Document Document Title
US09196952B2 Multipurpose antenna
A multiband antenna for a wireless device includes a housing base portion, housing antenna portion and a feed contact. The housing base portion configured to receive radio circuitry thereon and include a first peripheral edge and a first conductive material. The housing antenna portion spaced away from and substantially opposed to the housing base portion, including a second peripheral edge and a second conductive material. The housing base and antenna portions together forming an outermost housing of the mobile wireless device, enclosing the radio circuitry there between. The first and second peripheral edges forming opposed lengthwise edges of a slot having a width formed by a distance between the first and second peripheral edges. The feed contact coupling the housing base portion, the housing antenna portion and the radio circuitry for providing at least one driving frequency to at least the housing antenna portion from the radio circuitry.
US09196950B1 Systems and methods for vibration amelioration in a millimeter-wave communication network
Various embodiments of a millimeter-wave wireless point-to-point or point-to-multipoint communication system which maintains a stable communication link even in the face of mechanical vibration of the transceivers. The system comprises a transmitter, a receiver, a high-gain antenna, and allied equipment as described. In various embodiments, the system is planned and engineered to maintain the communication link even at a maximum vibration of X/2 degrees in either an up or down direction. In some embodiments, the system uses the energy of a concentrated horizontal beam-width to compensation for the energy pattern in a dispersed vertical beam-width. The system may be set to compensate for different degrees of vibration. The system may be set to maintain different degrees of communication gain.
US09196946B2 Resonator and biosensor system including the same
A resonator includes a dielectric substrate, a conductor disposed over the dielectric substrate, and a high-dielectric pattern disposed between outer parts of the conductor. The conductor includes an arc part, which has a C shape, and the outer parts, which respectively extend outward from both ends of the arc part, such that the conductor has an omega shape as a whole. The high-dielectric pattern has a relative permittivity greater than a relative permittivity of the dielectric substrate. The resonator has a flat plate shape to increase a filling factor of a sample, thereby improving measurement sensitivity. Also, the resonator is miniaturized, and thus a biosensor system including the resonator is also miniaturized.
US09196944B2 Apparatus for combining high frequency electrical energy from a plurality of sources
A broadband building block portion is provided, which may be used to construct N-way multi-port combiners. The building block portion comprises a first feeding probe that receives a first input signal, a second feeding probe that receives a second input signal, a combining probe that combines the first and second input signals to output a combined signal, and a transmission line coupled to the first and second feeding probes.
US09196939B2 Method for thermal management and mitigation of thermal propagation for batteries using a graphene coated polymer barrier substrate
An automotive battery module with one or more battery cells and a heat exchange member placed in thermal communication with the battery cell. Heat generated within the battery cell by, among other things, electric current that can be used to provide motive power for the automobile may be removed by the heat exchange member that is made up of a flexible substrate and one or more graphene layers disposed on the substrate. The construction of the substrate and graphene layer is such that multiple heat transfer paths are established, each defining different levels of thermal conductivity and related transfer of heat away from the battery cells.
US09196936B2 Storage unit for storing electrical energy with a heat pipe
The invention relates to a storage unit (1) for storing electrical energy. The storage unit (1) has at least one energy store (3, 5, 6, 7). According to the invention, the storage unit (1) also has a contact area for giving off heat to a heat sink (45). The storage unit (1) has at least one heat pipe (50), which is connected to the contact area and is connected to the energy store (3, 5, 6, 7) in such a way that heat dissipated inside the energy store (3, 5, 6, 7) can be carried away to the contact area via the heat pipe (50).
US09196935B2 Micro-channel cooling fin design based on an equivalent temperature gradient
A micro-channel cooling fin for a battery module and battery is provided. The cooling fin includes a metal plate assembly that defines a plurality of cooling channels therein. The metal plate assembly includes an inlet section for introducing a coolant into the plurality of cooling channels and an outlet section from which the coolant exits the plurality of cooling channels. Each channel has an output temperature and an input temperature such that the output temperature minus the input temperature for each cooling channel is within a predetermined amount.
US09196927B2 Battery including an electrolytic solution containing a sulfone compound
A battery capable of improving the cycle characteristics and the storage characteristics is provided. The battery includes a cathode, an anode, and an electrolytic solution. The anode contains a material that can insert and extract an electrode reactant and contains at least one of a metal element and a metalloid element as an element, and the electrolytic solution contains a solvent, an electrolyte salt, and a sulfone compound having a given structure.
US09196922B2 Lithium secondary battery of improved high-temperature cycle life characteristics
Disclosed is a lithium secondary battery comprising a cathode including a lithium-containing transition metal oxide, an anode including a carbon-based material, and a non-aqueous electrolyte with addition of a compound (A) and a compound (B) of formula (1). Incorporation of the compounds (A) and (B) into the electrolyte significantly improves the high-temperature performance and cycle life characteristics of the battery.
US09196921B2 Method of producing lithium ion secondary battery, and lithium ion secondary battery
A method of producing a lithium ion secondary battery includes: selecting a positive electrode active material that has a prescribed specific surface area, and preparing a nonaqueous electrolyte solution that contains a compound with a following formula (1) at a prescribed concentration. In an xy-coordinate plane that gives a relationship between a specific surface area x [m2/g] of the positive electrode active material and a concentration y [mol/kg] of the compound in the nonaqueous electrolyte solution, a combination of the prescribed specific surface area and the prescribed concentration corresponds to a combination of values that lies within a hexagonal inner region formed by connecting 6 points (x, y)=(0.80, 0.035), (2.20, 0.05), (2.60, 0.10), (2.60, 0.16), (0.80, 0.16), and (0.50, 0.10) in this sequence with straight lines.
US09196918B2 Cable-type secondary battery
A cable-type secondary battery, includes an electrode assembly including first and second polarity electrodes with a thin and long shape, each electrode having a current collector whose cross-section perpendicular to its longitudinal direction is a circular, asymmetrical oval or polygonal shape, and an electrode active material applied onto the surface of the current collector, and a separator or an electrolyte layer interposed between the first and second polarity electrodes; and a cover member surrounding the electrode assembly. Also, the cable-type secondary battery is provided with a first polarity terminal and a second polarity terminal connected to the first polarity electrode and the second polarity electrode, respectively, at the end of the cable-type secondary battery; and a housing cap configured to fix the first and second polarity terminals and cover the end of the cable-type secondary battery.
US09196909B2 Fuel cell interconnect heat treatment method
Methods for fabricating an interconnect for a fuel cell stack include placing a compressed metal powder interconnect on a porous support, and sintering the interconnect in the presence of a non-oxidizing gas. The method may further include placing the sintered interconnect on a porous support, and oxidizing the interconnect in the presence of flowing air, or placing the sintered interconnect on a dense, non-porous support, and oxidizing the interconnect in the presence of a gas comprising pure oxygen or an oxygen/inert gas mixture that is substantially nitrogen-free.
US09196900B2 Substrate and secondary battery
According to one embodiment, a substrate includes a semiconductor layer. The semiconductor layer comprises tungsten oxide particles having a first peak in a range of 268 to 274 cm−1, a second peak in a range of 630 to 720 cm−1, and a third peak in a range of 800 to 810 cm−1 in Raman spectroscopic analysis. The semiconductor layer has a thickness of 1 μm or more. The semiconductor layer has a porosity of 20 to 80 vol %.
US09196897B2 Secondary battery porous electrode
An electrode having excellent charge/discharge cycle characteristics and which is capable of improving a secondary battery capacity. An electrode is formed on the surface of a collector as an assembly of multiple porous domain structures that are apart from each other, the porous domain structures each having a polygonal shape without an acute angle in a planar view, the polygonal shape having a maximum diameter of 120 μm or less.
US09196894B2 Rechargeable battery pack
A rechargeable battery including a bare cell having an end portion including a first surface portion and a second surface portion projecting from the first surface portion; an insulating member having a first insulating portion attached to the first surface portion and a second insulating portion attached to the second surface portion, the second insulating portion being partially separated from the second surface portion, the first insulating portion forming an angle with the second insulating portion; and a protection circuit module electrically connected to the bare cell, the protection circuit module being disposed on the second insulating member.
US09196888B2 Rechargeable battery
A rechargeable battery having a plurality of electrode assemblies, a first current collecting plate disposed at one side of the plurality of electrode assemblies, a second current collecting plate disposed at an opposite side of the plurality of the electrode assemblies, the first and second current collecting plates being electrically connected with the electrode assemblies. Each one of the first and second current collecting plates having a plurality of current collecting portions fixed to and electrically connected to the electrode assemblies, a connection portion electrically connecting at least two of the current collecting portions, and an insulating supporter supporting the current collecting portions and the connection portion by surrounding the current collecting portions and the connection portion. The insulating supporter includes a plurality of openings exposing the plurality of current collecting portions.
US09196886B2 Secondary battery having insulation bag
A secondary battery includes an electrode assembly, an insulation bag, a case, and a cap plate. The electrode assembly includes first and second electrodes, and a separator between the electrodes. The insulation bag has an open top and houses the electrode assembly. The case houses the electrode assembly and the insulation bag. The cap plate seals the case. The insulation bag includes first and second side surface portions, and first and second extending portions. The first and second side surface portions face one another and extend from one side to an opposite side. The first extending portion extends from an upper end of the first side surface portion at the one side. The second extending portion extends from an upper end of the second side surface portion at the opposite side.
US09196882B2 Battery pack of compact structure
Disclosed herein is a battery pack including (a) a battery module assembly arranged in a lateral direction, (b) a pair of a front support member and a rear support member to cover the front and rear of outermost battery modules of the battery module assembly, (c) at least one upper end connection member to connect the front support member and the rear support member to each other at the upper end of the battery module assembly, and (d) at least one lower end connection member to connect the front support member and the rear support member to each other at the lower end of the battery module assembly, wherein the cartridge is provided at the lower end thereof with a fastening hole, via which the at least one lower end connection member is mounted.
US09196870B2 Organic light-emitting diode
In at least one embodiment of the organic light-emitting diode (1), this comprises a mirror (3) and an organic layer sequence (4). The organic layer sequence (4) contains a first active layer (41) for producing first radiation and at least two second active layers (42, 43) for producing second radiation. The active layers (41, 42, 43) are arranged one above the other in a main direction (x) away from the mirror (3). A charge generation layer (45) is located in each case between two adjacent active layers (41, 42, 43). The second active layers (42, 43) each have the same at least two radiation active organic materials. The first active layer (41) has a radiation active organic material which is different therefrom.
US09196863B2 Organic light emitting display device and method of manufacturing the same
In order to provide a robust encapsulating structure, an organic light emitting display device, includes an organic light emitting display device, comprising a substrate, an organic light emitter on the substrate comprising a laminated structure of a first electrode, an organic light emitting layer, and a second electrode, a first inorganic film configured to cover the organic light emitter and being formed from a first inorganic mixture comprising tin oxide, phosphorus oxide and tin fluoride, and a second inorganic film configured to cover the first inorganic film and comprising tin oxide and phosphorus oxide.
US09196860B2 Compounds for triplet-triplet annihilation upconversion
Novel compounds, and in particular, a dendritic system for improved triple-triplet annihilation upconversion (TTA-UC) are provided. The core of the dendrimer compound includes a metal complex, and on the peripheral, multiple acceptor moieties are covalently linked to the core through a spacer. Consequently, a high efficiency TTA-UC system in both solution and solid state is provided, with particularly high efficiency in the solid state. Additionally, organic light emitting devices (OLEDs) comprising a layer including these novel compounds are provided.
US09196857B2 Organic light emitting diode and method of manufacturing the same
Provided are an organic light emitting diode and a method of manufacturing the same. The organic light emitting diode adjusts an optical resonance thickness and prevents spectrum distortions without use of an auxiliary layer. The organic light emitting diode includes a first electrode that is optically reflective; a second electrode that is optically transmissible and faces the first electrode; an organic emission layer interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, the organic emission layer including: a first emission layer including a mixed layer that contains a host material and a dopant material, and a second emission layer comprising only the host material; and a carrier injection transport layer interposed between the organic emission layer and the first electrode or between the organic emission layer and the second electrode.
US09196847B2 Sensitizing complexes, process for the preparation thereof, semiconductive inorganic/organic hybrid material comprising them, and photovoltaic cell comprising said material
in which: F represents one or more groups capable of grafting chemically to a substrate of semiconductive porous oxide ceramic; S represents a sensitizing group for sensitizing a semiconductive porous oxide ceramic; C is a conductive polymer; E is a deconjugating spacer group which makes it possible to electrically isolate the sensitizer (S) from the electron-conductive polymer (C).
US09196843B2 Fullerene derivative, and method of preparing the same
A fullerene derivative having 60 or more carbon atoms includes at least one structure having the following formula (I): wherein R1, R2 and R3 independently represent a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy group, a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group and a substituted or unsubstituted monofunctional heterocyclic group; and at least one of R1, R2 and R3 comprises the following formula (II): wherein R4 represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having 4 to 30 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted alkenyl group having 4 to 30 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted alkynyl group having 4 to 30 carbon atoms or a substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl group having 4 to 30 carbon atoms.
US09196838B2 Organic compound and organic light-emitting device comprising the same
An organic compound represented by Formula 1 below and an organic light-emitting device including the organic compound; Wherein Ar1, Ar2, Ar3, Ar4, a, b, and c are defined as in the specification.
US09196836B2 Heterocyclic compound, light-emitting element, light-emitting device, electronic device, and lighting device
Provided are a heterocyclic compound which emits blue light and is represented by General Formula (G1) below, and a light-emitting element, a light-emitting device, an electronic device and a lighting device which are formed using the heterocyclic compound represented by General Formula (G1) below. The use of the heterocyclic compound represented by General Formula (G1) makes it possible to provide a light-emitting element which has high emission efficiency, and also a light-emitting device, an electronic device and a lighting device which have reduced power consumption.
US09196835B2 Polymer, method of manufacture thereof, and organic light-emitting device including the polymer
A polymer including a first repeating unit represented by Formula 1: and an organic light-emitting device including the polymer.
US09196828B2 Resistive memory and fabricating method thereof
A resistive memory and a fabricating method thereof are provided. The resistive memory includes first and second electrodes, a variable resistance material layer, a first dielectric layer, and a second dielectric layer. The first electrode includes a first portion and a second portion. The second electrode is disposed opposite to the first electrode. The variable resistance material layer includes a sidewall and first and second surfaces opposite to each other, wherein the first surface is connected with the first portion of the first electrode and the second surface is electrically connected with the second electrode. The second portion surrounds the sidewall of the variable resistance material layer and is connected with the first portion. The first dielectric layer is disposed between the first and the second electrodes. The second dielectric layer is disposed between the variable resistance material layer and the second portion of the first electrode.
US09196827B2 Non-volatile memory devices having dual heater configurations and methods of fabricating the same
A non-volatile memory device includes a data storage structure coupled between first and second conductive lines of the memory device. The data storage structure includes a conductive lower heater element, a data storage pattern, and a conductive upper heater element sequentially stacked. At least one sidewall surface of the data storage pattern is coplanar with a sidewall surface of the upper heater element thereabove and a sidewall surface of the lower heater element therebelow. Related fabrication methods are also discussed.
US09196826B2 Method for manufacturing a magnetic semiconductor memory MRAM comprising etching a magnetic tunnel junction layer formed on a lower electrode utilizing an upper electrode having annular shape
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor memory device includes forming a magnetic tunnel junction layer on a lower electrode, forming a spacer having an annular shape on the magnetic tunnel junction layer, forming upper electrodes on both sidewall surfaces of the annular shaped spacer, removing the spacer, and etching the magnetic tunnel junction layer by using the upper electrodes as an etch mask.
US09196820B2 Piezoelectric pressure sensor having piezoelectric material covering electrodes
A pressure sensor including a lower substrate having two electrodes partially covered with a semiconductor layer and a piezoelectric layer made of a piezoelectric material, and in contact with the semiconductor layer in such a way that semiconductor material is in contact with the piezoelectric material and with the two electrodes, deposited thereon. The electrodes are intended to be connected to a voltage source or to a device for measuring the intensity of a current generated by the displacement of the electric charges in the semiconductor layer between the electrodes, said electric charges being created when a pressure is exerted on the piezoelectric layer.
US09196819B2 Oriented piezoelectric ceramic, piezoelectric element, liquid discharge head, ultrasonic motor, and dust removing device
Provided is an oriented piezoelectric ceramic of satisfactory piezoelectricity, which includes a metal oxide represented by (1−x)NaNbO3-xBaTiO3. Also provided are a piezoelectric element using the oriented piezoelectric ceramic which includes the metal oxide represented by (1−x)NaNbO3-xBaTiO3, and a liquid discharge head, an ultrasonic motor, and a dust removing device which use the piezoelectric element. An oriented piezoelectric ceramic includes as a main component a metal oxide represented by the following general formula (1), in which the oriented piezoelectric ceramic has a lead content and a potassium content that are each 1,000 ppm or less: (1−x)NaNbO3-xBaTiO3 . . . General formula (1), where a relationship of 0
US09196816B2 Piezoelectric oscillation device with elastic body and touch panel having same
In a piezoelectric oscillation device in which a support substrate is oscillated using a bimorph-type piezoelectric oscillation element, the click sensation when the support substrate is operated is improved, and shock resistance of a control panel is improved. Provided is a piezoelectric oscillation device in which wiring is not easily broken. On the rear side of a touch panel (16), one main surface of a bimorph-type piezoelectric oscillation element (20) is entirely bonded via an elastic body (18) having a tensile elasticity of 20-100 MPa as measured according to JIS K7161. The piezoelectric oscillation element (20) has surface electrode layers (30A, 30B) connected to terminal electrodes (36A, 36B) via wiring lines (38A, 38B). The wiring lines (38A, 38B) are formed on top of a wiring protection layer (32) made of an elastic body provided on the rear side of the touch panel (16), and because the wiring lines can move following the displacement and are therefore resistant to breakage. When the piezoelectric oscillation element (20) is displaced toward the touch panel (16), it can transmit a greater amount of displacement to the touch panel (16) than when it is displaced to the opposite side.
US09196814B2 Light emitting device package and light unit
Embodiments provide a light emitting device package including a package body having a through-hole; a radiator disposed in the through-hole and including an alloy layer having Cu; and a light emitting device disposed on the radiator, wherein the alloy layer includes at least one of W or Mo, and wherein the package body includes cavity including a sidewall and a bottom surface, and wherein the through-hole is formed in the bottom surface.
US09196790B2 Method for making epitaxial structure
A method for making an epitaxial structure is provided. The method includes following steps. A substrate having an epitaxial growth surface is provided. A buffer layer is formed on the epitaxial growth surface. A carbon nanotube layer is placed on the buffer layer. An epitaxial layer is epitaxially grown on the buffer layer. The substrate is removed.
US09196784B2 Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing semiconductor device
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes an n-type semiconductor layer and a first metal layer. The n-type semiconductor layer includes a nitride semiconductor. The n-type semiconductor layer includes a boron-containing region including boron bonded to oxygen. The first metal layer contacts the boron-containing region.
US09196783B2 Method for insulating nanowires or mircowires
A method for producing a microelectronic device including a plurality of light emitting diodes each including a wire of nanometric or micrometric size, the method including: growing the nanowires from a growth substrate; forming at least one dielectric layer on a transfer substrate distinct from the growth substrate; and penetration by the nanowires in the dielectric layer.
US09196780B2 Solar cell
Disclosed is a solar cell that comprises a substrate made of a semiconductor material, a first amorphous semiconductor layer placed on one region of the substrate and being of one conductivity type, a second amorphous semiconductor layer placed on another region of the substrate and being of another conductivity type, a substantially intrinsic i-type amorphous semiconductor layer provided above the first amorphous semiconductor layer, a third amorphous semiconductor layer provided on the i-type amorphous semiconductor layer and being of the other conductivity type, a first crystalline semiconductor layer placed between the first amorphous semiconductor layer and the i-type amorphous semiconductor layer and being of the one conductivity type, and a second crystalline semiconductor layer placed between the first crystalline semiconductor layer and the i-type amorphous semiconductor layer and being of the other conductivity type.
US09196771B2 Deployable photovoltaic array and collapsible support unit thereof
A deployable photovoltaic array comprising a plurality of photovoltaic modules attached to a collapsible support unit, where said support unit is made up of a pair of laterally spaced similar pantographs. Each pantograph has the form of a plurality of interconnected rhombs made by pivotally joined elongated arms. Two opposite sides of each solar module are attached to a pair of corresponding nearest parallel arms on the opposite sides of said pantographs. Said array in its deployed condition for large solar elevation angles acquires a characteristic staircase-like form. Angles of said rhombs may further be adjusted to achieve an optimal inclination of said solar modules with respect to the current direction to the sun. In the stowed configuration said array may be held in a protecting container, and is readily portable.
US09196768B2 Method and apparatus for depositing copper—indium—gallium selenide (CuInGaSe2-CIGS) thin films and other materials on a substrate
An apparatus for deposition of a plurality of elements onto a solar cell substrate that comprises: a housing; a transporting apparatus to transport the substrate in and out of the housing; a first tubing apparatus to deliver powders of a first elements to the housing; a first source material tube located outside of the housing and joined to a feeder tube of the tubing apparatus; a valve located inside of the first source material tube sufficient to block access between the first source material tube and the first feeder tube; a first heating tube located inside of the housing and connected to the first feeder tube; a similar second tubing apparatus to deliver powders of a second elements to the housing; a loading station for loading the substrate onto the transporting apparatus; one or more thermal sources to heat the housing and the first and second heating tube.
US09196763B2 Efficient light extraction from weakly-coupled dielectric buttes
A light emitting diode (LED) with weakly-coupled dielectric buttes deposited along the surface is disclosed. The buttes improve light extraction from a distributed volume of incoherent sources in a high-index substrate, as well as from light backscattered by a rear metallic contact. A lattice arrangement for the buttes maximizes area coverage, subject to the constraint of weak evanescent wave coupling between them. The butte distribution may be fabricated by epitaxial deposition above a current spreading layer, followed by photolithographic patterning and etching.
US09196761B2 Semiconductor optical device
A semiconductor optical device includes a stem; a semiconductor optical element mounted on the stem; a resin cap including a cylindrical body portion, a plate portion, and an edge portion; and a lens attached integrally to the plate portion of the cap. The edge portion of the cap is bonded to the stem so that the cap covers the semiconductor optical element. The cylindrical body portion of the cap has at least one first portion and second portions which are spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical body portion and which project inwardly relative to the at least one first portion. The stem has projections, and each projection vertically underlies and engages or contacts a surface of a respective one of the second portions of the cap.
US09196755B2 Support member for mounting photovoltaic modules and mounting system including the same
A support member for mounting photovoltaic modules on a support surface and a mounting system including the same are disclosed herein. The support member may comprise a body portion that includes a ballast receiving portion for accommodating one or more ballasts, the body portion further including a first support portion with a first surface and a second support portion with a second surface, the first support portion being spaced apart from the second support portion by the ballast receiving portion. The support member is configured to bridge a plurality of rows of photovoltaic modules, the first surface of the support member configured to support one or more photovoltaic modules in a first row of the plurality of rows of photovoltaic modules, and the second surface of the support member configured to support one or more photovoltaic modules in a second row of the plurality of rows of photovoltaic modules.
US09196751B2 Junction FET semiconductor device with dummy mask structures for improved dimension control and method for forming the same
A method for simultaneously forming JFET devices and MOSFET devices on a substrate includes using gate structures which serve as active gate structures in the MOSFET region, as dummy gate structures in the JFET portion of the device. The dummy gate electrodes are used as masks and determine the spacing between gate regions and source/drain regions, the width of the gate regions, and the spacing between adjacent gate regions according to some embodiments. The transistor channel is therefore accurately dimensioned.
US09196743B2 Field effect device with oxide semiconductor layer
Provided is a semiconductor device in which generation of a parasitic channel in an end region of an oxide semiconductor film is suppressed. The semiconductor device includes a gate electrode, an oxide semiconductor film, a source electrode and a drain electrode, and a channel region formed in the oxide semiconductor film. The channel region is formed between a first side surface of the source electrode and a second side surface of the drain electrode opposite to the first side surface. The oxide semiconductor film has an end region which does not overlap with the gate electrode. The end region which does not overlap with the gate electrode is positioned between a first region that is the nearest to one end of the first side surface and a second region that is the nearest to one end of the second side surface.
US09196740B2 TFT structure and pixel structure
A pixel structure including a substrate, a gate, an insulation layer, a metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) layer, a source and a drain, at least one film layer, and a first electrode layer is provided. The gate is disposed on the substrate. The insulation layer covers the gate. The MOS layer is disposed on the insulation layer above the gate. The source and the drain are disposed on the MOS layer. The film layer covers the MOS layer and includes a transparent photocatalytic material, wherein the transparent photocatalytic material blocks ultraviolet light from reaching the MOS layer. The first electrode layer is electrically connected to the source or the drain.
US09196736B2 Array substrate and manufacturing method thereof and display device
Embodiments of the present invention provide an array substrate, a manufacturing method thereof and a display device. The array substrate comprises a plurality of pixel regions arranged in a two-dimensional matrix, gate lines extending along a row direction of the two-dimensional matrix and data lines extending along a column direction of the two-dimensional matrix, each pixel region including a pixel electrode. The array substrate further comprises at least one common electrode line, and the common electrode line is disposed to be parallel to the data lines.
US09196735B2 Thin film transistor and method for manufacturing the same, array substrate, and display device
The present invention discloses a thin film transistor and a method for manufacturing the same, an array substrate and a display device. The performance of the thin film transistor can be improved and thereby the image quality can be improved by an increase in the width of the conducting area of a thin film transistor without change of the capacitance of the source electrode. The thin film transistor comprises a substrate, a gate electrode, a source electrode, at least two drain electrodes, a semiconductor layer, a gate electrode protection layer located between the gate electrode and the semiconductor layer and an etch stopping layer located between the semiconductor layer and the source electrode with the drain electrode, wherein the source electrode and the drain electrodes are respectively connected with the semiconductor layer by a via hole.
US09196730B1 Variable channel strain of nanowire transistors to improve drive current
A semiconductor device with variable channel strain is provided. The semiconductor device comprises a nanowire structure formed as a channel between a source region and a drain region. The nanowire structure has a first channel section subjected to a first strain level and joined with a second channel section subjected to a second strain level different from the first strain level. The first channel section is coupled adjacent to the drain region and the second channel section is coupled adjacent to the source region. The semiconductor device further comprises a gate region that has a first strain section and a second strain section. The first strain section is configured to cause the first channel section to be subjected to the first strain level and the second strain section is configured to cause the second channel section to be subjected to the second strain level.
US09196727B2 High uniformity screen and epitaxial layers for CMOS devices
A transistor and method of fabrication thereof includes a screening layer formed at least in part in the semiconductor substrate beneath a channel layer and a gate stack, the gate stack including spacer structures on either side of the gate stack. The transistor includes a shallow lightly doped drain region in the channel layer and a deeply lightly doped drain region at the depth relative to the bottom of the screening layer for reducing junction leakage current. A compensation layer may also be included to prevent loss of back gate control.
US09196720B2 Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing semiconductor device
A first lower insulating film (LIL1) is formed on the bottom surface and a lower portion of the side surface of a first concave portion (gate trench) and is thicker than a gate insulating film (GIF). An upper end of LIL1 is connected to a lower end of the GIF. A second lower insulating film is formed on the bottom surface and a lower portion of the side surface of a second concave portion (termination trench). An upper insulating film (UIF) is formed at an upper portion of the side surface of the second concave portion and a lower end is connected to an upper end of LIL2. The depth of the second concave portion is ≧90% and ≦110% of the depth of the first concave portion. The thickness of LIL2 is ≧95% and ≦105% of the thickness of LIL1. The UIF is thicker than the GIF.
US09196717B2 High voltage metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor device
A HV MOS transistor device is provided. The HV MOS transistor device includes a substrate comprising at least an insulating region formed thereon, a gate positioned on the substrate and covering a portion of the insulating region, a drain region and a source region formed at respective sides of the gate in the substrate, and a first implant region formed under the insulating region. The substrate comprises a first conductivity type, the drain, the source, and the first implant region comprise a second conductivity type, and the first conductivity type and the second conductivity type are complementary to each other.
US09196715B2 Field effect transistor with channel core modified to reduce leakage current and method of fabrication
A semiconductor device includes a channel structure formed on a substrate, the channel structure being formed of a semiconductor material. A gate structure covers at least a portion of the surface of the channel structure and is formed of a film of insulation material and a gate electrode. A source structure is connected to one end of the channel structure, and a drain structure is connected to the other end of the channel structure. The channel structure has a non-uniform composition, in a cross-sectional view, that provides a reduction of a leakage current of the semiconductor device relative to a leakage current that would result from a uniform composition.
US09196714B2 IGBT device with buried emitter regions
An embodiment of an IGBT device is integrated in a chip of semiconductor material including a substrate of a first type of conductivity, an active layer of a second type of conductivity formed on an inner surface of the substrate, a body region of the first type of conductivity extending within the active layer from a front surface thereof opposite the inner surface, a source region of the second type of conductivity extending within the body region from the front surface, a channel region being defined within the body region between the source region and the active layer, a gate element insulated from the front surface extending over the channel region, a collector terminal contacting the substrate on a rear surface thereof opposite the inner surface, an emitter terminal contacting the source region and the body region on the front surface, and a gate terminal contacting the gate element.
US09196711B2 Fin field effect transistor including self-aligned raised active regions
Fin mask structures are formed over a semiconductor material portion on a crystalline insulator layer. A disposable gate structure and a gate spacer are formed over the fin mask structures. Employing the disposable gate structure and the gate spacer as an etch mask, physically exposed portions of the fin mask structures and the semiconductor material portion are removed by an etch. A source region and a drain region are formed by selective epitaxy of a semiconductor material from physically exposed surfaces of the crystalline insulator layer. The disposable gate structure is removed selective to the source region and the drain region. Semiconductor fins are formed by anisotropically etching portions of the semiconductor material portion, employing the gate spacer and the fin mask structures as etch masks. A gate dielectric and a gate electrode are formed within the gate cavity.
US09196704B2 Selective laser annealing process for buried regions in a MOS device
Laser anneal to melt regions of a microelectronic device buried under overlying materials, such as an interlayer dielectric (ILD). Melting temperature differentiation is employed to selectively melt a buried region. In embodiments a buried region is at least one of a gate electrode and a source/drain region. Laser anneal may be performed after contact formation with contact metal coupling energy into the buried layer for the anneal.
US09196697B2 Semiconductor device with an aluminum alloy gate
A semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing the semiconductor device are provided. The semiconductor device uses an aluminum alloy, rather than aluminum, for a metal gate. Therefore, the surface of the high-k metal gate after the CMP is aluminum alloy rather than pure aluminum, which can greatly reduce defects, such as corrosion, pits and damage, in the metal gate and improve reliability of the semiconductor device.
US09196689B2 P-type oxide alloys based on copper oxides, tin oxides, tin—copper alloy oxides and metal alloy thereof, and nickel oxide, with embedded metals thereof, fabrication process and use thereof
The present invention relates to thin films comprising non-stoichiometric monoxides of: copper (OCu2)x with embedded cubic metal copper (Cucy) [(OCu2)x+(Cu1-2)y, wherein 0.05≦x<1 and 0.01≦y≦0.9]; of tin (OSn)αx with embedded metal tin (Snβx) [(OSn)z+(Sn1-2)w wherein 0.05≦z<1 and 0.01≦w≦0.9]; Cucx—Snβx alloys with embedded metal Sn and Cu [(O—Cu—Sn)a+(Cuα—Snβ)b with 0<α<2 and 0<β<2, wherein 0.05≦a<1 and 0.01≦b≦0.9]; and of nickel (ONi)x with embedded Ni and Sn species [(O—Ni)a+(Niα—Snβ)b with 0<α<2 and 0<β<2, wherein 0.05≦a<1 and 0.01≦b≦0.9]; or combinations thereof, with amorphous, or nanocrystalline, or polycrystalline structure, either doped or not, with impurities such as zirconium, nitrogen or fluorine, for the fabrication of CMOS or TFT devices, with active matrices for LCD or OLED, fabrication of logic circuits, among others, using rigid or flexible substrates, wherein a protection layer, such as SU8 or the like, or silicon oxide or silicon nitride films are used for encapsulation.
US09196688B2 Delamination and crack prevention in III-nitride wafers
In an exemplary implementation, a method includes growing a III-Nitride body over a group IV substrate in a semiconductor wafer. The method includes forming at least one device layer over the III-Nitride body. The method also includes etching grid array trenches in the III-Nitride body, where the etching of the grid array trenches may extend into the group IV substrate. The method can also include forming an edge trench around a perimeter of the semiconductor wafer. The method further includes forming separate dies by cutting the semiconductor wafer approximately along the grid array trenches.
US09196687B2 Method for producing group III nitride semiconductor and template substrate
A semiconductor substrate includes a sapphire substrate including an a-plane main surface and a groove in a surface thereof, the groove includes side surfaces and a bottom surface, and a Group III nitride semiconductor layer formed on the sapphire substrate. Both side surfaces of the groove assume a c-plane of sapphire. An axis perpendicular to one of the side surfaces of the groove of the Group III nitride semiconductor layer assumes a c-axis of Group III nitride semiconductor. A plane parallel to the main surface of the sapphire substrate of the Group III nitride semiconductor layer assumes an m-plane of Group III nitride semiconductor.
