Document	Document Title
US09198270B2	Radiographic imaging apparatus with distributed antenna system A radiation imaging apparatus includes a console that houses control circuitry and a computer; a radiation source attached to a movable arm, the movable arm being attached orthogonally to a column disposed adjacent to the console; and a wireless communication system that can communicate with a wireless radiation detector. The wireless communication system includes a plurality of antennas each of which is disposed within a predetermined distance from each other; the computer controls the communications system and the radiation detector so that the antennas transmit control signals from the console to the radiation detector or receive image signals from the radiation detector, and the antennas are positioned either within console immediately below a housing thereof or around the column so as to face a usable patient area, the usable patient area being an area surrounding the console where the radiation detector is positioned during an imaging operation.
US09198265B2	Illumination apparatus automatically adjusted with time An illumination apparatus which comprises a timing module, a control module and a first power conversion module and can be automatically adjusted with time is provided. The timing module sets the time into N sessions, and generates an ith timing signal according to the ith session corresponding to the current time, wherein i and N are natural numbers and i≦N. The control module reads the ith timing signal from the timing module, and outputs an ith control signal. The first power conversion module, coupled to an AC power supply, the control module and a first light source, converts the AC power supply signal into a DC power signal and outputs the DC power signal to the control module, and outputs an ith DC driving signal to drive the first light source to emit light of the ith situation after receiving the ith control signal.
US09198261B2	Illuminating device An illumination device that is operable while being transported and that can be placed, or is placed, in an object that can be opened and closed again. The illumination device comprises a first light source, an electric energy storage device, and a switch device that comprises a control unit including a sensor unit with which a first switching unit is transferable from an open switching state into a closed switching state. The first light source is suppliable with electric power from the electric energy storage device when a first sensor is touched and/or when said first sensor detects a motion. The sensor unit comprises a second sensor that at least detects if the object is open or closed. A second switching unit is transferable from an open switching state into a closed switching state in which the first light source and/or a second light source is/are supplied with electric power.
US09198260B1	Light-emitting signal control circuits One embodiment of the present invention discloses a light-emitting signal control circuit comprising: a first driving transistor for allowing a voltage to be output from a first voltage source to a output end under the control of a low level drive signal; a second driving transistor for allowing a voltage to be output from a second voltage source to the output under the control of a second low level drive signal; a first transmission control transistor connected between the first voltage source and the control end of a first driving transistor; a control signal unit for generating the first low level drive signal and the second low level drive signal; a voltage stabilizer connected between the second low level drive signal and first transmission control transistor. The circuit will suppress the voltage fluctuation on the control end of the first transmission control transistor.
US09198259B2	Programmable touchscreen dimmer with interchangeable electronic faceplate A programmable touchscreen light source dimmer is provided. The present invention comprises a dimmer circuitry housing that fits within a conventional light switch box, a removable faceplate, and optionally a cover that may be affixed over the faceplate. The present invention uses a microcontroller that is able to alter the output signal that is used to control the luminosity of the connected light sources between PWM and reverse phase control so that the type of dimming is ideally suited for the type of light source. The faceplate has a dynamic touchscreen through which users can easily alter the luminosity of connected light sources, program that device to follow preset schedules or respond to external stimuli, or activate various secondary functions.
US09198254B2	LED backlight driving circuit and LCD device A light emitting diode (LED) backlight driving circuit includes an LED lightbar, and a driver integrated circuit (IC) coupled to the LED lightbar. The driver IC is configured with a protection pin that controls the driver IC to enter a protection mode when a voltage of the protection pin exceeds a preset voltage range, an undervoltage module is coupled between a power input end of the LED lightbar and the protection pin, and an overvoltage protection module is coupled between a power output end of the LED lightbar and the protection pin. An output overvoltage protection module is coupled between the power output end of the LED lightbar and the protection pin. The input undervoltage protection module outputs a first control voltage that exceeds the preset voltage range to the protection pin when the power input end of the LED lightbar is in an undervoltage state. The output overvoltage protection module outputs a second control voltage that exceeds the preset voltage range to the protection pin when the power input end of the LED lightbar is in an overvoltage state.
US09198252B2	System and method for controlling lighting A system for controlling a light source to enhance the appearance of one or more objects within an environment illuminated by the light source. The system includes a tunable white light source to illuminate an object and a camera configured to capture one or more digital images the object and identify attributes of the object, including object color values. The system further includes a light control module configured to determine at least one optimal lighting condition for the light source based, at least in part, on the object attributes, wherein the optimal lighting condition is configured to enhance the appearance of the object illuminated by the light source while maintaining the overall appearance of light within the environment. The light control module is further configured to adjust the spectral composition of the light source based on the optimal lighting condition.
US09198245B2	Dimming method and circuit and controlled-silicon dimming circuit with the same In one embodiment, a method of controlling dimming can include: (i) generating a dimming signal according to a DC input voltage signal; (ii) generating a voltage average value signal from the dimming signal; (iii) determining whether the dimming signal is in a positive half cycle or a negative half cycle; (iv) comparing the voltage average value signal against an output current feedback signal to generate a first comparison signal, and output a driving signal according to the first comparison signal when the dimming signal is in the positive half cycle; and (v) comparing the voltage average value signal against the output current feedback signal to generate a second comparison signal, and output the driving signal according to the second comparison signal when the dimming signal is in the negative half cycle.
US09198241B2	LED illumination apparatus and led illumination system An LED lighting apparatus connected to a power source via two electric lines, includes first and second LEDs having different emission spectrum or chromaticity, a switching unit to monitor ON time length of power supplied from the two electric lines periodically to switch a control mode of the first and second LEDs between first and second modes as a condition that the ON time is not changed continues for more than a threshold value, a first control unit to determine, in the first mode, a total amount of average current to be supplied to the first LED and to the second LED depending on the ON time length of the electric power, and a second control unit to determine, in the second mode, a ratio of average currents to be supplied to the first LED and to the second LED depending on the ON time length.
US09198237B2	LED lighting system An LED lighting system having at least one LED circuit and at least two circuits or drivers capable of receiving an AC voltage at a first frequency and having an output capable of driving the at least one LED circuit, wherein the output of each circuit or driver capable of driving the at least one LED circuit is provided to the at least one LED circuit through a circuit or sensor capable of permitting only a single output from the at least two circuits or drivers be provided to the at least one LED circuit.
US09198227B2	Wireless communication function-equipped electronic device In an electronic device in which an electronic component (e.g., an encoder) including an operation body is mounted on a circuit board and a process corresponding to an input operation of the operation body is performed by a control section, a wireless communication processing section and a matching circuit which are provided on the circuit board are connected to each other via a transmission line, and in order to cause a mounting member (a mounting plate and an outer casing) of the electronic component, which is made of metal and is ungrounded, to operate as an antenna, a predetermined position (a leg piece) in the mounting plate and the matching circuit are connected to each other via a transmission line to cause the predetermined position to serve as a power supply section. Thus, a wireless communication function-equipped electronic device for which a dedicated antenna is unnecessary is obtained.
US09198224B2	Cellular modem processing A cellular mobile station including a modem processor and memory. The memory includes instructions for the modem processor to perform layer 1 processor operations, layer 2 processor operations, and layer 3 processor operations. The modem processor executes the instructions to perform processor operations for the cellular mobile station to communication data as per a cellular communications protocol. In one example, the mobile station includes different levels of memory to provide different deterministic access times.
US09198222B2	Telecommunication network A telecommunication network including: a radio access network; and a network switching subsystem operable for communication with the radio access network and with a demand-driven, dynamically-configurable IP based computing infrastructure.
US09198212B2	Direct link setup mechanisms for wireless LANs A client station including a communication circuit to communicate, via an infrastructure mode, with an access point in a basic service set; identify, based on signals transmitted by the access point, a plurality of client stations in the basic service set capable of communicating via a direct link setup mode; and during a predetermined time period, communicate, via the direct link setup mode, with the plurality of client stations; and a control circuit to, during the predetermined time period, determine strength of signals received from the plurality of client stations via the direct link setup mode, determine highest supportable data rates for communicating with the plurality of client stations via the direct link setup mode, and select, based on (i) the strength of the signals and (ii) the highest supportable data rates, one or more of the plurality of client stations for communicating via the direct link setup mode.
US09198211B2	Methods and arrangements in a cellular communication network The present invention relates to methods and arrangements for resolving radio resource conflicts occurring in radio networks supporting both local ad-hoc communication and cellular communication. The conflicts are resolved by informing the cellular network about radio resource management restrictions due to the local ad-hoc communication needs and resources that are reserved for local ad-hoc communications.
US09198207B2	Method of handling small data transmission in wireless communication system A method of handling a small data transmission for a network of a wireless communication system includes allowing a user equipment of the wireless communication system to establish a first radio resource control (RRC) connection for the small data transmission; receiving a first RRC connection setup complete message corresponding to the first RRC connection from the user equipment, wherein the first RRC connection setup complete message comprises small data information; and transmitting an RRC connection release message to the user equipment to release the first RRC connection when determining that the small data information is invalid.
US09198206B2	Automatic connection method and apparatus between an automobile diagnostic device and a VCI device The present invention provides an apparatus for automatic connection between an automobile diagnostic device and a VCI device and a method for the automatic connection. The method includes the steps of: periodically connecting the VCI device with at least one of a plurality of connection modes in pre-stored connection records when the automobile diagnostic device is started; and, when successfully connecting the VCI device with a successful connection mode, communicating with the VCI device with the successful connection mode. The method and apparatus according to this invention significantly improve the operation efficiency and user experience of the automobile diagnostic device.
US09198198B2	Efficient fairness allocation in powerline CSMA/CA protocols Transmission over a communication channel using carrier sense multiple access collision avoidance (CSMA/CA) may be performed by determining for each frame if the communication channel is busy after a backoff time proportional to a randomly generated number within a contention window (CW). When the channel is not busy, a frame of data may be transmitted. When the channel is busy, the device may periodically determine if the communication channel is busy after subsequent backoff times. The value of CW is adjusted for each subsequent backoff time using a fairness protocol, in which the value of CW is increased until the value of CW reaches a maximum CW value; and then the value of CW is held until a fairness number of backoff repetitions reaches a fairness threshold; then the value of CW is reduced incrementally until the value of CW reaches a minimum CW value.
US09198197B2	Determining maximum packet duration There is provided a method comprising: determining, by a transmitter node, maximum packet duration for a data packet to be transmitted, wherein the data packet comprises a plurality of data units; causing a transmission of the data packet; causing a reception of an acknowledgement frame indicating a failed reception of multiple consecutive data units of the transmitted data packet; determining a transmission duration during which the failed multiple consecutive data units were transmitted; and determining whether or not to adjust the maximum packet duration for upcoming data packet transmissions on the basis of the determined transmission duration.
