly generating an image processing algorithm optimized in keeping with a particular image. The apparatus includes an erroneous recognition detector, a teacher data generator and a switching unit for switching the current image processing algorithm to a new image processing algorithm generated based on an updated teacher data group. As a result, the inspection can be continued without extremely decreasing the accuracy even when an unexpected image is input to the working line.
US09183444B2 Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and computer program
An information processing apparatus that executes processing for creating an environmental map includes a camera that photographs an image, a self-position detecting unit that detects a position and a posture of the camera on the basis of the image, an image-recognition processing unit that detects an object from the image, a data constructing unit that is inputted with information concerning the position and the posture of the camera and information concerning the object and executes processing for creating or updating the environmental map, and a dictionary-data storing unit storing dictionary data in which object information is registered. The image-recognition processing unit executes processing for detecting an object from the image with reference to the dictionary data. The data constructing unit applies the three-dimensional shape data to the environmental map and executes object arrangement on the environmental map.
US09183440B2 Identification by iris recognition
The invention relates to a method for identification on the basis of biometric data of an iris of an eye to be identified, including the steps of: encoding an image of the iris to be identified and a second iris image so as to obtain binary codes that are representative of the images to be compared; determining a binary similarity code from the binary code of the image of the iris to be identified and the second binary code of the second iris image; determining a confidence score on the basis of the local densities of similarities between the two compared iris images, as well as on the basis of the binary similarity code, the local similarity densities being in turn determined on the basis of the binary similarity code; and deciding, depending on the value of the confidence score, whether or not the two iris images are from the same iris. The invention also relates to a system suitable for implementing the identification method.
US09183439B2 Method of searching for parameterized contours for comparing irises
A method for detecting outlines for iris comparison comprises a step of selecting N candidate outlines of circular form by applying a circle search technique to an image of edges of an iris. It also comprises a step of optimizing the form and the position of the N candidate outlines, the optimized candidate outlines being determined by using parametric models, a set of parameters being determined for each candidate outline by minimizing a quantity of energy E(C). The method also comprises a step of selecting the best optimized candidate outline.
US09183424B2 Antenna array with asymmetric elements
An RFID reader is provided that includes an antenna array comprising multiple antenna elements circumferentially distributed around a longitudinal axis of the antenna array. Each antenna element includes multiple patch elements disposed above one or more underlying substrates, wherein the patch elements of each antenna element are disposed on an outer side of the antenna element. Further, one or more of the antenna elements is an asymmetric antenna element, wherein a first end of the asymmetric antenna element is wider than a second, opposite end of the asymmetric antenna element, wherein a first patch element disposed proximate to the first end of the asymmetric antenna element is larger than a second patch element disposed proximate to the second end of the asymmetric antenna element, and wherein a resonant frequency associated with the first patch element is approximately the same as a resonant frequency associated with the second patch element.
US09183423B2 Drive-over stand and antenna assembly
A drive over stand for a TAG reader has a lead-on ramped surface and an exit-off ramped surface aligned and operative to intercept and engage the vehicle tire as the vehicle tire traverses over the upper surface of the stand. One or more pockets are disposed within the stand base, each receiving an antenna assembly. The antenna assembly is positioned within the pocket of the base, seated at a tilt angle operative to direct a read field toward a vehicle approach path to the stand.
US09183421B2 Checking arrangement for value-document check
A testing configuration for testing a security document includes a security element, having a high-coercivity magnetic material and a low-coercivity magnetic material, a device comprising such a test configuration and to a relevant test method. The high- and low- coercivity magnetic materials of the security element are magnetized in a first direction by the interaction of first and second magnet pair units, and subsequently the low-coercivity magnetic material is remagnetized in a second magnetization direction by means of the second magnet pair unit. The magnet pair units are arranged with respect to one another in such a closely adjacent manner along the transport path of the security document that the first magnet field strength is greater than the magnet field strength provided by the first magnet pair unit alone and is greater than the magnet field strength provided by the second magnet pair unit alone.
US09183420B1 Reader for electronic cards
An apparatus comprises a tray and a reader. The tray is configured to hold a first card and a second card in a stacked configuration with contact pads on the first card and contact pads on the second card facing the same direction. The reader has a first set of contacts for engaging contact pads on the first card and a second set of contacts for engaging contact pads on the second card. The first set of contacts and the second set of contacts extend from a first side of the reader. A second side of the reader is mountable to a printed wire board.
US09183417B2 Security central processing unit monitoring of on-chip conditions
A system includes a security processing unit to monitor inputs from process, voltage and temperature sensors to maintain a security of the system. The security processing unit can operate at a determined clock frequency. A timing path detector can connect with the security processing unit. The timing path detector can monitor a condition near the security processing unit. The timing path detector can switch the clock frequency to a lower frequency before the security processing unit fails from the condition.
US09183412B2 Systems and methods for provisioning and using multiple trusted security zones on an electronic device
A method of provisioning a subordinate trusted security zone in a processor having a trusted security zone. The method comprises receiving by a master trusted application executing in a master trusted security zone of the processor a request to provision a subordinate trusted security zone in the processor, wherein the request comprises a master trusted security zone key, wherein the request designates the subordinate trusted security zone, and wherein the request defines an independent key. The method further comprises provisioning by the master trusted application the subordinate trusted security zone to be accessible based on the independent key.
US09183411B2 Cryptographic processing system, key generation device, encryption device, decryption device, cryptographic processing method, and cryptographic processing program utilizing attribute information for generation of a key for decryption or encryption
A decentralized multi-authority functional encryption according to which the security of the whole system does not depend on a single party. Among a plurality of key generation devices, arbitrary one key generation device generates gparam, and each key generation device generates an authority public key and an authority secret key based on gparam. At least some key generation devices among the plurality of key generation devices generate a part of a decryption key of the user based on the authority secret key ask. The user forms one decryption by putting together the decryption keys generated by at least some of the key generation devices, and decrypts a ciphertext.
US09183408B2 Information monitoring apparatus and information monitoring method
The present invention provides an information monitoring apparatus and an information monitoring method which make it possible to prevent personal information from being acquired by a disclosure requester for the purpose of an unfair use thereof. The information monitoring apparatus includes: a means for storing therein acquired attribute information corresponding to at least one acquired attribute which has already been acquired by an acquisitor, a means for, on the basis of the acquired attribute information and disclosed attribute information corresponding to a disclosed attribute targeted for disclosure to the acquisitor, determining whether or not attribute synthetic information resulting from synthesizing the acquired attribute and the disclosed attribute satisfies each of predetermined one or more determination conditions, and a means for executing predetermined protection processing on an attribute on the basis of the result of the determination.