US09196685B2 Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
A semiconductor device includes a first superlattice buffer layer formed on a substrate. A second superlattice buffer layer is formed on the first superlattice buffer layer. A first semiconductor layer is formed by a nitride semiconductor on the second superlattice buffer layer. A second semiconductor layer is formed by a nitride semiconductor on the first semiconductor layer. The first superlattice buffer layer is formed by alternately and cyclically laminating a first superlattice formation layer and a second superlattice formation layer. The second superlattice buffer layer is formed by alternately and cyclically laminating the first superlattice formation layer and the second superlattice formation layer. The first superlattice formation layer is formed by AlxGa1-xN, and the second superlattice formation layer is formed by AyGa1-yN, where x>y. A concentration of an impurity element doped into the second superlattice buffer layer is higher than that doped into the first superlattice buffer layer.
US09196684B2 Tensile nitride profile shaper etch to provide void free gapfill
A method of reducing the impact of FEoL topography on dual stress liner depositions and the resulting device are disclosed. Embodiments include forming a first nitride layer between and over a pFET and an nFET; thinning the first nitride layer; forming a second nitride layer over the first nitride layer; and removing the first and the second nitride layers from over the pFET.
US09196679B2 Schottky diode with buried layer in GaN materials
A semiconductor structure includes a III-nitride substrate characterized by a first conductivity type and having a first side and a second side opposing the first side, a III-nitride epitaxial layer of the first conductivity type coupled to the first side of the III-nitride substrate, and a plurality of III-nitride epitaxial structures of a second conductivity type coupled to the III-nitride epitaxial layer. The semiconductor structure further includes a III-nitride epitaxial formation of the first conductivity type coupled to the plurality of III-nitride epitaxial structures, and a metallic structure forming a Schottky contact with the III-nitride epitaxial formation and coupled to at least one of the plurality of III-nitride epitaxial structures.
US09196671B2 Integrated decoupling capacitor utilizing through-silicon via
A semiconductor device may include a through substrate via (TSV) conductive structure that may extend vertically through two or more layers of the semiconductor device. The TSV conductive structure may be coupled to a first voltage supply. The semiconductor device may include substrate layer. The substrate layer may include a first dopant region and a second dopant region. The first dopant region may be coupled to a second voltage supply. The second dopant region may be in electrical communication with the TSV conductive structure. The semiconductor device may include a first metal layer and a first insulator layer disposed between the substrate layer and the first metal layer. The first metal layer may laterally contact the TSV conductive structure. The first and second voltage supply may be adapted to create a capacitance at a junction between the first dopant region and the second dopant region.
US09196664B2 Display device and method for fabricating the same
In some aspects, a display device comprising a substrate, an organic film positioned on the substrate, an inorganic film positioned on the organic film and having at least one hole for exposing at least a part of the organic film, a first electrode positioned on the inorganic film, a second electrode positioned on the first electrode, an emission layer positioned between the first electrode and the second electrode to emit light by the first electrode and the second electrode, and an organic pattern positioned on the organic film that is exposed by the hole is provided.
US09196659B2 Method for fabricating an electronic device with anti-oxidation layers
An electronic device includes a semiconductor memory circuit. The semiconductor memory circuit includes a plurality of first conductive lines which includes an anti-oxidation layer on both sides of each first conductive line, an inter-layer dielectric layer suitable for gap-filling a space between the first conductive lines, a material layer formed over the first conductive lines and the inter-layer dielectric layer and including oxygen vacancies, and a plurality of second conductive lines formed over the material layer to intersect with the first conductive lines. A first portion of the material layer where the first conductive lines and the second conductive lines overlap each other has a lower oxygen content than a second portion of the material layer where the inter-layer dielectric layer and the second conductive lines overlap each other.
US09196645B2 Photoelectric conversion device and imaging system
A photoelectric conversion device includes: a first semiconductor region of a first conductivity type, which configures a first photoelectric conversion element; a second semiconductor region of the first conductivity type, which configures a second photoelectric conversion element; a third semiconductor region of the first conductivity type; a fourth semiconductor region of the first conductivity type; a first gate electrode, configuring a first transfer transistor conjointly; and a second gate electrode, configuring a second transfer transistor. At a side of the first gate electrode which is toward the first semiconductor region in plan view of the surface of the semiconductor substrate, a length of the side of the first gate electrode toward the first semiconductor region, is shorter than a length of the active region, and a length of the side of the first gate electrode toward the first semiconductor region, is longer than a length of the first semiconductor region.
US09196642B2 Stress release layout and associated methods and devices
An embodiment semiconductor device includes a substrate such as a silicon or silicon-containing film, a pixel array supported by the substrate, and a metal stress release feature arranged around a periphery of the pixel array. The metal stress release feature may be formed from metal strips or discrete metal elements. The metal stress release feature may be arranged in a stress release pattern that uses a single line or a plurality of lines. The metal stress release pattern may also use metal corner elements at ends of the lines.
US09196634B2 TFT array substrate, display panel and display device
The present invention discloses a TFT array substrate, comprising: a plurality of scan lines; a plurality of data lines; pixel units located in areas defined by adjacent scan lines and adjacent data lines; wherein each of the pixel units comprises a first electrode and a second electrode stacked and insulated from each other, the first electrode is flat shape, and the second electrode comprises a plurality of strip electrodes extending along a first direction and arranged along a second direction; a first pixel unit and a second pixel unit adjacent to each other form a unit group; the first pixel unit comprises a first part extending along the first direction and a second part extending from an end area of the first part to the second pixel unit; the second pixel unit comprises a third part extending along the first direction and a fourth part extending from an end area of the third part to the first pixel unit; and the second part is staggered with the fourth part. With such design, the color resistance compensation can not be needed, and also the transmittance is increased.
US09196628B1 3D stacked IC device with stepped substack interlayer connectors
A stepped substack interlayer connector structure on a multilayer integrated circuit includes N steps on the substrate from a surface of the substrate at a first level to a surface of the substrate at a second level. A stack of active layers alternating with insulating layers on the substrate, including a plurality of substacks disposed in relation to the N step(s) to form respective contact regions in which the substacks are disposed at a common level. Interlayer connectors are formed by conductors in the respective regions connected to landing areas on active layers in each of the plurality of substacks. The maximum depth of the interlayer connectors is equal to, or less than, the thickness of one of the substacks.
US09196608B2 Method of chip positioning for multi-chip packaging
Embodiments of the present invention include a method for multi-chip packaging. For example, the method includes positioning a first integrated circuit (IC) on a substrate package based on a first set of reference markers in physical contact with the substrate package and confirming an alignment of the first IC based on a second set of reference markers in physical contact with the substrate package. A second IC is stacked onto first IC based on the first set of reference markers. An alignment of the second IC is confirmed based on the second set of reference markers, where the second set of reference markers is disposed at a different location on the substrate package than the first set of reference markers.
US09196595B2 Semiconductor bonding structure
The disclosure relates to a semiconductor bonding structure and process and a semiconductor chip. The semiconductor bonding structure includes a first pillar, a first interface, an intermediate area, a second interface and a second pillar in sequence. The first pillar, the second pillar and the intermediate area include a first metal. The first interface and the second interface include the first metal and an oxide of a second metal. The content percentage of the first metal in the first interface and the second interface is less than that of the first metal in the intermediate area.
US09196593B2 Semiconductor device
To provide a semiconductor device whose reliability is improved by increase in resistance to external stress and electrostatic discharge with reduction in thickness and size achieved. An IC chip provided with an integrated circuit and a resonant capacitor portion, an antenna provided over the IC chip, and a conductive blocking body provided so as to at least partially overlap the antenna with an insulating film interposed therebetween are included. A capacitor is formed with a layered structure of the antenna, the insulating film over the antenna, and the conductive blocking body over the insulating film.
US09196589B2 Stacked wafer structure and method for stacking a wafer
A stacked wafer structure includes a substrate; dams provided on the substrate and having protrusions on a surface thereof; and a wafer with recesses provided on the dam. The protrusions on the surface of the dams are wedged into the recesses of the wafer, preventing air chambers from forming between the recesses of the wafer and the dams, so that the wafer is not separated from the dams due to the presence of air chambers during subsequent packaging process. A method for stacking a wafer is also provided.
US09196588B2 EMI shield
An EMI shield can be formed directly on a component, e.g., an unpackaged or packaged semiconductor die, by depositing and curing a curable composition which includes electrically conductive particles and a carrier. In examples, the shield can be configured as a grid or net of electrically conductive traces or lines. The curable electrically conductive material may be applied to the component surface in a flowable form and cured or allowed to cure to form the electrically conductive shield. The shield can be electrically coupled to contacts on an underlying circuit panel or support. The coupling material may be a conductive adhesive, and may be or may include a material the same as, or similar to, the shield material.
US09196584B2 Light-emitting device and lighting apparatus using the same
A light-emitting device includes a substrate, first LEDs and second LEDs mounted on the substrate, multiple wirings separately formed on the substrate, and a conductive member for connecting adjacent two wirings in multiple wirings for establishing series connection, parallel connection, or a combination of series and parallel connections of the first LEDs and the second LEDs. This achieves the light-emitting device that can support multiple different specifications, using a single type of substrate.
US09196578B1 Common pin for multi-die semiconductor package
A semiconductor package has multiple dies and an interior power bar that extends within an interior space formed within the die flag between the dies. The bond pads located on the interior side of each die are wire-bonded to the interior power bar. Some embodiments may have more than two dies and/or more than one interior power bar between each pair of adjacent dies.
US09196577B2 Semiconductor packaging arrangement
A semiconductor packaging arrangement includes a transistor device including a first side including a source electrode and a gate electrode, a die pad having a first surface, and a lead having a first surface. A first conductive member is arranged between the source electrode and the first surface of the die pad and spaces the source electrode from the first surface of the die pad by a distance that is greater than a distance between the gate electrode and the first surface of the lead.
US09196575B1 Integrated circuit package with cavity in substrate
Integrated circuit packages with heat dissipation function are disclosed. A disclosed integrated circuit package includes a first die attached on a top surface of a second die. The second die may be coupled to a thermally conductive block. The thermally conductive block may be embedded in a cavity formed in a package substrate. A heat spreading lid may be disposed over the package substrate. The integrated circuit package may be disposed on a printed circuit substrate via solder bumps or balls. The printed circuit substrate may have heat dissipation paths to dissipate heat from the integrated circuit package.
US09196574B2 Snubber circuit and method of using bipolar junction transistor in snubber circuit
A snubber circuit includes: a capacitor including a first terminal and a second terminal, where the first terminal of the capacitor is electrically connected to a first terminal of the snubber circuit; and a Bipolar Junction Transistor (BJT), where one of the emitter and the collector of the BJT is electrically connected to the second terminal of the capacitor, and the other one of the emitter and the collector of the BJT is electrically connected to a second terminal of the snubber circuit. The snubber circuit can be electrically connected in parallel to an active component or a load to protect the circuitry connected to the load, and more particularly to absorb spike or noise generated during high-frequency switching of the active component to recycle energy, in order to achieve the goal of reducing spike voltages and enhancing efficiency.
US09196569B2 Bonding pad of array substrate, method for producing the same, array substrate, and liquid crystal display apparatus
A bonding pad of an array substrate, comprising: a gate electrode formed on the array substrate; a first insulation layer formed on the gate electrode; a first conductive layer formed on the first insulation layer; a Source/Drain electrode (S/D) layer formed on the first conductive layer; a second insulation layer formed on the S/D layer; and a second conductive layer formed on the second insulation layer, wherein the second insulation layer is formed with a bonding pad via through which the second conductive layer is electrically connected to the first conductive layer, and the second conductive layer is separated from the S/D layer by the second insulation layer and does not contact the S/D layer. The present invention also discloses a method for producing the bonding pad, an array substrate comprising the bonding pad, and a liquid crystal display apparatus comprising the array substrate.
US09196568B2 Arrangement and method for manufacturing the same
An arrangement is provided. The arrangement may include: a die including at least one electronic component and a first terminal on a first side of the die and a second terminal on a second side of the die opposite the first side, wherein the first side being the main processing side of the die, and the die further including at least a third terminal on the second side; a first electrically conductive structure providing current flow from the third terminal on second side of the die to the first side through the die; a second electrically conductive structure on the first side of the die laterally coupling the second terminal with the first electrically conductive structure; and an encapsulation material disposed at least over the first side of the die covering the first terminal and the second electrically conductive structure.
US09196567B1 Pad structure
A pad structure including a plurality of staircase structures is provided. The staircase structures are disposed on the substrate. Each of the staircase structures includes a plurality of conductor layers and a plurality of dielectric layers that are alternately stacked. Two adjacent staircase structures are connected with each other by sharing the conductor layers and the dielectric layers and are arranged in parallel along a first direction. One of the two adjacent staircase structures includes at least one staircase portion that gradually decreases in height along a second direction, and the other of the two adjacent staircase structures includes at least one staircase portion that gradually decreases in height along a direction opposite to the second direction.
US09196564B2 Apparatus and method for a back plate for heat sink mounting
Apparatus and method embodiments are provided for a heat sink mounted on a printed circuit board using a back plate with preload. An apparatus comprises a circuit component, a heat sink on a first side of the circuit component a, a back plate having an initial curvature and positioned at a second side of the circuit component opposite to the heat sink, and one or more screws through the back plate and the circuit component and partially through the heat sink. A method further includes placing and flattening a curved back plate on a second side of a circuit board opposite to the first side, and fastening the back plate, the circuit board, and the heat sink together by inserting a plurality of screws through the back plate, the circuit board, and a partial depth on a single side of the heat sink.
US09196553B2 Semiconductor package structure and manufacturing method thereof
A manufacturing method of semiconductor package structure includes: providing a first dielectric layer having multiple through holes; providing a second dielectric layer having multiple conductive vias and a chip-containing opening; laminating the second dielectric layer onto the first dielectric layer; disposing a chip in the chip-containing opening and adhering a rear surface of the chip onto the first dielectric layer exposed by the chip-containing opening; forming a redistribution circuit layer on the second dielectric layer wherein a part of the redistribution circuit layer extends from the second dielectric layer onto an active surface of the chip and the conductive vias so that the chip electrically connects the conductive vias through the partial redistribution circuit layer; forming multiple solder balls on the first dielectric layer wherein the solder balls are in the through holes and electrically connect the chip through the conductive vias and the redistribution circuit layer.
US09196552B2 Display device and manufacturing and testing methods thereof
A display device is disclosed which includes: gate lines and data lines crossing each other to define unit pixel regions in a display area; a pixel electrode in each unit pixel region; a data shorting bar in a non-display area in substantially parallel with the gate lines; a gate shorting bar in the non-display area in substantially parallel with the data lines; gate link lines electrically connecting the gate lines to the gate shorting bar; data link lines electrically connecting the data lines to the data shorting bar; and shield electrodes on at least one of the gate link lines and the data link lines, the shield electrodes including a conductive material that has a higher melting temperature than that of the at least one of the gate link lines and the data link lines.
US09196550B2 Surface inspection apparatus, method for inspecting surface, exposure system, and method for producing semiconductor device
A surface inspection apparatus includes: an irradiation unit; a detection unit configured to detect a first detection signal according to a first light beam and a second detection signal according to a second light beam; a providing unit which is configured to provide a first reference data and a second reference data; and a determination unit which is configured to determine a processing condition of the pattern in the substrate as an inspection object substrate, based on consistency between the first detection signal and the first reference data, and consistency between the second detection signal and the second reference data.
US09196546B2 Metal gate transistor
A metal gate transistor is disclosed. The metal gate transistor includes a substrate, a metal gate on the substrate, and a source/drain region in the substrate. The metal gate further includes a high-k dielectric layer, a bottom barrier metal (BBM) layer on the high-k dielectric layer, a first work function layer on the BBM layer, a second work function layer between the BBM layer and the first work function layer, and a low resistance metal layer on the first work function layer. Preferably, the first work function layer includes a p-type work function layer and the second work function layer includes a n-type work function layer.
US09196545B2 SiGe SRAM butted contact resistance improvement
The present disclosure relates to a method for fabricating a butted a contact arrangement configured to couple two transistors, wherein an active region of a first transistor is coupled to a gate of a second transistor. The gate of the second transistor is formed from a gate material which comprises a dummy gate of the first transistor, and is configured to straddle a boundary between the active region of the first transistor and an isolation layer formed about the first transistor. The butted a contact arrangement results in a decreased contact resistance for the butted contact as compared to previous methods.
US09196538B2 Semiconductor package and method of fabricating the same
Disclosed are semiconductor packages and methods of fabricating the same. A method may include preparing a wiring board including a mounting region and a molding region surrounding the mounting region; forming a through-hole penetrating through the wiring board at the mounting region; mounting a semiconductor chip on the mounting region of the wiring board by a flip chip bonding method; and forming a molding covering the molding region of the wiring board and the semiconductor chip and filling the through-hole and a space between the semiconductor chip and the wiring board. The wiring board may have a first surface on which the semiconductor chip is mounted, and a second surface opposite to the first surface. A portion of the molding filling the through-hole has a surface coplanar with the second surface of the wiring board.
US09196537B2 Protection of a wafer-level chip scale package (WLCSP)
Consistent with an example embodiment, there is a method for assembling a wafer level chip scale processed (WLCSP) wafer; The wafer has a topside surface and an back-side surface, and a plurality of device die having electrical contacts on the topside surface. The method comprises back-grinding, to a thickness, the back-side surface the wafer. A protective layer of a thickness is molded onto the backside of the wafer. The wafer is mounted onto a sawing foil; along saw lanes of the plurality of device die, the wafer is sawed, the sawing occurring with a blade of a first kerf and to a depth of the thickness of the back-ground wafer. Again, the wafer is sawed along the saw lanes of the plurality of device die, the sawing occurring with a blade of a second kerf, the second kerf narrower than the first kerf, and sawing to a depth of the thickness of the protective layer. The plurality of device die are separated into individual device die. Each individual device die has a protective layer on the back-side, the protective layer having a stand-off distance from a vertical edge of the individual device die.
US09196529B2 Contact pad for semiconductor devices
Packaging devices and methods of manufacture thereof for semiconductor devices are disclosed. In some embodiments, a packaging device includes a contact pad disposed over a substrate, and a passivation layer and/or polymer layer disposed over the substrate and a portion of the contact pad. A post passivation interconnect (PPI) line is disposed over the passivation layer and is coupled to an exposed portion of the contact pad. A PPI pad is disposed over the passivation layer. A transition element is disposed over the passivation layer and is coupled between the PPI line and the PPI pad. The transition element includes a stepped region.
US09196526B2 Semiconductor device and manufacturing method having copper interconnects with metal film, barrier metal, and metal caps
A semiconductor device includes a copper interconnect provided in a trench in an insulation film, a metal film provided on the insulation film along a boundary between the insulation film and the copper interconnect, a barrier metal provided between an inner wall of the trench and the copper interconnect and extending over the metal layer, a first metal cap to cover the copper interconnect and the barrier metal located over the metal film, and a second metal cap to continuously cover the first metal cap, the barrier metal and the metal film.
US09196524B2 Manufacturing method of semiconductor device
A manufacturing method of a semiconductor device is disclosed in the present invention. First, at least one gate structure and plurality of source/drain regions on a substrate are formed, a dielectric layer is then formed on the substrate, a first contact hole and a second contact hole are formed in the dielectric layer, respectively on the gate structure and the source/drain region, and a third contact hole is formed in the dielectric layer, wherein the third contact hole overlaps the first contact hole and the second contact hole.
US09196523B2 Self-aligned permanent on-chip interconnect structures
Interconnect structures are provided including at least one patterned dielectric layer located on a substrate, wherein said at least one patterned dielectric layer includes differently sized conductive features embedded therein. The differently sized conductive features are laterally adjacent to each other and are located at a same interconnect level.
US09196522B2 FinFET with buried insulator layer and method for forming
A fin structure suitable for a FinFET and having a buried insulator layer is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, a semiconductor device comprises a substrate with a first semiconductor material and having a fin structure formed thereupon. The fin structure includes a lower region proximate to the substrate, a second semiconductor material disposed on the lower region, a third semiconductor material disposed on the second semiconductor material, and an insulating material selectively disposed on the second semiconductor material such that the insulating material electrically isolates a channel region of the fin structure and further such that the insulating material exerts a strain on the channel region. The semiconductor device further comprises an isolation feature disposed adjacent to the fin structure.
US09196518B1 Adaptive placement system and method
A method of determining a robot place location for a robot, the robot adapted to transport a substrate. The method comprises moving a calibration fixture past one or more edge sensors along a calibration path offset from and substantially parallel to a nominal transport path; determining robot locations when an edge of the calibration fixture changes a state of the one or more edge sensors; determining one or more sensor locations of the one or more edge sensors based on the robot locations; transporting the substrate along the nominal transport path past the one or more edge sensors to a target location; determining the robot place location based on the sensor locations; and placing the substrate at the target location with the robot located at the robot place location.
US09196514B2 Electrostatic chuck with variable pixilated heating
Electrostatic chucks with variable pixelated heating are described. For example, an electrostatic chuck (ESC) includes a ceramic plate having a front surface and a back surface, the front surface for supporting a wafer or substrate. A base is coupled to the back surface of the ceramic plate. A light carrying medium is disposed in the base, the light carrying medium configured to provide pixelated light-based heating capability for the ESC.
US09196513B2 System and method for controlling a thermal array
A system and method is provided. In one aspect, the system and method may calculate a time period for each mode of a plurality of modes. The system and method may index through each mode for the corresponding time period to provide power to the plurality of thermal elements according to the mode. In another aspect the system and method may index sequentially through each mode of a plurality of modes and apply power to an indexed mode while measuring an electrical characteristic of the thermal elements for the indexed mode.
US09196507B1 Semiconductor device, semiconductor stacked module structure, stacked module structure and method of manufacturing same
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device having an insulating substrate, a semiconductor element which is mounted on one main surface of the insulating substrate via adhesive, with an element circuit surface of the semiconductor element facing upwards, a first insulating material layer (A) which seals the element circuit surface of the semiconductor element and the insulating substrate peripheral thereto, a first metal thin film wire layer provided on the first insulating material layer (A) and a portion of which is exposed to an external surface, a first insulating material layer (B) provided on the first metal thin film wire layer, a second insulating material layer provided on a main surface of the insulating substrate where the semiconductor element is not mounted, a second metal thin film wire layer provided inside the second insulating material layer.
US09196499B2 Method of forming semiconductor fins
Embodiments of the present invention provide methods of removing fin portions from a finFET. At a starting point, a high-K dielectric layer is disposed on a substrate. A fin hardmask and lithography stack is deposited on the high-k dielectric. A fin hardmask is exposed, and a first portion of the fin hardmark is removed. The lithography stack is removed. A second portion of the fin hardmask is removed. Fins are formed. A gap fill dielectric is deposited and recessed.
US09196494B2 Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
In one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, isolation regions disposed in the semiconductor substrate, and device regions disposed between the isolation regions in the semiconductor substrate. The device further includes a first line disposed on the device regions and the isolation regions, a line width of the first line on the isolation regions being larger than a line width of the first line on the device regions.
US09196493B2 Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing thereof
An improved semiconductor device results from the use of an amorphous silicon layer in a gate structure disposed between a dielectric layer and an upper conductive layer such as a control gate. Both a semiconductor device and method of manufacturing a semiconductor device using an amorphous silicon layer are provided.
US09196492B2 Method for manufacturing semiconductor device
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes: forming a metal layer on a semiconductor layer; forming a plated layer having a pattern corresponding to a pattern of a gate bus line which couples each gate finger of a plurality of FETs on the metal layer, the pattern corresponding to the pattern of the gate bus line having a deficient part; forming a mask layer which covers the metal layer exposed in the deficient part; and patterning the metal layer by using the plated layer and the mask layer as a mask.
US09196487B2 Method for forming electrode of n-type nitride semiconductor, nitride semiconductor device, and manufacturing method thereof
According to an example embodiment, a method includes forming a nitrogen vacancy surface layer by treating a surface of an n-type nitride semiconductor with inert gas plasma, and forming an oxygen-added nitride film by treating a surface of the nitrogen vacancy surface layer with oxygen-containing gas plasma, and forming an electrode on the oxygen-added nitride film. The nitrogen vacancy surface layer lacks a nitrogen element.
US09196484B2 Silicon-containing composition for formation of resist underlayer film, which contains organic group containing protected aliphatic alcohol
Described herein are compositions for forming an underlayer film for a solvent-developable resist. These compositions can include a hydrolyzable organosilane having a silicon atom bonded to an organic group containing a protected aliphatic alcohol group, a hydrolysate of the hydrolyzable organosilane, a hydrolysis-condensation product of the hydrolyzable organosilane, or a combination thereof and a solvent. The composition can form a resist underlayer film including, a hydrolyzable organosilane, a hydrolysate of the hydrolyzable organosilane, a hydrolysis-condensation product of the hydrolyzable organosilane, or a combination thereof, the silicon atom in the silane compound having a silicon atom bonded to an organic group containing a protected aliphatic alcohol group in a ratio of 0.1 to 40% by mol based on the total amount of silicon atoms. Also described is a method for applying the composition onto a semiconductor substrate and baking the composition to form a resist underlayer film.
US09196482B2 Solution-based synthesis of CsSnI3
This invention discloses a solution-based synthesis of cesium tin tri-iodide (CsSnI3) film. More specifically, the invention is directed to a solution-based drop-coating synthesis of cesium tin tri-iodide (CsSnI3) films. CsSnI3 films are ideally suited for a wide range of applications such as light emitting and photovoltaic devices.
US09196478B2 Graphene transferring methods, device manufacturing method using the same, and substrate structures including graphene
Graphene transferring methods, a device manufacturing method using the same, and substrate structures including graphene, include forming a catalyst layer on a first substrate, forming a graphene layer on the catalyst layer, forming a protection metal layer on the graphene layer, attaching a supporter to the protection metal layer, separating the first substrate from the catalyst layer such that the protection metal layer, the graphene layer, and the catalyst layer remain on the supporter, removing the catalyst layer from the supporter, and transferring the protection metal layer and the graphene layer from the supporter to a second substrate.
US09196474B2 Metal amide deposition precursors and their stabilization with an inert ampoule liner
Described are methods and apparatuses for the stabilization of precursors, which can be used for the deposition of manganese-containing films. Certain methods and apparatus relate to lined ampoules and/or 2-electron donor ligands.
US09196472B2 Processing liquid for suppressing pattern collapse of fine metal structure, and method for producing fine metal structure using same
There are provided a processing liquid that is capable of suppressing pattern collapse of a fine metal structure, such as a semiconductor device and a micromachine, and a method for producing a fine metal structure using the same. The processing liquid for suppressing pattern collapse of a fine metal structure, contains a phosphate ester and/or a polyoxyalkylene ether phosphate ester, and the method for producing a fine metal structure, uses the same.
US09196469B2 Constraining arcuate divergence in an ion mirror mass analyser
A method of selecting ions of interest from a beam of ions using an analyzer, the method comprising: (i) providing an analyzer comprising two opposing ion mirrors each mirror comprising inner and outer field-defining electrode systems elongated along an analyzer axis z, each system comprising one or more electrodes, the outer system surrounding the inner; (ii) causing the beam of ions to fly through the analyzer along a main flight path in the presence of an analyzer field so as to undergo within the analyzer at least one full oscillation in the direction of the analyzer axis while orbiting about or oscillating between one or more electrodes of the inner field defining electrode system; (iii) providing one or more sets of electrodes adjacent the main flight path; (iv) constraining the arcuate divergence from the main flight path of ions of interest by applying one set of voltages to one or more of the sets of electrodes adjacent the main flight path when the ions of interest are in the vicinity of at least one of said one or more sets of electrodes adjacent the main flight path and applying one or more different sets of voltages to the said one or more sets of electrodes adjacent the main flight path when the ions of interest are not in the vicinity of at least one of said one or more sets of electrodes adjacent the main flight path; and: (v) ejecting the ions of interest from the analyzer. Also provided is a charged particle analyzer comprising the two opposing ion mirrors comprising inner and outer field-defining electrode systems elongated along an analyzer axis z; and at least one arcuate focusing lens for constraining the arcuate divergence of a beam of charged particles within the analyzer while the beam orbits around the axis z, the analyzer further comprising a disc having two faces at least partly spanning the space between the inner and outer field defining electrode systems and lying in a plane perpendicular to the axis z, the disc having resistive coating upon both faces.
US09196452B2 Methods and apparatus for carbon ion source head
Methods and apparatus for a carbon ion source head. An ionization chamber is configured to receive a process gas containing carbon and a noble carrier gas; a cathode is disposed in the ionization chamber and configured to emit electrons in thermionic emission; a graphite coating is provided on at least a portion of the cathode; and an outlet on the ionization chamber is configured to output carbon ions. A method for ion implantation of carbon is disclosed. Additional alternative embodiments are disclosed.
US09196442B2 Contact point device and electromagnetic relay that mounts the contact point device thereon
A contact point device 1 includes a drive block 2 that has a drive shaft 25 to which a movable contactor 29 is attached, and drives the movable contactor 29. The movable contactor 29 is attached to the drive shaft 25 so as to be movable relatively to the drive shaft 25 in an axial direction of the drive shaft, and in addition, relative movement thereof in the axial direction is regulated due to abutment of the movable contactor 29 against a regulating portion 60. Then, between the movable contactor 29 and the regulating portion 60 is formed a rotational movement deregulating portion 80, which relaxes the regulation by the regulating portion 60 for the relative rotational movement of the movable contactor 29 in the axial direction.
US09196430B2 Electrical circuit protection device enclosure assembly and kit with device compatibility attachment
An enclosure for an electrical circuit protection product such as a surge protection device include a three dimensional compatibility housing piece attachable to an enclosure assembly that visually provides informational feedback and enhanced state indication features for use by persons to more readily understand and locate compatible circuit protection devices and information.
US09196426B2 Electrodes incorporating nanostructured polymer films for electrochemical ion storage
Ion storage electrodes formed by coating an underlying substrate with a nanofibrillar film of structured conjugate polymer nanofibers and methods of forming such electrodes are described herein. The electrical properties of the electrodes may be customized by modifying the structure of the polymer nanofibers, the thickness of the nanofiber film, and the pore size of the nanofiber films.
US09196424B2 Double-center bipyridyl cationic ion liquid, preparation method therefor and use thereof
Disclosed is a double-center bipyridyl cationic ion liquid prepared by reacting bipyridyl with haloalkane for synthesis of dialkyl bipyridyl halide, and converting the halogen ion in the dialkyl bipyridyl halide to the target anion via an ion-exchange reaction, to give the final target ionic liquid. Also disclosed are an organic electrolyte containing the double-center bipyridyl cationic ion liquid and a preparation method therefor.
US09196423B2 Multilayer ceramic electronic part and method of manufacturing the same
There is provided a multilayer ceramic electronic part, including: a ceramic element having a plurality of dielectric layers laminated therein; a plurality of first and second internal electrodes each formed on at least one surface of each of the plurality of dielectric layers within the ceramic element, the first and second internal electrodes respectively including first and second lead parts extended therefrom to be exposed through one surface of the ceramic element; and first and second external electrodes formed on one surface of the ceramic element, and electrically connected to the first and second internal electrodes through exposed portions of the first and second lead parts, respectively, wherein a ratio of a width of the first or second lead part to a width of the first or second external electrode is 10 to 85%.
US09196415B2 Coil component
Disclosed herein is a coil component that includes first and second terminal electrodes provided on the core. The first wire includes a first lead section extending from a winding core portion toward the first terminal electrode so as to cross the winding core portion, and a first connecting section connected to the first terminal electrode. The second wire includes a second lead section extending from the winding core portion toward the second terminal electrode so as to cross the winding core portion, and a second connecting section connected to the second terminal electrode. The first lead section crosses the second lead section so as to pass under the second lead section. The second connecting section is located closer to a far side in an extending direction of the winding core portion than the first connecting section.
US09196413B2 Reactor and compound used in same
[Problem] Provided is an injection-molded reactor which has excellent heat dissipation properties and in which the internal temperature of the core can be satisfactorily inhibited from rising due to heat generation when the reactor is in operation.[Solution Means] A material for a core obtained by mixing a soft magnetic powder, a resin binder, and a thermally conductive fibrous filler having a higher thermal conductivity than the soft magnetic powder in accordance with X·(soft magnetic powder)+Y·(thermally conductive filler)+(100-X-Y)·(resin binder), wherein X, indicating the proportion of the soft magnetic powder, is 83 to 96% by mass and Y, indicating the proportion of the thermally conductive filler, is 0.2 to 6.8% by mass, is used to mold a core 16 so that a coil 10 obtained by winding an electric wire is embedded therein without an interval, thereby configuring a reactor 15.
US09196411B2 System including tunable choke for hydrocarbon resource heating and associated methods
A system and method for heating a hydrocarbon resource in a subterranean formation having a wellbore extending therein, include the use of a radio frequency (RF) source, an RF antenna to be positioned within the wellbore and a transmission line coupling the RF source and the RF antenna. A tunable choke is positioned on the transmission line between the RF source and RF antenna, and a controller is coupled to the tunable choke. The controller may be configured to tune the tunable choke to reduce a common mode current from propagating on an outside of the transmission line toward the RF source.