US09198192B2	Method for transmitting short language signaling in MAC-e PDU Disclosed is a method for transmitting control information in a media access control-enhanced packet data unit (MAC-e PDU), including determining a data size of a transport format combination (TFC) selected by a user equipment (UE), including control information into the MAC-e PDU when a size of data and a header for the MAC-e PDU is shorter than the data size of the TFC, padding data of the MAC-e PDU with padding bits if a size of data including a corresponding header is shorter than the data size of the TFC, including the control information into the padding bits if the length of the padding bits is suitable for the transmission of the control information, and sending, by the UE, the MAC-e PDU including the control information to a node B.
US09198189B2	Wireless communication apparatus and wireless communication method A wireless communication apparatus is capable of improving communication efficiency by reducing the amount of control information transmitted. A channel quality information extraction section extracts CQI's from a received signal. An allocation control section allocates subcarriers for every communication terminal apparatus and selects a modulation scheme in such a manner that required transmission rate is satisfied for each communication terminal apparatus based on required transmission rate information, etc. and CQI's for communication terminal apparatus of each user. A required subcarrier number determining section decides the number of subcarriers allocated to every communication terminal apparatus so as to satisfy the required transmission rate for each communication terminal apparatus. A required subcarrier number information generating section generates information for the number of subcarriers allocated to every communication terminal apparatus. A subcarrier allocation section allocates packet data to selected subcarriers. Modulating sections adaptively modulate packet data allocated to each subcarrier.
US09198184B2	Dynamic interference avoidance in integrated multi-radio access technologies (RAT) heterogeneous networks A system provides dynamic interference avoidance in integrated multi-radio access technology (RAT) heterogeneous networks (Het-Nets). A multi-mode user equipment accesses mobile communications services using RATs. An integrated node provides a primary cell and at least one secondary cell to the multi-mode user equipment. Initial radio access technologies (RATs) are assigned to the multi-mode user equipment from among a plurality of RATs for use by the multi-mode user equipment. Quality metrics are collected across the plurality of RATs. RAT assignments are re-evaluated based on the collected quality metrics. To provide dynamic interference mitigation in multi-RAT Het-Nets, RAT assignments are periodically repartitioned from among the plurality of RATs for use by the multi-mode user equipment based on the re-evaluation of RAT assignments using the collected quality metrics.
US09198179B2	Methods and apparatus for subframe configuration and generation in a multi-carrier communication system Methods and apparatus for subframe configuration and generation in a multi-cell multi-carrier system. A frame for radio transmission in the system consists of multiple subframes, and each subframe consists of multiple Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) symbols. Training symbols, frequency-domain data scrambling, size of Fast-Fourier Transform (FFT), or length of cyclic prefix can be configured differently for each subframe to facilitate different applications, such as unicasting or broadcasting.
US09198172B2	Deferred access method for uplink packet channel The equipment and techniques disclosed herein introduce a deferred acknowledgement (DACK), in the context of a protocol for a wireless station to request and obtain access to a wireless network resource for communication of one or more data packets. Essentially, a network node, such as a wireless base station, sends the DACK instruction in response to the access request telling the requesting station that the node has heard the request but that the requesting station should defer its transmission. The requesting station need not back off and re-initiate its access request. Instead, the requesting station waits for a later acknowledgement (ACK) granting access to a resource as requested. Although the DACK provides additional signaling, this technique can still utilize a fast ACK type message, that is to say a relatively short signaling packet.
US09198171B2	Mobile communication method, radio base station, and mobile station To further notify the amount of data retained in the transmission buffer used in a communication among a plurality of MOBILE STATIONs to a RADIO BASE STATION, the mobile communication method according to the present invention includes: transmitting, with a MOBILE STATION (UE#1), a BSR (#1) indicating the amount of data retained in a transmission buffer corresponding to a logical channel in a Uu interface to a RADIO BASE STATION (eNB); transmitting, with a MOBILE STATION (UE1), a BSR (#2) indicating the amount of data retained in a transmission buffer corresponding to a logical channel in a Ud interface to the RADIO BASE STATION (eNB); and distinguishing, with the RADIO BASE STATION (eNB), the BSR (#1) from the BSR (#2) based on predetermined information included in the received BSR.
US09198160B2	Methods and apparatus for optimizing paging mechanisms using device context information Methods and apparatus enabling a wireless network to optimize paging channel operation, based on mobile device context information. In one embodiment, the wireless network is a cellular network (e.g., LTE-Advanced), and both base stations and cellular user devices dynamically exchange and maintain a paging agreement. The paging agreement limits the paging channel operation, thereby minimizing unnecessary scanning and usage of irrelevant radio resources. Such paging mechanisms are limited to the air interface between the base station and the mobile device, and are compatible with existing legacy devices and network entities. Networks with appropriately enabled user devices may improve their resource utilization. Base stations may advantageously reclaim freed-up cellular resources to support other services.
US09198159B2	Transmission method and apparatus for non-periodic sounding reference signal(SRS) The present invention discloses a transmission method and apparatus for non-periodic SRS. eNB configures time-domain configuration parameter of non-periodic SRS through higher layer signalling or downlink physical control channel signalling; terminal equipment transmits non-periodic SRS in indicated time-domain resource. The application of the technical solution of the embodiments of the present invention can reduce signalling consumption through high layer semi-static configuration of time-domain resource of non-periodic SRS. On one hand, flexible non-periodic SRS time-domain transmission is allowed for terminal equipment which can send non-periodic SRS in multiple subframes, which is featured by low sounding delay and great sounding bandwidth; on the other hand, flexible timing mode is also permitted for terminal equipment which brings little restriction to scheduling.
US09198153B2	Provision of information regarding a mobile station A method of providing information regarding a mobile station adapted for communication via a communication system is provided. In the method an area even notification request is received at a location service entity provided in association with the communication system, the area event notification request containing information associated with the identity of the mobile station and an area of interest. Monitoring for an even indicative of a change in the presence status of the mobile station relative to said area of interest is then activated. A notification is signalled in response to detection of such event.
US09198148B2	Coding methods of communicating identifiers in peer discovery in a peer-to-peer network Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate identifying peers based upon encoded signals during peer discovery in a peer to peer network. For example, direct signaling that partitions a time-frequency resource into a number of segments can be utilized to communicate an identifier within a peer discovery interval; thus, a particular segment selected for transmission can signal a portion of the identifier, while a remainder can be signaled based upon tones communicated within the selected segment. Moreover, a subset of symbols within the resource can be reserved (e.g., unused) to enable identifying and/or correcting timing offset. Further, signaling can be effectuated over a plurality of peer discovery intervals such that partial identifiers communicated during each of the peer discovery intervals can be linked (e.g., based upon overlapping bits and/or bloom filter information).
US09198147B2	Subcarrier signal for synchronization in macro network Disclosed herein are methods and systems that may help a WiMAX base station function without a GPS signal by providing a high-stability reference signal via a subcarrier of a broadcast signal, such as an FM radio signal. An exemplary broadcast station may therefore be configured to phase-lock a subcarrier signal to a GPS signal, and include this subcarrier in its broadcast signal, thereby providing the subcarrier signal for use by a base station as a high-stability reference signal for local-oscillator stabilization at the base station. The broadcast station may further modulate a timing signal onto the subcarrier signal. An exemplary base station may therefore receive the broadcast signal, decode the broadcast signal to acquire the subcarrier signal, and use the subcarrier signal to stabilize its local oscillator, rather than using a GPS signal. The base station may further demodulate the subcarrier to acquire the timing signal, which the base station may use for frame-start synchronization, instead of a GPS signal.
US09198146B2	Synchronization In a method for use by a user equipment of a communication network system, a signal strength received from a target signal which is transmitted from an access network of the communication network system, is measured at a frequency of a reception filter of the user equipment, the frequency corresponding to a frequency channel number. The signal strength measured is compared with a predetermined threshold. In case the signal strength measured is below the predetermined threshold, the frequency channel number is incremented by S, S being an integer equal to or greater than 2.
US09198142B2	Transmit power control for dynamic spectrum access A transceiver and a method of transmitting data are provided. A frequency band, such as a licensed frequency band, is monitored during a sensing block. Based upon the use of the frequency band during the sensing block, a probability of non-interfering is calculated during a plurality of time periods in a subsequent inter-sensing block. The probability of non-interfering is used by the transceiver to determine a transmit power level such that the possibility of interference with licensed use on the frequency band is reduced. Embodiments of the present invention may be used to improve the transmission rate of the cognitive radio user.
US09198132B2	Mobile phone terminal and communication state transition method thereof A mobile phone terminal has a transition request function in which the mobile phone terminal transmits to a network a state transition request that the state of communication with the network be set to a pocket idle state if a packet communication idle state continues for a predetermined time in a state in which the mobile phone terminal is connected to the network in an RRC (Radio Resource Control) state. The mobile phone terminal includes a control section that controls the transition request function based on a communication history of the mobile phone terminal, based on a transmission power value of the mobile phone terminal, or based on a reception electric field value of the mobile phone terminal.
US09198127B2	Communication device Provided is a wireless transmitter-receiver capable of suppressing undesirable power consumption and elongating the continuous operation time by operation of a user with the intention of controlling transmission power and also suitable to secure the “symmetry of communication”.The wireless transmitter-receiver decreases the upper limit value of transmission power by an operation of an operation means 114 and decreases the reception sensitivity in accordance with the decreased upper limit value of transmission power. Thereby, a user can determine the upper limit value of transmission power of the wireless transmitter-receiver and manage the transmission power to suppress power consumption and elongate a continuous operation time. Moreover, the wireless transmitter-receiver can eliminate the influence of radio frequency electromagnetic field on a human body. Furthermore, the degree of imbalance in the “symmetry of communication” can be minimized.
US09198123B2	Communication system and method A modem is disclosed, one embodiment including: first and second interface apparatuses; and a processing apparatus arranged to transmit a request message to part of a wireless cellular network to request establishment of a channel to access a packet-based network, wherein the request message requests the channel as being of a type that supports both a first and second version of a packet protocol; receive a response message indicating rejection of the request, and upon detecting that a field in the response message defines a reason other than the part of the wireless cellular network does not support first and second versions of the packet protocol on a single channel, to default to transmit a default request message to request establishment of a channel to access the packet-based network, the default request message requests the channel as being of a type that supports the first version of the packet protocol.
US09198121B2	Systems and methods for selective scanning based on range and movement A method of scanning for APs includes measuring a variable related to movement of a mobile device, the mobile device executing code to perform the measuring. The method further includes analyzing whether the variable is significant enough to trigger a first scan request, the mobile device executing code to perform the analyzing. The method further includes scanning for APs in response to the first scan request, the mobile device executing code to perform the scanning.
US09198111B2	Resource pooling in a blade cluster switching center server The present invention relates to a switching center server comprising: a blade cluster with a plurality of blades, a plurality of pooled resources accessible by said plurality of blades for handling a call, and a master provided on one of the blades centrally coordinating the usage of the pooled resources, the master as a central instance being responsible for allocation, de-allocation and maintenance of the pooled resources. At outage of one or more blades, the invention provides mechanisms to keep impacts on ongoing calls to a minimum and to keep pooled resources available to the remaining blades.