US09196409B2 Integrated circuit inductors
In order to reduce the inter-path capacitance of an inductor, an integrated circuit inductor design is provided in which the path crossings are designed such that the voltage differences between the adjacent paths in the loops are (in total) minimized.
US09196406B2 High Q factor inductor structure
The present disclosure provides a vertical inductor structure in which the magnetic field is closed such that the magnetic field of the vertical inductor structure is cancelled in the design direction outside the vertical inductor structure, yielding a small, or substantially zero, coupling factor of the vertical inductor structure. In one embodiment, several vertical inductor structures of the present disclosure can be placed in close proximity to create small resonant circuits and filter chains.
US09196405B2 Stable iron oxide nanoparticles and method of production
A method of preparing a dispersion of stabilized iron oxide nanoparticles that comprise cores and coatings on the cores, which comprise zwitterionic functional groups chemically bound to the cores, using a single solution that comprises dissolved iron ions and a zwitterion silane and/or a hydrolyzed product of the zwitterion silane.
US09196404B2 Soft magnetic powder, dust core, and magnetic device
A soft magnetic powder containing an amorphous alloy material having an alloy composition represented by Fe100-a-b-c-dMnaSibBcCd wherein a, b, c and d each represent a proportion in terms of percent by atom, and satisfy 0.1≦a≦10, 3≦b≦15, 3≦c≦15, and 0.1≦d≦3.
US09196403B2 Powder for magnetic member, powder compact, and magnetic member
The present invention provides a powder for a magnetic member being excellent in moldability and difficult to oxidize, a powder compact produced from the powder, and a magnetic member suitable for a raw material of a magnetic member such as a rare earth magnet. A powder for a magnetic member includes magnetic particles 1 which constitute the powder for a magnetic member and each of which is composed of less than 40% by volume of a hydrogen compound 3 of a rare earth element, and the balance composed of an iron-containing material 2 which contains iron and an iron-boron alloy containing iron and boron. The hydrogen compound 3 of a rare earth element is dispersed in a phase of the iron-containing material 2. An antioxidant layer 4 having a low-oxygen permeability coefficient is provided on the surface of each of the magnetic particles 1.
US09196402B2 Electronic component assembly comprising a varistor and a semiconductor component
An electric component assembly comprising a semiconductor component (1) and a carrier is specified, wherein the carrier contains a highly thermally conductive ceramic and is connected to a varistor body. Heat from the semiconductor component can be at least partially dissipated to the carrier (3) by means of the varistor body.
US09196397B2 Shielded electrical cable
A shielded electrical cable includes conductor sets extending along a length of the cable and spaced apart from each other along a width of the cable. First and second shielding films are disposed on opposite sides of the cable and include cover portions and pinched portions arranged such that, in transverse cross section, the cover portions of the films in combination substantially surround each conductor set. An adhesive layer bonds the shielding films together in the pinched portions of the cable. A transverse bending of the cable at a cable location of no more than 180 degrees over an inner radius of at most 2 mm causes a cable impedance of the selected insulated conductor proximate the cable location to vary by no more than 2 percent from an initial cable impedance measured at the cable location in an unbent configuration.
US09196392B2 Assembly conducting wire for rotary electric machine winding and rotary electric machine
An assembly conducting wire for a rotary electric machine winding includes a plurality of bundled wires, the plurality of wires being twisted in a circumferential direction of the assembly conducting wire, and the plurality of wires being welded together at a predetermined distance.
US09196389B2 Systems and methods for efficiently preparing plutonium-238 with high isotopic purity
A method for preparing plutonium-238 (Pu-238) includes using a nuclear reactor in irradiating a liquid containing a neptunium-237 (Np-237) based compound with neutrons to convert a portion of the Np-237 based compound to a Np-238 based compound; retaining the liquid containing the resulting mixture for a sufficient amount of time for the Np-238 based compound to at least partially convert to a Pu-238 based compound; and separating the Pu-238 based compound from the neptunium based compounds using fractional distillation or a chemical separation method.
US09196388B2 System and method for generating molybdenum-99 and metastable technetium-99, and other isotopes
An accelerator based systems are disclosed for the generation of isotopes, such as molybdenum-98 (“99Mo”) and metastable technetium-99 (“99mTc”) from molybdenum-98 (“98Mo”). Multilayer targets are disclosed for use in the system and other systems to generate 99mTc and 98Mo, and other isotopes. In one example a multilayer target comprises a first, inner target of 98Mo surrounded, at least in part, by a separate, second outer layer of 98Mo. In another example, a first target layer of molybdenum-100 is surrounded, at least in part, by a second target layer of 98Mo. In another example, a first inner target comprises a Bremsstrahlung target material surrounded, at least in part, by a second target layer of molybdenum-100, surrounded, at least in part, by a third target layer of 98Mo.
US09196383B2 Scalable prediction failure analysis for memory used in modern computers
One embodiment provides a method for scalable predictive failure analysis. Embodiments of the method may include gathering memory information for memory on a user computer system having at least one processor. Further, the method includes selecting one or more memory-related parameters. Further still, the method includes calculating based on the gathering and the selecting, a single bit error value for the scalable predictive failure analysis through calculations for each of the one or more memory-related parameters that utilize the memory information. Yet further, the method includes setting, based on the calculating, the single bit error value for the user computer system.
US09196377B1 Anti-fuse type one-time programmable memory cell and anti-fuse type one-time programmable memory cell arrays
An anti-fuse type OTP memory cell includes a first active region having a first program region with a first width and a first selection region with a second width that is greater than the first width, a second active region spaced apart from the first active region and having a second program region with a third width and a second selection region with a fourth width that is greater than the third width, a program gate intersecting the first program region and the second program region, a first selection gate intersecting the first selection region, and a second selection gate intersecting the second selection region.
US09196369B2 Communication device and communication method
A communication device includes: a communication unit configured to perform proximity communication with a reader/writer; and a control unit configured to control writing of data as to nonvolatile memory in accordance with a command from the reader/writer; with the control unit writing data in a buffer unit that serves as a buffer to buffer data to be written, in accordance with a command from the reader/writer, writing the unit number of an object unit that is a unit to be written with data as the unit number of the buffer unit, and taking the object unit as a new buffer unit, thereby performing writing of data in the object unit; and with the control unit being activated by an RF signal being received from the reader/writer, and erasing all of the pages of the buffer unit during activation processing to be performed before receiving a command from the reader/writer.
US09196363B2 Semiconductor device
Provided is a semiconductor device having improved performance. The semiconductor device includes the memory cells of a flash memory. Each of the memory cells includes a capacitor element for writing/erasing data having a gate electrode formed of a part of a floating gate electrode, and a MISFET for reading data having a gate electrode formed of another part of the floating gate electrode. The capacitor element for writing/erasing data has a p-type semiconductor region and an n-type semiconductor region which have opposite conductivity types. The length of the floating gate electrode in a gate length direction in the capacitor element for writing/erasing data is smaller than the length of the floating gate electrode in the gate length direction in the MISFET for reading data.
US09196357B2 Voltage stabilizing for a memory cell array
Voltage balancing for a memory cell array is provided. One example method of voltage balancing for a memory array can include activating an access node coupled to a row of a memory array to provide voltage to the row of the memory array, activating a stabilizing transistor coupled to the row of the memory array to create a feedback loop, and activating a driving node coupled to a column of the memory array, wherein activating the driving node deactivates the stabilizing transistor once the column reaches a particular voltage potential.
US09196356B2 Stackable non-volatile memory
A multi-bit NVM cell includes a storage unit having resistive elements, such as phase change resistive elements. The NVM cell may be configured as a single port or dual port multi-bit cell. The NVM cell includes a cell selector. The cell selector selects the multi-bit cell. When appropriate signals are applied to the NVM cell, the cell selector selects an appropriate resistive element of the storage unit. A plurality of storage units can be commonly coupled to the cell selector, facilitating high density applications.
US09196353B2 Semiconductor storage device with smaller driving force precharge
A semiconductor storage device includes an SRAM memory cell composed of a drive transistor, a transfer transistor and a load transistor, an I/O circuit that is connected to bit lines connected to the memory cell, and an operating mode control circuit that switches an operating mode of the I/O circuit between a resume standby mode and a normal operation mode, wherein the I/O circuit includes a write driver that writes data to bit lines, a sense amplifier that reads data from the bit lines, a first switch inserted between the bit lines and the write driver, a second switch inserted between the bit lines and the sense amplifier, a precharge circuit that precharges the bit lines, and a control circuit that controls the first and second switches and the precharge circuit according to a signal from the operating mode control circuit.
US09196343B2 Non-volatile semiconductor memory device
A non-volatile semiconductor memory device according to an embodiment includes a memory cell array including first lines, second lines, and memory cells each including a variable resistor and each connected between one of the first lines and one of the second lines, and a control circuit configured to perform a voltage application operation of applying a first voltage to a selected first line connected to a selected memory cell and applying a second voltage having a voltage value lower than the first voltage to a selected second line connected to the selected memory cell. The control circuit is configured to select the voltage value of the second voltage from among a plurality of different voltage values and output the second voltage.
US09196341B2 Memory device having a local current sink
A memory device having a local current sink is disclosed. In a particular embodiment, an electronic device is disclosed. The electronic device includes one or more write drivers. The electronic device includes at least one Magnetic Tunnel Junction (MTJ) coupled to a bit line and coupled to a source line. The electronic device also includes a current sink circuit comprising a single transistor, the single transistor coupled to the bit line and to the source line.
US09196340B2 Magnetic random access memory having increased on/off ratio and methods of manufacturing and operating the same
A magnetic random access memory (MRAM), and methods of manufacturing and operating the MRAM, include a switching element and a storage node connected to the switching element, and a magnetic node configured to simultaneously store two opposite bits.
US09196336B2 Storage cell, storage device, and magnetic head
Provided is a storage cell that makes it possible to enhance magnetic characteristics of magnetization pinned layer, a storage device and a magnetic head that include the storage cell. The storage cell includes a layer structure including a base layer, a storage layer in which a direction of magnetization is varied in correspondence with information, a magnetization pinned layer that is formed above the base layer and has magnetization that is perpendicular to a film surface and serves as a reference of information stored in the storage layer, and an intermediate layer that is provided between the storage layer and the magnetization pinned layer and is made of a nonmagnetic body. The base layer has a laminated structure of ruthenium and a nonmagnetic body having a face-centered cubic lattice, and the ruthenium is formed at a location adjacent to the magnetization pinned layer.
US09196330B2 Mimicking multi-voltage domain wordline decoding logic for a memory array
Systems and methods for adaptively mimicking wordline decoding logic for multi-voltage domain memory are disclosed. In one embodiment, the multi-voltage domain memory includes a memory array implemented in a high voltage domain and a multi-voltage domain control circuit. The multi-voltage domain control circuit includes multi-voltage domain decoding logic that generates a wordline for the memory array and a multi-voltage domain mimic logic that mimics the multi-voltage domain decoding logic to generate a dummy wordline. In one embodiment, the dummy wordline is utilized to trigger an ending edge (e.g., a falling edge) of the wordline once the wordline is asserted. In addition or alternatively, the dummy wordline is utilized to generate one or more control signals for the memory array such as, for example, a pre-charge control signal and/or a sense amplifier enable signal.
US09196326B2 Semiconductor memory apparatus
A semiconductor memory apparatus may include a program voltage generation block configured to generate a program voltage in response to program codes; a precharge voltage generation block configured to generate a precharge voltage in response to the program codes and addresses; and a main bit line configured to be applied with the program voltage and the precharge voltage.
US09196319B2 Pre-charge voltage generation and power saving modes
A system includes a voltage generator to produce a pre-charge voltage signal for pre-charging one or more signals in a memory circuit. The one or more signals can be data bus lines used to access memory. The voltage generator can include an input indicating whether the memory circuit is set to a power-saving mode. According to one embodiment, the input adjusts a magnitude of the pre-charge voltage signal produced by the voltage generator. Such an embodiment is useful over conventional methods because adjusting the pre-charge voltage can result in power savings. As an example, when in the power-saving mode, the voltage generator circuit can adjust the pre-charge voltage to a value that reduces an amount of leakage current associated with a pre-charge voltage. Reducing the leakage with respect to the pre-charge voltage means that the saved power can be used for other useful purposes.
US09196316B2 Self-disabling chip enable input
A multi-die memory package may have separate chip enable inputs for the respective memory dice. Individual chip enable inputs may be separated by other chip connections such as power and ground. The memory dice may include multiple chip enable inputs to allow easy wire bonding of the individual chip enable inputs to a die without requiring any jumpers within the package. Circuitry may be included so that undriven chip enable inputs are masked and driven chip enable inputs may be propagated to the memory die to enable memory accesses while a single chip enable input is only connected to the capacitance of a single bonding pad.
US09196308B2 Content reproduction method and apparatus
Provided are a content reproduction method and apparatus. The content reproduction method includes receiving a select signal for selecting one or more pieces of content; and reproducing the selected pieces of content and one or more pieces of content which were generated or reproduced together with the selected pieces of content in a temporal space within a range.
US09196306B2 Smart scaling and cropping
Smart scaling and cropping of video clips is disclosed. According to some implementations, a video clip sequence can be generated from one or more video clips. Video clips added to the video clip sequence can be automatically modified (e.g. scaled and/or cropped) to conform to the dimensions and/or aspect ratio of video clips in the video clip sequence. Video clips can be modified based on the spatial characteristics of the video clips, for example, the location and size of objects of interest (e.g., faces) in the video clips. Implementations may also include a method, system and/or non-transitory, computer-readable medium encoded with instructions for performing smart scaling and cropping. Other aspects and implementations are also disclosed.
US09196305B2 Smart transitions
A method, system and computer-readable storage medium for performing smart transitions between video clips are disclosed. According to implementations, a first video clip can be displayed on an interface of a video editing application. A second video clip can be received in the interface. In response to receiving the second video clip, a video clip sequence that includes the first video clip, the second video clip and a transition selected based on content characteristics of the first video clip and the second video clip can be generated. The generated video clip sequence containing the transition can be displayed on the interface. The video clip sequence including the transition can be generated automatically in response to receiving the second video clip.
US09196303B2 Feedthrough connector for hermetically sealed electronic devices
The present disclosure relates to an apparatus that includes an electrical connector that is coupled to a housing and that extends through a feedthrough aperture in the housing. The electrical connector has an electrically insulating base that has multiple layers of electrically insulating material with electrical traces extending between the multiple layers. The electrically insulating base also has a first portion disposed in the interior cavity, a second portion disposed external to the interior cavity, and a sealing portion disposed between the inwardly positioned portion and the outwardly positioned portion. The electrical connector also includes a first plurality of electrical leads that are disposed on the outwardly positioned portion of the electrically insulating base and a second plurality of electrical leads disposed on the inwardly positioned portion of the electrically isolating base material. Each of the electrical leads is electrically coupled to a corresponding lead.
US09196301B1 Suspension clamp for clamping a disk drive suspension to an actuator arm
A suspension clamp is disclosed for clamping a disk drive suspension to an actuator arm. The suspension clamp comprises a housing including a spring operable to bias a latching member, wherein the latching member is rotatable about a pivot. After compressing the spring and rotating the latching member in a first direction, the latching member is operable to clamp the suspension to the actuator arm by decompressing the spring.
US09196294B2 Apparatus with repulsive force between stationary and rotatable components
Provided herein, is an apparatus that includes a fluid dynamic bearing, a hub, and an induction housing. The fluid dynamic bearing is defined by a stationary component and a rotatable component. The hub is configured to rotate relative to the stationary component. A current is induced within the induction housing resulting from the relative rotation. The induced current creates a repulsive force between the stationary component and the hub.
US09196283B1 Method for providing a magnetic recording transducer using a chemical buffer
A method for fabricating a magnetic recording transducer is described. The magnetic recording transducer has an underlayer and at least one layer on the underlayer. The layer(s) are capable of including an aperture that exposes a portion of the underlayer. The method includes providing a neutralized aqueous solution having a chemical buffer therein. The chemical buffer forms a nonionic full film corrosion inhibitor. The method also includes exposing a portion of the magnetic recording transducer including the layer(s) to the neutralized aqueous solution including the chemical buffer. In one aspect this exposure occurs through a chemical mechanical planarization.
US09196282B2 Magnetic recording medium
A magnetic recording medium is disclosed which has excellent corrosion resistance, even with a protective layer of thickness 2 nm or less. The magnetic recording medium includes, on a substrate, a magnetic layer and a carbon-based protective layer. The thickness of the carbon-based protective layer is 2 nm or less, and the contact angle of water on a surface of the carbon-based protective layer is 25° or greater and less than 60°.
US09196276B2 Head gimbal assembly and disk unit provided with the same
A head gimbal assembly includes a load beam, a wiring member including a metal plate disposed on the load beam, a magnetic head attached to a tip section of the wiring member, and a piezoelectric element that is fixed to and supported by supporting pads and deforms in response to a voltage applied thereto. The metal plate includes a tip section to which the magnetic head is fixed, and a base section that is spaced apart from the tip section and is fixed to the load beam. The supporting pads include first and second supporting pads proximate to the tip section and distal from the base section and a third supporting pad proximate to the base section and distal to the tip section, each of supporting pads separated from and independent of both the tip section and the base section.
US09196266B1 Integrated lead suspension (ILS) for two-dimensional magnetic recording (TDMR) disk drive
An interconnect between the read/write circuitry and the read/write head in a magnetic recording hard disk drive (HDD) for two-dimensional magnetic recording (TDMR) has the read sensor signal lines located on a lower level of a bi-level structure of conductive lines. Common return lines are located on an upper level above the signal lines and on the lower level between the signal lines. All of the return lines on the upper level are connected to one another by cross-connect lines, and vias are located along the interconnect and connect the upper return lines with the lower return lines and with the ground plane of the interconnect's electrically conductive substrate. The interconnect is a coaxial-like interconnect because the return lines are located around each signal line and thus shield each signal line from the other signal lines, much like the outer conductive shield of a coaxial cable.
US09196255B2 Low complexity target vector identification
It is inter alia disclosed to identify one or more target vectors from a plurality of candidate vectors, each candidate vector having sorted elements and being associated with a respective class of one or more code vectors of a codebook and at least one of the candidate vectors being associated with a respective class of two or more code vectors that comprise the respective candidate vector and at least one code vector obtainable from the respective candidate vector by one of permutation and signed permutation, the target vectors having, among all candidate vectors of the plurality of candidate vectors, smallest distances towards a at least sorted representation of an input vector. The identifying comprises checking, for a candidate vector of the plurality of candidate vectors, at least based on a distance between the candidate vector and a reference vector and on a distance between the reference vector and the at least sorted representation of the input vector, if a distance between the at least sorted representation of the input vector and the candidate vector is larger than a distance between the at least sorted representation of the input vector and the reference vector. The identifying further comprises computing, for the candidate vector, the distance between the at least sorted representation of the input vector and the candidate vector only if the checking yields a negative result.
US09196253B2 Information processing apparatus for associating speaker identification information to speech data
According to an embodiment, an information processing apparatus includes a dividing unit, an assigning unit, and a generating unit. The dividing unit is configured to divide speech data into pieces of utterance data. The assigning unit is configured to assign speaker identification information to each piece of utterance data based on an acoustic feature of the each piece of utterance data. The generating unit is configured to generate a candidate list that indicates candidate speaker names so as to enable a user to determine a speaker name to be given to the piece of utterance data identified by instruction information, based on operation history information in which at least pieces of utterance identification information, pieces of the speaker identification information, and speaker names given by the user to the respective pieces of utterance data are associated with one another.
US09196250B2 Application services interface to ASR
An application services interface system includes an automatic speech recognition control application program interface that receives a request for a recognition session from an application-based automatic speech recognition controller. An automatic speech recognition control engine directs the performance of an automatic speech recognition module. The automatic speech recognition module compares a spoken utterance to a vocabulary of active grammars to generate recognition results through limited data interchanges or exchanges.
US09196244B2 Methodology for enhanced voice search experience
Arrangements are described for reducing response latency in intelligent personal assistant applications. While receiving a user request, preemptive responses are automatically prepared for a received portion of the user request. Partial classification word candidates are generated for words in the received portion of the user request, and then a predictive component is applied to generate extended classification word candidates that include the partial classification word candidates and additional classification word candidates. A preliminary search is performed of the extended classification word candidates to prepare the preemptive responses. While the input request continues, the preemptive responses are updated, and when the input request ends, the prepared preemptive responses are used to respond to the user request.
US09196241B2 Asynchronous communications using messages recorded on handheld devices
Methods, systems, and computer program products are provided for asynchronous communications. Embodiments include receiving a recorded message, the message recorded on a handheld device; converting the recorded message to text; identifying a recipient of the message in dependence upon the text; associating the message with content under management by a library management system in dependence upon the text; and storing the message for transmission to another handheld device for the recipient. Embodiments also typically include recording a message on handheld device and transferring a media file containing the recorded message to a library management system. Embodiments also typically include transmitting message to another handheld device.
US09196239B1 Distracted browsing modes
Approaches to enable a computing device, such as a phone or tablet computer, to determine when a user viewing the content is being distracted or is generally viewing the content with a sufficient level of irregularity, and present an audible representation of the content during the times when the user is deemed distracted. The determination of when the user is distracted or is otherwise viewing the content with irregularity can be performed using sensor data captured by one or more sensors of the computing device. For example, the computing device may analyze the image data captured by one or more cameras, such as by tracking the movement/location of eye pupils of the user and/or tracking the head movement of the user to detect when the user is distracted.
US09196237B2 Electronic percussion instrument
An electronic percussion instrument includes a stand, a pad member with a head, and an impact sensor, a cover member, and a support member (e.g. a stay). The support member has an L-shape including a stand-attaching portion and a pad-attaching portion which are perpendicularly unified together at an inflection point. The stand-attaching portion is attached to the stand while the pad-attaching portion is attached to the pad member. The cover member is attached to the support member such that the cover member will not brought into contact with the pad member via a clearance which is maintained irrespective of an impact applied to the head with a beater. The pad-attaching portion is backwardly deflected about the inflection point relative to the stand-attaching portion due to an impact on the head. Thus, it is possible to reduce sound-box reverberations and to secure noiselessness.
US09196235B2 Musical instrument switching system
A musical instrument switching system includes a) a control circuit controllable for combining and routing the analog audio, the control circuit comprising a plurality of instrument pickups for transmitting analog audio, and a controller connector for allowing connection of the control circuit to a computing device, and b) a software program, installable in the computing device, for modifying the characteristics of the musical instrument.
US09196215B2 Power converters and E-paper devices using the same for providing a plurality of voltages
A display device including an e-paper device and a power converter is provided. The e-paper device displays information. The power converter generates a plurality of output voltages respectively at a plurality of output terminals and provides the plurality of output voltages to the e-paper device. The power converter includes a transformer and a plurality of diodes. The transformer has a primary winding and a plurality of secondary windings. The diodes are electrically connected between the secondary windings and the output terminals for generating the output voltages, respectively.
US09196199B2 Display having staggered display element arrangement
This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for improving an aperture ratio of a display apparatus. In particular, display elements are configured to have a length that is greater in one dimension than that in the other dimension. This implementation can reduce overhead costs associated with components such as actuators and actuator circuitry and improves the aperture ratio. Furthermore, display elements within the display apparatus can be arranged in a staggered manner. The staggered arrangement improves the perceived display element density of the display apparatus. In some implementations, the display elements are staggered along the rows of the display apparatus, while in some other implementations, the display elements are staggered along the columns of the display apparatus. In some implementations, multiple image pixels in one dimension are utilized to generate signals for each display elements.
US09196197B2 Display device and method for driving the same
A display device includes a first sub-pixel and a second sub-pixel configured to share one data line, a first transistor configured to turn on or off by a first control signal and configured to couple the first sub-pixel to the one data line, and a second transistor configured to turn on or off alternately with the first transistor by a second control signal having a phase difference from that of the first control signal and configured to couple the second sub-pixel to the one data line.
US09196195B2 Display apparatus and electronic equipment
A plurality of pixel circuits provided in a display apparatus respectively include light-emitting elements OLED, first transistors that supply driving currents to the light-emitting elements, second transistors that turn on and off connection between data lines and gates of the first transistors, and third transistors. The display apparatus has first holding capacitors that are respectively inserted and connected midway on the plurality of data lines and shift levels of driving voltages of the first transistors, and holding capacitors that respectively hold potentials of the plurality of data lines. N first holding capacitors are arranged in a column direction Y, each of the first holding capacitors having an electrode width that is smaller than a width of N pixel circuits arranged adjacent to each other in a row direction X, and that is equal to or larger than a width of one pixel circuit.
US09196187B2 System and method of reducing power using a display inactive indication
A system includes one or more video processing components and a display processing unit. The display processing unit may include one or more processing pipelines that generate read requests to fetch stored pixel data from a memory for subsequent display on a display unit. The display processing unit may also include a timing control unit that may generate an indication that indicates that the display unit will enter an inactive state. In response to receiving the indication, one or more of the video processing components may enter a low power state.
US09196184B2 Method of driving display panel and display apparatus for performing the same
Provided is a method of driving a display panel, including: outputting first data voltages representing a left-eye image or a right-eye image to first signal lines among a plurality of signal lines of the display panel during a first period of a frame for rendering the left-eye or right-eye image of a three-dimensional (3D) image; outputting second data voltages representing the left-eye image or right-eye image for second signals among the plurality of signal lines of the display panel during a second period of the frame for rendering the left-eye or right-eye image of the 3D image; and stopping the data voltages from being outputted to the display panel during a third period of the frame.
US09196182B2 Display device
A display device having a display panel including a plurality of data lines; a data driver including at least one data driving circuit chip which transmits data signals to the plurality of data lines; and a signal controller transmitting a dummy control signal and an output image signal to a first data driving circuit chip of at least one data driving circuit chip. The first data driving circuit chip may include zero or more dummy channels which are not connected with the data lines, and the dummy control signal includes information on positions of the dummy channels included in the first data driving circuit chip and information regarding the number of dummy channels.
US09196174B2 Embroidered sticks
The invention relates to an embroidered stick for attaching to and displaying on an article. The embroidered stick comprises a hole for attaching it to an article. The embroidered sticks can be obtained by users as rewards, incentives, to promote certain behaviors, activities, events, messages, logos, mascots, achievements, campaigns, brands, products and/or services, companies, organizations, themes or the like.
US09196169B2 Importing and analyzing external data using a virtual reality welding system
A real-time virtual reality welding system including a programmable processor-based subsystem, a spatial tracker operatively connected to the programmable processor-based subsystem, at least one mock welding tool capable of being spatially tracked by the spatial tracker, and at least one display device operatively connected to the programmable processor-based subsystem. The system is capable of simulating, in virtual reality space, a weld puddle having real-time molten metal fluidity and heat dissipation characteristics. The system is further capable of importing data into the virtual reality welding system and analyzing the data to characterize a student welder's progress and to provide training.
US09196168B2 Collision avoidance and warning system
A collision avoidance and warning system for a helicopter uses a type of emitted energy, for example radio frequency radar, from a transceiver positioned to cover a selected field of view for detecting an object or pedestrian in the vicinity of the helicopter. For helicopters that include a tail rotor assembly, the selected field of view can include a region around the tail rotor assembly so that when the helicopter is running on the ground, an alarm can be issued to persons approaching the tail rotor assembly. When the helicopter is in flight, the collision avoidance and warning system can alert the pilot when a portion of the helicopter outside of the pilot's field of view is in danger of a collision with an object.
US09196166B2 Runway takeoff monitor
Disclosed is a runway alerting method and system for an aircraft during a take-off maneuver. The method includes determining stopping positions for the aircraft along the runway using aircraft energy state, deceleration and braking information and displaying the stopping positions on a display.
US09196162B2 Vehicular driving support system
It is a task of the invention to provide an art that makes it possible to provide driving support suited for the feeling of a driver in a system that supports the avoidance of a collision of a vehicle. In order to achieve this task, according to the invention, in a system that supports the avoidance of a collision of a vehicle, a traveling range as a range of a route on which a host vehicle is to travel in a range of a driving operation to be normally performed by a driver is obtained, driving support is not provided if there is a route that allows a solid body to be avoided within the traveling range, and driving support is provided if there is no route that allows the solid body to be avoided within the traveling range.
US09196145B2 Method and system for automated location dependent natural disaster forecast
A forecast system and method for automated location dependent natural disaster impact forecasts includes located gauging stations to measure natural disaster events. Location dependent measurement parameters for specific geotectonic, topographic or meteorological conditions associated with the natural disaster are determined and critical values of the measurement parameters are triggered to generate a dedicated event signal for forecasted impacts of the disaster event within an area of interest. In particular, the signal generation is based upon the affected population or object within the area of interest.
US09196142B2 Method and system for managing consumption of heterogeneous resources
A method for managing consumption of heterogeneous resources includes: receiving resource consumption information of a target; calculating a total energy consumption value that is associated with the target based on the resource consumption information of the target; generating a high consumption alert when the calculated total energy consumption value is higher than a first predetermined threshold value; and generating a low consumption alert when the calculated total energy consumption value is not higher than a second predetermined threshold value that is lower than the first predetermined threshold value.
US09196135B2 Uniform haptic actuator response with a variable supply voltage
A haptic drive circuit includes a voltage input for receiving input power, a gate that compares a desired current level to an actual current level through the actuator, a switch coupled to the gate that interrupts or provides power from the voltage input to the actuator, and a current probe that detects the actual current level through the actuator with an output signal corresponding to the actual current level coupled to the gate. The gate compares the actual current level to the desired current level and causes the switch to interrupt input power when the actual current level is greater than the desired current level or to provide input power when the actual current level is less than or equal to the desired current level. The actual current through the circuit is a haptic signal causing a haptic actuator to generate a haptic effect.
US09196133B2 Doorbell communication systems and methods
Doorbell systems can include a doorbell having a speaker and a microphone. Doorbell systems can receive a custom message from a user. Doorbell systems can thereby detect an indication of a presence of a visitor, and then in response to detecting the indication of the presence of the visitor, doorbell systems can emit the custom message with the speaker.
US09196123B2 Systems and methods for balance transfers associated with gaming environments
Systems and methods are disclosed for selectively increasing and decreasing the balances of gaming accounts and stored value accounts. Each of the gaming account and the stored value account are associated with a player. The stored value account is associated with a stored value payment vehicle that is issued to the player. Instructions for balance transfers can be provided by the player to a remote computing device.
US09196120B2 System and method to award gaming patrons based on actual financial results during gaming sessions
This disclosure relates to a system configured to award a gaming patron based on gaming session financial results of the patron. The system may be configured to obtain game play information for the gaming session of the patron. The system may be configured to determine an actual financial amount lost by the patron and a theoretical financial loss amount based on the game play information. The system may use the actual financial loss amount and the theoretical financial loss amount to determine whether the patron is eligible for an award. Responsive to the patron being eligible for an award, the system may determine an award and then award the patron via a mobile computing device associated with the patron. In some implementations, the system may include one or more of a game, a game play sensor, a processor, a mobile computing device, electronic storage, external resources, and/or other components.
US09196107B2 Use of Raman markers for authenticating security documents
The present invention relates to the use of non deactivable security markers comprising the combination of at least two types of nanoparticles of materials presenting Raman effect, wherein said nanoparticles are in a dispersed state or is forming agglomerates of between 2 and 500 nanoparticles. The invention also relates to security documents, articles or elements incorporating these markers, as well as to a method and system for the detection thereof.
US09196100B1 Equipment architecture for high definition data
Sensor information is received from a set of sensors. First and second sets of machine monitoring data are generated from the sensor information. The first set of machine monitoring data is sent to a control system with a display in an operator compartment of a mobile machine. The second set of machine monitoring data is sent to a processing system that is separate from the control system.
US09196097B2 Electronic parking meter with vehicle sensor
An electronic single space parking meter associated with a parking space is provided. The meter includes a support pole and an electronic meter mechanism coupled to and supported from the support pole. The electronic meter mechanism includes a processor. The meter includes a vehicle sensor communicably coupled to the processor of the electronic meter mechanism. The vehicle sensor is configured to detect a vehicle located within the parking space. The vehicle sensor is coupled to and supported by the support pole at a position above the ground and below the electronic meter mechanism.
US09196095B2 Method for the preparation of a digital mock-up of a plurality of objects in an installation space
The invention relates to a method for compiling a digital mockup of a multiplicity of objects in an installation space, comprising allocating an installation location for each object, determine neighboring objects and object types for each object, and determining possible interactions between neighboring objects.
US09196090B2 Designing a 3D modeled object
It is provided a computer-implemented method for designing a 3D modeled object. The method comprises providing a base mesh controlling a subdivision surface. The subdivision surface models the 3D modeled object. The method also comprises providing a polyline consisting of connected edges of the base mesh and defining a smooth portion of the polyline comprising an extremity of the polyline and a sharp portion of the polyline upstream the smooth portion. The method also comprises converting faces of the mesh adjacent to the polyline into parametric patches approximating the subdivision surface. The patches have a G0 connection across the sharp portion of the polyline, and the patches have a Gi connection across the smooth portion of the polyline, where i is an integer higher or equal to 1.Such a method improves the design of a 3D modeled object modeled by a subdivision surface.