US09198101B2	Method for transmitting control information in wireless communication system and device therefor The present invention relates to a wireless communication system, more specifically to a method for transmitting control information and a device therefor. The wireless communication system can support carrier aggregation. The present invention relates to a method for transmitting information from a terminal to a base station in a wireless communication system, which includes a step for receiving first information for cross carrier scheduling through at least one primary cell among serving cells formed in a terminal from the base station, and a step for transmitting second information about a secondary cell related to at least one first information among serving cells to the base station through an uplink resource of the primary cell.
US09198096B2	Method and system for establishing a connection outside a mesh by including network connectivity information in router configuration messages A Wireless mobile communication (WMC) device may maintain user preference information, which is unique to the WMC device capabilities and the device user. WMC devices located in near proximity of each other may be enabled to form an ad hoc wireless network wherein each WMC device within the network may function as a router for other devices. Utilizing such routing capability within an ad hoc wireless network may allow WMC devices that are out of their wireless coverage area to use other WMC devices within such ad hoc wireless network to route any impending communication through such other WMC devices wherein these devices may have wireless connectivity to their coverage networks. WMC devices that are may have external connectivity may be enable to be selective in routing information and/or data from other WMC devices in the ad hoc network.
US09198095B2	Inter-RAT coordination of mobility settings The present invention relates to a method in a first radio network node of a first radio access technology, for communicating mobility parameter changes to a second radio network node of a second radio access technology. The method comprises determining (610) an updated value of a first threshold controlling when a handover to the second radio access technology is triggered, and sending (620) information related to the updated value of the first threshold to the second radio network node, wherein the information comprises an indication of a type of a measurement associated with the first threshold.
US09198085B2	Method and devices for specifying the quality of service in a transmission of data packets A system and method for specifying the quality of service in a transmission of data packets between a service entity and a user equipment is provided. A plurality of service classes relating to the quality of service are preconfigured and a selected service class is selected. A first transmission context, associated with a first set of attributes, is established between a core network node and the user equipment. A second transmission context, associated with a second set of attributes, is established between an access node and the user equipment. The selected service class is specified by a third set of attributes, which is forwarded to the core network node and the access node. The third set of attributes is used to determine the first set of attributes and/or the second set of attributes.
US09198083B1	Integrated paging mechanism Illustrative methods and systems may help to more efficiently use network resources in fall back scenarios. An illustrative method involves a network component: (a) receiving a first paging request directed to a target user-entity (UE) for a first communication of a first communication type, (b) initiating a first paging process to page the target UE for the first communication, (c) before the first paging process is complete, receiving a second paging request directed to the target UE, wherein the second paging request for a second communication of a second communication type, wherein the second communication type that has a higher priority than the first communication type, and (d) in response: (i) refraining from assigning network resources for the first communication, and (ii) using a result of the first paging process to determine whether or not to assign network resources for the second communication.
US09198080B2	Broadband telecommunication service for providing a personalized service capability to a mobile terminal at a remote environment Embodiments of a system and method of providing broadband telecommunication services over a packet-switched network enable enhanced personalization. A mobile terminal is registered in a first remote environment, where the mobile terminal has a home environment and a home service capability. The telecommunication services are provided to the mobile terminal in the first remote environment in accordance with the home service capability.
US09198079B2	Method and apparatus for equalization processing in a wireless communication receiver In one aspect of the teachings herein, a receiver generates an improved estimate of other-cell covariance for the data region of its own-cell signal, by supplementing its pilot-based estimations of the other-cell covariance with supplemental estimations of other-cell covariance that are determined from control symbols transmitted in the control region its own-cell signal and in one or more selected other-cell signals. While the supplemental estimations are derived from the control region, the receiver advantageously fits them against the pilot-based estimations or against received-signal correlations for the data region, and uses the fitted estimations to obtain an improved estimate of other-cell covariance, for use in generating combining weights for equalization processing of the own-cell signal.
US09198076B2	Wireless end-user device with power-control-state-based wireless network access policy for background applications A wireless end-user device has a wireless wide-area network (WWAN) modem. One or more processors classify whether an application associated with an Internet access request is interacting with a user. In at least one power control state, the Internet access request is disallowed because the application is classified as not interacting with a user. In at least one other power control state, a similar Internet access request is allowed.
US09198070B2	Radio link monitoring in a wireless communication device Methods and apparatus' of determining radio link quality are disclosed. According to various implementations, information indicating the time-frequency blocks to be monitored by a UE to enable the UE to locate a control channel is determined. The UE receives configuration information regarding resources used by a channel state information reference signal. It also receives configuration information regarding an interference measurement resource, as well as a channel state information reference signal. The channel state information reference signal uses the channel state information reference signal resources. A synchronization condition is determined based on the time frequency blocks to be monitored by the UE, the received channel state information reference signal and the interference measurement resource. The determined synchronization condition is sent to a higher layer.
US09198063B2	Method of detecting a jamming transmitter affecting a communication user equipment, user equipment and evaluation unit with interfaces to the user equipment The invention relates to a method of detecting a jamming transmitter affecting a communication user equipment, wherein said communication user equipment (UE) and a number of base node stations (BNS) are components of a cellular code division multiple access (CDMA) based radio network (RN), wherein a communication signal unit (SU) is correlated with a pseudonoise spread code (SC) in a serving cell coverage area (CA) of a serving base node station (sBNS) and transmitted as a pseudonoise chip (CHI) in a multiple shared communication frequency channel spectrally located between an upper frequency and a lower frequency of a communication frequency band (FB I-XIX) and the pseudonoise spread code (SC) is received by the communication user equipment (UE) as a serving pseudonoise spread code (sSC) from said serving base node station (BNS) in a serving downlink channel (sCPICH).
US09198062B2	Method of detecting a loss of service availability, in particular a jamming transmitter and/or an out of service situation, affecting a communication user equipment, user equipment and evaluation unit with interfaces to the user equipment The invention relates to a method of detecting a jamming transmitter affecting a communication user equipment, wherein said communication user equipment (UE) and a number of base node stations (BNS) are components of a cellular code division multiple access (CDMA) based radio network (RN), wherein a communication signal unit (SU) is correlated with a pseudonoise spread code (SC) in a serving cell coverage area (CA) of a serving base node station (sBNS) and transmitted as a pseudonoise chip (CHI) in a multiple shared communication frequency channel spectrally located between an upper frequency and a lower frequency of a communication frequency band (FB I-XIX) and the pseudonoise spread code (SC) is received by the communication user equipment (UE) as a serving pseudonoise spread code (sSC) from said serving base node station (BNS) in a serving downlink channel (sCPICH).
US09198060B2	Information handling system physical component maintenance through near field communication device interaction Information handling system maintenance is aided by sending maintenance codes with a management processor of the information handling system to a mobile telephone with a NFC communication. The maintenance code and an identifier of the information handling system are provided to an administrative station to confirm that the proper maintenance is taking place at the proper system before the maintenance is authorized.
US09198058B2	Method for switching working mode on relay network, base station, relay node, and communications system The present invention provides a method for switching a working mode on a relay network, a base station, a relay node, and a communications system. A donor eNB (DeNB) sends an RN reconfiguration message to a relay node RN in frequency division duplex FDD mode, so that the RN switches from the FDD mode to a half-duplex frequency division duplex H-FDD mode. The DeNB receives an acknowledgment message sent by the RN in FDD mode. When the DeNB verifies, according to the RN reconfiguration message and the acknowledgement message, that the RN has already started to switch from the FDD mode to the H-FDD mode, the DeNB switches from the FDD mode to the H-FDD mode.
US09198049B2	Real-time load analysis for modification of neighbor relations Adjusting RAN performance by adapting cell coverage area can help optimize a wireless communications network. RAN topology can be adapted based on analysis of real-time load conditions of RAN base stations. Analysis of the load conditions of RAN base stations can be performed in a core-network of a wireless carrier rather than distributing the analysis to RAN-side elements. Analysis can be based on receiving real-time load information relating to key performance indicators such as X2 load, S1 load, instant outbound handover count, instant inbound handover count, etc. Further, analysis can include the application of predetermined rules relating to preferential performance of the base stations. This can facilitate ranking neighboring base stations, adding new base stations, deleting base stations, black/white listing base stations, etc., in neighbor relations data structures, such as automatic neighbor relations structures for self-organizing networks, e.g., eNodeBs in LTE networks.
US09198048B2	Method for deploying a cellular communication network Methods and systems are provided for deploying cellular communication networks. In a cellular communication network comprising a plurality of cells, with each cell comprising at least a base station and one or more antennas arranged to cover the cell, one or more non-adjacent cells may be selected use as central cells. In this regard, for each central cell, a super-cell may configured, comprising the central cell and at least a part of one or more cells adjacent to the central cell, with antennas of the super-cell comprising one or more antennas of the one or more adjacent cells. The configuring of the super-cell may comprise arranging the one or more antennas of the one or more adjacent cells to be directed towards the central cell; and configuring antennas of the super-cell such that signals from the antennas use at least one same channel resource.
US09198044B2	Front end filter control for shared access system The described examples are usable in an authorized shared access system to provide a front end sub-band filter system and method that securely allows the selection of a front end sub-band filter for receiving signals in a shared radio frequency spectrum (SRFS). A controller manages allocation of communication channels in the SRFS using an encrypted signal. The encrypted signal is only decrypted by a filter controller of a filter selection system. Based on the decrypted signal, the filter controller instructs a filter switch which band pass filters are to be incorporated into a front end communication path. The encrypted signal prevents unauthorized users from accessing a communication channel, and the selection of a specific sub-band filter prevents transmitter interference into other communications channels in other sub-bands, and prevents the reception of signals or interference from other communications channels in other sub-bands.
US09198041B2	Method of and system for authenticating a user to operate an electrical device A user is authenticated to operate an electrical device in a network, by encoding an identification symbol with identification data that identifies the user, and by encoding a composite symbol with the identification data and with operating data that enables the electrical device to be operated. The composite symbol is associated with the electrical device to be operated. An image of the identification symbol, and an image of the composite symbol, are captured and compared. The user is enabled to operate the electrical device when the identification data in the composite symbol matches the identification data in the identification symbol.
US09198040B2	Deploying wireless docking as a service A wireless dockee device may include a memory, and at least one processor configured to authenticate the wireless dockee to a wireless docking service using a Wi-Fi direct service (WFDS) application service platform (ASP). A wireless docking center device may include a memory, and at least one processor configured to authenticate a wireless dockee to a wireless docking service of a wireless docking center using a Wi-Fi direct service (WFDS) application service platform (ASP).
US09198036B2	Method for providing application service A method for providing application service is provided. The method discloses that a user is authenticated according to a received application service acquisition request from a user mobile phone, and when the user authentication is passed, the application service acquisition request is sent to an application server, so that the application server provides an application service to the user mobile phone according to the application service acquisition request. The application server does not need to authenticate the user mobile phone by performing an authentication operation on the user mobile phone through a wireless application protocol gateway, thus being capable of reducing the workload of the application server.
US09198033B2	Method and apparatus for authenticating nodes in a wireless network The invention includes a method and apparatus for authenticating a wireless node requesting to join a network. A method includes receiving an authentication request from the wireless node, negotiating at least one authentication parameter with the wireless node, deriving a first encryption key using the at least one authentication parameter, encrypting a second encryption key using the first encryption key, and propagating the encrypted second encryption key toward the wireless node, wherein the wireless node independently derives the first encryption key for use in decrypting the encrypted second encryption key received from the authentication server node. The wireless node decrypts the encrypted second encryption key and stores the second encryption key for use to securely communicate with other wireless nodes of the network. In one embodiment, the present invention may be implemented using a modified version of the EAP-TLS protocol, in which rather than a Pairwise Master Key (PMK) being sent from the authentication server node to the wireless node, the authentication server node and the wireless node each derive the PMK and the authentication server node securely provides a group encryption key to the wireless node by encrypting the group encryption key using the PMK.
US09198030B2	Method and system for a networked self-configuring communication device utilizing user preference information A first personal electronic (PE) device may enable generation, updating, and/or storage of user configuration information. The user configuration information may comprise information pertaining to device configuration and/or operational preferences specific to the device user and/or various use settings, connectivity, and/or use of available resources. The generation, updating, and/or storage of the user configuration information may be performed manually and/or automatically, and may be performed directly within the first PE device and/or via networked devices, which may communicatively coupled to the first PE device. A second PE device may be enabled to be communicatively coupled to the first PE device and/or the networked devices. The second PE device may then be enabled to download existing user configuration information from the first PE device and/or the networked device, and the downloaded user configuration may be utilized to configure the second PE device.
US09198024B1	Remote device activation An application installed on a mobile device currently activated for service with a mobile wireless communication network captures information uniquely identifying a currently unsubscribed mobile device. The unique information may be captured from the currently unsubscribed mobile device via any of several short range transfer mechanisms. The application transfers the captured information and other information used to activate the currently unsubscribed mobile device to an activation service of the mobile wireless communication network, and the service activates the currently unsubscribed mobile device. In another example, a self-activation portal system determines an identifier of an owner of an account associated with an identifier provided by a user of a mobile device to be activated for use with a mobile wireless service. The system sends a message to the account owner offering options to accept or decline the activation request.
US09198022B1	Managing roaming policies using a centralized storage device A device may receive a network identifier and roaming policy information associated with the network identifier. The roaming policy information may identify a manner in which to treat traffic associated with mobile devices that are associated with a home network identified by the network identifier. The device may store the network identifier and the roaming policy information using a global roaming policy data structure. The device may provide the network identifier and the roaming policy information to a mobility management entity device for storage using a local roaming policy data structure accessible by the mobility management entity device. The mobility management entity device may be one of multiple mobility management entity devices having access to respective local roaming policy data structures.
US09198021B2	Extended local IP access for a converged gateway in a hybrid network The implementation of Local IP Access (LIPA), “Extended” LIPA (ELIPA), and Selected IP Traffic Offload (SIPTO) for the design of a “Converged Gateway” (CGW) are disclosed. The gateway system may provide various features such as femtocell access to local networks, public Internet, and private service provider networks.
US09198020B2	OAMP for distributed mobile architecture A method includes receiving a first call to a mobile station at a first distributed mobile architecture gateway (dMAG). The mobile station is accessible via the first dMAG. The method includes determining a routing path for the first call based on register data associated with the mobile station. The routing path includes one or more components of the first dMAG, a first distributed mobile architecture (dMA) node, and a private Internet Protocol (IP) network. The method includes sending one or more command messages to reserve the one or more components of the first dMAG, the first dMA node, and the private IP network and receiving one or more confirmation messages indicating that the one or more components are reserved to route the first call. The method further includes connecting the first call to the mobile station via the one or more reserved components.
US09198016B2	Enterprise wireless device usage reporting The management of communications devices on an application service system is disclosed. The communications devices are associated with a user and a subscription account of a wireless service provider as identified by a wireless number. Charge data is received on the application service system from a billing system of the wireless provider. The charge data is for one of the communications devices. The charge data is then saved in a wireless device inventory database that includes one or more device records, each of which is associated with a particular one of the communications devices. The device records are also be defined by a wireless number and a charge record that includes one or more charge identifiers and corresponding charge amounts therefor. The charge data is stored in the device record. A report may be generated from the wireless device inventory database.
US09198012B2	Communication apparatus and communication method for extracting notification information from received signal and transmitting notification information A communication apparatus includes a receiving unit, an extracting unit, a generating unit and a transmitting unit. The receiving unit receives a signal from a first network using a first communication method. The extracting unit extracts, from a signal received via a control channel of the first network, notification information that is broadcast to be notified to a communication apparatus belonging to the first network and also used by a communication apparatus belonging to a second network. Here, the second network uses a second communication method different from the first communication method. The generating unit generates a notification frame used to notify the communication apparatus belonging to the second network of the notification information. The transmitting unit transmits the notification frame to the communication apparatus belonging to the second network.
US09198006B2	Selective review of bundled messages from a wireless communication device A system, method, and computer device that allow a wireless communication device to selectively bundle messages in an access channel communication packet being sent to another computer device on the wireless communication network, such as a base station are disclosed. The bundled messages are typically sent in response to a request sent to the wireless communication device for response to a specific event, such as the setup of a group communication call. The receiving computer device determines if the access channel communication packet contains data indicating one or more bundled messages are therewithin such that resources only then will expended to review the bundled messages to check for the availability of the requested resources.
US09198004B2	User-in-the-loop architecture for indoor positioning Techniques for determining a position of a mobile device in an indoor environment are provided. An example method includes receiving a request for the position of the mobile device within the indoor environment from an application running on the mobile device, estimating the position of the mobile device within the indoor environment based on signals received from a plurality of wireless access points responsive to receiving the request for the position of the mobile device, identifying an ambiguity in estimating the position of the mobile device, identifying disambiguation information for resolving the ambiguity in the position, requesting disambiguation information for resolving the ambiguity associated with the position, receiving the disambiguation information for resolving the ambiguity associated with the position; resolving the ambiguity in estimating the position using the disambiguation information; and determining the position of the mobile device in the indoor environment.
US09198002B2	Peer-to-peer device movement communications Embodiments of the disclosure provide peer-to-peer communication of device movements. A first computing device receives a message from a second computing device via a peer-to-peer connection. If the message does not include movement information, the first computing device requests from the second computing device the movement information describing travel of the second computing device. Upon receipt of the movement information over the peer-to-peer connection, the first computing device presents the received message and the received movement information to a user of the first computing device. The movement information may include route, velocity, heading and an estimated time of arrival, and may be periodically updated via additional messages sent to the first computing device. In some embodiments, the first computing device and the second computing device are configured to automatically send and receive movement information without user input.
US09198001B2	Wireless communication terminal using tilt and direction information and method using the same The wireless access device is installed in a predetermined space so as to be connected to a wireless communication terminal. The wireless access device comprises a radio communication component, a controller and a memory. The radio communication component receives terminal location information, terminal position information, and communication situation information from the wireless communication terminal. The memory holds the terminal location information, the terminal position information, and the communication situation information such that they are associated with each other. The controller calculates a recommended tilt, and a recommended direction for the wireless communication terminal based on the terminal position information and the communication situation information. The radio communication component transmits the calculated information to the wireless communication terminal corresponding to the terminal location information.
US09197995B1	Location-aware social media platform for owners of non-human animals An example method of presenting animal-related alerts includes receiving information pertaining to a plurality of non-human animals, where the information includes, for each non-human animal, an indication of a location associated with that non-human animal. The method also includes determining a location of a user's device, determining that a location associated with a particular non-human animal is within a pre-defined distance from the location of the user's device, and generating an alert, where the alert comprises information pertaining to that particular non-human animal. The method also includes presenting, using the user's device, the alert to the user.
US09197994B2	Identifying mobile device location and corresponding support center locations to provide support services over a network A mobile device may receive updates, support and other data from a current data center agent platform. When the mobile device travels to another location the nearest data center agent may be different from the previous agent. A changeover determination must be performed prior to determining whether the new agent should be assigned to the mobile device. One example method of operation may include receiving current location information of the mobile device and identifying a present location of the mobile device and a current service center assigned to the mobile device. The method may also provide determining whether a new service center location at a remote location from the current service center location should be assigned to the mobile device based on predefined assignment criteria.
US09197992B2	User plane location services over session initiation protocol (SIP) A method and mechanism to allow a location server to initiate a user plane location service (e.g., SUPL defined by OMA) procedure to a user plane enabled device via Instant Messaging, or alternatively, via an existing SIP session if a multimedia session is already established. The location request is signaled to the user plane enabled device via a SIP INFO message. The location request uses SIP messaging to overcome firewall and other network security issues. Location using SUPL over SIP may be provided about a caller making an E911 emergency call. An Instant Message may be sent to the user plane enabled device, e.g., a VoIP wireless phone.
US09197988B2	Method and apparatus for controlling femtocell base station A method and an apparatus for controlling a femtocell base station which can effectively solve an inter-cell interference problem. A method of controlling a femtocell base station according to an exemplary embodiment includes receiving pilot signals from one or more macro cell base stations located in surroundings of a femtocell and measuring intensities of pilot signals, receiving use frequency information and pilot signal transmission power information from one or more macro cell base stations, determining a position of a femtocell within a reference macro cell according to an intensity of a reference pilot signal having a maximum signal intensity among received pilot signals, determining a use frequency of a femtocell according to a position of a femtocell, and determining a transmission power of a femtocell according to use frequency and an intensity of a reference pilot signal of a femtocell.
US09197979B2	Object-based audio system using vector base amplitude panning Methods and systems of reproducing object-based audio are disclosed. In some embodiments, vector base amplitude panning (VBAP) is used for playing back an object's audio. Using the positioning of sound reproduction devices and object's location information, rendering can determine which sound reproduction devices are used for playing back the object's audio. For example, a triangle in which the object is positioned at a given time can be identified. The triangle can have sound reproduction devices as vertices, and the object's audio can be rendered on the sound reproduction devices corresponding to the vertices of the triangle. In some embodiments, ambiguities associated with VBAP-based rendering are identified and resolved.
US09197976B2	Security system based on sound field variation pattern analysis and the method The present disclosure relates to security system and method based on sound field variation pattern. The present disclosure identifies a slow variation pattern of a acoustic transfer function occurring due to a gradual change in temperature and humidity of air according to a change in time and a change in a characteristic of an acoustic element, from a sudden sound field variation pattern within an internal space occurring due to an intrusion from an outside, activation of an air conditioning and heating device, and the like, or within a surveillance space induced by a change in an acoustic physical property. The present disclosure identifies sound field variation patterns occurring due to a change in an acoustic structure by an intrusion and a change in temperature and convection by air conditioning and heating. The present disclosure stores and verifies image information using an image obtaining apparatus.