US09196085B2 Interactively shaping terrain through composable operations
A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture provide the ability to shape a terrain. An associative framework dependency graph used to control the shaping of the terrain is established. The graph defines an association between and processing order for two or more nodes that include an input node and an action node. The input node is a drawing entity or set of one or more geometric parameters. The action node is dependent on and uses the input node as input to perform an evaluation and produce an output object. The associative framework dependency graph is displayed and evaluated by evaluating the action node in accordance with the processing order to produce a finished ground terrain.
US09196082B2 Systems and methods for characterizing spatial distortion in 3D imaging systems
Systems and methods for characterizing spatial distortions in location data determined by an imaging system, for example as employed in imaged guided therapy. A three dimensional phantom is custom formed for a desired imaging space of a given imaging system. The phantom includes a large plurality of control points fixed rigidly in space to a high degree of known accuracy. The phantom is fixed to a stereotactic frame defining a known calibrated reference or zero and imaged. An algorithm customized for the phantom determines the spatial locations of the control points. A comparison is made between the known and the determined spatial locations for at least a subset of the control points. The comparison results in indicia for any determined spatial distortions observed. The raw image data can be manipulated to compensate for any spatial distortion. The control points can have fixed locations known to an accuracy of 100 μm or better. The algorithm can determine an initial estimate for the detected location of a control point accurate to .+−.0.5 pixel or better.
US09196081B2 Techniques for enhancing multiple view performance in a three dimensional pipeline
Techniques may be directed to enhancing multiple view performance in a three dimensional pipeline. A plurality of view transformations associated with an image may be received. The vertex data associated with the image may be received. Operation data may be determined by performing the view transformations on the compiled vertex data. A plurality of display lists may be determined through a single run of a vertex pipeline. A display list may be based on the operation data. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09196079B2 Accelerated compute tessellation by compact topological data structure
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for tessellation using shaders. New graphics pipeline stages implemented by shaders are introduced, including an inner ring shader, an outer edge shader, and topologic shader, which work together with a domain shader and geometry shader to provide tessellated points and primitives. A hull shader is modified to compute values used by the new shaders to perform tessellation algorithms. This approach provides parallelism and customizability to the presently static tessellation engine implementation.
US09196072B2 Method for scripting inter-scene transitions
A method for authoring and displaying a virtual tour of a three-dimensional space which employs transitional effects simulating motion. An authoring tool is provided for interactively defining a series of locations in the space for which two-dimensional images, e.g., panoramas, photographs, etc., are available. A user identifies one or more view directions for a first-person perspective viewer for each location. For pairs of locations in the series, transitional effects are identified to simulate smooth motion between the pair of locations. The authoring tool stores data corresponding to the locations, view directions and transitional effects for playback on a display. When the stored data is accessed, a virtual tour of the space is created that includes transitional effects simulating motion between locations. The virtual tour created can allow a viewer to experience the three-dimensional space in a realistic manner.
US09196054B2 Method and system for recovery of 3D scene structure and camera motion from a video sequence
An improved method and a system are disclosed for recovering a three-dimensional (3D) scene structure from a plurality of two-dimensional (2D) image frames obtained from imaging means. Sets of 2D features are extracted from the image frames, and sets corresponding to successive image frames are matched, such that at least one pair of matched 2D features refers to a same 3D point in a 3D scene captured in 2D in the image frames. A 3D ray is generated by back-projection from each 2D feature, and the generated 3D rays are subjected to an anchor-based minimization process, for determining camera motion parameters and 3D scene points coordinates, thereby recovering a structure of the 3D scene.
US09196051B2 Electronic equipment with image analysis function and related method
An electronic equipment for analyzing an image inside a light-proof container having a portable electronic device with a display screen therein is provided. The electronic equipment analyzes the gray values of each two adjacent pixels of the image to determine a number of boundary points of an area which is illumined by the display screen, linearly fits a number of straight-lines based on the boundary points in different directions, and determines an area bound by the intersections formed by the straight-lines.
US09196048B2 Autonomous pavement condition assessment
An autonomous pavement assessment system may receive depth data indicative of the depth of pixels that collectively comprise multiple defective areas of pavement. For each defective area, the system may fit a plane to it; generate a histogram that indicates the frequency of its pixels at different depths; dynamically determine a depth noise threshold for it; generate a binary image of it based on its noise threshold; and generate a depth map of it containing only the pixels that have a depth that meets or exceeds its depth noise threshold. The system may prioritize the multiple defective areas for repair and/or generate optimized rehabilitation routes. Crowd sourcing may be used to gather the depth data, as well as location information for each defective area.
US09196044B2 False alarm rejection for boat detection candidates
A method for rejecting false alarms in preliminary detected ship candidates includes: receiving an image including the plurality of preliminary ship candidates; computing intensity and gradient statistics from an image background around each of the preliminary ship candidates; determining a set of thresholds from the computed intensity and gradient statistics; determining an outline and an orientation for each of the preliminary ship candidates, using the computed intensity and gradient statistics; extracting a plurality of features from each of the outlines and orientations of the preliminary ship candidates, wherein the plurality of features includes intensity-based features, gradient-based features, texture-based features and shape-based features; and rejecting false alarms in the plurality of preliminary detected ship candidates using the extracted features and the determined thresholds and statistical distance classifiers.
US09196043B2 Image processing apparatus and method
A method and apparatus for localizing an area in relative movement and for determining the speed and direction thereof in real time is disclosed. Each pixel of an image is smoothed using its own time constant. A binary value corresponding to the existence of a significant variation in the amplitude of the smoothed pixel from the prior frame, and the amplitude of the variation, are determined, and the time constant for the pixel is updated. For each particular pixel, two matrices are formed that include a subset of the pixels spatially related to the particular pixel. The first matrix contains the binary values of the subset of pixels. The second matrix contains the amplitude of the variation of the subset of pixels. In the first matrix, it is determined whether the pixels along an oriented direction relative to the particular pixel have binary values representative of significant variation, and, for such pixels, it is determined in the second matrix whether the amplitude of these pixels varies in a known manner indicating movement in the oriented direction. In each of several domains, histogram of the values in the first and second matrices falling in such domain is formed. Using the histograms, it is determined whether there is an area having the characteristics of the particular domain. The domains include luminance, hue, saturation, speed (V), oriented direction (D1), time constant (CO), first axis (x(m)), and second axis (y(m)).
US09196042B2 Feeling-expressing-word processing device, feeling-expressing-word processing method, and feeling-expressing-word processing program
The present approach enables an impression of the atmosphere of a scene or an object present being photographed to be pictured in a person's mind as if the person were actually at the photographed scene. A feeling-expressing-word processing device has: a feeling information calculating unit for analyzing a photographed image, and calculating feeling information which indicates a situation of a scene portrayed in the photographed image, a condition of an object present in the scene, a temporal change in the scene, or a movement of the object; a feeling-expressing-word extracting unit for extracting, from among feeling-expressing words which express feelings and are stored in a feeling-expressing-word database in association with the feeling information, a feeling-expressing word which corresponds to the feeling information calculated by the feeling information calculating unit; and a superimposing unit for superimposing the feeling-expressing word extracted by the feeling-expressing-word extracting unit on the photographed image.
US09196041B2 System, method, and computer program product for indicating hostile fire
A network for indicating and communicating detection of hostile fire, and systems, methods, and computer program products thereof. Hostile fire is optically detected and identified at a first vehicle and such identification is transmitted from the first vehicle to one or more other vehicles in the network. Data regarding hostile fire directed at the first vehicle can be stored at one or more of the other vehicles and even retransmitted to other vehicles or base stations.
US09196039B2 Image sensor read window adjustment for multi-camera array tolerance
Multiple cameras are arranged in an array at a pitch, roll, and yaw that allow the cameras to have adjacent fields of view such that each camera is pointed inward relative to the array. The read window of an image sensor of each camera in a multi-camera array can be adjusted to minimize the overlap between adjacent fields of view, to maximize the correlation within the overlapping portions of the fields of view, and to correct for manufacturing and assembly tolerances. Images from cameras in a multi-camera array with adjacent fields of view can be manipulated using low-power warping and cropping techniques, and can be taped together to form a final image.
US09196033B2 Inspection sensitivity evaluation method
An inspection sensitivity evaluation method includes generating a reference design image where plural figure patterns are arranged, based on reference design data, generating plural position shift design images whose positional deviation amounts are mutually different such that positions of the plural figure patterns in the reference design image are uniformly shifted, acquiring an optical image of a photo mask fabricated based on the reference design data where there is no positional deviation from the plural figure patterns, calculating a first positional deviation amount between the reference design image and the optical image, calculating plural second positional deviation amounts each of which is a respective positional deviation amount between a corresponding position shift design image of the plural position shift design images and the optical image, and acquiring a detectable positional deviation amount by using the first and the plural second positional deviation amounts.
US09196030B2 System and method for determining a property of blur in a blurred image
A system and a method of determining a property of blur in an image are provided. According to other aspects a medical image acquisition apparatus, a medical workstation and a computer program product are provided. The system (100) comprises a receiver (102) for receiving the image of an object-of-interest of a body. The image comprises blur. Further, the system comprises a determining subsystem (122) for determining a value of a characteristic of the blur in the image on individual lines of a plurality of lines intersecting with the object-of-interest at different angles. Thus, the lines extend in different directions. The determination of the value comprises analyzing the image along the respective lines. The system further comprises an obtaining subsystem (126) for obtaining a direction in which the value of the characteristic of the blur is maximal, based on the determined values on the individual lines of the plurality of lines, which lines extend in different directions.
US09196017B2 Apparatus, systems, and methods for removing noise from an image
The disclosed embodiments include an apparatus implemented in a semiconductor integrated chip. The apparatus is configured to operate a composite function, comprising a first function and a second function, on a first patch of an image. The apparatus includes a first function operator configured to operate the first function on the group of pixel values to provide a first processed group of pixel values. The apparatus also includes a delay system configured to maintain the first processed group of pixel values for a predetermined period of time to provide a delayed processed group of pixel values. The apparatus further includes a second function operator configured to operate a second function on at least a second processed group of pixels and the delayed processed group to determine an output of the composite function.
US09196016B2 Systems and methods for improving video stutter in high resolution progressive video
Systems and methods for improving video stutter in high resolution progressive video captured with fast exposure times. In a first approach, digital video is captured with fast shutter speeds that cause objects moving within the frame to appear motionless. The video codec generates motion information that may be utilized to add an artificial motion blur to each frame of the digital video during processing in a digital video pipeline. The motion blur creates the appearance that an object is moving in the frame. In a second approach, the lens assembly of the digital camera includes an electronically controlled filter that attenuates the light reaching an image sensor such that the shutter speeds may be decreased in order to capture motion blur. The electronically controlled filter may be a liquid crystal display (LCD) device that is set to a plurality of different transparency levels based on a target exposure value.
US09196013B2 GPU workload prediction and management
The disclosed embodiments provide a system that configures a graphics-processing unit (GPU) in a computer system. During operation, the system predicts an incoming workload to the GPU. Next, the system identifies an operational floor for the GPU based on the incoming workload. Finally, the system uses the operational floor to configure the subsequent execution of the GPU, wherein the operational floor facilitates processing of the incoming workload by the GPU.
US09196012B2 Method and system for starting up a medical engineering device
A method and an associated arrangement for starting up a medical engineering system via a data transmission link are provided. The method includes storing, in advance, at least one switch-on time for the medical engineering system in a spatially remote central unit via the data transmission link. The method also includes switching-on the medical engineering system by the central unit via the data transmission link at the at least one stored switch-on time.
US09196009B2 Systems and methods for detecting changes in energy usage in a building
A computer system for use with a building management system for a building includes a processing circuit configured to automatically identify a change in a building's energy usage model based on data received from the building management system. The processing circuit may be configured to communicate the identified change in the static factor to at least one of (a) a module for alerting a user to the identified change and (b) a module for initiating an adjustment to the energy model for a building in response to the identified change.
US09196007B1 Computerized process to, for example, automate the home sale, mortgage loan financing and settlement process, and the home mortgage loan refinancing and settlement processes
A computer system and method for automating and facilitating the home sale, mortgage origination, and settlement process, and the home mortgage refinancing origination and settlement process, over a geographically distributed computing network are disclosed. The system and method also allows a home buyer to search for homes offered for sale by a plurality of sellers and, using the home data conforming to the buyer purchase criteria and buyer data, search for loan pricing information for loans from a plurality of lenders, loan pricing information for a plurality of loan types, or both. The system and method then uses this information to process the sale transaction.
US09196003B2 Pre-purchase feedback apparatus and method
A computer-implemented method is disclosed for enabling pre-purchase feedback. Within the method, a primary customer carrying a first computing device may be received within a brick-and-mortar store. A computer system corresponding to the store may receive via the first computing device an instruction to share with a secondary customer data describing a proposed purchase of one or more products. The computer system may then pass the data to a second computing device corresponding to the secondary customer. The computer system may also receive, via the second computing device, feedback corresponding to the proposed purchase and pass the feedback to the first computing device. Accordingly, the primary customer may receive pre-purchase feedback from the secondary customer.
US09196000B2 Method and system for managing distribution of digital rights and revenue for integrated systems
A system and method collects fees for usage of a dynamically constructed digital product including a plurality of diverse digital components, each diverse digital component having different restrictions and usage fees. The system and method enable a user to select parameters for a dynamic digital product; identify diverse individual digital components needed to construct a dynamic digital product; dynamically construct the dynamic digital product based upon the identified diverse digital components; collect information directed to restrictions and usage fees for each identified diverse digital component; generate an integrated license for the dynamically constructed digital product based upon the collected information; monitor individual usage of the diverse individual digital components; and generate payments, in response to monitored individual usage of the diverse individual digital components, to entities associated with the diverse individual digital components.
US09195994B1 System and method for a mobile wallet
A computer-implemented method includes capturing an image by a mobile computing device and determining a geographic location and a direction of the mobile computing device while capturing the image. The method includes generating a display that includes the image and that identifies the locations of merchants that have at least one offer available for a user of the mobile device based on the geographic location and the direction of the mobile computing device and generating the at least one offer based on the past transactions of the user.
US09195984B1 Systems and methods for processing transactions using a wallet
The invention provides a wallet vault, in the form of a tangibly embodied processing machine, disposed in communication with a financial payment network, the wallet vault comprising a communication portion that inputs and outputs information and a processing portion. The processing portion may perform processing including storing token information of a customer and real credentials of the customer, the token information associated with the real credentials of the customer, the real credentials constituted by an account number of the customer; inputting the token information with transaction ID information from a processing entity in the financial network, the token information with transaction ID information generated by a merchant processing a transaction for the customer; associating the token information of the customer with the real credentials of the customer; and outputting the associated real credentials with the transaction ID information to the processing entity in the financial network. The wallet vault may be associated with a wallet from which the transaction is initiated, and the wallet associated with the merchant.
US09195973B1 Methods and systems for processing telephonic communications and product data
The present invention relates to telecommunications processing and managing product data using voice and data networks. A purchase is recorded in a telephonic processing system. A warranty duration is determined for the purchased item. A warranty start and end date is established for the item purchase. Claims instructions are sent to a user including a first phone address. A call from a caller directed to the first phone address is received at a telephonic processing system coupled to at least one network, wherein the call is associated with call signaling information. An outbound call is generated from the telephonic processing system to a second phone address wherein the second phone address is determined at least in part from the signaling information associated with the received call. The received call is connected to the first outbound call. Call detail attributes associated with the connected calls are recorded.
US09195972B2 Smart calendar
A smart calendar system, method and program product that integrates disparate sets of data to identify scheduling conflicts and generate scheduling suggestions. The smart calendar system includes the following: a database for storing activity data associated with a user, wherein the activity data includes items scheduled for the user; an interface for receiving and storing profile data associated with the user; an analysis engine that includes: a system for selecting and interfacing with a plurality of external knowledge databases to obtain knowledge data associated with the user; a system that integrates the profile data, activity data, and knowledge data into a collection of integrated scheduling information; a suggestion system that suggests modifications to the items scheduled for the user, based on the integrated scheduling information; and a conflict system that identifies potential conflicts in the items scheduled for the user, based on the integrated scheduling information.
US09195971B2 Method and system for planning a meeting in a cloud computing environment
A method for planning a meeting in a cloud computing environment is disclosed. The method embodiment includes receiving by a server a meeting configuration file including information identifying a meeting, a plurality of meeting collaborators, and/or a plurality of meeting participants. When the meeting configuration file is received, the server is configured to generate a virtual planning space associated with the meeting and located in a cloud computing environment, to transmit a message to the plurality of meeting collaborators that includes an invitation to collaborate in the meeting via the virtual planning space, and to receive an indication to load planning content that includes at least one data object. In response to receiving the indication, the server associates the planning content with the virtual planning space so that the planning content is accessible by the meeting collaborators via the virtual planning space in the cloud computing environment.
US09195962B2 Generating a subgraph of key entities in a network and categorizing the subgraph entities into different types using social network analysis
A method, system and computer-program product for generating a subgraph of key entities in a network and organizing entities in the subgraph are disclosed. The technique uses social network analysis centrality metrics to identify key entities in a network. The technique also uses social network analysis centrality metrics to categorize key entities into different types.
US09195961B1 System, method, and computer program for generating channel specific heuristics
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for generating channel specific heuristics. In use, at least one channel filter including a characteristic associated with a communications channel is identified. Additionally, the at least one channel filter is applied to at least one design heuristic. Furthermore, at least one channel specific heuristic is generated based on the application of the at least one channel filter to the at least one design heuristic.
US09195954B2 Autonomic manufacturing operator authorization adjustment
Operator authorizations are autonomically adjusted in many ways to automatically account for many different variables. Operator authorization may be adjusted according to an operator's past activity record so previous experience is not lost when the operator is rehired. Operator authorization may be adjusted according to the operator's quality and performance. Operator authorization may also be adjusted by recognizing similar operations to those the operator is authorized to perform, and authorizing the operator to perform one or more similar operations. Operator authorization may also be adjusted to a lesser level or may be revoked for an operation based on the passage of time. A manufacturing system may efficiently track operators taking into account different activity periods, the passage of time, the operator's performance, and similar operations to autonomically adjust the authorization of the operators as needed.
US09195950B2 Systems and methods for defining attributes of attended delivery/pickup locations
A computer system for defining attributes associated with attended delivery/pickup locations is described. In various embodiments, the system is configured to enable an authorized user (e.g., a manager of an attended delivery/pickup location) to define certain attributes of a particular attended delivery/pickup location. In some embodiments, the system is configured to verify that the particular user is authorized to define the one or more attributes associated with the particular attended delivery/pickup location (e.g., by checking a list of one or more authorized users). The attributes may be: 1) one or more times the particular attended delivery/pickup location is open for individuals to pick up a parcel; and 2) a certain product and/or brand the particular attended delivery location will accept. Once the one or more attributes are defined, in one or more embodiments, the system is configured to accept or reject parcel delivery requests based at least in part on the attributes.
US09195945B2 Inferring attribute and item preferences
User-preference datapoints are collected. At least some of these datapoints are associated with user-preference information about an item (e.g., a movie), and some of these datapoints are associated with user-preference information about an attribute (e.g., a movie genre or an actor). A profile of the user is created based, at least in part, on these datapoints. When a new datapoint is collected, the new datapoint is assigned a user-preference “score.” If, for example, the new datapoint does not come with an explicit user-preference rating, then the score is based on related item and attribute datapoints already in the profile. Depending upon the relationship of the new datapoint to the already existing datapoints, a confidence value is assigned to the user-preference score. The profile is then updated with the new datapoint along with its assigned score and confidence rating. The user profile can be used in performing any number of actions.
US09195938B1 Methods and systems for determining when to launch vehicles into a fleet of autonomous vehicles
Example methods and systems for determining when to launch vehicles into a fleet of autonomous vehicles are described. A method comprises receiving a sequence of coverage requirements for a region over a period of time. The region may be characterized by landmarks and the period of time can be divided into time intervals. The method also includes defining a landmark as a launch site representative of a landmark at which a given vehicle can be added to a plurality of operating vehicles, and determining for a respective landmark, estimated landmarks that can be reached by a vehicle starting from the respective landmark by an end of a time interval. The method also includes based on the sequence of coverage requirements and the estimated landmarks, determining a given launch site and corresponding time interval at which to add the given vehicle to the plurality of operating vehicles.
US09195937B2 System and method for intelligent state management
A method is provided in one example embodiment and it includes receiving a state request and determining whether a state exists in a translation dictionary for the state request. The method further includes reproducing the state if it is not in the dictionary and adding a new state to the dictionary. In more specific embodiments, the method includes compiling a rule, based on the state, into a given state table. The rule affects data management for one or more documents that satisfy the rule. In yet other embodiments, the method includes determining that the state represents a final state such that a descriptor is added to the state. In one example, if the state is not referenced in the algorithm, then the state is released. If the state is referenced in the algorithm, then the state is replaced with the new state.
US09195925B2 Method and system for improved wireless sensing
In one embodiment, a RF sensor comprising a sensing antenna and a reference antenna, wherein a sensing material is disposed upon said sensing antenna and wherein the sensing antenna is configured to test for specific analyte by measurement of the resonant impedance spectra, and the reference antenna is configured to mitigate and correct for environmental parameters and positionn. In a further embodiment, a method for sensing comprising; utilizing an RF sensor, wherein the RF sensor comprises a sensing antenna and a reference antenna, wherein said RF sensor is configured to test for a specific analyte; and, measuring a resonant impedance spectra of the sensing antenna and reference antennaat multiple frequencies to provide a subsequent multivariate analysis of a signal response from the RF sensor.
US09195919B2 Fixed memory rendering
A method of forming print instructions in a host for rendering within a fixed amount of memory on a printer receives intermediate data comprising regions which are associated with drawing instructions. A first amount of memory available to render the intermediate data is calculated based on a second amount of memory needed by the printer to store the intermediate data. The host determines a subset of the drawing instructions as complex drawing instructions and renders the complex drawing instructions to the printer as simpler drawing instructions. For regions associated with the complex drawing instructions, the host reassociates the regions with the corresponding simpler drawing instructions to form altered intermediate data which can be rendered on the printer within the determined first amount of memory. The print instructions, including the altered intermediate print data, can then be rendered by the printer to pixel data within the fixed amount of memory.
US09195910B2 System and method for classification with effective use of manual data input and crowdsourcing
Systems and methods are disclosed herein for classifying records, such as product records, using a machine learning algorithm. After training a classification model according to a machine learning algorithm using an initial training set, records are classified and high confidence classifications identified. Remaining classifications are submitted to a crowdsourcing forum that validates or invalidates the classifications or marks them as to unclear to evaluate. Invalidated classifications are automatically analyzed to identify one or both of classification values and categories having a high proportion of invalidated classifications. Requests are transmitted to analysts to generate training data that is added to the training set. The process of classifying records and obtaining crowdsourced validation thereof may then repeat. High confidence classifications may be identified using an accuracy model trained to relate an accuracy percentage to a confidence score output by the classification model.
US09195908B2 Snow classifier context window reduction using class t-scores and mean differences
Methods, systems and processor-readable media for determining, post training, which locations of a classifier window are most significant in discriminating between class and non-class objects. The important locations can be determined by calculating the mean and standard deviation of every pixel location in the classifier context for both the positive and negative samples of the classifier. Using a combination of t-scores and mean differences, the importance of all pixel locations in the classifier score can be rank ordered. A sufficient number of pixel locations can then be selected to achieve a detection rate close enough to the full classifier for a particular application.
US09195906B2 Region extraction from occupancy grids
Systems and methods for extracting regions from occupancy grids are provided. One example method includes performing a plurality of assignment iterations. Each assignment iteration includes assigning each of a first plurality of cells to one of a plurality of centroids based on a cost formula such that a plurality of regions respectively associated with the plurality of centroids are formed. The region for each centroid comprises all of the cells assigned to such centroid. Each assignment iteration includes reassigning one or more of the first plurality of cells to one or more respective alternate regions. The one or more reassigned cells were included in one or more problem areas of one or more of the plurality of regions. Each assignment iteration includes relocating the plurality of centroids to be the respective means of the plurality of regions. One example system includes computing devices implementing instructions stored on non-transitory computer-readable media.
US09195900B2 System and method based on hybrid biometric detection
A system and method based on hybrid biometric detection capture first images of a user that is projected by first light of different wavelengths, extract various biometric informations from the first images, analyze and compare for each of the biometric informations to generate a matching score, determine an identity for the user according to all of the matching scores, generate second images and PPG signals from dispensed second light from the user, generate a time and PPG variation signal and a space and PPG variation signal for each frame of the second images, convert the time and PPG variation signals into frequency domain signals, determine a reference frequency according to the space and PPG variation signals, retrieve energy of the frequency domain signals at the reference frequency, and establish a three-dimensional energy distribution from the retrieved energy.
US09195892B2 System for and method of detecting strobe using spatial features in video frames
A video processing device includes a histogram generating component, an analyzing component, a comparator and an encoding component. The histogram generating component can generate a histogram for image data of an image frame. The analyzing component can analyze the histogram, can identify an isolated spike in the histogram and can output at least one strobe parameter. The comparator can compare the at least one strobe parameter with at least one predetermined threshold, can output a first instruction signal when the at least one comparison operation is indicative of a strobe and can output a second instruction signal when the at least one comparison operation is not indicative of a strobe. The encoding component can encode the image data in a first manner based on the first instruction signal and can encode the image data in a second manner based on the second instruction signal.
US09195890B2 Iris biometric matching system
A method and apparatus for biometric iris matching comprising pre-processing an input image capturing one or more eyes to produce one or more rectified iris images, coding the one or more rectified iris images into one or more multiresolution iris codes and matching the one or more multiresolution iris code with a set of stored multiresolution iris codes to determine whether a match exists.
US09195885B2 Positional locating system and method
A method and system are disclosed for locating or otherwise generating positional information for an object, such as but not limited generating positional coordinates for an object attached to an athlete engaging in an athletic event. The positional coordinates may be processed with other telemetry and biometrical information to provide real-time performance metrics while the athlete engages in the athletic event.
US09195877B2 Methods and devices for capacitive image sensing
A sensing circuit and method is disclosed, which may comprise a plurality of transmitting or receiving elements each defining a pixel location defined by a gap between the respective one of the plurality of transmitting or receiving elements and a single element of the opposing type to the respective transmitting or receiving element, and a controller configured to provide or receive a probing signal to or from a group of at least two of the plurality of transmitting or receiving elements, at the same time, thereby increasing the effective area providing the transmitting of or the receiving of the probing signal for each pixel location imaged. The group of transmitting or receiving elements may form a symmetric pattern, which may be centered on the pixel location. The plurality of transmitting or receiving elements may form at least one linear pixel array with the respective single receiving or transmitting element.
US09195875B1 Method and apparatus for defining fields in standardized test imaging
Disclosed herein, among other things, are method and apparatus for defining fields in a standardized test imaging system. In various embodiments, at least one page of a standardized exam is converted into a raster image. One or more bubble response fields are automatically identified on the raster image and a location of one or more bubble response fields is stored in a database. According to various embodiments, a portion of the raster image is defined that includes one or more bubble response fields. A size of the bubbles of the one or more bubble response fields is selected, and one or more bubbles of the size selected are automatically detected. A position of each bubble detected is determined and stored, according to various embodiments.
US09195873B2 Method and system for decoding small sized barcodes from blurred images
An apparatus, system, and method to identify a region of an image including a barcode based on, at least in part, an entity specific feature associated with the barcode; detect a codeword boundary for the barcode based on, at least in part, an adaptive boundary determination mechanism; and decode the codeword based on, at least in part, a plurality of metrics associated with the entity.
US09195869B2 Theme park photograph tracking and retrieval system for park visitors and associated methods
A photography database is configured to interface with at least one camera and includes a memory to store pictures of distinct bar codes and of theme park guests in the order in which they were taken so that the distinct bar codes separate the respective pictures of the theme park guests. A processor is coupled to the memory to retrieve stored pictures based on the distinct bar codes being presented by the theme park guests by detecting the stored distinct bar code matching the distinct bar code presented by the theme park guest, and detecting a stored next distinct bar code that does not match the distinct bar code presented by the theme park guest. All pictures between the matching and non-matching stored distinct bar codes are retrieved. At least one display is coupled to the photography database for displaying the retrieved pictures.
US09195867B2 System and method for automated identification of a photographed subject at a resort area
A system and method monitor skier behavior. An identifier is read from a lift access product when the lift access product is in the vicinity of a lift boarding area and a scan record containing the identifier, location information of the lift boarding area and a time stamp if generated. The scan record is processed to generate a location event record that is stored within a location database. The location database is processed to determine skier behavior based upon the location event records.
US09195860B1 Adaptively combining waveforms
A circuit may be configured to adaptively combine two or more waveforms into a single waveform. The circuit can generate weighting factors based on received error signals, and can apply the weighting factors to the two or waveforms to be combined.
US09195859B2 Selectively securing a hot-swappable data storage device to prevent data corruption
A method and computer program product secure a hot-swap data storage device against being manually physically removed from an operable position within a chassis bay of a computer system. The hot-swap data storage device is released to be manually physically removed from the operable position within the chassis bay of the computer system in response to determining that the data storage device is not active. The hot-swap data storage device may, for example, be secured and released using an electronically-actuated lock.
US09195855B2 Data processing lock signal transmission
In accordance with one aspect of the present description, a node of the distributed computing system has multiple communication paths to a data processing resource lock which controls access to shared resources, for example. In this manner, at least one redundant communication path is provided between a node and a data processing resource lock to facilitate reliable transmission of data processing resource lock signals between the node and the data processing resource lock. Other features and aspects may be realized, depending upon the particular application.
US09195845B2 Trusted and secure techniques for item delivery and execution
Documents and other items can be delivered electronically from sender to recipient with a level of trustedness approaching or exceeding that provided by a personal document courier. A trusted electronic go-between can validate, witness and/or archive transactions while, in some cases, actively participating in or directing the transaction. Printed or imaged documents can be marked using handwritten signature images, seal images, electronic fingerprinting, watermarking, and/or steganography. Electronic commercial transactions and transmissions take place in a reliable, “trusted” virtual distribution environment that provides significant efficiency and cost savings benefits to users in addition to providing an extremely high degree of confidence and trustedness. The systems and techniques have many uses including but not limited to secure document delivery, execution of legal documents, and electronic data interchange (EDI).
US09195840B2 Application-specific file type generation and use
Techniques are described for facilitating file access control of a storage service. In response to a third-party application requesting access to a user's file, the service extracts an application-specific ID from a file type associated with the retrieved file; and grants access to the requested file in response to a determination that an application-specific ID for the third-party application matches an application-specific ID extracted from the file. This Abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
US09195832B1 System and method for providing access to original routines of boot drivers
Disclosed are systems and methods for detecting access of boot driver routines by malware. An example method includes identifying, by the driver interceptor, the one or more boot drivers that have been loaded into memory but not yet initialized; installing, by the driver interceptor, an interceptor handler operable to intercept calls of initialization routines of the one or more identified boot drivers; intercepting, by the driver interceptor, program calls to the initialization routines of the one or more identified boot drivers; storing, by intercept handler, information about the boot driver that is provided by the driver in the course of its initialization, wherein information contains at least address of the entry point for one or more routines of the boot driver; and providing access, by driver interceptor, to the routines of the boot driver by previously stored addresses of the entry points.
US09195830B2 System and method for unattended computer system access
A secure access system, method and patch management system for access to a remote computer system is disclosed. The remote computer system requires local authentication to boot an operating system. A client module is arranged to be executed on the remote computer system upon booting of the computer system and is arranged upon execution to obtain access data over a network from an authentication system for access to the computer system and to use said access data to perform said local authentication at the remote computer system and boot said operating system. The authentication system being arranged to said store access data for the remote computer system in a data repository and being responsive to provide said access data to said client module over the network upon authentication of a request from the client module.
US09195829B1 User interface with real-time visual playback along with synchronous textual analysis log display and event/time index for anomalous behavior detection in applications
According to one embodiment, a method comprises conducting an analysis for anomalous behavior on application software and generating a video of a display output produced by the application software. The video is to be displayed on an electronic device contemporaneously with display of one or more events detected by the analysis being performed on the application software.
US09195822B2 Familiar dynamic human challenge response test content
Embodiments of the invention are directed to human challenge response test delivery systems and methods. Specifically, embodiments of the present invention are directed to secure human challenge response test delivery services of configurable difficulty for user devices. One embodiment of the present invention is directed to methods and systems for implementing a familiar and dynamic human challenge response test challenge repository created from transaction data. The dynamic human challenge response test challenge repository may be created by a server computer receiving a plurality of transaction data. Challenge items may be extracted from the transaction data using an extraction algorithm. Furthermore, in some embodiments a challenge message may be sent to a requestor, a verification request may be received, and the verification request may be compared to the challenge message. Another embodiment may be directed at using user information in a human challenge response test to mutually authenticate a user and a service provider.
US09195815B2 Systems and methods for automated selection of a restricted computing environment based on detected facial age and/or gender
Systems and methods to select and launch a restricted computing environment on an information handing system in an automated manner based on detected facial age and/or gender of a current user of the information handling system.
US09195807B1 License manager for central management products
A license manager running on a central-management server interacts with a managed node to determine a quantity of licensable units associated with a combination of a central-management program and the selected managed node.