US09197975B2	System for detecting and reducing noise via a microphone array A system for detecting noise in a signal received by a microphone array and a method for detecting noise in a signal received by a microphone array is disclosed. The system also provides for the reduction of noise in a signal received by a microphone array and a method for reducing noise in a signal received by a microphone array. The signal to noise ratio in handsfree systems may be improved, particularly in handsfree systems present in a vehicular environment.
US09197973B2	Piezoelectric speaker device A piezoelectric speaker device that includes an insulation layer having an electric insulation property formed on a user-side driving electrode, and flaw detection electrode lines formed on the insulation layer. If the flaw detection electrode lines are determined to be damaged due to the occurrence of a flaw, the driving voltage applied to the driving electrodes is lowered. In order to prevent electric-shock accidents, the driving voltage is lowered to below 42.4 V, preferably, and to 0 V, more preferably.
US09197970B2	Methods and apparatus for reducing ambient noise based on annoyance perception and modeling for hearing-impaired listeners Disclosed herein, among other things, are apparatus and methods for annoyance perception and modeling for hearing-impaired listeners. One aspect of the present subject matter includes a method for improving noise cancellation for a wearer of a hearing assistance device having an adaptive filter. In various embodiments, the method includes calculating an annoyance measure or other perceptual measure based on a residual signal in an ear of the wearer, the wearer's hearing loss, and the wearer's preference. A spectral weighting function is estimated based on a ratio of the annoyance measure or other perceptual measure and spectral energy. The spectral weighting function is incorporated into a cost function for an update of the adaptive filter. The method includes minimizing the annoyance or other perceptual measure based cost function to achieve perceptually motivated adaptive noise cancellation, in various embodiments.
US09197960B2	Phase correcting canalphone system and method A canalphone system may include a canalphone housing, and a low audio sound-tube to carry a low audio signal to the canalphone housing's outside. The system may also include a high audio sound-tube to carry a high audio signal to the canalphone housing's outside, the high audio sound-tube phase corrected with respect to the low audio sound-tube by sizing it to be longer than the low audio sound-tube, and the high audio sound-tube's length is greater than 3 millimeters but less than 10 millimeters.
US09197959B2	Headphone device [Problem] To provide a headphone device that is equipped with an ear pad to be inserted into an ear, is electrically connected to a player device via a cable and outputs an audio signal which is output from the player device, with which it is possible to improve in-ear wearability and prevent a pain from being caused inside the ear. [Solution] The headphone device is equipped with: a driver unit that is fixed to a housing and has a diaphragm for emitting a sound of an audio signal; and a nozzle section that is fixed to the housing at one end, holds an ear pad at the other end, has a hollow interior, and is formed so as to slope from the part where the nozzle is fixed to the housing toward the tip of the nozzle section at a predetermined angle with respect to the housing.
US09197957B2	Electronic device powered through earphone interface and earphone power line An electronic device receives power through an earphone interface, and includes the earphone interface, a processing unit, an audio codec chip, a first switch and a second switch. The earphone interface includes a left channel pin, a right channel pin, a ground pin and a microphone pin. The first switch includes a first normally closed terminal, a first normally open terminal, a first common terminal and a first controlled terminal The second switch includes a second normally closed terminal, a second normally open terminal, a second common terminal and a second controlled terminal. The processing unit includes a detect pin and a switch control pin. An earphone power line to power the electronic device is also provided.
US09197953B2	Adjustable mounting assembly An adjustable mounting assembly has first and second mounting portions. The first mounting portion has an engagement arm with an adjustable end having first engagement teeth disposed about a first axis of rotation. The end portion has an adjustable second portion rotatable about the first axis of rotation, and having second engagement teeth that intermesh with the first engagement teeth to retain the second portion in an adjustable pan-position. The second portion has third engagement teeth disposed about a second axis of rotation angularly offset from the first axis of rotation. A second mounting portion is adjustably attached at an attachment portion to the first mounting portion, and the attachment portion has fourth engagement teeth disposed about the second axis of rotation that intermesh with the third engagement teeth to retain the second mounting portion is a selected tilt position.
US09197943B2	Electronic program guide with related-program search feature A system for searching for programs is provided. The system may allow the user to indicate an interest in a given program and to request that the system locate programs related to the given program. The system may locate program listings related to the given program (e.g., based on attributes of the given program), display a list of located listings and allow the user to select listings from the list. For a program selected from the list, the system may tune to the program, may display an information display screen for the program, etc. The system may allow the user to configure and save search parameters, sort related program listings based on the attributes of the given program. For a saved search, the system may allow the user to retrieve the search to locate currently available program listings, receive automatic notifications of programs matching the search, modify the search, etc.
US09197941B2	System and method in a television controller for providing user-selection of objects in a television program A system and method in a television controller for providing user-selection of objects in a television program, substantially as shown in and/or described in connection with at least one of the figures, as set forth more completely in the claims.
US09197939B2	Moving image data delivery system, an advertising image data delivery system, and a moving image viewing apparatus An advertisement provider issues coupons to an audiences of television set in exchange of viewing a commercial message and receives advertising rate from the advertiser of the commercial message in exchange of informing of the coupon issuance. A television station allows the audience to decompress a downloaded digital image data of a television program in exchange of presentation of the coupon. The television station receives allotment of the advertising rate in exchange of informing of the coupon presentation form audiences. The television station sorts the presented coupons by the advertisement providers to inform each advertisement provider of the coupon presentation. The television station allows the decompression even in a shortage of the presented coupon, provided that it will be compensated by money or later presentation of coupon by due data. The commercial messages are provided automatically or by request. The audience may voluntarily replace television program by commercial message.
US09197935B2	Content viewing apparatus, method and recorded computer program based on relationship levels between users An information processing apparatus that can communicate with plural content viewing apparatuses includes a group registering unit that registers users of the content viewing apparatuses in groups, a sharing-level setting unit that sets sharing level information representing an information sharing level among users belonging to an identical group, a viewing-information receiving unit that receives viewing information of the users, a user-viewing-content managing unit that manages a user viewing content database, a discriminating unit that discriminates, when a viewing information request of another user is received, the other users belonging to a group identical with a group to which the user of the content viewing apparatus at the request source belongs, an information extracting unit that extracts viewing information of the discriminated other users from the user viewing content database, and a viewing-information transmitting unit that transmits the viewing information to the content viewing apparatus at the request source.
US09197934B2	Fault tolerant system with equivalence processing driving fault detection and backup activation A system includes a primary functionality and a backup functionality for the primary functionality. A measurement circuit measures operational parameter values of the primary functionality. A fault detection circuit determines a level of equivalence between the operation of the primary functionality and a reference functionality based on a weighted comparison of the measured operational parameter values of the primary functionality to corresponding reference operational parameter values for the reference functionality If the equivalence determination fails to find equivalence, the fault detection circuit signals a fault in the primary functionality and activates the backup functionality.
US09197932B1	Association of content recordings for content delivery Methods and systems for managing content are disclosed. An example method can comprise monitoring a number of users accessing content, and recording a first segment of the content if the number of users accessing the content reaches a threshold value. A second segment of the content can be recorded based on a request to record the second segment of the content, and at least a portion of the recording of the first segment of the content can be associated with the recording of the second segment of the content.
US09197931B2	System and method for determining broadcast dimensionality An apparatus, system and method for determining levels of audience engagement relative to encoded audio data, where an encoded audio data is captured in a mobile device. The audio data is captured over one or more predetermined time periods, and processed to determine characteristics of the audio data. The characteristics are determined according to one or more predetermined thresholds, where volume levels, levels of encoding, and or other features are monitored. By determining levels in the audio data that exceed predetermined thresholds, engagement levels and values may be determined relative to the audio data captured over the time period. Data from preceding time periods may be compared to obtain comprehensive engagement data for audience measurement systems.
US09197926B2	Location based determination of related content In a method for determining other content related to location information of program content displayed on a device, one or more processors receive one or more portions of a first content displayed on a first device. One or more processors determine location information of the one or more portions. One or more processors determine a second content based, at least in part, on the location information. One or more processors cause the determined second content to be displayed.
US09197916B2	Systems and methods for communicating and enforcing viewing and recording limits for media-on-demand Systems and methods for communicating and enforcing viewing and recording limits for media-on-demand are provided. The system may provide a guidance application that allows users to select on-demand media offerings. The delivery of the on-demand media offerings may be managed based on the length of program, the bandwidth required, the available bandwidth, the time of delivery, pricing and other factors. The system may manage the delivery of on-demand offerings by assigning a number of different types of viewing rights to a user when an on-demand offering is selected. The system may warn a user of insufficient rights and enforce selected viewing rights.
US09197911B2	Method and apparatus for providing interaction packages to users based on metadata associated with content The disclosed embodiments relate to a method, apparatus, and computer-readable medium for providing an interaction package to a user based at least in part on metadata associated with content. An exemplary method comprises processing metadata associated with content, determining information corresponding to an interaction package for a user based at least in part on the metadata, wherein at least a portion of the interaction package is associated with the content, and transmitting the information corresponding to the interaction package to at least one of one or more user computing devices. The disclosed embodiments further relates to a method, apparatus, and computer-readable medium for presenting at least a portion of an interaction package to a user based at least in part on metadata associated with content.
US09197909B2	Allocation of clamping functionality A system may receive a plurality of requests to record a plurality of programs. Based on these requests, resources may be provisioned for transcoding variable bit rate streams into constant bit rate streams. Resources may be provisioned based on assigning transcoding tasks to an existing set of deployed devices in which the transcoding tasks correspond to the plurality of requests. Resources may further be provisioned based on incrementally deploying an additional device to the existing set of deployed devices when the transcoding capacity reaches a certain level.
US09197907B2	Adaptive ads with advertising markers A streaming server and a method are described herein for providing a content stream with advertisements embedded therein through a network (e.g., IP network, CDN network, wireless network) to a client (e.g., personal computer, a mobile phone, a tablet, or a HTTP capable television).
US09197902B2	Wavelet transformation using multicore processors A method for wavelet based data compression comprising: receiving data associated, with a set of pixels, computing wavelet coefficients by applying a series of Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT) low-pass and high-pass filtering operations, wherein a number of filtering operations is reduced by: identifying common partial products for at least one of the lowpass filtering operations and the high-pass filtering operations, classifying a first portion of the wavelet coefficients as low magnitude coefficients and a second portion of the wavelet coefficients as high magnitude coefficients, eliminating the common partial products for the high magnitude wavelet coefficients, replacing multiplication operations for the low magnitude wavelet coefficients with shift-and-add operations, and eliminating the common partial products, and applying the DWT based on remaining filtering operations.
US09197887B2	Geometric correction apparatus and method based on recursive bezier patch sub-division cross-reference to related application Provided is a geometric correction apparatus and method based on a recursive Bezier patch sub-division. A geometric correction method may include: receiving, from a camera, a first image that is obtained by photographing a black screen that is projected by a projector onto a projection surface; receiving, from the camera, a second image that is obtained by photographing a predetermined pattern that is projected by the projector onto the projection screen; generating a third image by subtracting the first image from the second image; and performing geometric correction with respect to the predetermined pattern to correct a distortion between the predetermined pattern and the third image.
US09197885B2	Target-less auto-alignment of image sensors in a multi-camera system A pair of cameras having an overlapping field of view is aligned based on images captured by image sensors of the pair of cameras. A pixel shift is identified between the images. Based on the identified pixel shift, a calibration is applied to one or both of the pair of cameras. To determine the pixel shift, the camera applies correlation methods including edge matching. Calibrating the pair of cameras may include adjusting a read window on an image sensor. The pixel shift can also be used to determine a time lag, which can be used to synchronize subsequent image captures.
US09197879B2	Method for measuring environment depth using image extraction device rotation and apparatus thereof A measurement method for environment depth and the image extraction device thereof is revealed. First, rotate an image extraction unit and extract a plurality of images using an image extraction device according to different viewing angles of a target object. Then, use disparity information of the plurality of images and an image parameter of the image extraction unit to give a plurality pieces of depth-of-field information, which are further used for giving environment depth information. The image extraction device has an image extraction unit and a rotating member. The rotating member is connected with the base; the rotating member is connected to the image extraction unit, which is located on one side of the rotating member. The plurality of images with different viewing angles are extracted to the image extraction unit as the rotating member rotates about a rotating center to different image extracting locations.
US09197866B2	Method for monitoring a traffic stream and a traffic monitoring device A traffic monitoring device may comprise a radar and a camera, the radar having a radar field of view extending around a radar central axis and the camera having a camera field of view extending around a camera central axis that are both situated in such a manner that the radar field of view is situated within the camera field of view. The radar and the camera may be positioned so that their a central axis of each field of view makes a predetermined angle with respect to the other, the radar being provided for determining coordinates of moving objects within the radar field of view. The device may comprise selecting means a processing unit to provided for selecting within the image an image section or portion, and a data processing unit to for transforming the coordinates of the moving object within the image portion into further coordinates relative to an image reference frame and for to displaying within the image portion an identifier at the further coordinates.
US09197863B2	Display system that displays augmented reality image of posted data icons on captured image for vehicle-mounted apparatus A mobile apparatus obtains a posted data set of a social networking service. The mobile apparatus generates an augmented reality image by superimposing, on a captured image, an icon representing a posted data set posted in an objective capturing range of a camera, based on a posted location of the posted data set, a vehicle location of a vehicle, and a direction of an optical axis of the camera. The mobile apparatus transmits the generated augmented reality image to a vehicle-mounted apparatus. The vehicle-mounted apparatus displays the received augmented reality image on a display. Thus a user who sees the vehicle-mounted apparatus can instinctively understand the posted location of the posted data set.
US09197858B2	System and method for distributing and broadcasting multimedia Multimedia distribution and broadcast systems and related processes are provided for transmitting multimedia contents and control information from a central uplink facility to a remote downlink via a satellite. The system is preferably implemented in order to generate sequences of multimedia that are broadcast from the remote downlink facility to viewers. The display arrangements of the multimedia sequences are varied and customized by each downlink facility using the control information in order to better inform and entertain viewers.
US09197856B1	Video conferencing framing preview In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving an image stream captured by an image capture device associated with one of a plurality of video conferencing endpoints of a video conferencing system; receiving a request to detect objects in the received image stream; upon detecting one or more objects, displaying a first framing preview of the received image stream, wherein the first framing preview is framed to include the detected one or more objects; upon detecting a change in the detected one or more objects, displaying at least one second framing preview of the received image stream, wherein the at least one second framing preview is framed to include the detected change in the detected one or more objects; and receiving an input, the input selecting a relevant framing preview to use, wherein the relevant framing preview is one of the displayed first and at least one second framing previews.
US09197853B2	Switching between views using natural gestures The disclosure includes a system and method for switching between video views and data views. The system includes a controller, a view presentation module, a screen detection module and a view switching module. The controller receives data indicating a participant joined a multi-user communication session. The view presentation module presents a video stream on a mobile device associated with the participant. The screen detection module determines an occurrence of a detection trigger event. The controller receives a video frame image responsive to the occurrence of the detection trigger event. The screen detection module detects a data screen in the video frame image. The view switching module switches a view on the mobile device from video view to data view responsive to a natural gesture performed by the participant. The view presentation module presents a data stream associated with the data screen on the mobile device.
US09197846B2	Display control apparatus, display control method, display control system, and storage medium A display control apparatus, which executes control required to display a moving image, received via a network, on a display unit, the apparatus comprising: an input unit configured to input an operation instruction required to operate the display control apparatus; and a control unit configured to execute control required to display, on the display unit, a moving image at a frame rate depending on whether or not processing according to the operation instruction input by the input unit is executed.
US09197845B2	System and method for processing video data A system and method for video processing is provided. The system and method process a video stream having a first resolution video frame, the first resolution video frame comprising a plurality of second resolution video frames. In some implementations, a user input selection may be presented to select between a first operation mode and a second operation mode.
US09197844B2	User interface A method is described. The method includes: displaying a user interface on a first display device associated with a client device, the user interface enabling user interaction with the client device; enabling an electronic device to control the client device; detecting an orientation change of the electronic device; and displaying the user interface on a second display device associated with the electronic device upon detecting the orientation change. Related methods and apparatus are also disclosed.
US09197825B2	Solid-state imaging element and camera system A solid-state imaging element that includes a plurality of semiconductor layers stacked, a plurality of stack-connecting parts for electrically connecting the plurality of semiconductor layers, a pixel array part in which pixel cells that include a photoelectric conversion part and a signal output part are arrayed in a two-dimensional shape, and an output signal line through which signals from the signal output part of the pixel cells are propagated, in which the plurality of semiconductor layers includes at least a first semiconductor layer and a second semiconductor layer, and, in the first semiconductor layer, the plurality of pixel cells are arrayed in a two-dimensional shape, the signal output part of a pixel group formed with the plurality of pixel cells shares an output signal line wired from the stack-connecting parts, and the output signal line has a separation part which can separate each output signal line.
US09197822B1	Array augmented parallax image enhancement system and method An array augmented parallax image enhancement system and method is used for creating an artificially large depth of field behind images of detritus, or obscurants, to augment spatial in-filling of the obscured pixels in the desired target image. A plurality of relatively small aperture cameras produces a plurality of raw video streams. An obscurant identification module detects and maps the obscurants. A spatial averaging module replaces the obscurants with target image pixels in an output video stream that is produced by combining the plurality raw video streams.
US09197808B2	Image capturing apparatus, method of controlling the same, and storage medium An image capturing apparatus comprises an image pickup device, a focus detection sensor including a first pixel group in which pixels configured to receive light beams passing through a partial area of a pupil of an imaging optical system are arranged and a second pixel group in which pixels configured to receive light beams passing through another partial area are arranged, and a correlation calculation unit configured to perform correlation calculation by using signals from pixels of the first pixel group and signals from pixels of the second pixel group, wherein the correlation calculation unit samples pixels, of the first pixel group, which have a positional shift amount of an integer multiple of a value obtained by dividing the predetermined interval, and performs correlation calculation by using signals from the sampled pixels of the second pixel group.
US09197796B2	Camera module Exemplary embodiments of a camera module are proposed, the camera module including a PCB (Printed Circuit Board) mounted with an image sensor, a base installed at an upper surface of the PCB and formed with a window at a position corresponding to that of the image sensor, an IRCF (Infrared Cut Filter) installed at an upper surface of the base, and an adhesive member fixing the IRCF to the base.
US09197794B2	Electronic device An electronic device of the present invention is an electronic device with a flat-type device body having a front surface provided with an imaging section, which includes a first flat section which is located on a back surface side of the device body, a second flat section which openably and closably covers the front surface of the device body, a coupling section which couples the first flat section and the second flat section together such that the first flat section and the second flat section are foldable, and a pause section which pauses a closing movement of the second flat section when the second flat section is tilted to a predetermined angle with respect to the first flat section so as to cover the front surface of the device body.
US09197792B2	Image processing method, image processing apparatus and image pickup apparatus The image processing method of producing, based on information on positions and angles of light rays obtained from a first image, a second image, the first image being produced by using an image pickup apparatus that introduces the light rays from an image capturing optical system (101) to an image sensor (102) through an optical element array (101c). The method includes a step of acquiring the first image and information on an image capturing condition at a time of producing the first image, a step of acquiring an image restoration filter corresponding to the information on the image capturing condition and corresponding to respective optical transfer functions of the image capturing optical system and the optical element array, a step of performing an image restoration process on the first image by using the image restoration filter, and a step of producing the second image by using the restored first image.
US09197791B2	Display device, driving device for display device, and driving method thereof A display device is disclosed. The display device includes a first horizontal line having a first sequence of colored pixels, and a second horizontal line having a second sequence of colored pixels. The display device also includes a signal controller for detecting a first input video signal and a second input video signal for pixels respectively disposed on a left outermost vertical line and a right outermost vertical line of the display from an input video signal. The signal controller also corrects the first input video signal and the second input video signal so that they have grayscales that are less than a threshold value. The image quality characteristic is improved by removing the color shift phenomenon of the right and left outermost vertical lines in the display device.
US09197790B2	Optical scanning projection module An optical scanning projection module includes a scanning light component including a plurality of sub light sources and at least one light-splitting element, a main light reflective element, a scanning element and a photosensitive element. Sub light beams of the sub light sources are converged to form a main light beam. One of the sub light beams travels to the light-delivering element to form a partial reflective light beam and a partial penetrating light beam. With a scanning manner, the partial reflective light beam or the partial penetrating light beam is reflected by the scanning element to be an inspection light, and the main light beam is reflected by the scanning element to be a projection light. The photosensitive element outputs a sensing signal according to the inspection light. Thus, the optical scanning projection module controls the operation of the scanning light component according to the sensing signal.
US09197784B2	Printing device capable of displaying thumbnail image of motion image file A printing device having a retrieving unit to retrieve an image file representing a motion image, a generating unit to extract a plurality of frame images from the image file and generate a first output image in which the plurality of extracted frame images are laid out on a single page. A displaying unit displays the first output image having the plurality of extracted frame images. The plurality of extracted frame images are displayed each at a size larger than a size of the frame image laid out in the first output image and each at a time different from one another and different from a time when the displaying unit displays the first output image. A printing unit prints the first output image having the plurality of extracted frame images.