US09195803B2 Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for providing controlled access to intravenous bags
A system, method, apparatus, and computer program product are provided for controlling access to intravenous bags. A system may include a cabinet including a vertically oriented drawer configured to be movable between an open position and a closed position relative to the cabinet, where the contents of the vertically oriented drawer are configured to be accessible from two opposing sides of the vertically oriented drawer when the drawer is in the open position. Systems of example embodiments may include a plurality of overpacks configured to be received within the vertically oriented drawer of the cabinet, where each of the plurality of overpacks is configured to receive therein a single intravenous bag, where each of the plurality of overpacks may include a retention feature, and where the retention feature of each overpack may be configured to be received by a complementary retention feature in the vertically oriented drawer.
US09195797B2 System and method for electronically managing medical data files
A network server arrangement including a processor with a machine readable storage encoded with software for execution by the processor. The network server arrangement is responsive to requests to access a medical record of an individual and generates summary medical record data including summary information having a plurality of data elements associated with the individual, at least one of the data elements conveying medical information about the individual, and a pointers component including at least one pointer pointing to a network location containing importable medical information in connection with the individual that is not contained in the summary information component. The pointer includes a machine readable address part for processing by the client, allowing the client to import the medical information from the network location, and a label part for displaying to a user the nature of the medical information residing at the network location.
US09195792B2 Circuit design porting between process design types
Among other things, one or more systems and techniques for porting a circuit design from a first process design type to a second process design type are provided. A circuit design comprises one or more components, such as transistors, that are arranged and sized according to a first process design type, such as a 90 nm processing environment. The circuit design is partitioned into one or more topology categories such as a current mirror topology category or a differential pair topology category. Ordered sets of parameters are determined for respective topology categories. The components within the circuit design are resized based upon the one or more topology categories to generate a ported circuit design specified for the second process design type, such as a 50 nm processing environment.
US09195785B2 System and method for emulating and profiling a frame-based application playing on a mobile device
A system, method and software product emulate and profile an application playing on a mobile device. The mobile device is emulated using a model based upon characteristics related to performance of the mobile device. The application is played and monitored within the model to determine resource utilization of the application for the mobile device.
US09195783B2 Reducing the dimensionality of the joint inversion problem
Method for reducing a 3D joint inversion of at least two different types of geophysical data acquired by 3-D surveys to an equivalent set of 1D inversions. First, a 3D inversion is performed on each data type separately to the yield a 3-D model of a physical property corresponding to the data type. Next, a 1D model of the physical property is extracted at selected (x,y) locations. A 1D simulator and the 1D model of the physical property is then used at each of the selected locations to create a synthetic 1D data set at each location. Finally, the 1D synthetic data sets for each different type of geophysical data are jointly inverted at each of the selected locations, yielding improved values of the physical properties. Because the joint inversion is a 1D inversion, the method is computationally advantageous, while recognizing the impact of 3-D effects.
US09195780B2 Computer user interface including a data grid with a persistent display portion
A system and method for facilitating displaying data in a table via a web-based data grid. The example method includes rendering a first table and then rendering a second table via a layer overlaid on the first table. The second table replicates a user selected portion of the first table. In a specific embodiment, the example method further includes providing a first user option to horizontally scroll the first table. One or more columns of the second table remain static in response to horizontal scrolling of the first table. A second user option enables vertical scrolling of the first table. Vertical scrolling of the first table causes concurrent vertical scrolling of the second table. A third user option enables repositioning of the second table relative to the first table. The first table and overlaid second table, called the frozen section, may be implemented via client-side scripting.
US09195771B2 System for creating and method for providing a news feed website and application
A method for providing a news feed website and application. The method comprises the steps of receiving and storing a list of data sources, subject matter channels, and keywords in a database. The application assigns at least one subject matter channel to each keyword, at least one subject matter channel to each data source, and provides a keyword searcher. The keyword searcher searches the listed data sources for news articles containing at least one of the keywords. A graphical news feed containing the news articles found in the searching step is transmitted to a user. The website and application receives input from the user to modify the list of data sources, and the list of subject matter channels, and updates the list of data sources the list of subject matter channels in a database based on the input received from the user.
US09195769B2 Method and apparatus for quickly evaluating entities
Embodiments of the invention relate to methods and systems for evaluating entities for a target user, the method comprising obtaining, at a server computer, entity data from a plurality of data sources. The entity data is then stored in an entity database. The method further comprises merging the entity data from the plurality of data sources, mapping the entity data to a corresponding entity, and differentiating the entity. Then a relevance is determined associated with the entity data and data source. The method further comprises generating a set of entity evaluations to the target user using the relevance, determining a set of one or more entities relevant to the primary user based on the entity data, user data, and the relevance, with an initial order of relevance, and displaying, on a user device, the set of relevant entities to the target user in the order of relevance.
US09195762B2 Observer filtered activity recommendations
Technologies related to observer filtered activity recommendations are generally described. In some examples, a computing device may collect activity and observer information for a device user, may identify limited observer activities, and may generate observer filtered activity recommendations for the device user, the observer filtered activity recommendations corresponding to the identified limited observer activities. Observer filtered activity recommendations may optionally be restricted in the presence of current observers outside a limited observer group. In some examples, the computing device may provide automated access to observer information and/or to observer filtered activity information to enable observer filtered activity recommendations by applications accessing the observer information and/or the observer filtered activity information.
US09195759B2 Method and apparatus for enterprise-level filtered search
A method for a secure search in a computerized system having a storage, comprising searching for objects in the storage of the computerized system according to search criteria provided by a user wherein the criteria comprise at least one attribute of the objects, identifying objects that meet the criteria and displaying representations respective of identified objects that are accessible to the user, and an apparatus for performing the same.
US09195748B2 Systems and methods for identifying and analyzing internet users
This disclosure describes systems, methods, and apparatus for generating reports enhancing an understanding of Internet users based on their generated content and actions taken by others in response to the generated content.
US09195744B2 Protecting information in search queries
A method of protecting information in search queries uses a search apparatus with a user interface that is configured for connection to a computer network that comprises a plurality of search engines on a plurality of servers. The method includes receiving a search query comprising a plurality of keywords; dividing the search query into a number of sub-queries, each sub-query comprising at least one of the keywords; and submitting the sub-queries to different search engines.
US09195741B2 Triggering music answer boxes relevant to user search queries
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for triggering music answer boxes. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a query, obtaining a plurality of search results responsive to the query, the search results being results from a search of web resources on the Internet, and determining from the plurality of search results that the query is a music query. Music data for a song responsive to the query is obtained, where the music data comprises a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) of song content of the song on the Internet. A music answer box is generated for the query, where the music answer box comprises the music data and a link to the URL of the song content, and the music answer box is provided in addition to search results.
US09195734B2 Associating a task completion step of a task with a task template of a group of similar tasks
Methods and apparatus related to associating a task completion step with a task template based on one or more task completion steps of tasks that conform to the task template. A task template may include one or more terms, entities, and/or category of entities. A Task conforms to the task template when the task includes the one or more terms, entities, and/or an identifier of an entity that is a member of the entity category. In some implementations, a task that is associated with a task completion step is identified as conforming to the task template and the task completion step of the conforming task is associated with the task template. In some implementations, the task template may be utilized to associate a task completion step with a task that conforms to the task template.
US09195731B2 System and method for data provision
A method and system is provided for the generation of a model to represent at least part of an organization. The model includes a plurality of items of relevance to the organization and said items are linked to each other and/or one or more organization database and/or one or more data sources external to the model so as to be able to generate, in a predefined manner a response to a user request made of the model. Thus user's receive appropriate automated support for their decision processes which is more efficient and allows better informed decisions to be made on the basis of the responses from the model. As the model is generated with reference to the organization rather than the raw data sources the use of the model is supportive of the organization work methodology and the responses are at the required level with respect to the decisions are to be made within the organization.
US09195726B2 Mechanism for facilitating dynamic integration of disparate database architectures for efficient management of resources in an on-demand services environment
In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for facilitating dynamic integration of disparate database architectures for efficient management of resources in an on-demand services environment in a multi-tenant environment according to one embodiment. In one embodiment and by way of example, a method includes receiving, at a first database platform, a job request in a first programming package, transforming the job request from the first programming package to a second programming package, transmitting the job request in the second programming package to a second database platform for processing. The job request may be processed at the second database platform that is independent of the first database platform. The method may further include receiving an output relating to the processing of the job request.
US09195725B2 Resolving database integration conflicts using data provenance
A method, a system and a computer program product for resolving conflicts between data for database integration. Data is integrated from first and second data sources to produce integrated data, and the presence of a conflict is determined between data from the first data source and data from the second data source, where one or more sets of prioritized policies for resolving conflicts is associated with data of the first and second data sources. A policy is selected from the set of prioritized policies associated with the conflicted data, where the selected policy is appropriate to resolve the conflict and includes the greatest priority. The selected policy is applied to resolve the conflict and to produce a resulting data value for the integrated data.
US09195722B1 Privacy-protected search
Privacy-protected search is described, including obtaining a set of search results responsive to a search input from a first user; determining, from the search results and based on a social graph, that a first search result associated with a second user is indicated as keeping an identity of the second user hidden; determining whether other search results in the set are indicated as keeping respective identities of associated other users hidden; calculating a score for the first search result based at least on the determinations, the score indicates the likelihood of the first user guessing the identity of the second user; and determining whether to provide to the first user the first search result based on the score for the first search result.
US09195719B2 Water rights analysis system
Exemplary water rights analysis systems and methods are disclosed herein. An exemplary method includes obtaining water rights data from a water rights agency database, maintaining a database of water rights data, receiving from a user a search query for water rights data, and presenting the search results on the user device. The exemplary method may additionally or alternatively include displaying on the user device one or more graphical elements on a geo-reference base layer representing one or more water rights data elements, such as a point of diversion change. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.
US09195718B2 Systems and methods for identifying and visualizing elements of query results
The systems and methods described herein generally relate to increasing user productivity in reviewing query results by visually depicting the presence/absence of a set of query terms in a set of paragraphs across a set of documents.
US09195707B2 Distributed event system for relational models
A distributed event system for a relational database is disclosed. An event data model operatively describes a target database. For a subject entity in the target database, the event data model declares and defines triggering events and respective corresponding operations. An event engine monitors database queries and events involving the subject entity and determines from the event data model corresponding operations. Execution of the determined corresponding operations is distributed to network-based agents. Agents may be filtered based on skills and/or credentials injected at runtime. Code binaries of the operations are downloaded to the agents for execution.
US09195706B1 Processing of document metadata for use as query suggestions
Methods, systems and apparatus are described herein that include obtaining metadata within a document, where the metadata comprises a sequence of terms. Tags are assigned to terms in the sequence of terms based at least in part on grammatical relationships between the terms, thereby forming a corresponding sequence of tags. A determination is made that the sequence of terms is grammatically correct based at least in part on tags within the corresponding sequence of tags. In response to the determination, the sequence of terms is stored as a query suggestion.
US09195704B2 Automated logging for object-oriented environments
Example systems and methods of logging information in an object-oriented system are presented. In one example, a first object including a plurality of first methods is received. The first object also includes an additional method to receive an identity of one of the first methods and to return metadata corresponding to the one of the first methods. A wrapper object is created for the first object and includes a plurality of second methods. Each second method includes an interface that is equivalent to an interface of a corresponding first method. Each of the second methods is configured to call the additional method of the first object to retrieve the metadata for the corresponding first method, call the corresponding first method, receive a return value from the corresponding first method, return the return value, and store information regarding the corresponding first method based on the retrieved metadata.
US09195701B2 System and method for flexible distributed massively parallel processing (MPP) database
An embodiment method for massively parallel processing includes assigning a primary key to a first table in a database and a foreign key to a second table in the database, the foreign key of the second table identical to the primary key of the first table, determining a number of partition groups desired for the database, partitioning the first table into first partitions based on the primary key assigned and the number of partition groups desired, partitioning the second table into second partitions based on the foreign key assigned and the number of partition groups desired, and distributing the first partitions and the second partitions to the partition groups as partitioned. An embodiment system for implementing the embodiment methods is also disclosed.
US09195695B2 Technique for compressing columns of data
An approach for providing compression of a database table that uses a compiled table algorithm (CTA) that provides leverage. Data within any given column in adjacent rows is often the same as or closely related to its neighbors. Rather than storing data in each column of each row as a specific integer, floating point, or character data value, a field reconstruction instruction is stored that when executed by a decompression engine can reconstruct the data value. The field reconstruction instruction may be bit granular and may depend upon past history given that the data compression engine may preserve state as row data is streamed off a storage device.
US09195693B2 Transaction prediction modeling method
The present invention provides database systems configured for creating and utilizing a transactions predictive model using a computer, the database system including: a database management system (DBMS) for handling transactions in the database system, the DBMS including a prediction component for generating the transactions predictive model; a database workload table for capturing commands associated with the transactions, the commands utilized for generating the transactions predictive model; database data for providing data in response to the transactions; and a prediction model database for storing the transactions predictive model, where the prediction component is configured for generating a generalized statement for each statement corresponding with the transactions, identifying a sequence of transactions of the transactions, creating a transaction class based on the sequence of transactions, identifying a current transaction, and then calculating probabilities between transactions, where each statement includes at least a database command.
US09195691B2 Managing test data in large scale performance environment
A method of processing a database can include comparing, using a processor, a delta file with a risk assessment criterion, wherein the delta file is generated from a first schema and a second and different schema, assigning a risk level to a change specified within the delta file according to the comparing, and applying the change of the delta file to a test database conforming to the first schema according to the assigned risk level.
US09195684B2 Redundant task execution in a distributed storage and task network
A method begins by a dispersed storage (DS) processing module determining data block storage redundancy among a set of distributed storage and task (DST) execution units. The method continues with the DS processing module dispersed storage error encoding a data segment of data to produce a set of encoded data slices, where a first encoded data slice of the set of encoded data slices includes at least one redundant encoded data block in common with a second encoded data slice of the set of encoded data slices. The method continues with the DS processing module assigning a first partial task and a first encoded block processing order to a first DST execution unit regarding processing the first encoded data slice and assigning a second partial task and a second encoded block processing order to a second DST execution unit regarding processing the second encoded data slice.
US09195682B2 Integrated analytics on multiple systems
The embodiments provide a federated system for supporting an application to perform analytics. The federated system includes a first distributed system for performing one or more first tasks including processing incoming data into a set of data blocks, an in-memory database system for performing one or more second tasks including receiving the set of data blocks from the first distributed system and storing the set of data blocks in an internal storage, and a second distributed system for performing one or more third tasks including receiving at least one data block of the set from the in-memory database system and performing analytics on the at least one data block. Execution of the first, second, and third tasks are controlled via a scripting language utilized by the application and associated with the in-memory database system.
US09195675B2 Decoding of variable-length data with group formats
Embodiments provide methods and systems for encoding and decoding variable-length data, which may include methods for encoding and decoding search engine posting lists. Embodiments may include different encoding formats including group unary, packed unary, and/or packed binary formats. Some embodiments may utilize single instruction multiple data (SIMD) instructions that may perform a parallel shuffle operation on encoded data as part of the decoding processes. Some embodiments may utilize lookup tables to determine shuffle sequences and/or masks and/or shifts to be utilized in the decoding processes. Some embodiments may utilize hybrid formats.
US09195670B1 Tracking write operations for incremental backups of data
Approaches are described for tracking write operations in an operating system environment which can be used to perform incremental backups of data. In particular, the approaches described herein enable a driver to begin tracking write operations being performed on a volume device (or snapshot of a volume) without having to reboot the system and without causing interruption to operations being performed on the volume. The tracking is enabled by applying a patch to a driver provided by the operating system to replace an original write handler of the driver with an alternate write handler. This alternate handler is used to track the sequence of write operations performed on a snapshot of the volume device. An active bitmap is maintained for recording changed blocks resulting from the write operations. Tins active bitmap can subsequently be used to perform an incremental backup of the volume device based on the snapshot.
US09195662B2 Online analysis and display of correlated information
The invention relates to the field of user interfaces for computing devices. In particular, it relates to a method and system for analyzing and displaying informational entities which are associated to a text document on a computing device, such as a work station, a desktop computer, a tablet PC, a laptop computer and/or a mobile device. A method for displaying an associated informational entity on a computing device when processing a text document is described. The method may comprise: displaying text of the text document on a display of the computing device; automatically determining a first informational entity which is associated with a first portion of the displayed text; and automatically displaying the first informational entity on the display.
US09195660B2 Contextual search for modeling notations
A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for contextual-based search of modeling notations to be used in a model. The method comprises obtaining a contextual property of a notation to be used in a diagram, wherein the contextual property defines a context of a usage of the notation in the diagram; and searching in a notation-base for notations, whereby a search result set is obtained, wherein the search result set comprises notations that were previously used in a similar context to the contextual property, wherein the notation-base is stored in a data storage.
US09195656B2 Multilingual prosody generation
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for multilingual prosody generation. In some implementations, data indicating a set of linguistic features corresponding to a text is obtained. Data indicating the linguistic features and data indicating the language of the text are provided as input to a neural network that has been trained to provide output indicating prosody information for multiple languages. The neural network can be a neural network having been trained using speech in multiple languages. Output indicating prosody information for the linguistic features is received from the neural network. Audio data representing the text is generated using the output of the neural network.
US09195644B2 Short phrase language identification
A computer receives a short phrase. The short phrase is transmitted in a query to a search engine. The computer receives one or more search results from the search engine in response to the query, and parses one or more longer phrases that include the short phrase from each of the one or more search results. The computer transmits the one or more longer phrases to a language identification engine for identification of the language of the one or more longer phrases, and receives from the language identification engine the language of each of the one or more the longer phrases. The computer then determines the most likely language of the short phrase, based at least in part on the language of each of the one or more the longer phrases.
US09195637B2 Proportional font scaling
The font size of text included in web page content is proportionally scaled based on proportional container widths and/or a minimum readable font size. The proportional font scaling improves web content readability on small-screen devices while maintaining relative proportions of font sizes between text containers when the text containers are rendered at full display width.
US09195626B2 Reducing write I/O latency using asynchronous Fibre Channel exchange
A FCP initiator sends a FCP write command to a FCP target within a second FC Exchange, and the target sends one or more FC write control IUs to the initiator within a first FC Exchange to request a transfer of data associated with the write command. The first and second FC exchanges are distinct from one another. A payload of each write control IU includes an OX_ID value with which the initiator originated the second Exchange and a RX_ID value assigned by the FCP target for the second exchange. The two Exchanges yield a full-duplex communication environment between the initiator and target that enables the reduction or elimination of latencies incurred in a conventional FCP write I/O operation due to the half-duplex nature of a single FC Exchange. The write control IU may be an enhanced FCP_XFER_RDY IU or a new FC IU previously undefined by the FCP standard.
US09195622B1 Multi-port memory that supports multiple simultaneous write operations
It is determined whether more than one half of a plurality of data blocks are addressed to a same primary memory bank in a plurality of memory banks. If not more than one half of the data blocks in the plurality of data blocks are addressed to the same primary memory bank, the plurality of data blocks are written to appropriate ones of the primary memory banks in a single clock cycle. If more than one half of the data blocks are addressed to the same primary memory bank, (i) a subset of the data blocks addressed to the same primary memory bank are written to the same primary memory bank, and (ii) one or more remaining data blocks of the data blocks addressed to the same primary memory bank are written to an additional memory bank.
US09195621B2 System and method for assigning memory access transfers between communication channels
A communication channel controller includes a queue, a memory map, and a scheduler. The queue to store a first memory transfer request received at the communication channel controller. The memory map stores information to identify a memory address range to be associated with a memory. The scheduler to compare a source address of the first memory transfer in the queue to the memory address range in the memory map to determine whether the source address of the first memory transfer request targets the memory, and in response allocate the first memory transfer request to a first communication channel of a plurality of communication channels in response to the first communication channel having all of its outstanding memory transactions to a common source address bank and source address page as a source address bank and a source address page of the first memory transfer request.
US09195591B2 Memory system
According to one embodiment, a memory system includes a nonvolatile memory, a storage unit, and a comparison unit. The nonvolatile memory stores an address translation table recording a first address and a second address corresponding to the first address and a write data. The storage unit stores a list and the address translation table. The list stores a third address. The address translation table is loaded from the nonvolatile memory in response to an access request to the nonvolatile memory. The address translation table includes the first address as a target of the access request. The comparison unit compares the third address stored in the list and the second address recorded in the address translation table and outputs a comparison result.
US09195590B2 Sub-sector wear leveling in memories
Methods and memories for wear leveling by sub-sectors of a block are provided. In one such method, data are transferred from a first block of the memory to a second block of the memory, excluding a sub-sector of the first block that is to be erased, logical addresses for the first block and the second block are swapped with each other, the first block is erased, data are transferred from a third block to the first block, logical addresses for the first block and the third block are swapped with each other, and the third block is erased.
US09195579B2 Page replacement method and memory system using the same
A memory system includes a central processing unit (CPU), a nonvolatile memory electrically coupled to the CPU and a main memory, which is configured to swap an incoming code page for a target code page therein, in response to a first command issued by the CPU. The main memory can be configured to swap the target code page in the main memory to the nonvolatile memory in the event a page capacity of the main memory is at a threshold capacity. The CPU may also be configured to perform a frequency of use analysis on the target code page to determine whether the target code page is to be swapped to the nonvolatile memory or discarded. The incoming code page may be provided by a disk drive storage device and the main memory may be a volatile memory.
US09195575B2 Dynamic reconfiguration of applications on a multi-processor embedded system
A multiprocessor system and method for swapping applications executing on the multiprocessor system are disclosed. The plurality of applications may include a first application and a plurality of other applications. The first application may be dynamically swapped with a second application. The swapping may be performed without stopping the plurality of other applications. The plurality of other applications may continue to execute during the swapping to perform a real-time operation and process real-time data. After the swapping, the plurality of other applications may continue to execute with the second application, and at least a subset of the plurality of other applications may communicate with the second application to perform the real time operation and process the real time data.
US09195572B2 Systems and methods for identifying user interface (UI) elements
A method includes executing instructions recorded on a non-transitory computer-readable storage media using at least one processor. The method includes identifying a targeted user interface (UI) element using a uniform resource identifier (URI), where the URI includes one or more URI fragments with each of the URI fragments being associated with a specific UI element, parsing the URI identifying a UI element to validate a format syntax of the URI, determining from a current session an initial resolution context, resolving each of the URI fragments within a UI hierarchy in a current resolution context, where the current resolution context is the initial resolution context for a first URI fragment and after resolving a last of the URI fragments, returning a reference to the targeted UI element.
US09195568B2 Methods, circuits, apparatus, systems and associated software modules for evaluating code behavior
Disclosed are methods, circuits, apparatus, systems and associated software modules for dynamically evaluating code behavior in runtime. There is provided a code testing platform and/or framework which may include: (1) a code execution environment instancing module (CEEIM), (2) code execution resources, (3) executed code isolation logic, and (4) code call response logic. The CEEIM may instance, on a computing platform, a code execution environment (CEE) which is at least partially isolated from external resources functionally associated with the computing platform. The CEE may include code execution resources adapted to execute code whose behavior is to be evaluated, wherein a resource call generated from code execution may be analyzed by the code isolation logic and may under certain conditions be routed to the code call response logic.
US09195559B2 Management of stream operators with dynamic connections
One embodiment is directed to a method for processing a stream of tuples in a stream-based application. A stream operator may receive a stream of tuples. A stream manager may determine whether a dynamic connection exists at a first stream operator. The dynamic connection may connect the first stream operator to a second stream operator. The stream manager may poll the first stream operator and the second stream operator for a presence of the dynamic connection. The stream manager may modify processing of one or more upstream stream operators in response to a change in use of the dynamic connection.
US09195555B2 Error injection into the leaf functions of call graphs
A computer identifies a target for an injection of an error. The computer monitors the call graph, of a program being tested, for instances of the target. The computer identifies an instance of the target in the call graph. The computer determines if the instance of the target satisfies two or more parameters required for error injection. If the computer determines that the instance of the target does satisfy two or more parameters required for error injection, then the computer injects a first instance of an error into a leaf function of the call graph. The execution of the first instance of the injected error results in a first code path, of the program being tested, to be followed.
US09195548B2 Information processing method and apparatus for recovering state of system
A disclosed information processing method is executed by a computer and includes: storing context representing a state of a processor in the computer into a certain area of plural areas included in a memory of the computer, wherein same data is stored in each of the plural areas by memory mirroring; performing a setting to switch a type of the certain area from a type of an area for which the memory mirroring is performed to a type of an area for securing data; and upon detecting that reset of the computer was performed, recovering, by using the computer, the state of the processor by using data stored in the certain area.
US09195546B1 Rotating incremental data backup
A method for backing up a database includes identifying n portions of a database wherein each of the n portions is greater than 0% and less than 100% of the database. The method also includes performing a complete backup of a first 1/n portion of the database and performing an incremental backup on the remaining (n−1)/n portion of the database, and for each subsequent backup, performing a complete backup of a next 1/n portion of the database and performing an incremental backup on the remaining (n−1)/n portion of the database.
US09195545B2 Self-healing using an alternate boot partition
Methods, apparatus and computer program products implement embodiments of the present invention that enable a computer system comprising networked computers to self-heal from a boot failure of one of the computers. In some embodiments, upon detecting a first computer failing to successfully load a first boot image, a second computer configures the first computer to boot a second boot image. Subsequent to configuring the first computer, the first computer is power cycled, and upon the power cycling, the first computer loads the second boot image.
US09195542B2 Selectively persisting application program data from system memory to non-volatile data storage
Application program data stored in system memory may be selectively persisted. An indication may be provided to an application program that an application data object or a range of application data stored in system memory may be treated as persistent. Data backup may be enabled for the application data object or range of application data in the event of a system failure, copying the application data object or range of application data from system memory to non-volatile data storage. Upon recovery from a system failure, further data backup for the application data object or the range of application data may be disabled. In some embodiments, at least some of the application data object or range of application data may be recovered for the application program to access. Data backup for the application data object or the range of application data may also be re-enabled.
US09195538B1 System and method for in-line error correction for storage systems
A disk drive system comprising a disk controller and a buffer memory. The disk controller is configured to receive, from a host, data to be written to a disk, and read, from the disk, data to be transmitted to the host. The buffer memory is configured to store the data read from the disk prior to the data read from the disk being transmitted to the host, and store the data received from the host prior to the data received from the host being written to the disk. The disk controller is further configured to correct errors in the data read from the disk prior to the data read from the disk being stored in the buffer memory.
US09195528B1 Systems and methods for managing failover clusters
A computer-implemented method for managing failover clusters. The method may include maintaining a failover cluster comprising first and second cluster nodes, identifying a first instance of a service group on the first cluster node, and initiating failover of the first cluster node to the second cluster node. The method may also include bringing at least a portion of a second instance of the service group online before taking the first instance of the service group completely offline. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
US09195522B2 Method and device for controlling communication between applications in a web runtime environment
The invention relates to a method for controlling communication between web applications in a web runtime environment such as a web browser. The method comprises the step of: executing code of a service provider application by the web runtime environment thereby providing a data object; obtaining a list of one or more service requester applications, each service requester application being adapted to generate a service request and implementing an interface for receiving a data object in response to the generated service request; enabling the selection, among the obtained list, of one or more requester applications adapted to receive data objects of the same type as the provided data object; and communicating the provided data object to the selected one or more requester applications via their corresponding interface. The invention also relates to a computer program and a processing device adapted to execute the method.
US09195519B2 Disabling the self-referential appearance of a mobile application in an intent via a background registration
Systems and methods for disabling the self-referential appearance of a mobile application in an Intent via a background thread are disclosed. On the Android platform, an application such as a mobile application for providing access to a cloud environment or cloud based service including cloud-based storage and/or collaborative services, can serve as both a source and a target for a given Intent. In one implementation, such a mobile application that can receive and send the same Intent, can include a background service that detects when the Intent is about to be issued, and unregisters the application to prevent the application from receiving the Intent. When a target application for handling the Intent is identified, the background service re-registers the application to receive the Intent.
US09195515B1 Method and system for process load balancing
A method for work load balancing in a cluster of servers including steps of: detecting a processing job that is ready to be executed; determining whether an insensitivity value is specified; determining a first server with a highest power rating from a plurality of servers; in response to determining that an insensitivity value is specified: determining a second server with a second highest power rating from the plurality of servers; determining whether a difference between the highest power rating of the first server and the second highest power rating of the second sever is less than a percentage indicated by the insensitivity value and whether the first server was selected to execute a most recent processing job. If so, the method includes the step of selecting the second server to execute the processing job. Further, a method for heuristic load balancing based on historic performance and load statistics.
US09195510B2 Information handling system application decentralized workload management
A cloud application management infrastructure models biological swarm behaviors to assign application resources to physical processing resources in a decentralized manner. A balanced and highly automated management of cloud infrastructure has a predictable and reliable response to changing resource loads by using a limited local rule set to define how application instances interact with available resources. Digital pheromone signals at physical resources are applied locally by a swarm module to determine if the physical resources provide an acceptable environment for an application and, if not, the application swarms to other environments until a suitable environment is found.
US09195506B2 Processor provisioning by a middleware processing system for a plurality of logical processor partitions
A middleware processor provisioning process provisions a plurality of processors in a multi-processor environment. The processing capability of the multiprocessor environment is subdivided and multiple instances of service applications start protected processes to service a plurality of user processing requests, where the number of protected processes may exceed the number of processors. A single processing queue is created for each processor. User processing requests are portioned and dispatched across the plurality of processing queues and are serviced by protected processes from corresponding service applications, thereby efficiently using available processing resources while servicing the user processing requests in a desired manner.
US09195502B2 Auto detecting shared libraries and creating a virtual scope repository
Provided are techniques for receiving a request to load a first resource corresponding to an application onto a computing system for execution; determining whether or not the first resource is identical to a resource loaded in a virtual scope library (VSR); and, if the first resource is determined not to be identical to any particular resource loaded in the VSR, load the first resource into the VSR; and direct references to the first resource in the application to the first resource loaded in the VSR; and otherwise, if the first resource is determined to be identical to the second resource, direct references to the first resource in the application to the particular resource stored in the VSR.
US09195501B2 Instruction culling in graphics processing unit
Aspects of the disclosure are directed to a method of processing data with a graphics processing unit (GPU). According to some aspects, the method includes executing a first work item with a shader processor of the GPU, wherein the first work item includes one or more instructions for processing input data. The method also includes generating one or more values based on a result of the first work item, wherein the one or more values represent one or more characteristics of the result. The method also includes determining whether to execute a second work item based on the one or more values, wherein the second work item includes one or more instructions that are distinct from the one or more instructions of the first work item for processing the input data.
US09195496B2 Automated caching and mirroring of immutable data in distributed virtual machines via native interface components
An initial request for a reference to a data container is sent to a distributed enhanced virtual machine native interface component of a distributed virtual machine in response to receiving an initial request from a remote execution container for the reference to the data container at a distributed enhanced remote execution container native interface component of the distributed virtual machine. A data mirror data structure including immutable data and the reference to the data container received from the distributed enhanced virtual machine native interface component is stored within a local memory storage area. A reference to the locally-stored data mirror data structure is returned to the remote execution container in response to the initial request for the reference to the data container.
US09195495B2 Configuration space with pseudo device identifier
Techniques for loading device drivers are provided. A configuration space may contain a device identifier. The configuration space may be modified by replacing the device identifier with a pseudo device identifier. In one aspect the pseudo device identifier may be passed to a virtual machine. In another aspect, the pseudo device identifier may be used to load a driver.
US09195494B2 Hashing storage images of a virtual machine
Virtual machine images are transferred from a source storage location to a target storage location over a network. In one embodiment, a host at the source storage location computes signature values of a plurality of disk blocks that contain a plurality of virtual machine images. Each computed signature value corresponds to one of the disk blocks. A subset of the disk blocks, all of which have different signature values, is then transferred from the source storage location to the target storage location. Only one copy of duplicate disk blocks is transferred.
US09195490B2 Differential voltage and frequency scaling (DVFS) switch reduction
Technologies are generally described for systems, devices and methods effective to schedule access to a core. In some examples, a first differential voltage frequency scaling (DVFS) value of a first virtual machine may be received by a virtual machine manager. A second DVFS value of a second virtual machine may be received by the virtual machine manager. A third DVFS value of a third virtual machine may be received by the virtual machine manager. The third DVFS value may be substantially the same as the first DVFS value and different from the second DVFS value. A dispatch cycle may be generated to execute the first, second and third virtual machines on the core. After execution of the first virtual machine, the dispatch cycle may require execution of the third virtual machine before execution of the second virtual machine.
US09195472B2 System and method for booting up a computer based on data captured in a non-volatile semiconductor memory during a learn mode
A system includes a timer and a control module. The control module: in response to a first request for first data, determines whether the first data is stored in a non-volatile semiconductor memory (NVSM); in response to the first data not being stored in the NVSM, (i) loads the first data from a hard disk drive (HDD) and boots up a computer a first time based on the first data, and (ii) while operating in a learn mode and while loading the first data from the HDD, captures a portion of the first data in the NVSM; in response to the timer indicating an end of a period during which the computer is booted up the first time, ceases the capturing of the first data; and based on the portion of the first data captured in the NVSM during the learn mode, boots up the computer a second time.