US09197762B2	Image reading device, forming apparatus, and processing method detecting and removing perforations to correctly identify blank documents An image reading device includes an image reading section, a first white reference member, and a control section. The image reading section reads an original document. The first white reference member is be read by the image reading section and indicates a first white reference. The control section determines whether or not a perforation image is present in the original document image indicative of the original document on a basis of an image density of a first reference image indicative of the first white reference member and an image density of the original document image.
US09197759B2	System and process for tracking and exchanging consumer purchases for communication services Some embodiments provide a novel system and process for tracking purchases of a consumer in exchange for communication service. In some embodiments, the communication service comprises a cell phone service plan. In some embodiments, the communication service comprises a reduced-price service plan. In some embodiments, the reduced-price service plan is a free service plan.
US09197756B2	Converged voice mail services Novel tools and techniques for providing enhanced services to telephone subscribers with multiple telephone lines, which can include one or more traditional telephone lines, wireless telephone lines, Internet protocol-based telephone lines, and/or the like. For example, certain tools can provide a subscriber with a unified voice mailbox for a plurality of the subscriber's telephone lines. In some cases, the subscriber does not need to check multiple voice mailboxes (each associated with one of the subscriber's telephone numbers) in order to ensure that the subscriber has received all messages intended for that subscriber. Instead, any incoming call on any of the subscriber's lines can be routed to a converged voice mailbox for easy retrieval by the subscriber of all messages from one location. Some tools employ a VoIP switch to handle routing of the incoming call to the correct voice mailbox.
US09197752B2	Method for designing an automated speech recognition (ASR) interface for a customer call center A method of designing a customer interface for a service center, such as an automated speech recognition (ASR) self-service center. Customer activity to an existing service center is monitored, providing customer model, which includes a collection of customer tasks. These tasks are assigned to action-object pairs, which are further assigned to routing destinations. Dialog modules are designed, based on the customer model data, including disambiguation dialogs.
US09197742B1	Systems and methods for verification of identity and location Techniques for ver ring identity and/or location of a customer. One embodiment involves receiving a customer-provided address from a customer in a communication via a computer network or telephone network. The customer is a person or entity paying to receive calls from a resident of a controlled access residential institution. The embodiment further involves accessing a computer system to identify location information associated with the customer, the location information derived from additional information within or about the communication and determining a reliability estimate of the customer-provided address by comparing the customer-provided address with the location information associated with the customer that was identified based on the additional information. The embodiment may involve notifying a telecommunications provider, the controlled access residential institution, or law enforcement based on the reliability estimate of the customer-provided address.
US09197731B2	Method and device for changing dynamic display effect of mobile phone application by way of voice control This disclosure relates to methods and devices for changing dynamic display effect of mobile phone application by way of voice control. The method includes a recording step, recording an audio file of a voice external to a mobile phone; a judgment step, calculating a voice energy value linearly dependent upon sound volume in the audio file, comparing the voice energy value to a pre-set noise threshold value and performing a rate calculation step when it is greater than the pre-set noise threshold value; a rate calculation step, calculating a corresponding changing rate according to the voice energy value; and an application display step, setting the changing rate of the current application as a calculated changing rate and displaying same for the current application. This disclosure increases the approaches whereby a user controls the dynamic application changing effect and it can be applied to a mobile phone without a touch screen.
US09197728B2	Firmware upgrade function for deskphone electronic protocol converter The invention relates to a method of programming a processing unit by firmware in a protocol converter for providing first data received from a telephone device in accordance with a first protocol to a headset system in accordance with a second protocol and for providing second data received from the headset system in accordance with the second protocol to the telephone in accordance with the first protocol, the operation of the protocol converter being controlled by the processing unit. The invention further relates to a protocol converter, such as an Electronic Hook Switch adapter, for providing first data received from a telephone device in accordance with a first protocol to a headset system in accordance with a second protocol and for providing second data received from the headset system in accordance with the second protocol to the telephone device in accordance with the first protocol. The headset system provides firmware to the protocol converter in accordance with the second protocol.
US09197715B2	Information processing apparatus and data control method An information processing apparatus includes a memory; and a processor to execute a process including: adding an identifier based on a reception order to an access request indicating a transmission request or a reception request of a block of data received from a client terminal; retrieving, from among information processing apparatus which is included in a distribution-type network which distributes transmitting and receiving processing of a data, an information of the information processing apparatus which processes an access request added with the identifier which is scheduled to be added; storing, in the memory, the information of the information processing apparatus in association with the identifier which is scheduled to be added; and replying the information, which is stored in association with the identifier in the memory when the identifier is added to an access request, to the client terminal.
US09197712B2	Multi-stage batching of content distribution in a media distribution system A method includes receiving, at a first level distribution node of a plurality of first level distribution nodes of a hierarchical media distribution system (HMDS), a request for a content item (associated with segments corresponding to a time order) from a first endpoint device. The method includes, in response to receiving the request, sending, from the first level distribution node, a first data stream corresponding to a first segment of the content item to the first endpoint device and sending first information (indicating the request and a first end time of the first data stream) to a second level distribution node of a plurality of second level distribution nodes of the HMDS. The method includes receiving, from the second level distribution node, a second data stream corresponding to a second segment before the first end time has been reached and sending the second data stream to the first endpoint device.
US09197711B1	Systems and methods for detecting the presence of web tracking A computer-implemented method for detecting the presence of web tracking may include identifying an Internet resource that may be retrieved from an initial domain and that may trigger a hypertext transfer protocol request directed to an additional domain that may be different from the initial domain, determining, based on a difference between the initial domain and the additional domain, that the hypertext transfer protocol request may include a third-party hypertext transfer protocol request, identifying a hypertext transfer protocol cookie that may be sent from the additional domain in response to the third-party hypertext transfer protocol request and determining, based on an expiration date of the hypertext transfer protocol cookie and the difference between the initial domain and the additional domain, that the hypertext transfer protocol cookie may include a third-party tracking cookie. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
US09197707B2	Network interface determining apparatus and method The present invention provides a novel communications apparatus that includes a plurality of wired LAN functions and wireless LAN functions and facilitates determining which network interface is to be enabled more flexibly. The communications apparatus of this invention switches a plurality of wired LAN functions and wireless LAN functions and includes a network interface control unit that enables and disables wired LAN and wireless LAN, a wired LAN communication availability status acquisition unit that detects that there is a change in the status of communication availability of wired LAN and acquires the status of communication availability of wired LAN, and a network interface determining unit that enables only one network interface from communication availability status of wired LAN acquired by the wired LAN communication availability status acquisition unit and a plurality of operating states of the apparatus.
US09197706B2	Apparatus and method for bundling application services with inbuilt connectivity management An apparatus and method for bundling application services with inbuilt connectivity management comprising launching a software application; detecting a need for connectivity to use the service associated with the software application; establishing connectivity; determining whether connectivity is established; and executing the service associated with the software application utilizing the established connectivity.
US09197704B2	Electronic label system and operation method thereof An electronic label system and an operation method thereof are provided. The electronic label system includes a control unit and a plurality of electronic label units. The control unit is used for sending display information. The electronic label units are coupled to the control unit to receive the display information and display according to the corresponding display information, respectively. The electronic label units respectively output a plurality of state information to the control unit so that the control unit can monitor operation states of the electronic label units according to the state information.
US09197702B2	System for and method for media upload multithreading for large file uploads Exemplary embodiments provide a system and method for uploading large files to a remote server faster. The system and method divide the file into smaller file chunks and utilize parallel thread execution to prepare and upload the file chunks to the remote server. The uploading may further utilize a plurality of HTTP connections. Once all chunks have been uploaded to the remote server, the chunks may be consolidated into the original file by using content tokens and chunk numbers associated with the uploaded chunks.
US09197696B1	Offline content distribution networks Approaches, techniques, and mechanisms are disclosed for the secure distribution of media content to devices having minimal or no Internet connectivity. Computing devices referred to herein as “local servers” are strategically deployed at various locations, such as stores and other public locations. Packages of media contents are stored on the local servers, and may be updated using various online and/or offline data transfer techniques. Portable devices may directly connect to the local servers via various types of proximity-based connections, such as by wireless local area networks, by wired connections over Universal Serial Bus cables, or by sharing of removable media such as Secure Digital cards. The local servers may copy their media contents to authorized devices when such connections are established. The contents on a device may be automatically be updated the next time the device connects to one of the local servers, so as to include newly selected and/or available content.
US09197693B1	System and method for load distribution using a mail box proxy of a virtual private network A system for load distribution using a mail proxy, which includes a client, a public network, and an Internet service provider (ISP) network, and a plurality of e-mail servers. The Internet service provider (ISP) network includes a virtual private network (VPN) device, which is configured to prevent unauthorized access to a private network. The VPN device also includes a mail proxy and an authentication and authorization module or service capable of at least the following: validating credentials of the client, and identifying at least one outgoing e-mail server and at least one incoming e-mail server for each client. The plurality of e-mail servers include a plurality of outgoing e-mail servers and a plurality of incoming e-mail servers.
US09197692B2	Remote application invocation system and method A server generates a unique URL corresponding to a data payload, provides that unique URL for exposure to mobile devices of different types, and when the server receives a request for the unique URL from a mobile device, the server uses a payload-type to mobile-device-type mapping to generate a device-type-specific URI that includes the data payload, formatted for the device type. The server delivers the device-type-specific URI to the mobile device to invoke an application for handling the data payload.
US09197690B2	Method and system for transmitting content This disclosure provides systems and methods for transmitting content to users. In some implementations, a system can include a session manager operable to initiate a unicast session with an end user device over a dedicated channel and to transmit a unicast multimedia stream associated with the unicast session. The unicast multimedia stream can include service identifier that is recognizable to the end user. The system can also include an interface operable to receive a transmission command that includes the end-user recognizable service identifier, and to transmit the content associated with the multimedia stream to the end user device in response to the content transmission command.
US09197685B2	Systems and methods for fast video startup using trick play streams Systems and methods for fast startup of video playback in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. One embodiment includes identifying a location within the first video stream at which to commence playback, identifying a frame of video in the second video stream that corresponds with the identified location in the first video stream, requesting the identified frame of video in the second video stream, requesting and buffering video from the first video stream starting at the identified location, decoding the identified frame of video in the second video stream, displaying the decoded frame of video in the second video stream while buffering video from the first video stream, decoding video from the first video stream, and displaying the decoded video from the first video stream when the first video stream is sufficiently buffered for continuous playback.
US09197676B2	System and method for reducing message signaling A system for communicating a message using a second signaling protocol is disclosed. The second signaling protocol provides a session control channel between a user agent (UA) and a network node and may include, for example the I1 protocol. The system identifies a first string to be transmitted within a first message. The first message is encoded in accordance with a first signaling protocol. The system associates the first string with a first key, and stores the first string and the first key in a database. The database associates the first string and the first key. The system encodes the first key within a second message, and transmits the second message using the second signaling protocol. The first string may include a plurality of data values. The system sorts the plurality of data values into an ordering, and associates each of the plurality of data values with a key.