US09195469B2 Network apparatus and method in a computer system operating a boot-strap or a work period
The present invention discloses a network apparatus and enabling method thereof. During the procedure of voltage biasing or host booting, an enabling signal generated in this network apparatus is provided for enabling the internal application circuit at first. At the time of data connection between the network apparatus and a corresponding host apparatus, the host apparatus is able to enable or disable the application circuit of the network apparatus via a predetermined pin.
US09195463B2 Processing core with speculative register preprocessing in unused execution unit cycles
A method and circuit arrangement speculatively preprocess data stored in a register file during otherwise unused cycles in an execution unit, e.g., to prenormalize denormal floating point values stored in a floating point register file, to decompress compressed values stored in a register file, to decrypt encrypted values stored in a register file, or to otherwise preprocess data that is stored in an unprocessed form in a register file.
US09195447B2 Optimized SCA descriptors with run-time deployment additions
Systems and methods for converting Software Communications Architecture (SCA) XML files into optimized SCA descriptors usable by a SCA Core Framework (CF) for application deployment and installation. The optimized SCA descriptors include sufficient run-time information so as to be directly usable by the CF for deploying and executing waveform applications without copying to different structures. The optimized SCA structures include component instantiation direct indexes into a sequence of partitions. The optimized SCA descriptors can be Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA) structures provided in Common Data Representation (CDR) format.
US09195445B1 Distributed model compilation
Methods and systems are provided for partitioning and distributing the model processing of a graphical model to provide an executable form of the graphical model. The methods and systems determine tasks of the model processing that can be processed separately and concurrently from other tasks. A distribution scheme for distributing the model processing tasks is determined that considers the characteristics of the model processing tasks in view of the characteristics of available computing resources. Variations of partitioning and distributing the model processing tasks can be determined to provide for distributed processing in an optimized or desired manner. The results of the distributed processing of the model processing tasks are obtained and combined to provide an executable form for the graphical model.
US09195401B2 Method and apparatus for virtual machine live storage migration in heterogeneous storage environment
Embodiments pertain to live storage migration for virtual machines. Specific embodiments can implement the migration of VM disk images without service interruption to the running workload. Specific embodiments relate to storage migration between different disk arrays. Embodiments of the subject invention relate to a method and apparatus that can enhance the efficiency of virtual machine (VM) live storage migration in heterogeneous storage environments from a multi-dimensional perspective, e.g., user experience, device wearing, and/or manageability. Specific embodiments utilize one or more of the following: adaptive storage migration strategies, or techniques, such as 1) Low Redundancy (LR), which generates a reduced, and preferably the least, amount of redundant writes; 2) Source-based Low Redundancy (SLR), which can help keep a desirable balance between IO performance and write redundancy; and 3) Asynchronous IO Mirroring (AIO), which seeks high, and preferably the highest, IO performance. Specific embodiments adaptively mix one or more of these adaptive storage migration techniques during massive VM live storage migration.
US09195396B2 Estimating access frequency statistics for storage device
Techniques are disclosed relating to determining statistics associated with the storage of data on a medium. In one embodiment, a computing system maintains a management statistic for a storage device, and uses the management statistic as a proxy for a workload statistic for a storage block within the storage device. In some embodiments, the storage block is a first storage block included within a second storage block of the storage device. In one embodiment, the management statistic is a timestamp indicative of when a write operation was performed for the second storage block; the workload statistic is a write frequency of the first storage block. In one embodiment, the management statistic is a number of read operations performed for the second storage block; the using includes deriving, based on the number of read operation, a read frequency for the first storage block as the workload statistic.
US09195389B2 Menu executing method and apparatus in portable terminal
Provided is a menu execution method and apparatus in a portable terminal. The menu execution method includes displaying, on a touch screen, an item list which comprises a plurality of divided regions in each of which a corresponding item is formed, recognizing a user gesture at one of a first position and a second position, the second position being different from the first position, and executing a menu corresponding to the recognized position, in which a first menu for providing a first service related to the item formed in the divided region is preset in the first position of the divided region on the touch screen, and a second menu for providing a second service related to the item formed in the divided region is preset in the second position of the divided region on the touch screen, the first and second services being different.
US09195381B2 Information processing apparatus, method for controlling the same, and storage medium to receive a touch operation for rotating a displayed image
An information processing apparatus acquires an angle between a straight line determined by two touch points at a first time point and a straight line determined by two touch points at a second time point, sets an angular threshold value based on a distance between the two touch points at the first time point, and receives an operational input performed with the two touch points as a predetermined operation if the acquired angle is greater than the set angular threshold value.
US09195379B2 Automated techniques to bootstrap a converged infrastructure (CI) based on a CI package design unit
A technique to bootstrap a converged infrastructure design includes receiving a package specification unit (PU) representative of a design of a converged infrastructure (CI) including compute, storage, network, and virtualization components, the PU including component readable tasks that perform operations on the CI components. The PU further includes an inventory task model associated with tasks to read inventory information from the CI components, an assessment task model associated with tasks to assess the CI components, a configuration task model associated with tasks to configure the CI components, and a user input model to generate prompts to solicit and receive CI component information from a user, and provide the received information to the other PU models. The technique displays a PU model menu from which the PU models may be selected, and receives a selection of one of the PU models through the PU model menu. The technique executes one or more tasks associated with the selected PU model to perform corresponding operations on the CI components.
US09195371B2 Information providing apparatus, information providing system and information providing method
A user information storing unit stores user information regarding a user in association with user identification information. A provision information storing unit stores various kinds of provision information to be provided to a user terminal. An image producing unit acquires the user information stored in the user information storing unit in association with the user identification information. The image producing unit acquires provision information associated with the acquired user information, from the provision information storing unit. The image producing section produces screen information for displaying the acquired provision information. A transmitting-receiving unit transmits the produced screen information to the user terminal.
US09195363B2 Perspective based tagging and visualization of avatars in a virtual world
A system for perspective based tagging and visualization of avatars in a virtual world may include determining if another avatar has moved within a predetermined proximity range of a user's avatar in a virtual world. The system may also include allowing the user to tag the other avatar with information in response to the other avatar being within the predetermined proximity range of the user's avatar.
US09195360B2 Position detecting method and system
A position detecting method includes: transmitting to a position indicator a first excitation signal that has a variable frequency and then receiving a first response signal therefrom, via a target antenna unit including a target antenna; determining, based on the first response signal, a target frequency of the first excitation signal at which the first response signal has a maximum energy level; continuously transmitting to the position indicator a second excitation signal that has the target frequency and then receiving a second response signal from the position indicator, via a group of antenna units including the target antenna unit individually and successively; and obtaining position information corresponding to the position indicator based on the second response signal.
US09195355B2 Method for increasing accuracy of touch coordinate calculation in a capacitive multi-touch system
In a method for increasing accuracy of touch coordinate calculation in a capacitive multi-touch system, it performs operations on obtained data for de-noising of the obtained data and increasing its linearity so as to generate data with excellent stability and linearity. An integral accumulation operation is performed to generate data for each sensing channel, cancel the accumulation error in data, and calculate coordinates for touch points on a capacitive touch panel.
US09195344B2 Optical surface using a reflected image for determining three-dimensional position information
A touch screen system including a reflective display surface, a camera mounted so as to capture an image of (i) the reflective display surface, (ii) a pointer approaching the reflective display surface, and (iii) a reflection of the pointer on the reflective display surface, and a processor coupled with the camera that determines a three-dimensional location of the pointer relative to the reflective display surface, based on the positions of the pointer and the reflection of the pointer in the image captured by the camera.
US09195335B2 Modal launching
Embodiments are described for handling display of modal windows in a multi-screen device. In embodiments, a modal window will be launched and displayed in a display which receives the input that resulted in the display of the modal window. The other portions of a first display or second display, not displaying the modal window, are made inactive. In other embodiments, the modal window occupies only a first display and the second display remains active.
US09195325B2 Method and system for obtaining positioning data
A position detection system for use in association with computing applications, the system comprising: a positional element for attaining a position and comprising a first emitter for emitting a substantially continuous ultrasonic waveform decodable to fix said position, and a detector arrangement for detecting said waveform in a manner permitting fixing of said position and outputting said waveform for computation, in a manner retentive of said position fixing ability.
US09195311B2 Imaging device, imaging method, and program with flick gesture to acquire an image
An imaging device includes a touch panel adapted to receive an instruction entered with a touch operation performed by a user touching his/her finger to a screen, a touch operation detector adapted to detect the touch operation entered through the touch panel, an image acquirer adapted to acquire an image, and an imaging controller adapted to effect control such that the image acquirer acquires the image when the touch operation detector detects a flick operation, as the touch operation, whereby the user lifts his/her finger off the screen of the touch panel after moving the finger over the screen, with the finger kept in contact with the screen.
US09195308B2 Operating device
An operator control apparatus has an operator control element with haptic feedback. The operator control element has an input area and can be operated by an operator using an input member. The operator control apparatus includes a first and second ferromagnetic areal components and a first and second flat coils that are arranged between the first and second components. The first and second components have their largest areas oriented toward each other and are configured to move relative to each other. The input area is either configured as a part of the first or second component or coupled to the first or second component using a coupling apparatus. The first coil is associated with the first component and the second coil is associated with the second component such that a flow of current through the first and second coils causes the first and second components to move.
US09195301B2 Three dimensional volumetric display input and output configurations
The present invention is a system that allows a number of 3D volumetric display or output configurations, such as dome, cubical and cylindrical volumetric displays, to interact with a number of different input configurations, such as a three-dimensional position sensing system having a volume sensing field, a planar position sensing system having a digitizing tablet, and a non-planar position sensing system having a sensing grid formed on a dome. The user interacts via the input configurations, such as by moving a digitizing stylus on the sensing grid formed on the dome enclosure surface. This interaction affects the content of the volumetric display by mapping positions and corresponding vectors of the stylus to a moving cursor within the 3D display space of the volumetric display that is offset from a tip of the stylus along the vector.
US09195299B2 Sequential power up of devices in a computing cluster based on relative commonality
A method of powering on a plurality of devices includes identifying a plurality of power distribution units (PDUs) disposed in a rack, wherein each PDU receives power from a main power source and includes a circuit breaker. A plurality of devices disposed in the rack are identified, wherein each device receives power from one of the PDUs, and wherein the plurality of devices are server nodes, network switches or external data storage devices. Vital product data (VPD) is obtained from a service processor in each device, wherein the VPD identifies the device by a model identification code. For each PDU, the plurality of devices connected to the PDU are powered on in a sequence to prevent an inrush current from tripping the circuit breaker within the PDU, wherein the sequence powers on devices in order of ascending commonality of the model identification code.
US09195288B2 Battery backup system and battery backup module thereof
A battery backup system includes a base and a plurality of battery backup modules. The base has a plurality of receiving portions. Each of the battery backup modules includes a first modular casing, a microcontroller, an energy storage unit and a DC-DC converting circuit. The microcontroller is disposed in the first modular casing. The energy storage unit is disposed in the first modular casing and connected with the microcontroller for charging or discharging electrical energy. The DC-DC converting circuit is disposed in the first modular casing and connected with the microcontroller for converting a DC voltage. The first modular casing is swappable to be accommodated within one of the receiving portions of the base. When the first modular casing is accommodated within the receiving portion, the energy storage unit is controlled to charge or discharge electrical energy by the microcontroller.
US09195277B2 Touch panel with proximity sensor
A touch panel includes a cover window with an active area and an inactive area; a first sensing electrode having a first sensitivity in the active area; and a second sensing electrode having a second sensitivity in the inactive area, wherein the first sensitivity is different from the second sensitivity.
US09195271B2 Touch panel, method of manufacturing the same, and display apparatus
In one aspect, a touch panel comprising a substrate and a first conductive patterned portion that is formed on the substrate is provided. The first conductive patterned portion may include: a first direction conductive portion that is formed on the substrate, the first direction conductive portion including a plurality of first body members, a first intermediate member formed between the first body members, and a first connection member which is electrically connected to the first body members; and a second direction conductive portion that is formed on the substrate and is insulated from the first direction conductive portion, the first intermediate member including a plurality of second body members and a second connection member which is electrically connected to the second body members.
US09195268B2 Electronic device with a foldable cover for covering a user operable device
The invention provides an electronic device including a user operable device and a foldable cover flexibly connected to the user operable device and capable to cover a whole top of the user operable device. The foldable cover includes a plurality of sections and a plurality of foldable lines, so that the foldable cover can be folded along the plurality of foldable lines formed between different sections. The sections are connected through the flexible foldable lines to allow the adjacent sections foldable with respective to one another to make the foldable cover in a supporting state, so that a first fastening section and a second fastening section are releasably fastened together so as to fasten a first supporting section and a second supporting section, and a first attachment section and a second attachment section are placed flatly on a plane.
US09195266B2 Bonding structure and electronic device using the same
A bonding structure includes a first connecting part, a second connecting part and an adhesive. The first connecting part includes a top surface and a first joining surface opposite to the top surface. The second connecting part includes a mounting surface and defines a bonding groove on the mounting surface, the second connecting part further includes positioning members in the bonding groove. The adhesive is received in the bonding groove of the second connecting part, then the first connecting part is received in the bonding groove. The first joining surface is supported by the positioning members to position the first connecting part, the adhesive is located between the first joining surface and a bottom of the bonding groove to join the first and the second connecting part together. The present disclosure further discloses an electronic device using the bonding structure.
US09195258B2 System and method for synchronizing operations among a plurality of independently clocked digital data processing devices
A system is described for maintaining synchrony of operations among a plurality of devices that have independent clocking arrangements. The system includes a task distribution device that distributes tasks to a synchrony group comprising a plurality of devices that are to perform the tasks distributed by the task distribution device in synchrony. The task distribution device distributes each task to the members of the synchrony group over a network. Each task is associated with a time stamp that indicates a time, relative to a clock maintained by the task distribution device, at which the members of the synchrony group are to execute the task. Each member of the synchrony group periodically obtains from the task distribution device an indication of the current time indicated by its clock, determines a time differential between the task distribution device's clock and its respective clock and determines therefrom a time at which, according to its respective clock, the time stamp indicates that it is to execute the task.
US09195254B2 Method and apparatus for multi-level de-emphasis
A distribution current is split into a first control current, a second control current, and a third control current, in an apportionment according to a distribution command. A first control voltage is generated in response to the third control current. A second control voltage is generated as indication of the first control current, and a third control voltage is generated as indication of the second control current. Optionally, de-emphasis contribution of a first driver, a second driver and a third driver to an output is controlled based, at least in part, on the first control voltage, the second control voltage and the third control voltage, respectively.
US09195253B2 Signal transmission circuit
A signal transmission circuit includes an isolation circuit, first and second grounded gate circuits, first and second MOS transistors, and a comparator. The isolation circuit such as a thin-film transformer outputs complementary first and second output signals, based on an input signal. The first and second grounded gate circuits receive and amplify the first and second output signals, respectively. The first and second MOS transistors are connected between a power supply node and the first and second grounded gate circuits, respectively, for adjusting the first and second output signals. The comparator compares output from the first grounded gate circuit with output from the second grounded gate circuit.
US09195250B2 Switching power supply device
A switching power supply device includes: a non-linear control type switching control unit that, in accordance with a result of a comparison between a feedback voltage and a reference voltage, performs on/off control of a switch element, and thereby generates an output voltage from an input voltage; a backflow current detection unit that, upon detecting a backflow current flowing to the switch element, forcibly switches off the switch element; and an on-time setting unit that sets an on-time of the switch element, in a case of the backflow current not being detected, in accordance with a duty of the switch element, and in a case of the backflow current being detected, in accordance with a switch voltage appearing at one end of the switch element or the output voltage.
US09195246B2 Virtual output voltage sensing for feed-forward control of a voltage regulator
Disclosed are devices, apparatus, circuitry, components, mechanisms, modules, systems, and methods for virtual output voltage sensing for feed-forward control of a voltage regulator. A buffer has an input coupled to sense a monitored signal indicating a duty cycle of switch circuitry coupled to an output filter of the voltage regulator. The buffer is configured to provide at an output, responsive to the monitored signal, a buffer output signal having a high reference voltage for a high side on time and a low reference voltage for a low side on time of the switch circuitry. A filter is coupled to receive and filter the buffer output signal to provide a feed-forward signal indicating the output voltage of the voltage regulator. Control circuitry is configured to control the switching of the switch circuitry responsive to the feed-forward signal.
US09195240B2 Valve assembly
A valve assembly adapted to be used in an environment having an environment pressure includes a body having an end adapted to connect to a pipe having a first fluid line at a first pressure and a coaxial second fluid line at a second pressure. A primary passageway defined through the body is adapted to be connected to the first fluid line. A secondary passageway defined in the body is adapted to be connected to the second fluid line. A valve is disposed on the primary passageway. The valve is movable between a first position where the passageway is open and a second position where the passageway is closed in response to the second pressure in the secondary passageway. The first pressure in the primary passageway is greater than the second pressure in the secondary passageway, and the environment pressure is greater than the second pressure in the secondary passageway.
US09195235B2 Beam directed motion control system
A method and apparatus comprising an energy source, a position system, and a movement system. The energy source is configured to generate a beam of energy directed at an area on a target for a vehicle. The position system is configured to identify a first position of the area on the target at which the beam of energy is directed. The movement system is configured to move the vehicle in a manner that reduces a difference between the first position of the area on the target at which the beam of energy is directed and a reference position on the target.
US09195229B2 Testing a control system including a valve
A method of testing a control system including a valve which is operable by a solenoid is disclosed. The method comprises applying a current through a coil of the solenoid, the current being insufficient to cause the solenoid to operate the valve, and monitoring a response of the system to the current.
US09195221B2 Timer and watch
A timer includes: a case body made of synthetic resin; an outer case made of synthetic resin, located above the case body and extending to a portion of an upper face of a watch glass; a reinforcement member made of metal embedded in the case body to prevent deformation of the case body when the watch glass is fit thereto and ensure airtightness; and an antenna arranged inside the case body and beneath the reinforcement member, wherein the reinforcement member is embedded in the case body in no electrical continuity with a ground potential.
US09195218B2 Timepiece mechanism cassette
A timepiece mechanism cassette includes at least one bearing surface for positioning the cassette in a movement, a plate and a bar, at least one of which is rigid, between or on which there are arranged functional components at least two of which are movable relative to each other. At least one functional component is pivotally movable and pivoted between the plate and the bar, and forms an inseparable single piece component with the plate and/or with the bar.
US09195213B2 Image forming apparatus including fan to generate air flow in conveyance path in sheet conveyance direction
An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier configured to carry a toner image. A transfer unit is configured to transfer the toner image on the image carrier onto a recording sheet. A fixing unit is configured to fix the toner image transferred at the transfer unit onto the recording sheet. Through a conveyance path, the recording sheet is conveyed from the transfer unit to the fixing unit. A conveyance guide member is disposed in the conveyance path on an image formation surface side of the recording sheet. A fan is configured to send air from the transfer unit to the conveyance path toward a gap defined between the conveyance guide member and the transfer unit so as to form a flow of air in the conveyance path from an upstream side to a downstream side in a conveyance direction of the recording sheet.
US09195207B2 Cartridge having detection body
In a cartridge, a developing roller is configured to rotate around a first rotational axis extending in a predetermined direction and to carry developer thereon, the developing roller having a first end and a second end apart from each other in the predetermined direction, a from-first-to-second direction being defined along the predetermined direction as being directed from the first end to the second end. A developing electrode is formed of a conductive material and is configured to be electrically connected to the developing roller, the developing electrode including a main part and a protruding portion protruding from the main part in the from-first-to-second direction. A detection body is formed of an insulating material and is rotatably supported by the protruding portion, the detection body including a first opening that exposes part of the protruding portion and a covering portion covering part of the protruding portion.
US09195200B2 Image forming apparatus, image forming method, and computer program product
An acquisition unit acquires output data including first image data including first clear toner plane data and second image data including color plane data and second clear toner plane data. When the output data includes the first image data, a first output unit outputs first print data including first identification information representing an instruction to form an image on a first recording medium to which clear toner has not been applied to an image forming unit. When the output image includes the first image data and the second image data, a second output unit outputs second print data including second identification information representing an image formation instruction for a second recording medium to which the clear toner has been applied. When the output data does not include the first image data but includes the second image data, the second output unit outputs third print data including the first identification information.
US09195198B2 Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus forms, on a surface of a moving member moving in a first direction, an image under an image forming condition in accordance with image information. The image forming apparatus includes: a reflection-type optical sensor including an emission system including a plurality of light-emitting units arranged in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and a light-receiving system including a plurality of light-receiving units that receive reflected light resulting from reflection of emission light emitted from the emission system at the surface of the moving member; and a determination device that determines whether there is an abnormality on the surface of the moving member on the basis of output signals from at least two or more light-receiving units.
US09195195B2 Control apparatus and storage medium for storing and executing a print job
In a case where it is determined that attribute information of a first sheet is not stored in a storing unit and it is determined that no sheets are held in a sheet holding unit with respect to which attribute information of a second sheet is stored in the storing unit, a control apparatus performs a notification indicating that the attribute information of the first sheet is not stored in the storing unit and no sheets are held in the sheet holding unit with respect to which the attribute information of the second sheet is stored in the storing unit.
US09195194B2 Image forming apparatus with cover for maintenance of interior thereof, and opening/closure detecting method
Provided is an image forming apparatus capable of detecting the ON/OFF state of each of two interlock switches connected in series to a power line, and detecting the opening/closure of each of two covers. The first and second interlock switches are set on/off according to the opening/closure of the first and second covers respectively. The first interlock switch is connected to a supply voltage when the first interlock switch is on, and is connected to a detection voltage being lower and on which the load does not operate when the first interlock switch is off. A control part detects the opening/closure of the first cover and the second cover based on a voltage on the power line between the first interlock switch and the second interlock switch and a voltage on the power line between the second interlock switch and the load.
US09195191B2 Fixing member for electrophotographic fixing, fixing device, and image forming apparatus
A fixing member for electrophotographic fixing includes a base body; an elastic layer; and an outermost surface releasing layer. The elastic layer and the outermost surface releasing layer are laminated on the base body. The elastic layer is a continuous layer including fibrous filler distributed in a portion of the elastic layer towards the outermost surface releasing layer.
US09195184B2 Image forming apparatus sequentially outputting a sheet having been subjected to image formation processing to a paper output tray
An image forming apparatus capable of effectively cooling down a sheet having been subjected to fixing processing while preventing an apparatus from becoming larger in size and a sheet conveyance failure from occurring is provided. The image forming apparatus (10) includes a sheet conveyance path (16), a fixing device (22), a conveyance roller (26), an upper sheet guide (60), a lower sheet guide (62), and a cooling fan (40). The conveyance roller (26) is disposed downstream of a heat-treatment portion in the sheet conveyance path and configured so as to convey a sheet passing the heat-treatment portion to the paper output tray. At a position corresponding to the position of the conveyance rollers (26), the upper sheet guide (60) is provided with a ventilation portion (604) configured so as to make the cooling air from the cooling device (40) pass through. At a position opposed to the ventilation portion (604) of the upper sheet guide (60), the lower sheet guide (62) is provided with a ventilation portion (624) configured so as to make the cooling air from the cooling device (40) pass through.
US09195182B2 Image heating apparatus, lubricant application system, lubricant application method, and lubricant container-applicator
An image heating apparatus to which a lubricant application container is dismountably mountable, the image heating apparatus including: an endless belt configured to heat, in a nip, a toner image on a sheet; a rotatable member cooperative with the belt to form the nip; an urging member extending in a widthwise direction of the belt and configured and positioned to urge the belt toward the rotatable member; and a guide portion configured and positioned to guide a sliding movement of the lubricant application container while substantially preventing dismounting of the lubricant application container during the sliding movement. The lubricant application container applies a lubricant to a sliding surface of the urging member relative to the belt along a longitudinal direction, when the belt is dismounted from the image heating apparatus.
US09195179B2 Transfer device and image forming apparatus including same
A transfer device includes a transfer bias power source, a switching device, and a sheet dependent condition setting device. The transfer bias power source applies to a transfer member, based on sheet dependent conditions for a recording medium onto which a toner image is transferred, one of a DC transfer bias and a superimposed transfer bias including an alternating current (AC) component superimposed on a DC component. The switching device switches a transfer mode between a DC transfer mode in which the DC transfer bias is applied to the transfer device and a superimposed-bias transfer mode in which the superimposed transfer bias is applied to the transfer device. The sheet dependent condition setting device sets arbitrarily at least one of the sheet dependent conditions for the recording medium at the superimposed-bias transfer mode. The sheet dependent conditions include a DC component value and an AC component value.
US09195167B2 Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a toner image holding member, a transfer unit, and a supply unit. The toner image holding member holds a toner image. The transfer unit transfers the toner image held by the toner image holding member to a recording medium. The supply unit supplies powder such that the powder is interposed between an end portion of the recording medium and the toner image holding member and/or the transfer unit if the recording medium includes an intermediate adhesive layer.
US09195164B2 Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier which carries thereon a developer image, a holding roller which holds thereon developer attached on the image carrier, a collection device which collects the developer on the holding roller via at least the image carrier, and a control device which executes a holding control of applying to the holding roller a holding bias having a polarity opposite to the developer such that the holding roller holds developer and a collection control of applying to the holding roller a discharge bias having a polarity same as the developer such that the developer held on the holding roller is moved to the image carrier and the collection device collects the developer via the image carrier. The control device starts the collection control at a timing after a predetermined point of time according to an estimated charge amount of the developer.
US09195160B2 Image forming apparatus and image forming method for correcting registration deviation
Since memory access is performed on a large number or discontinuous address regions, the performance of memory access is significantly degraded; in a system that performs high speed image formation, registration deviation cannot be corrected. Sub scanning position information corresponding to the profile of registration deviation is set, and image correction processing is divided into two stages, high resolution correction processing using line buffers formed with a memory which allows high speed random access and low resolution correction processing using a memory whose capacity is easily increased.
US09195153B2 Lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method
A map of the surface of a substrate is generated at a measurement station. The substrate is then moved to where a space between a projection lens and the substrate is filled with a liquid. The substrate is then aligned using, for example, a transmission image sensor and, using the previous mapping, the substrate can be accurately exposed. Thus the mapping does not take place in a liquid environment.
US09195152B2 Spectral purity filter, lithographic apparatus, and method for manufacturing a spectral purity filter
A transmissive spectral purity filter is configured to transmit extreme ultraviolet radiation. The spectral purity filter includes a filter part having a plurality of apertures configured to transmit extreme ultraviolet radiation and to suppress transmission of a second type of radiation. Each aperture has been manufactured by an anisotropic etching process.
US09195150B2 Lithographic apparatus comprising a support for holding an object, and a support for use therein
A lithographic apparatus has a support that is provided with burls for holding an object. The support has been fabricated with a lithographic manufacturing method, e.g., a MEMS-technology, so as to create burls whose orientations or positions are individually electrically controllable.
US09195146B2 Interference exposure device and method
An interference exposure device, including: a light source (100) for providing an exposure light beam; a light homogenizer-collimator (200) for homogenizing and collimating the exposure light beam; an interference unit (300) including at least two gratings (303) for converting the exposure light beam into at least two coherent light beams and making the coherent light beams converge on a substrate surface to form thereon an interference exposure pattern, the gratings (303) each having a period and being distributed in correspondence with a desired exposure pattern; a driving and supporting means (406) for supporting and carrying the substrate to move with at least three degrees of freedom; and a measuring element (500) for measuring an angle between coordinate systems of the interference unit (300) and the means (406) to adjust an exposure position of the means (406) based on a measurement result of the measuring element (500) before exposing the substrate.
US09195145B2 Microlithographic imaging optical system including multiple mirrors
An imaging optical system includes a plurality of mirrors configured to image an object field in an object plane of the imaging optical system into an image field in an image plane of the imaging optical system. An illumination system includes such an imaging optical system. The transmission losses of the illumination system are relatively low.
US09195140B2 Developing apparatus and developing method
A joint nozzle that delivers a developer, a rinsing liquid and nitrogen gas is disposed adjacent the spin center of a substrate in plan view. A controller operates electromagnetic switch valves to continue supply of the developer, while spinning the substrate, in a developing process, and to start supply of the rinsing liquid in a rinsing process, immediately after the supply of the developer ends, thereby achieving a shortened period of the developing process. A switching is made to a drying process by starting supply of the nitrogen gas immediately after completion of the rinsing process. Thus, even if the substrate has a large angle of contact, formation of droplets of the rinsing liquid is inhibited to prevent post-develop defects.
US09195138B2 Liquid processing apparatus, liquid processing method and storage medium
There is provided a liquid processing apparatus including a first and a second processing regions provided in a left-right direction, each for accommodating a substrate and performing a process on the substrate by a processing solution from a nozzle; a rotary body rotatable about a vertical axis; a plurality of nozzles provided at the rotary body while kept in a standby state at an outside of the processing regions, commonly used for the processing regions; a nozzle transfer device, having a nozzle holder moving back and forth, provided at the rotary body and configured to transfer a nozzle into a selected one of the processing regions while holding the selected nozzle by the nozzle holder; and a rotation driving unit configured to rotate the rotary body so as to allow a front of the nozzle holder in a forward/backward direction thereof to face the selected one of the processing regions.
US09195117B2 Modified system and method for obtaining photographic and/or videographic images
A light-supporting structure and methods of using same that includes a central hub including a suspension point, a plurality of arms extending from the central hub, a separate support rod extending from each of the plurality of arms distal to the central hub, a separate lighting element mounted to each support rod, and a control system configured to orient each lighting element using motors with respect to a photographic zone. In a preferred embodiment, the lighting elements can be oriented with respect to a photographic zone in response to a user input selection based on a desired photographic result selected at a user interface.
US09195115B2 Image projection device, image protection method, distance measuring device and distance measuring method
An image projection device includes: a variable-focus lens (2) in which focal length can be changed; scanning means (3) that scans a projection surface (12) by means of a light beam that is condensed by the variable-focus lens (2); distance-measuring means (9) that measures the distance from the variable-focus lens (2) to the projection surface (12); and control means (4) that controls the variable-focus lens (2) such that the focal length of the variable-focus lens (2) is greater than the distance measured by means of the distance-measuring means (9).
US09195113B2 Tunable multispectral laser source
An tunable optical frequency comb source includes a linear waveguide having an input leg to couple to a pump laser. A ring microresonator is evanescently coupled to the linear waveguide. The microresonator includes a ring shaped waveguide having a core material with a nonlinear refractive index to provide four-wave mixing to generate a cascade of independent laser beams at frequencies corresponding to the longitudinal modes of the microresonator.
US09195112B2 Electro-optic modulator
An electro-optic modulator for the modulation of optical radiation of a predetermined wavelength, the electro-optic modulator having at least one optical resonator in which a standing optical wave can be formed for the predetermined wavelength. In the resonator, at least two doped semiconductor sections—as seen in the longitudinal direction of the resonator —are arranged at a distance from one another, and the at least two doped semiconductor sections respectively lie locally at an intensity minimum of the standing optical wave.
US09195110B2 Liquid crystal display device and process for producing the same
A liquid crystal display comprising: a vertically aligned liquid crystal layer located between a first and a second substrate, a first and a second polarizing layer, and an optical compensation plate having negative biaxial optical anisotropy; wherein at least either the first or the second substrate has protrusions having approximately the same first height and protruding into the liquid crystal layer, the protrusions being formed only inside of the sealing material, the liquid crystal layer in the protrusion-free position having a second height, and the area of the region in which the thickness of the liquid crystal layer is equal to the value obtained by subtracting the first height from the second height as a result of the existence of the protrusions accounting for α%, which belongs to 5% to 50%, of the area of the region where the liquid crystal layer exists on the substrate with protrusions.
US09195102B2 Liquid crystal panel and electronic apparatus including pixel electrode connection portion
A liquid crystal panel includes: first and second substrates arranged to be opposite each other at a predetermined gap; a liquid crystal layer filled between the first and second substrates; alignment films; a counter electrode pattern formed on the first substrate; and a pixel electrode pattern formed on the first substrate so as to have a plurality of electrode branches, the pixel electrode pattern having a partial connection branch formed around a contact so as to transversely connect a plurality of electrode branches extending from the contact from among the plurality of electrode branches.
US09195097B2 Liquid crystal display device and process for producing liquid-crystal display device
The liquid crystal display device according to the present invention includes a pair of substrates, and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the pair of substrates, wherein the liquid crystal layer includes a liquid crystal material having a negative dielectric constant anisotropy, at least one of the pair of substrates is provided with an alignment film for vertically aligning adjacent liquid crystal molecules, and a polymer layer formed on the alignment film for controlling the alignment of the adjacent liquid crystal molecules, the polymer layer is formed by polymerization of at least one monomer, the polymerization being initiated by radicals generated of the monomer upon absorption of light, the alignment film includes a polymer compound having a main chain that contains an imide structure, and the main chain has an imidization ratio of less than 50%.
US09195096B2 Liquid crystal display apparatus and method of manufacturing the same
A liquid crystal display apparatus includes a first substrate, a second substrate disposed opposite to the first substrate, a liquid crystal layer and a phase difference compensation film disposed on the first substrate, where the phase difference compensation film includes a fluorine resin.
US09195087B2 Display device and television device
A display device includes a chassis 14, a frame 13, a photo curable resin member 30a, 30b, and a heat dissipation member 19. The frame 13 includes a portion supporting the light guide plate 16 from a side of a light exit surface 16asuch that the light guide plate 16 slides. The photo curable resin member 30a, 30bis arranged between an LED board 18 and the light guide plate 16 and fixed thereto to maintain a distance between a mount surface 18a of the LED board 18 and a light entrance surface 16b of the light guide plate 16. The heat dissipation member 19 having a heat dissipation property is arranged apart from the frame 13 and includes a board attachment portion 19a to which the LED board 18 is attached and a plate-like portion 19b. The plate-like portion 19b extends from the board attachment portion 19a toward the light guide plate 16. The plate-like portion 19b is a plate spring including a portion being elastically in contact with a second bottom plate 14b.
US09195073B2 Contact lens materials, designs, substances, and methods
A contact lens is provided that is capable of being worn by a user. The lens includes a contact lens body having an eye-engaging surface placeable against a surface of an eye and an outer surface. Microphobic features are provided in the lens for eliminating microbes from the eye-engaging surface. Preferably, these microphobic features are chosen from a group consisting of electrical charge inducing agents, magnetic field inducing agents, chemical agents and textural features. In another embodiment of the present invention, a contact lens is provided that can include a reservoir portion capable of holding a performance enhancement agent for enhancing the performance of the lens. The performance enhancement agent can include such thins as sealant solutions, protective agents, therapeutic agents, anti-microbial agents, medications and reduced size transparent portions. In other embodiments, a wide variety of designs, materials and substances are disclosed for use with contact lenses.
US09195071B2 Speckle jitter sensor
A jitter sensor including a light source and a light sensor utilizes speckle pattern analysis to detect motion.
US09195061B1 Scanning mirror system and associated methods
A scanning mirror includes a reflective surface having a preset width dimension measured orthogonally to its axis of rotation. The preset width dimension accommodates a maximum angle of incidence of a beam being scanned by the reflective surface. A length dimension of the reflective surface, as measured along the axis of rotation, is at least equal to a diameter of the beam being scanned. A bottom portion of the reflective surface has an effective width dimension greater than the preset width dimension, and a top portion of the reflective surface has an effective width dimension less than the preset width dimension, such that a greater inertia is provided to the bottom portion of the scanning mirror that to the top portion. One shape for the reflective surface comprises a trapezoid.
US09195058B2 Electroactive polymer actuator lenticular system
The present invention provides an optical system comprising a lens element, a display unit displaced transversely from the lens element, at least one actuator coupled to at least one of the lens element or the display unit and capable of changing position of the lens element relative to the display unit in a lateral direction, and an electronic control system capable of driving the at least one actuator to move in a programmed manner to control positioning of the lens element relative to the display unit.
US09195054B2 Cascaded micromechanical actuator structure
A cascaded micromechanical actuator structure for rotating a micromechanical component about a rotation axis is described. The structure includes a torsion spring device which, on the one hand, is attached to a mount and to which, on the other hand, the micromechanical component is attachable. The torsion spring device has a plurality of torsion springs which run along or parallel to the rotation axis. The structure includes a rotary drive device having a plurality of rotary drives which are connected to the torsion spring device in such a way that each rotary drive contributes a fraction to an overall rotation angle of a micromechanical component about the rotation axis.
US09195052B2 Actively tunable polar-dielectric optical devices
Optical devices that include one or more structures fabricated from polar-dielectric materials that exhibit surface phonon polaritons (SPhPs), where the SPhPs alter the optical properties of the structure. The optical properties lent to these structures by the SPhPs are altered by introducing charge carriers directly into the structures. The carriers can be introduced into these structures, and the carrier concentration thereby controlled, through optical pumping or the application of an appropriate electrical bias.
US09195038B2 Omnidirectional lens, optical devices utilizing the lens and method for optical measurement
The invention relates to an omnidirectional lens, an optical measuring device, and a method for optical measurement. The lens comprises a central portion, collecting optically in a first direction, and an edge portion, which surrounds the central portion, and which is arranged to guide the light arriving at the edge portion omnidirectionally relative to the said first direction essentially transversely relative to the said first direction. According to the invention, the edge portion is arranged to guide the light through the central portion. With the aid of the invention, it is possible to create, for example, a simpler laser radar.
US09195037B2 Projection display apparatus
A projection display apparatus includes an image display element for displaying an image on a reduction side conjugate plane and a projection optical system for magnifying and projecting the image onto a screen which is a magnification side conjugate plane as a conjugate image. The projection optical system substantially consists of a dioptric system and a catoptrics system having a common axis. The center of a display surface of the image display element is disposed eccentrically with respect to the optical axis and, when a magnification side conjugate position of the center of the display surface is vertically above the optical axis, an intersection point between a lower light ray of a light flux focused on the bottom center of the conjugate image and an upper light ray of a light flux focused on the top center of the conjugate image falls within a predetermined range.
US09195032B2 Image pickup apparatus equipped with zoom lens with bent optical path
A zoom lens with a bent optical path includes, in order from the object side to the image side, a first lens unit including the reflecting member and having a negative refractive power, a second lens unit having a positive refractive power, a third lens unit having a negative refractive power, and a fourth lens unit having a positive refractive power. During zooming from the wide angle end to the telephoto end, the second lens unit moves closer to the first lens unit only toward the object side, the third lens unit moves in such a way that it becomes closest to the second lens unit at an intermediate focal length position in the course of zooming as compared to the state at the wide angle end and the state at the telephoto end, and the fourth lens unit moves. The zoom lens satisfies a certain condition.
US09195027B2 Zoom lens barrel
A lens control apparatus having a zoom lens includes first and second operation members that give a zoom instruction for moving the zoom lens, and a controller that changes a zoom stop position to a first pattern according to the operation of the first operation member, and changes the zoom stop position to a second pattern, which has an interval wider than that in the first pattern, according to the operation of the second operation member.
US09195025B2 Optical element unit
An optical element unit is provided comprising an optical element group for projecting light along an optical axis of the optical element group and a housing having an inner housing part partly defining a first space and a light passageway between the inner housing part and a second space. The inner housing part receives the optical element group. The optical element group comprises an ultimate optical element located in the region of the light passageway. A load-relieving device is provided adjacent to the ultimate optical element, the load relieving device partly defining the first space and the second space and at least partly relieving the ultimate optical element from loads resulting from pressure differences between the first space.
US09195021B2 Slidable fiber optic connection module with cable slack management
A fiber optic telecommunications device includes a frame and a fiber optic module including a rack mount portion, a center portion, and a main housing portion. The rack mount portion is stationarily coupled to the frame, the center portion is slidably coupled to the rack mount portion along a sliding direction, and the main housing portion is slidably coupled to the center portion along the sliding direction. The main housing portion of the fiber optic module includes fiber optic connection locations for connecting cables to be routed through the frame. The center portion of the fiber optic module includes a radius limiter for guiding cables between the main housing portion and the frame, the center portion also including a latch for unlatching the center portion for slidable movement. Slidable movement of the center portion with respect to the rack mount portion moves the main housing portion with respect to the frame along the sliding direction.
US09195016B2 Optical connector
An optical connector has: a holding member having an accommodating portion formed at an end thereof for accommodating a collimator lens and an insertion hole formed at an opposite end thereof for inserting an optical fiber; and a resin joint having a first insertion hole formed at an end thereof for inserting the holding member and a second insertion hole formed at an opposite end thereof for inserting the optical fiber. The collimator lens and the optical fiber are positioned by making at least one of the collimator lens and an end surface of the optical fiber abut against a recess formed in the holding member near the accommodating portion. The resin joint has a fixing portion formed therein for fixing a part of the optical fiber positioned in the holding member inserted via the first insertion hole into the resin joint, the part being exposed from the holding member.
US09194992B2 Light guide plate and surface light source device
A light guide plate has a light introducing portion configured to confine light that is incident from an end surface, and a light guide-plate main body configured to emit incident light to an outside from a light emitting surface and provided continuously with the light introducing portion in a thickness smaller than a maximum thickness of the light introducing portion. The light introducing portion has an inclined surface inclined toward the light guide-plate main body from a surface having a larger thickness than a thickness of the light guide-plate main body, on at least one of a surface at a light emission side and a surface opposite to the surface at the light emission side.
US09194986B2 Optical filters, their production and use
Optical filters, their production and their uses are provided. The optical filters have heat-resistant, mechanically stable absorption layers or filter layers. The optical filters can be absorption filters or ND filters. The filter layer includes filter particles dispersed in a matrix. The filter particles have a constant absorption over a wide wavelength range. The matrix includes a heat-resistant binder.
US09194981B2 Mercaptofunctional high mubeta EO chromophores and high TG, low optical loss, covalently bonded, high mubeta EO chromophore containing polymers and methods of synthesizing EO materials
The present invention relates generally to mercaptofunctional high μβ EO chromophores and EO polymers, and particularly to mercaptofunctional high μβ EO chromophores and EO polymers useful for making electro-optical devices and systems. Mercaptofunctional high μβ EO chromophores are covalently bonded to poly(imido sulfide) polymers producing high Tg, low optical loss, covalently bonded, high μβ EO chromophore containing polymers. Methods of synthesizing these EO materials using mild polymerization conditions are also described.
US09194977B1 Active response gravity offload and method
A variable gravity field simulator can be utilized to provide three dimensional simulations for simulated gravity fields selectively ranging from Moon, Mars, and micro-gravity environments and/or other selectable gravity fields. The gravity field simulator utilizes a horizontally moveable carriage with a cable extending from a hoist. The cable can be attached to a load which experiences the effects of the simulated gravity environment. The load can be a human being or robot that makes movements that induce swinging of the cable whereby a horizontal control system reduces swinging energy. A vertical control system uses a non-linear feedback filter to remove noise from a load sensor that is in the same frequency range as signals from the load sensor.
US09194976B2 Logging tool
The present invention relates to a logging tool for logging formational changes in a borehole, the logging tool having a longitudinal axis. The logging tool comprises a radiating source (5) for emitting an interaction signal, a detector (6) for detecting a reaction signal, and a screen (7) for limiting a volume (53) investigated by the radiating source and the detector, wherein the tool comprises a first part (8) and a second part (9), the second part being able to rotate around the longitudinal axis relative to the first part during use, and the second part comprising the screen (7), and wherein a speed of rotation of the second part is controlled by the rotation unit to be proportional to an output signal of the detector. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method of characterizing a geological formation surrounding a borehole by a logging tool according to the present invention.
US09194974B2 Method to predict dense hydrocarbon saturations for high pressure high temperature
A method for characterizing one or more properties of a geological formation including brine and a dense vapor phase includes inputting at least one first property of the geological formation including resistivity of a vapor phase into a model including an equation of state (EOS) model, the model accounting for a high temperature effect on the dense vapor where that the dense vapor has a non-infinite resistivity. At least the EOS model is solves to provide data relating to at least one second property of the geological formation. The data relating to the at least one second property is output to a display device for visual inspection.
US09194964B2 Radiographic imaging device, method for achieving pixel value, and non-transitory computer readable medium
A radiation imaging device including: a radiation amount detection pixel that generates charges in amounts corresponding to irradiated radiation amounts, a charge amplifier that accumulates charges provided from the radiation amount detection pixel, and that outputs output signals with signal levels corresponding to accumulated charge amounts; an acquisition section that acquires an output value of the charge amplifier at a time when a first accumulation duration has passed from an accumulation being started, as a first detection value, and that acquires an output value of the charge amplifier at a time when a second accumulation duration has passed from an accumulation being started, as a second detection value; and a derivation section that derives a difference between the first detection value and the second detection value as a pixel value of the radiation amount detection pixel.
US09194958B2 Stabilized thallium bromide radiation detectors and methods of making the same
According to one embodiment, a crystal includes thallium bromide (TlBr), one or more positively charged dopants, and one or more negatively charged dopants. According to another embodiment, a system includes a monolithic crystal including thallium bromide (TlBr), one or more positively charged dopants, and one or more negatively charged dopants; and a detector configured to detect a signal response of the crystal.
US09194956B2 Amelioration of frequency errors and/or their effects
A radio communications device includes a location finder for determining the device's location based on satellite signals, a crystal oscillator whose output frequency acts as a controlling reference for the location finder and a processor for intermittently correcting the crystal oscillator such that the output frequency experiences jumps. The location finder is arranged to take account of the jumps in the determination of the device's location.
US09194952B2 Visual display with illuminators for gaze tracking
A visual display includes hidden reference illuminators adapted to emit invisible light for generating corneo-scleral reflections on an eye watching a screen surface of the display. The tracking of such reflections and the pupil center provides input to gaze tracking. A method for equipping and an LCD with a reference illuminator are also provided. Also provides are a system and method for determining a gaze point of an eye watching a visual display that includes reference illuminators. The determination of the gaze point may be based on an ellipsoidal cornea model.
US09194950B2 Handheld locating device
A locating device disposable on a surface has a housing, a capacitance sensor, a radar sensor, and an inductance sensor. The locating device also has a motion sensor disposed for detecting at least one motion parameter. A controller receives data from the capacitance sensor, the radar sensor, the inductance sensor and the motion sensor, and determines from the data a presence of objects disposed within or behind the surface. A display is used for displaying a graphical representation of the objects disposed within or behind the surface.
US09194945B2 Open loop power oscillator doppler radar
Described are radar systems and methods. A transmit pulse is generated by the radar system. A first portion of the transmit pulse is processed by the radar system to form transmit pulse data. A second portion of the transmit pulse is directed by the radar system into a monitored volume. A return signal is received by the radar system, the return signal at least partially comprising a portion of the second portion of the transmit pulse reflected by one or more objects in the monitored volume. The return signal is processed, by the radar system, to form return signal data.
US09194939B2 Radar apparatus
A pulse signal is produced in a pulse generating section, and repetitively transmitted from an antenna at constant time intervals. A reception signal, received through an antenna and including a reflective wave from an object, is amplified and gain-adjusted. Thereafter, a distance detecting section detects a reception pulse of the reflected wave, and calculates the distance to the object. The variable attenuator attenuates the reception signal by a gain adjusted in accordance with a gain control signal. The gain of the variable attenuator is controlled so as to be maximum immediately after the pulse signal is transmitted, and to be reduced with elapse of time. Based on a gain adjustment timing signal, a gain adjustment timing when the attenuation amount is changed is made different for each transmission of the pulse signal.
US09194938B2 Time difference of arrival determination with direct sound
Acoustic signals may be localized such that their position in space is determined. Time-difference-of-arrival data from multiple microphones may be used for this localization. Signal data from the microphones may be degraded by reverberation and other environmental distortions, resulting in erroneous localization. By detecting a portion of the signal resulting from sound directly reaching a microphone rather than from a reverberation, accuracy of the localization is improved.
US09194937B2 Computational systems and methods for locating a mobile device
Systems and methods are described relating to detecting an indication of a person within a specified proximity to at least one mobile device; and presenting an indication of location of the at least one mobile device at least partially based on the indication of the person within the specified proximity. Additionally, systems and methods are described relating to means for detecting an indication of a person within a specified proximity to at least one mobile device; and means for presenting an indication of location of the at least one mobile device at least partially based on the indication of the person within the specified proximity.
US09194935B2 Wireless local area network based positioning
Apparatus and method for dynamically updating a channel model used for wireless local area network based positioning. In one embodiment, a wireless device includes a positioning system. The positioning system is configured to determine a position of the device based on signals received from wireless local area network access points. The positioning system is also configured to determine a likelihood that the wireless device is positioned at each of a plurality of points of a positioning grid based on a received signal strength value for each of a plurality of access points. The positioning system is further configured to update a reference power estimate for each access point based on the likelihoods. The positioning system is also configured to update the path loss exponent of the channel model.
US09194933B2 Context and map aiding for self-learning
A system and method for determining locations of a plurality of radio frequency (RF) signal sources. The method includes receiving RF signals from the RF signal sources, and determining locations of the RF signal sources based on the received RF signals. The method also includes determining an anchor having an absolute location identified by map data, and then adjusting the determined locations of the RF signal sources based on the anchor.
US09194930B2 Method for de-embedding in network analysis
A method is provided for de-embedding fixtures and/or probes from measurements of devices where probes and fixtures are connected between the ports of a network analysis instrument and a device-under-test.
US09194916B2 Method with system and program product for prioritizing clock domains for testing of integrated circuit designs
The present disclosure generally provides for a method of prioritizing clock domains for testing an integrated circuit (IC) design. The method can include: assigning each of a plurality of multi-tested clock domains (MTCDs) and a plurality of test experiments (TEs) to one of a plurality of speed priority groups (SPGs), wherein the assigning includes: creating a new SPG having a priority value of n+1, wherein n represents the number of previously created SPGs; assigning a first MTCD corresponding to at least two of the plurality of TEs, the first MTCD not being previously assigned to an SPG, to the new SPG; and assigning each TE corresponding to the first MTCD, each of the assigned TEs not being previously assigned to an SPG, to the new SPG; and performing each of the plurality of TEs on the IC design in order from lowest priority value to highest priority value.
US09194910B2 Class T0-T2 and T4 TAPS with, without topology selection logic
Topology discovery of a target system having a plurality of components coupled with a scan topology may be performed by driving a low logic value on the data input signal and a data output signal of the scan topology. An input data value and an output data value for each of the plurality of components is sampled and recorded. A low logic value is then scanned through the scan path and recorded at each component. The scan topology may be determined based on the recorded data values and the recorded scan values.
US09194902B2 Noise variance estimation and interference detection
Noise variance estimation and interference detection is described. In one example, a method of estimating noise variance is described in which the pilots within a received OFDM signal are divided into bands and then a noise variance estimate is calculated on a per-band basis by averaging the noise estimates for those pilots within the band. In some examples, the pilots are divided into bands in frequency and in other examples, the pilots are divided into bands in frequency and time, such that noise estimates from more than one OFDM symbol are used in calculating the per-band noise variance estimates. The noise variance estimate for a pilot is then set to the noise variance estimate for the band which contains the pilot. The noise variance estimate for a data sub-carrier can then be determined by interpolating between the values for the pilots.
US09194900B2 Electrode evaluation apparatus and electrode evaluation method
An electrode evaluation apparatus for evaluating a characteristic of an electrode based on an electrochemical property includes a potential control unit, an impedance acquiring unit, a current value acquiring unit, and a normalized impedance calculation unit. The potential control unit is configured to control a potential applied to an electrode. The impedance acquiring unit is configured to acquire an impedance characteristic of the electrode under a specific DC operating condition provided by the potential control unit. The current value acquiring unit is configured to acquire a temporal change in direct current value under the specific DC operating condition. The normalized impedance calculation unit is configured to apply the temporal change in direct current value acquired by the current value acquiring unit to calculate a normalized impedance where impedance acquired by the impedance acquiring unit is multiplied by the direct current value.
US09194899B2 Utility network and revenue assurance
A system and method for detecting anomalies in the measurement and distribution of utilities is disclosed. Utility metering data obtained at a utility meter is received through a communications network. A utility consumption associated with an entity is then measured based on the utility metering data. The utility consumption can then be monitored for anomalies based on entity profile characteristics associated with the entity. The utility analytics system and method can be applied to the electrical utility industry, but also applicable to gas and water distribution, and other utilities.
US09194893B2 Bi-directional input, bi-directional output, lossless current sensing scheme with temperature compensation
A sensing circuit for a power FET. A first sensing FET senses current flow from load to ground. A second sensing FET senses current flow from ground to load. The current flows are converted to voltages, then added to generate a sensed output voltage. The specific amplitude of the sensed output voltage indicates the direction of the current flow. Resistive elements used to convert currents to voltages are configured as pairs of resistors having temperature coefficients of opposite polarity in order to compensate for temperature effects in the sensing circuit.
US09194891B2 Root mean square detector and circuit breaker using the same
The present disclosure relates to a RMS detector for directly computing a signal detected through an analog circuit to measure its RMS value, and a circuit breaker using the same. For this purpose, a RMS detector according to the present disclosure may include a plurality of voltage/current sensing units configured to detect a voltage or current shaped analog signal for an arbitrary load; a plurality of square circuit units configured to compute square function units, respectively, based on a voltage output from the plurality of voltage/current sensing units; a summing circuit unit configured to sum a plurality of output voltages output from the plurality of square circuit units, respectively; and a root circuit unit configured to compute a RMS value based on a voltage output from the summing circuit unit.
US09194884B1 Integrated circuit with analog device fault detection
An integrated circuit with analog device fault detection includes an integrated circuit die having an analog device, an on-line fault detector and a control circuit. The analog device has a power input, an analog device input and an analog device output and the on-line fault detector is coupled to at least one of the power input, the analog device input and the analog device output and has a fault detector output. The control circuit is coupled to the fault detector and responsive to the fault detector output. Detector self-test (DST) circuitry can be provided to test the on-line fault detector and one or more circuit breakers can be provided to protect the analog device and other devices attached to the analog device.
US09194880B2 Apparatus and methods for aimpoint correction
In order to determine crosswind effects between a weapon and its intended target (204) a crosswind gradient measuring apparatus (600) directs a first pulsed coherent light beam (646) and a second pulsed coherent light beam (648) to the target (204). Light of both beams scattered back by aerosols in the air is measured by using a detector (652) thus generating a beat frequency in the detector signal. The beat frequency indicates a Doppler-shift due to crosswind as a function of range between weapon and target wherein the range is determined by the time of flight. The information determined by such a Doppler differential interferometer, DDI, is utilized by a signal processor (608) to calculate the bullet's crosswind offset which enables manual of automatic adjustment of an aiming mechanism.
US09194874B2 Test method for male fertility by detecting a mutation in the PGAM4 gene
An object of the present invention is to provide a test/diagnosis method for fertility which allows the estimation of the possibility of leading to pregnancy based on the ability of sperm to fuse with an egg and the identification of a cause of infertility; and a polynucleotide and a fertility testing kit which are used in the method. The present invention provides a test/diagnosis method for fertility, including a detection step of detecting on a biological sample taken from a human body, the presence or absence of a deletion or mutation in the human PGAM4 gene; a polynucleotide consisting of the base sequence of the human wild-type PGAM4 gene or the base sequence of the translation region of the gene, wherein the polynucleotide consists of a base sequence of 10-100 consecutive bases containing a mutated site of a single base substitution mutation having a high correlation with fertility; and a test kit for fertility comprising a reagent for detecting the presence or absence of a deletion or mutation in the human PGAM4 gene.
US09194873B2 HCV antigen-antibody combination assay and methods and compositions for use therein
The present invention generally relates to combination immunoassays, reagents and kits for simultaneous detection of HCV antigens and anti-HCV antibodies in a test sample.
US09194869B2 Method for evaluating the sensitivity and specificity of fast malaria-diagnosis test kits
The invention relates to a method for evaluating kits for rapid diagnosis of malaria, in order to determine or to test the sensitivity and specificity thereof. To that end, the reactive strips of the diagnostic kits are exposed to different concentrations of the malaria parasite in a method that allows data on sensitivity and specificity indicated on the technical sheet of the kit to be ascertained.
US09194866B2 Sample analyzer
Each of a first measurement unit and a second measurement unit (sample analyzer) includes: a reagent storage section in which a plurality of holder parts are arranged side by side, each of the holder parts including a setting part in which a reagent container having an RFID tag attached thereto is set, and an antenna part which transmits/receives a radio wave to/from the RFID tag of the reagent container set in the setting part; and a left face part and a right face part which block a radio wave communication path between the antenna part of one of the holder parts and the RFID tag of the reagent container set in another one, of the holder parts, adjacent to the one of the holder parts.
US09194861B2 Method of mixing fluids by coalescence of multiple emulsions
System, including methods, apparatus, compositions, and kits, for the mixing of small volumes of fluid by coalescence of multiple emulsions.
US09194859B2 Reader devices for optical and electrochemical test devices
This invention relates generally to devices and methods for performing optical and electrochemical assays and, more particularly, to devices having optical and electrochemical detectors and to methods of performing optical and electrochemical assays using such devices. The present invention is particularly useful for performing immunoassays and/or electrochemical assays at the point-of-care.
US09194847B2 Sample tray with magnetically closing drawer
A sample manager of a liquid chromatography system uses a sample tray having a base with side walls separated by a cross wall that divides the base into two compartments. The side walls and cross wall bound each compartment on three sides. A fourth side of each compartment is open. Each compartment is sized to closely receive a sample-vial carrier. Each compartment has a magnet affixed to a bottom surface at an edge of the open fourth side. Each of two drawers slides into the open fourth side of one compartment. Each drawer has a support surface with a magnet affixed at an edge of its bottom side, which aligns with the magnet affixed to the bottom surface of the compartment. The magnet of the drawer and the magnet of the compartment bias the drawer into its compartment when the magnets are brought into proximity of each other.
US09194839B2 Analytical cell
An analytical cell includes first and second holders. The first and second holders each contain a substrate having a through-hole and a transmission membrane with an electron beam permeability so as to cover the through-hole. The first and second holders are stacked to form an overlapping portion such that the transmission membranes face each other and that an inner space therein containing the electrolytic solution is sealed. The through-holes face each other across the transmission membranes to form an observation window. Negative and positive electrode active materials are separated from each other and contact the electrolytic solution in the observation window. A transmission body containing an electron beam permeable solid is formed between at least one of the negative and positive electrode active materials and the transmission membrane.
US09194838B2 Method and device for identifying nucleotide, and method and device for determining nucleotide sequence of polynucleotide
The present invention provides technology that uses current measurements to identify nucleotides and determine a nucleotide sequence in polynucleotides. The present invention calculates a modal value of a tunnel current that arises when a nucleotide or polynucleotide for analysis passes through between electrodes, and then employs the calculated modal value. The present invention accordingly enables direct rapid implementation to identify nucleotides and to determine a nucleotide sequence in a polynucleotide without marking.
US09194825B2 Imaging apparatus using talbot interference and adjusting method for imaging apparatus
An imaging apparatus includes a diffraction grating which diffracts electromagnetic waves from an electromagnetic wave source, a shield grating which shields a part of the electromagnetic waves diffracted by the diffraction grating, a detector which detects an intensity distribution of the electromagnetic waves through the shield grating, and an adjusting unit which adjusts the attitude of at least one of the diffraction grating and the shield grating on the basis of the detection result by the detector, wherein the adjusting unit divides the intensity distribution detected by the detector into a plurality of regions and adjusts the attitude of at least one of the diffraction grating and the shield grating on the basis of the intensity distributions of the plurality of regions.
US09194822B2 Adjustable fixture structure for 3-dimensional X-ray computed tomography
An adjustable fixture structure for a 3D X-ray CT device is disclosed. Only the detected article is fixed on the fixture element of the adjustable fixture structure, may the adjustable connecting element slide with respect to the adjustable sliding trough and the fixture element slide with respect to the fixture sliding trough, so that the detected article is adjusted into within the detection range of the 3D X-ray CT device by using the adjustable connecting element and the fixture element. As such, the issues which a detected article is difficult to be oriented and positioned, a detection efficacy and result is poor, and the detected article might thus be damaged, may be well overcome.
US09194821B2 X-ray computed tomography apparatus
According to one embodiment, an X-ray computed tomography apparatus includes a rotating frame rotatably supporting an X-ray tube and an X-ray detector detecting X-rays transmitted through an object on a top, a plan storage unit storing a plan for sequentially executing scans to acquire projection data sets with rotation of the rotating frame, a scan information storage unit storing scan information including projection data sets, and a scan control unit determining positions of the rotating frame and the top based on the plan and the scan information when the plan is interrupted and resuming at least one of the plurality of scans in the plan.
US09194820B2 Method for manufacturing a turbine rotor
An inspection method for a welded joint formed between a pair of base metals (10, 20) with a groove part (12, 22) and an abutment face (14, 24) being formed on a joint surface Wc between the pair of base metals. The method includes the steps of: forming a recessed groove (32) opening to a surface of the base metals in advance at one end of the abutment face; irradiating the joint surface Wc with an X-ray generator (34) placed on a groove part formation side (an exterior space O side) toward the joint surface Wc after at least one pass P1 of build-up welding is performed on the groove parts (12, 22); and determining the presence or absence of incomplete penetration in the welded joint part W based on an image formed on a photosensitive film (42) by radiation penetrating the joint surface Wc.
US09194812B2 Illumination energy management in surface inspection
The disclosure is directed to a system and method of managing illumination energy applied to illuminated portions of a scanned wafer to mitigate illumination-induced damage without unnecessarily compromising SNR of an inspection system. The wafer may be rotated at a selected spin frequency for scanning wafer defects utilizing the inspection system. Illumination energy may be varied over at least one scanned region of the wafer as a function of radial distance of an illuminated portion from the center of the wafer and the selected spin frequency of the wafer. Illumination energy may be further applied constantly over one or more scanned regions of the wafer beyond a selected distance from the center of the wafer.
US09194807B2 Multi-layered devices for analyte detection
A multi-layered device for detecting the presence or absence of an analyte within a test sample is described. The device includes a sensing layer and a control layer. The sensing layer is configured to support a reaction so as to exhibit a signal indicative of the presence or absence of the analyte in the test sample. The control layer is in fluid communication with and vertically adjacent to the sensing layer and includes a reagent capable of inhibiting the reaction and/or other unwanted side reactions at the sensing layer after a certain period of time by diffusive movement of the reagent from the control layer to the sensing layer.
US09194798B2 Imaging based refractometer for hyperspectral refractive index detection
Refractometers for simultaneously measuring refractive index of a sample over a range of wavelengths of light include dispersive and focusing optical systems. An optical beam including the range of wavelengths is spectrally spread along a first axis and focused along a second axis so as to be incident to an interface between the sample and a prism at a range of angles of incidence including a critical angle for at least one wavelength. An imaging detector is situated to receive the spectrally spread and focused light from the interface and form an image corresponding to angle of incidence as a function of wavelength. One or more critical angles are identified and corresponding refractive indices are determined.
US09194791B2 System for determining coefficients of seal friction
A system for determining a hydraulic seal coefficient of friction of a hydraulic cylinder includes a force sensor to provide a force signal indicative of a force of the cylinder. A controller is configured to receive a plurality of first force signals at a first load and determine a first friction force and receive a plurality of second force signals at a second load and determine a second friction force. A hydraulic seal coefficient of friction is determined based at least in part upon the first friction force and the second friction force. A method is also disclosed.
US09194786B2 Particle manipulation system with cytometric capability
A MEMS-based particle manipulation system which uses a particle manipulation stage and a plurality of laser interrogation regions. The laser interrogation regions may be used to assess the effectiveness or accuracy of the particle manipulation stage. In one exemplary embodiment, the particle manipulation stage is a microfabricated, flap-type fluid valve, which sorts a target particle from non-target particles in a fluid stream. The laser interrogation stages are disposed in the microfabricated fluid channels at the input and output of the flap-type sorting valve. The laser interrogation regions may be used to assess the effectiveness or accuracy of the sorting, and to control or adjust sort parameters during the sorting process.
US09194784B1 High pressure, high temperature lubricity tester
A method and apparatus for monitoring lubricity consists of a cylindrical cell assembly (80) capable of withstanding high pressure and high temperature with a movable rotor (26) abrading a solid sample (28) while submerged in a liquid sample (74). A loading device (42) moves a bottom shaft (46) supporting the solid sample (28) as said solid sample (28) abrades and is moved upwards, and its movement is measured by a displacement sensor (40). Liquid sample (74) is drained through solid sample (28) into receiver (38) to measure filtration of solid sample (28). Heat is provided via a heater (64) and pressure is controlled via pressurization media (72).
US09194783B2 Endosseous dental implant loading fixture
An apparatus for fatigue testing an article includes a base having a platform for receiving an article to be tested, a shaft extending toward said platform for applying a force to said article, a coupling assembly connected to said shaft, said coupling assembly comprising a joint that pivots about an axis, and flex pivots disposed to be aligned with said axis about which said joint pivots.
US09194782B2 Vacuum thermal-insulation material, and a device and method for assessing the degree of vacuum in the vacuum insulation material by using the frequency response method
Disclosed herein is a vacuum insulation material, which includes a barrier film and a core, wherein a rigid body thinner than a reference thickness or a getter harder than a reference hardness is formed between the barrier film and the core, or the rigid body thinner than the reference thickness is formed on the getter formed between the barrier film and the core to ensure surface flatness and surface hardness of the vacuum insulation material.
US09194779B2 Method for automated processing and embedding of tissue samples
An automated machine for handling and embedding tissue samples contained on microtome sectionable supports. The machine includes an input member configured to hold a plurality of the microtome sectionable supports prior to a tissue embedding operation. An output member is configured to hold a plurality of the microtome sectionable supports after the tissue embedding operation. A cooling unit is configured to hold at least one of the microtome sectionable supports during the tissue embedding operation. A motorized carrier assembly is mounted for movement and configured to hold at least one of the microtome sectionable supports. The carrier assembly moves the support from the input member to the cooling unit and, finally, to the output member. A dispensing device dispenses an embedding material onto the microtome sectionable support and at least one tissue sample carried by the microtome sectionable support during the embedding operation.
US09194768B2 Rim assembly and tire testing machine
A rim assembly includes a first rim on which a first reference surface is formed, a second rim on which a second reference surface is formed, a through-hole that extends to intersect the first reference surface of the first rim and into which an inserting part is inserted, pins erected on one of the first and second reference surfaces, protruding portions formed on the other of the first and second reference surfaces, first supporting members provided for the first reference surface, and second supporting members provided for the second reference surface. Groove portions with which the protruding portions are engaged are formed around the outer peripheral surfaces of the pins. The first and second supporting members come into contact with each other when the protruding portions are separated from the groove portions, and are separated from each other when the protruding portions are engaged to the groove portions.
US09194764B2 Sensor device for detecting at least one flow property of a fluid medium
A sensor device for detecting at least one flow property of a fluid medium, in particular for detecting the air flow in the intake tract or the charge air tract of an internal combustion engine is provided. The sensor device has a sensor housing, which has an electronics chamber, an electronic module being situated at least partially in this electronics chamber. The electronic module has at least one support profile and at least one circuit carrier connected to the support profile. The circuit carrier carries at least one evaluation circuit. The sensor device is characterized in that electronic components are situated on the circuit carrier, on both a top side and a bottom side, and the support profile has a cavern which accommodates at least one electronic component situated on a bottom side of the circuit carrier.
US09194754B2 Power up of semiconductor device having a temperature circuit and method therefor
A semiconductor device that may include at least one temperature sensing circuit is disclosed. The temperature sensing circuits may be used to control various operating parameters to improve the operation of the semiconductor device over a wide temperature range. In this way, operating specifications of a semiconductor device at worst case temperatures may be met without compromising performance at other operating temperatures. The temperature sensing circuit may provide a plurality of temperature ranges for setting the operational parameters. Each temperature range can include a temperature range upper limit value and a temperature range lower limit value and adjacent temperature ranges may overlap. The temperature ranges may be set in accordance with a count value that can incrementally change in response to the at least one temperature sensing circuit.
US09194752B2 IR sensor system, IR sensor module, temperature detection module and corresponding calibration method
An IR sensor system, an IR sensor module, a temperature detection module and a corresponding calibration method are provided. The IR sensor system has an IR sensor module including a pixelated IR detection area, which has a first control unit for controlling an IR measuring operation and a calibration operation, and a storage unit connected to it, and including a temperature detection module which is detectable in a pixel subarea of the IR detection area, the temperature detection module having a temperature sensor device and a second control unit connected to it. The geometric position of the pixel subarea on the IR detection area is storable in the storage unit.
US09194750B2 Infra-red imager
An infrared (IR) imaging system is presented. The system includes a cooling chamber associated with a cooler generating a certain temperature condition inside the chamber. The cooling chamber has an optical window, and includes thereinside an IR detection unit including one or more detectors thermally coupled to the cooler and at least two cold shields thermally coupled to the cooler and carrying at least two imaging optical assemblies. The at least two imaging optical assemblies are enclosed by the cold shields in between the detection unit and the optical window and thereby define at least two different optical channels for imaging light from the optical window onto the one or more detectors of the detection unit.
US09194742B2 Cavity enhanced laser based gas analyzer systems and methods
Cavity enhanced absorption spectroscopy systems and methods for detecting trace gases using a resonance optical cavity, which contains a gas mixture to be analyzed, and a laser coupled to the cavity by optical feedback. The cavity has any of a variety of configurations with two or more mirrors, including for example a linear cavity, a v-shaped cavity and a ring optical cavity. The cavity will have multiple cavity resonant modes, or a comb of frequencies spaced apart, as determined by the parameters of the cavity, including the length of the cavity, as is well known. Systems and methods herein also allow for optimization of the cavity modes excited during a scan and/or the repetition rate.
US09194731B2 Coriolis mass flow meter with enhanced zero point stability having cross braces integrally formed with the housing
The invention relates to a Coriolis mass flow meter comprising two U-shaped measuring tubes having in each case two outer tube portions and an intermediate central tube portion. It comprises a vibration exciter for the purpose of effecting defined excitation of a movement of the measuring tubes, two vibration sensors for detecting movements of the measuring tubes and also a housing for accommodating at least parts of the measuring tubes. The inlets and outlets are rigidly connected to the housing. A first and a second cross brace, disposed in the region of the tube between its inlets and outlets for the purpose of coupling the two measuring tubes, form the vibration nodes of the measuring tubes. A tube portion of one measuring tube is integrally united with a tube portion of the other measuring tube. Furthermore, the two tube portions are integrally united with parts of the housing or integrally united with of one of the cross braces.
US09194730B2 Method and apparatus for determining the phase compositions of a multiphase fluid flow
Systems and methods are provided that relate to determining the phase compositions of a multiphase fluid flow in a fluid line, including determining a flow velocity parameter which is related to the flow velocity of the fluid flow in the fluid line using a flow sensor and obtaining a vibration signal from the fluid flow using a vibration sensor comprising a target disposed in the fluid flow which vibrates in response to fluid flow in the fluid line. The signal may be analyzed to determine an energy parameter which is related to the energy of the vibration signal within a frequency band, and a phase composition parameter, such as a dryness parameter, relating to the phase compositions of the fluid flow is determined using the flow velocity parameter and the energy parameter. An apparatus for determining the phase compositions of a multiphase fluid flow in a fluid line is disclosed.
US09194714B2 Route search device and route search method
A route search device and method. The route search device comprises: a search condition input unit adapted to accept input of a search condition; a route search unit adapted to search for a recommended route from a departure point to a destination point; a route guidance unit adapted to perform a route guidance based on the recommended route searched by the route search unit; and a route storing unit adapted to: (a) identify a route which a moving object has traveled between a point of deviation from the recommended route and a point of return to the recommended route as a learned route; and (b) store the learned route in association with its road type; wherein the route search unit is adapted to search for a recommended route including the learned route with the associated road type which meets the search condition accepted by the search condition input unit.
US09194713B2 Logo-enabled interactive map integrating social networking applications
A logo-enabled interactive map integrating social networking applications is provided. The interactive map may be configured to help end users discover and share information (e.g., events, deals, news occurrences, etc.) associated with a plurality of venues.
US09194712B2 System and method for improving route finding
A method and system for improving route finding are described. Aspects of the disclosure determine a bearing for a client device using a compass. The determined bearing is used to optimize route finding operations performed by the client device. The bearing may be mapped to a road graph and used in conjunction with a location of the client device to determine an efficient route to a destination. For example, aspects of the method and system may identify a nearest turn in the direction the client device is traveling without the need to obtain multiple location readings to identify a direction of travel.
US09194704B2 Angular rate sensor having multiple axis sensing capability
An angular rate sensor (20) includes a single drive mass (24) and distributed sense masses (36, 38, 40, 42) located within a central opening (30) of the drive mass (24). The drive mass (24) is enabled to rotate around the Z-axis (64) under electrostatic stimulus. The sense masses (36, 38, 40, 42) are coupled to the drive mass by spring elements (44, 46, 48, 50) such that oscillatory rotary motion (90) of the drive mass imparts a linear drive motion (92, 94) on the sense masses. The distributed sense masses form two pairs of sense masses, where one pair senses X- and Z-axis angular rate and the other pair senses Y- and Z-axis angular rate. The sense masses are coupled to one another via a centrally located coupler element (34) to ensure that the sense masses of each pair are moving in anti-phase.
US09194700B2 Device and method for reducing a wedge error
A device for aligning a first surface of a first substrate with a second surface of a second substrate as the first and the second surfaces move toward each other across a gap. The device is comprised of: a first retaining system for retaining the first substrate on a first retaining surface; a second retaining system for retaining the second substrate on a second retaining surface; approach means for causing the first surface to approach the second surface in one direction of translation (T) toward an end position; and means for reducing a wedge error between the first and second surfaces during the approach of the first surface to the second surface including an in situ measurement during the approach of the substrates.
US09194698B2 Geodetic device and a method for determining a characteristic of the device
A geodetic device comprises three device components, two axes of rotation, and two angle sensors such that the device components are rotatable with respect to each other and their rotational positions are determinable, and an inclination sensor system. A method for determining a characteristic of the device comprises an alignment of the second device component with respect to the first device component into a plurality of different rotational positions, whereby in each rotational position of the plurality of rotational positions a measurement value is determined from the first angle sensor, a measurement value is determined from the second angle sensor, and a measurement value is determined for the orientation of the inclination sensor system.
US09194687B1 System and method for measuring non-conductive coating thickness using eddy currents
A nondestructive system and method for measuring non-conductive coating thickness is disclosed. The method includes providing a composite substrate, placing a conductive layer over a surface of the composite substrate, and depositing a plurality of non-conductive coating layers over the conductive layer. An eddy-current measuring coil formed on a printed circuit board is provided atop the coating layers. The coil has a driving trace with first and second driving electrodes, and a receiving trace having first and second receiving electrodes. The receiving and driving traces can be either coaxial or interwoven, are spaced apart, and share a common center. A load administered to the first and second driving electrodes using an eddyscope is measured across the first and second receiving electrodes to determine impedance; the measured impedance is used to determine a total thickness of the plurality of coating layers and whether an overall coating thickness is uniform.
US09194685B2 Retractable assembly
A retractable assembly for immersion-, flow- and annex-measuring systems in analytical process technology for measuring at least one measured variable of a medium in a process containment, comprising an essentially cylindrical housing having a housing interior; an immersion tube, which is axially movable between a retracted service position in the housing and a process position extended from the housing. In the service position, the immersion tube is positioned in the housing interior; a closure element on an end region of the immersion tube facing the medium for sealing off the housing interior from the process containment when the immersion tube is located in the service position, and a proximity detector in or on the end region of the housing facing the medium for detecting the closure element in the service position.
US09194671B1 Carbon fiber sheet, arrow shaft, and arrow
A carbon fiber sheet, an arrow shaft, and an arrow are disclosed. The arrow shaft and the arrow include a carbon fiber sheet to be formed by being wound. The carbon fiber sheet includes a plurality of carbon fiber sheet layers to be connected each other along a first direction to which the carbon fiber sheet is wound. At least one carbon fiber sheet layer of the plurality of carbon sheet layers is divided into five or more sections along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The five or more sections include three or more spine sections, and two or more overlapped sections which are formed between the spine sections to be overlapped with each other. The carbon fiber sheet includes a carbon fiber sheet layer that is used to manufacture the arrow shaft and the arrow.
US09194660B2 Attachable armored garment
A ballistic protection garment assembly has a two sleeves joined by front and back yolks. The sleeved garment can be attached to a variety of ballistic vests with front and rear attachment assemblies which are removably connected to the yolks by zippers. For ballistic vests with appropriate patches of hook and look fastener material, the attachment assemblies comprise mating hook and loop fastener material. For ballistic vests with webbing sewn in the U.S. Army's PALS (Pouch Attachment Ladder System) arrangement, the attachment assemblies comprise a panel with connected straps which are extended through loops of the vest webbing, and held in place by buckles and C-shaped retaining elements.
US09194656B2 Dot-sighting device
A dot-sighting device includes a light source, a beam splitter and a reflective element. The light source emits light. The beam splitter includes a surface that reflects at least a portion of a first light component of the light and transmits at least a portion of a second light component. The reflective element reflects at least a portion of the first light component reflected by the surface of the beam splitter toward the beam splitter. The light reflected by the reflective element includes the second light component.
US09194655B1 Adjustable gun holster
An adjustable gun holster is described. Embodiments of the holster include a first member for receiving a buttstock of a gun and a second member for receiving a forestock/barrel of the gun. The holster can further include a pair of attachment structures to removably couple to a shoulder strap of a pack. The holster can be adjusted to fit guns having differing lengths. For instance, the holster can be adapted for a short barreled shotgun and a long barreled rifle. To holster varying sized guns, a strap connecting the first member to the second member can be lengthened and shortened.
US09194652B2 Modular accessory system for rifle
A rifle is provided. The rifle comprises a barrel, a handguard partly axially surrounding the barrel, and a modular accessory system. The modular accessory system comprises a housing and a modular accessory support system positioned within the housing, wherein the support system includes at least two modular accessory slots. The modular accessory system also comprises a modular accessory removably secured and individually adjustable within each slot. The housing partly axially surrounds the barrel and is positioned axially adjacent to the handguard such that a combination of the handguard and the housing surrounds the barrel completely in an axial manner. Support system configurations of preferably either tray-type or platform-type may be contemplated. The modular accessory system may further comprise a common power source and a display system. A modular accessory system for rifles capable of exchangeably mounting accessories thereto in plug-and-play fashion is therefore achieved.
US09194650B2 Firearm configuration for reducing recoil
Disclosed is a firearm configuration for a handgun. The firearm configuration is designed to reduce the recoil forces encountered by a user upon firing the weapon. Recoil forces are reduced by lowering the firearm's center of mass and by aligning a recoiling mass with the user's arm and trigger finger. The various detail of the present disclosure, and the manner in which they interrelate, will be described in greater detail hereinafter.
US09194647B2 Toy gun and toy gun gas cartridge loading device
A toy gun includes a toy gun body and a toy gun gas cartridge loading device. The toy gun body includes a housing, a gun body first lock and a gun body second lock. The gas cartridge loading device is detachably housed in the housing and is locked with the gun body first lock. The gas cartridge loading device includes a loading device second lock which is housed in the loading device housing when an end of the gas cartridge loading device is housed in the housing. The loading device second lock is located on a lateral side of the gas cartridge loading device. When the gun body first lock is disengaged, the loading device second lock engages with a gun body second lock.
US09194644B2 Crossbow
A crossbow is provided which has forward and rearward ends, a firing assembly having a finger-pull mechanism, and a butt member having a rear end. The crossbow has a length of pull that is positioned forward of the rearward end of the crossbow, where the length of pull is defined as a distance between the finger-pull mechanism and the rear end of the butt member.
US09194642B2 Plug capture device
A device comprising an elongated body having at least one aperture through the body, said aperture silhouetting a barrel bushing for a model 1911 handgun. The device fits snugly and allows the device to operate as a bushing wrench. The aperture may have a longer dimension, said longer dimension substantially perpendicular to the long axis of the elongated body so that the aperture is operable to mate with and operate a barrel bushing. Certain embodiments may include additional openings that silhouette barrel bushings for the same or other firearms or recessed regions on the elongated body adjacent to an aperture that further guide and receive the barrel plug when it is released. The recessed regions may include a ramp section and a plug retention section that act to better hold and guide the barrel plug during removal and insertion operations.
US09194641B2 Barrel alignment and locking assembly
An alignment and locking assembly includes an alignment tab having an engagement surface and a feed ramp extending proximally from the engagement surface. The assembly also includes a barrel extension having a distal end, and a proximal end. The proximal end defines a slot configured to matingly receive the engagement surface.
US09194638B2 Firearm with magazine release lever
An AR-style firearm includes a specially designed lower receiver, a specially designed upper receiver mounted to the lower receiver, a pistol hand grip mounted to the lower receiver, a handguard mounted around a barrel, a specially designed magazine well formed in the lower receiver that is configured to receive an AK-47 magazine or similar magazine, and a specially designed, ambidextrous magazine release that holds and selectively releases the magazine from the magazine well.
US09194636B2 Handgun charging system
A system and method for charging a handgun. A body is frictionally fit over the slide of a handgun and placed against a hard surface. The grip of the handgun is depressed, thereby retracting the slide and ejecting any spent cartridge. As pressure on the grip is released, the recoil spring forces the slide forward relative to the frame of the handgun, stripping a cartridge from the magazine and inserting the cartridge into the barrel of the handgun. The body is then removed from the slide and the handgun may be fired. The body is configured to fit into frictional mating engagement with the slide and allow the barrel of the handgun to extend into a cavity in the body as the slide is retracted relative to the frame of the handgun.
US09194633B2 Bolt with integrated gasket
A threaded bolt or plug includes a compressible gasket ring adhered to the underside of the bolt head or plug head. The underside of the bolt head includes at least two concentric grooves covered by the compressible gasket.
US09194630B2 Dual air flow exchanger with enhanced heat and humidity transfers
A dual air flow exchanger, enabling heat transfer and humidity transfer between two air flows, and including a plurality of air circulation networks stacked on each other along a stacking direction and separated in pairs by membranes permeable to water vapor and impermeable to air. At least one of the networks is made from a honeycomb structure with its two sides bearing on two of the membranes, the structure including cylindrical cells with axes parallel to the direction, and in which at least some of the cell faces are perforated to allow air passage.
US09194628B2 Carbon baking oxygen preheat and heat recovery firing system
Contemplated devices and methods reduce heat loss and energy demand in a ring furnace by heating an additional oxygen containing stream in a supplemental oxygen conduit that is thermally coupled to a flue duct of a cooling zone. The so heated additional oxygen containing stream is then fed to the firing and/or pre-heat zones to increases combustion of volatiles and to reduce fuel demand by recycling waste heat to the firing and/or pre-heat zones.
US09194625B2 Method for drying articles
An improved method of drying operation for an article using a field of electromagnetic radiation (e-field) generated between an anode element and a cathode element by a radio frequency (RF) applicator between the anode and cathode elements such that liquid in the article will be heated to effect a drying of the article.
US09194624B2 Device and method for drying film
A film drying device includes a chamber, a film fixing unit in the chamber and configured to fix a film, and a heater in the chamber and configured to apply heat to the film.
US09194613B2 Module rail for a photovoltaic system
A module rail for a photovoltaic system includes a module-supporting surface extending along the length of the module rail for supporting at least one photovoltaic module thereon. A vertical sidewall extends downward from a side of the module-supporting surface. Fastener openings are spaced apart from one another along the length of the rail. Each of the fastener openings extend through the sidewall generally adjacent to a juncture of the module-supporting surface and the sidewall. Each of the fastener openings is configured to receive a clip fastener for securing a photovoltaic module on the module-supporting surface.
US09194612B2 Stand for supporting solar panels on a flat roof
A stand for supporting solar panels on a flat roof is disclosed. The stand has a foot part, which has a base plate for support on the flat roof, and a head part, which has a support area for solar panels, wherein the head part and the foot part are two separate parts. The foot part has integral lock bars and the head part has integral lock bars. The lock bars connect the head part and the foot part to one another in a form-fitting manner.
US09194611B2 Self-ballasted, roof-integrated, lightweight FRC PV mounting system
A ballast tile system for supporting photovoltaic modules that includes at least one fiber-reinforced concrete ballast tile. The at least one ballast tile has a first mounting member extending upwardly from a top surface thereof, the first mounting member configured to receive a lower end of a photovoltaic module. The at least one ballast tile also has a second mounting member extending upwardly from the top surface thereof, the second mounting member configured to secure an upper edge of the photovoltaic module.
US09194610B2 Solar receiver panel
A solar receiver panel comprising a header comprising header body (18, 18′) having a header wall surrounding an inner chamber (11, 11′), at least one access opening (21, 21′) communicating with the inner chamber (11, 11′) with a substantially spherical shape for connecting a fluid pipe, and a plurality of junction nozzles (16, 16′) provided in the header wall which are connectable to respective solar absorption pipes (14) wherein at least one of the junction nozzles (16, 16′) are located in a spherical segment of the inner chamber (11, 11′) that is transversally opposed to said access opening (21, 21′), been the access opening (21, 21′), inner chamber (11, 111 and nozzles (16, 16′) arranged to allow a thermal fluid to flow there through.
US09194608B2 Reflector having a tension or pressure element that is adjustable in length and introduces forces into a panel for thermal solar collectors
The invention relates to a reflector for uniaxially concentrating thermal solar collectors, comprising an elastic panel and a means that introduces the oppositely directed bending moments from two opposite sides into the panel. The invention further relates to a receiver for highly concentrating thermal solar collectors, the receiver being arranged inside a protective casing, wherein the protective casing is radiopaque and has an opening that is sealed air-tight, through which opening the radiation can penetrate into the interior of the protective casing. One aspect of the invention relates to a sensor for uniaxially and biaxially concentrating thermal solar collectors, the sensor having a hollow body, in which a photoelectric cell is arranged and which has an opening, in which a transparent scattering element is arranged, wherein the outside of the hollow body is reflective to radiation.
US09194605B2 Heat exchanger
A heat exchanger has an exchanger unit, including at least one first coiled conduit and one second coiled conduit that are substantially coaxial, and a casing for housing the exchanger unit. The casing has a first end wall, a second end wall, and a peripheral part between the two end walls. Each conduit has an inlet and an outlet, where the outlet of the first conduit is connected substantially in series to the inlet of the second conduit. The exchanger unit is supported by the first end wall of the casing, with the inlet of the first conduit and the outlet of the second conduit which are substantially at the first end wall of the casing.
US09194601B2 Air conditioning control device, air conditioning control method and program
An air conditioning control device includes; a storage unit configured to store a drawing illustrating a floorplan indicating where one or more air conditioners are installed and separated areas within the floorplan; an area specifying unit configured to specify areas where the one or more air conditioners are installed on the basis of the stored drawing; a number specifying unit configured to specify the number of air conditioners within the respective specified areas; and an air conditioner control unit configured to control operation of each air conditioner within the specified areas on the basis of the specified number of air conditioners. This permits automatically specifying the positions of each air conditioner and the number of air conditioners on the basis of the drawing, thereby facilitating input setting for each air conditioner.
US09194591B2 Method and apparatus for cooking using coded information associated with food packaging
A cooking apparatus capable of reading or detecting coded information printed on or otherwise associated with food packaging is provided. Food packaging capable of being read or detected by a cooking apparatus is also provided. The cooking apparatus sets cooking time and cooking temperature as a result of reading or detecting coded information printed on or otherwise associated with food packaging. The cooking apparatus is capable of interacting with a user of the cooking apparatus to further assist the cooking process started as a result of reading or detecting coded information printed on or otherwise associated with food packaging. The cooking apparatus capable of connecting to a remote computer and server and receiving and displaying web pages generated by the remote server to further assist the cooking process.
US09194589B2 Control knob for stoves and ovens
The control knob for stoves and ovens includes a timer coupled with an automatic power shut-off feature and that also includes a control for setting the temperature of the stovetop burner or oven. A single knob or controller having a variety of embodiments is disclosed and incorporates both the timer and a temperature controller. After the set time has expired, the oven or burner is turned off. An alarm is also provided to indicate that the time has expired.
US09194588B2 Appliance airflow detection using differential heating of electronic devices
Apparatus and methods are disclosed to measure airflow within a chassis-cooling pathway of an appliance. The rate of airflow is determined based on the differential heating among a pair of sensor devices, such as thermistors, transistors, diodes or resistive thermal devices operating at distinctly different power levels. The appliance utilizes the calculated airflow rate to perform safety-related tasks, such as de-energizing heating elements when low or no airflow is detected.
US09194586B2 Two-stage combustor for gas turbine engine
A combustor for a gas turbine engine comprises an inner annular liner and an outer annular liner. First and second combustion stages are defined between the liners. Each combustion stage has a plurality of fuel injection bores distributed in a liner wall defining the respective stage. A lobed mixer extends into the combustor, the lobed mixer arranged to receive combustion gases from each combustion stage for mixing flows of said combustion gases.
US09194585B2 Cooling for combustor liners with accelerating channels
A combustor liner which reduces cooling flow to a combustion chamber and augments pressure drop split between impingement holes and effusion holes is disclosed. The combustor liner may further include accelerating channels, trip strips, pedestals, and cone-shaped effusion holes to provide further cooling of the liner. The combustor liner may reduce NOx production and the temperature of the combustion chamber of a gas turbine engine or the like.
US09194583B2 Mixed fuel vacuum burner-reactor
A mixed-fuel vacuum burner-reactor includes a primary combustion chamber having a conical interior and a first set of directing blades. The conical interior is connected to an intake manifold on one end and a reduction nozzle on the other end. Injectors are mounted perpendicularly to the reduction nozzle to inject a second fuel into the primary combustion chamber. The reduction nozzle is connected to a cylindrical secondary combustion chamber having a second set of directing blades configured to direct air into the secondary combustion chamber. Methods of efficiently burning mixed fuels in a triple-vortex vacuum burner-reactor are also disclosed. Vacuum conditions are created and fuels are introduced into a conical primary combustion chamber. The fuels are passed over a first set of directing blades to form three vortices before additional fuels are injected in a direction opposite to a direction of rotation of the first set of fuels.
US09194567B2 High voltage array light emitting diode (LED) devices and fixtures
High voltage array light emitting devices and fixtures are disclosed. In one embodiment a light emitting device can include a submount, a light emission area disposed over the submount and a retention material adapted to be dispensed about the light emission area. The light emitting device can be operable at high voltages which are greater than approximately 40 volts (V). In one aspect, the retention material can be least partially disposed within the light emission area such that the retention material physically separates a first section of the light emission area from a second section of the light emission area.
US09194561B2 Variable focuslamp
A lamp including: a casing, a light source, a radiator, a front cover, and a convex lens. The front cover includes: a rotary ring, a movable ring, and a stop ring. An annular groove is disposed outside of the rotary ring. A limiting structure extends inside the annular groove and limits the rotary ring to rotate relative to the casing. The stop ring is fixed inside the rotary ring and the stop ring and the rotary ring combine to form female threads. The movable ring is disposed inside the rotary ring and convex points of the movable ring match with the female threads. Guide columns are disposed on an end part of the movable ring close to the radiator. The guide columns match with guide holes of the radiator and are adapted to axially pass through the guide holes. The convex lens is fixed on the movable ring.
US09194556B1 Method of producing LED lighting apparatus and apparatus produced thereby
Disclosed is an LED bulb having many advantages over previous bulbs. The bulb is designed with ease of fabrication and low cost in mind. A main support is made of chromed copper, used for both its reflectivity, its readily availability, and its relative low cost. A collection of bright LEDs are electrically coupled to a driving circuit formed on a board that is housed within the main support. The LEDs are mounted on a circuit board flexible enough to form into a desired shape while rigid enough to withstand normal movements. The LED circuit board includes multiple polished or shiny areas, also called lands or panels made to reflect light away from the bulb. The panels are electrically insulated from the operating circuit and prevent injury should the bulb be broken and the components be touched, even while operating.
US09194554B2 LED lighting fixture assembly
Various embodiments of the present invention provide a light emitting diode (LED) lighting fixture and methods of installing the same. In various embodiments, an LED lighting fixture may comprise: at least one socket comprising a socket opening; at least one LED positioned substantially within the socket opening; at least one shield member positioned adjacent the at least one socket such that the shield substantially encloses the socket opening; at least one decorative light shade; at least one cover comprising a neck portion having an internal surface, the internal surface defining a cover opening. The cover opening is configured to receive there-through at least a portion of a socket and substantially engage the socket. At least a portion of the cover is configured to substantially engage the decorative light shade. Also, at least a portion of the cover is configured to substantially enclose the LED and shield.
US09194548B2 Lighting apparatus with detachable clip mount
In a lighting apparatus comprising a light source housing is pivoted on a clip that can attach alternatively to a head strap adapter or to an adapter secured to a night vision goggle mounting plate. The clip includes a horizontal member having a bracket on the light source housing is rotatable, a pair of spaced, upwardly extending, tabs, and a vertical member extending upward from a location between the tabs. The upwardly extending tabs enter slots on the bottom of the adapter or mounting base, and a rib on the top of the adapter or mounting base is received by a snap fit in a downwardly facing slot on a horizontal part at the upper end of the vertical member of the clip.
US09194542B2 Retractable end-cap for LED tube
Embodiments of an end-cap with retractable and rotatable pin for an LED tube are described. In one aspect, an end-cap for an LED tube may include an end-cap housing, an end-cap base assembly, a power-pin assembly, and at least one elastic component. The power-pin assembly may include at least one power pin thereon and configured to connect to an external power source. The power-pin assembly may protrude out of a center opening of the end-cap housing. The end-cap base assembly may have at least one power connector one end of which is connected to the body of the LED tube to receive electric power. The at least one elastic components may reside inside the end-cap housing and is placed between the power-pin assembly and the end-cap base assembly. The power connector may connect to the at least one power pin when the at least one elastic component is pressed.
US09194541B2 Illumination apparatus
This disclosure discloses an illumination apparatus. The illumination apparatus comprises a cover comprising a second portion and a first portion, and a light source disposed within the cover. An average thickness of the first portion is greater than that of the second portion.
US09194535B2 Supporting apparatus for electronic device
A supporting apparatus for electronic device includes a sliding bracket and a mounting bracket. The sliding bracket includes a first mounting portion, a rotating axle, and a limiting block. The mounting bracket includes a second mounting portion and a pivoting hole. The rotating axle of the sliding bracket is inserted in the pivoting hole of the mounting bracket. The rotating axle can be rotated relative to the mounting bracket from a closed state to an opened state. In the closed state, the sliding bracket is coplanar with the mounting bracket in the supporting apparatus, and the first mounting portion attracts the second mounting portion by a magnetic force. In the opened state, the sliding bracket is rotated on the mounting bracket, the limiting block resists against the mounting bracket to stop the sliding bracket rotating, and the sliding bracket is kept at a require angle on the mounting bracket.
US09194533B2 Fixture mounting assembly and method of using same
A fixture mounting assembly comprises a track; and a fixture mount on the track and configured to engage a fixture, the track being pivotable between a generally upright orientation and a generally horizontal orientation where engagement of the fixture mount and fixture is facilitated.
US09194528B2 Pipe rehabilitation method
In a pipe rehabilitation method, segments are linked in the circumferential and pipe-length directions to install a rehabilitation pipe inside an existing pipe. Nuts are secured to the segments along the circumferential direction thereof. Linking members each configured to be screwed into one of the secured nuts are inserted into each segment. Each linking member is temporarily locked to the segment to prevent the inserted linking member from falling out of the segment. The segment into which the linking members are inserted and temporarily locked and one of the segments to which the nuts are secured are aligned relative one another, and the linking members are screwed into the respective nuts to fasten both segments together and link them in the pipe-length direction.
US09194518B2 Device and method for connecting a fluid-conducting channel to an adjacent component
A device and a method for connecting a fluid-conducting channel to a component is provided. The channel includes at least one end having an inner cross-section, and is arranged in a sealing manner on a first part of the component. The first part is provided with a bore for conveying the fluid further, and is fixed with respect to the component. For improved connection, it is provided that the component is additionally provided with a second part surrounding the first part, and the end of the channel is arranged in a ring space formed between the first part and the second part. The end of the channel is fixed by an adhesive at least partly filling in the ring space.
US09194512B2 Coiled tubing with heat resistant conduit
Coiled tubing is provided with one or more conduits passing through and secured to an inner wall of the coiled tubing. The conduits are resistant to annealing temperatures and therefore are welded to flat plate which is used for forming the coiled tubing or are retained in a groove formed in the inner wall of the coiled tubing. When the coiled tubing is formed by rolling the flat plate into a slit tubular and seam welding the longitudinal joint, the coiled tubing and the heat resistant conduits are annealed. The conduit can be wireline, electric line, cable or an empty tubular, all of which are resistant to the annealing temperatures. The empty tubular can be used to retain a secondary conduit such as heat labile fiber optic cable which is run into the empty tubular, such as by pumping or floating, after the annealing process.
US09194510B2 Composite valve
In the case that a lift amount of a second valve body for controlling a small flow rate is equal to or less than a predetermined amount, a pilot passage is closed by a pilot valve body, and a first valve port is closed by a first valve body for controlling a large flow rate, thereby taking a small flow rate control state in which a flow rate is controlled in correspondence to the lift amount of the second valve body, and in the case that the lift amount of the second valve body goes beyond the predetermined amount, the pilot valve body is moved up in conjunction with an upward movement of a valve shaft so as to open the pilot passage, thereby taking a large flow rate control state in which the first valve body opens the first valve port on the basis of this.
US09194508B2 Modular valve assembly
A modular valve assembly (500) is provided. The modular valve assembly (500) comprises a first valve assembly plate (401) and a second valve assembly plate (402). One or more modular valves (200, 300) are positioned between the first valve assembly plate (401) and the second valve assembly plate (402). The first valve assembly plate (401) and the second valve assembly plate (402) are adapted to align the one or more modular valves (200, 300) in more than one configuration.
US09194506B2 Central valve for pivot motor actuator
The invention relates to a central valve for a pivot motor actuator. A housing tube of the central valve includes radial recesses for operating connections. A piston of the central valve has a center position. In the center position both radial recesses are covered by annular bars of the piston towards the tank drain connection by overlaps. Thus, pressure spikes from the operating connections to the check valves are strongly throttled.
US09194504B2 Rotating valve
Described is a rotary valve including a stator element and a rotor element. The stator element defines a first inlet passage, a second inlet passage, and a first outlet passage, respectively, having a first inlet port, second inlet port and first outlet port in a stator face. The rotor element has a rotor face in contact with the stator face and has a first channel and a second channel formed therein. The rotor element is rotatably movable about a rotational axis to at least a first position and a second position. In the first position, the first inlet port is fluidly coupled to the first outlet passage by the first channel and the second inlet port is fluidly coupled to the first outlet passage by the second channel. In the second position, the first inlet port is fluidly coupled to the first outlet passage by the first and second channels.
US09194503B2 Draining device for machine tool
A draining device for a machine tool, which is assembled in a drain hole of a base of the machine tool, includes a ball, an outer shell, a sealing member and a flat head screw. The ball has a through hole defined therein. The outer shell has a receiving hole and the ball is received in the receiving hole of the outer shell. The sealing member has a guiding hole defined therethrough. The sealing member is inserted in the receiving hole of the outer shell and abutting against the ball with one end. The flat head screw is screwed in the base and a head portion of the flat head screw presses a top end of the outer shell. Under this arrangement, the ball is rotatable relative to the outer shell so as to adjust an angle of the through hole of the ball.