US09197663B1	Methods and systems for identifying potential enterprise software threats based on visual and non-visual data Visual and non-visual elements associated with the candidate files are analyzed to determine whether the candidate files are malware. A visual element (e.g., icon) is extracted from the candidate file, and the icon's image is compared to a group of reference images associated with trusted entities. If the icon's image matches a reference image, the candidate file may be malware masquerading as trusted software. The non-visual elements associated with the candidate file are used, in combination with the visual elements, to determine whether the candidate file is malware.
US09197661B2	Computer virus screening methods and systems A method includes receiving a status update from a client device, the status update reflects at least one change associated with the client device, updating a model of the client device based on the status update, receiving data to be screened for a virus, the data is received after an updating of the model of the client device, and screening the model of the client device for the virus. Systems and articles of manufacture are also disclosed.
US09197653B2	Cross-user correlation for detecting server-side multi-target intrusion Technologies are generally described for time-correlating administrative events within virtual machines of a datacenter across many users and/or deployments. In some examples, the correlation of administrative events enables the detection of confluences of repeated unusual events that may indicate a mass hacking attack, thereby allowing attacks lacking network signatures to be detected. Detection of the attack may also allow the repair of affected systems and the prevention of further hacking before the vulnerability has been analyzed or repaired.
US09197651B2	Security module having a secondary agent in coordination with a host agent The invention is directed to a security module deployed in a host device, which provides a secondary agent that operates in coordination with the host agent in the host device, but operates independent of the host operating system of the host device to independently access an existing communication network interface in the host device or a separate dedicated network interface, if available. In one aspect, the present invention enables robust theft recovery and asset tracking services. The system comprises a monitoring center; one or more monitored devices; a security module in the monitored devices; and one or more active communications networks. Monitored devices may be stand alone devices, such as computers (e.g., portable or desktop computers), or a device or a subsystem included in a system. A monitored device comprises a security module, a host agent and software to support the host agent that runs in the monitored device's OS.
US09197648B2	System and method for verifying the identity of an internet user A system and method for verifying the identity of an Internet user are disclosed. In at least one embodiment, a central computing system is configured for receiving and processing data related to the user. Using a computing device in communication with the computing system, a user account is created containing the user's basic information, including an email address belonging to the user. Upon validating the user's email address, the system obtains the user's name, address and last four digits of their social security number and, using that information, attempts to gather additional information related to the user from an at least one consumer records database in communication with the computing system. The user is then presented with an at least one identity verification question based on the additional information gathered. Upon the user correctly answering an acceptable percentage of the verification questions, the user's identity is considered to be verified.
US09197646B2	Verifying source of email A system is configured to generate an email with a main hyperlink and a verification hyperlink; transmit the email to an email account of a user; receive an indication of a selection of the verification hyperlink; and transmit a confirmation message to a recipient device of the user when the verification hyperlink is selected.
US09197643B2	Application and permission integration Systems, methods and apparatuses of integrating applications in an application integration system are provided. In some examples, work-based applications may be integrated with personal applications, such as in an application region. One or more rules for accessing the applications within the application region may be determined or defined. In some examples, accessing the application region (e.g., via login or other authentication process) may provide access to all applications within the application region, without requiring additional login or authentication for each particular application being accessed. Further, the system may determine one or more rules for providing communication and/or data sharing between the one or more applications within the application region, between applications within the application region and outside the application region, between two or more applications regions, and the like.
US09197642B1	Token-based billing model for server-side rendering service A token-based billing model for delivering server-side rendered applications to remote users. A token represents a right to access a server-side rendered application. Each remote user is associated with one or more tokens. When a given token expires, the set of tokens associated with a user is decremented. The rate at which tokens expire are modulated based on aggregate load across the resources of the server-side rendered application provider, as well as the individual loads attributable to each of the users.
US09197637B2	Method of comparing private data without revealing the data Disclosed in this specification is a method and program storage device for comparing two sets of private data without revealing those private data. If the comparison deems the two data sets sufficiently similar, helper data may be provided to permit reconstruction of one of the private data sets without transmission of that private data set.
US09197624B2	Using clock drift, clock skew, and network latency to enhance machine identification Methods and systems for authenticating a user device employ a database of global network latencies categorized and searchable by location and calendar date-time of day usage, providing network latency by geography and by time. The database is constructed using voluminous daily data collected from a world-wide clientele of users who sign in to a particular website. Accuracy of the latency data and clock skew machine identification is made practical and useful for authentications using a service provider-proprietary, stable reference clock, such as an atomic clock, so that internal clock jitter of a service provider performing authentications does not affect the network latency time and clock skew identification of user devices. Increased authentication confidence results from using the database for correcting network latency times and user device signatures generated from the clock skew identifications and for cross checking the authentication using comparisons of initial registration to current sign in data.
US09197616B2	Out-of-band session key information exchange A source device that plans to participate in one or more encrypted communication sessions with a destination device sends a discovery message towards the destination device. An intermediary device that processes this discovery message requests a master key from the source device. The source verifies that the intermediary device is a trusted device and then sends the intermediary device the requested master key. Prior to transmitting encrypted messages to the destination device, the source device sends session key information, encrypted using the master key, to the intermediary device. The intermediary device uses this session key information to decrypt and process encrypted messages sent as part of the encrypted communication session between the source device and the destination device.
US09197612B2	Apparatus and method for deploying encrypted mobile off-line web applications A mobile device is configured to execute encrypted source files and includes a transceiver configured to receive an archive file comprising encrypted source files. The mobile device also includes a storage unit configured to store the received archive file. A local web server in the mobile device is configured to interpret a format of the received archive file, retrieve at least one source file from the archive file in response to a request from a device browser, decrypt the retrieved source file, and forward unencrypted information associated with the decrypted source file to the device browser. The device browser in the mobile device is configured to display the unencrypted information.
US09197608B2	Communication method, application device, program, and communication system According to one embodiment, a communication method including acquiring an application key from a key-sharing network, determining a key use of the application key, and performing encryption communication by using the application key according to the determined key use.
US09197601B2	System and method for providing a single global borderless virtual perimeter through distributed points of presence A system and method for providing a virtual perimeter through distributed points of presence. A network system comprises one or more Perimeter Points of Presence (P/PoP) configured to provide a virtual perimeter. The one or more P/PoPs comprise a network interface component; a plurality of selectable service area systems, each of which comprises one or more selectable service area sub-systems, wherein the selectable service area systems and sub-systems can provide a customized virtual perimeter for an entity. The one or more P/PoPs are configured to receive data; process the data using at least one of the service area systems and sub-systems configured as a data processing policy for the entity; and transmit the processed data as policy compliant data from the one or more P/PoP to an end destination.
US09197599B1	Integrated business system for web based telecommunications management The specification discloses a method of doing business over the public Internet, particularly, a method which enables access to legacy management tools used by a telecommunications enterprise in the management of the enterprise business to the enterprise customer, to enable the customer to more effectively manage the business conducted by the customer through the enterprise, this access being provided over the public Internet. This method of doing business is accomplished with one or more secure web servers which manage one or more secure client sessions over the Internet, each web server supporting secure communications with the client workstation; a web page backplane application capable of launching one or more management tool applications used by the enterprise. Each of the management tool applications provide a customer interface integrated within said web page which enables interactive Web/Internet based communications with the web servers; each web server, supports communication of messages entered via the integrated customer interface to one or more remote enterprise management tool application servers which interact with the enterprise management tool applications to provide associated management capabilities to the customer.
US09197594B2	Scaling of virtual machine addresses in datacenters A device in a server having a processor and a storage. The device has a protocol blind network path indication unit configured to obtain an indicator corresponding to a predetermined path to a data communication unit in the network using a destination address of a received data packet, an upstream communication unit configured to transmit a network protocol blind packet including the data packet and the indicator corresponding to the predetermined data path to the data communication unit in the network, a combiner configured to bind the indicator to the data packet received by the downstream communication unit, and a protocol blind correlation storage unit configured to provide information related to target addresses and indicators corresponding to a plurality of predetermined data paths in the network. The protocol blind network path indication unit obtains the indicator corresponding to a predetermined path by accessing the protocol blind correlation structure.
US09197590B2	Dynamic filter generation for message management systems Filtering rules for incoming messages can be dynamically generated by a message management service based on patterns in the user's behavior. The message management service can analyze event records associating user actions with features of messages to detect correlations between message features and resulting actions, including correlations across multiple messaging accounts belonging to the same user. Based on correlations, the message management service can provide a suggested rule to the user's client device, and the user can accept or decline the suggestion.
US09197581B2	Method and apparatus for diverting operational load on networks through entitlement profile incentives An approach is provided for determining a temporal window based on an operational load of a network; creating an entitlement profile corresponding to the temporal window for accessing content over the network; and specifying an access right to the content for the entitlement profile applicable during the temporal window, and a corresponding device.
US09197579B2	Allocating a pool of shared bandwidth Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for allocating a pool of shared Internet bandwidth. One of the methods includes providing a first communications channel having a first bandwidth, the first bandwidth being shared by a first group of first users, providing a second communications channel having a second bandwidth different than the first bandwidth, the second bandwidth being shared by a second group of second users, detecting that at least one first data connection for a particular first user in the first group has satisfied a first predetermined condition, and moving, based on the detecting, the at least one first data connection for the particular first user from the first communications channel to the second communications channel.
US09197577B2	Policy control method and system, and relevant apparatus The present invention discloses a policy control method and system, and a relevant apparatus. The method includes: receiving, by a policy decision apparatus, a control policy request sent by a gateway device, where the control policy request carries a subscriber identifier; sending, by the policy decision apparatus, a session request message carrying the subscriber identifier to a charging system; receiving, by the policy decision apparatus, a response message; receiving, by the policy decision apparatus, a notification message sent through an established session by the charging system, and generating a service data flow control policy according to information of an occurred charging relevant event; and sending, by the policy decision apparatus, the control policy to the gateway device. The method may implement, based on charging relevant information of a subscriber, policy control of a data flow, flexibility is desirable, and service experience of the subscriber is good.
US09197576B2	Method and apparatus for allocating and prioritizing data transmission The subject matter disclosed herein describes a method to allocate and prioritize data communications on an industrial control network. A transmission schedule including multiple priority windows and multiple queues is established. Each queue is assigned to at least one priority window, and each priority window may have multiple queues assigned thereto. A control device communicating on the control network transmits data packets according to the transmission schedule. Within each priority window, data packets corresponding to one of the queues assigned to the priority window may be transmitted. The data packets may be transmitted at any point during the priority window, but will only be transmitted if no data packet from a higher queue is waiting to be transmitted.
US09197563B2	Bypassing congestion points in a converged enhanced ethernet fabric Embodiments relate to bypassing congestion points in a network. An aspect includes sampling queues of a plurality of switches in a network. When packet congestion is detected at a congestion point of a first switch, the packet flow contributing to the packet congestion is identified. A congestion notification message indicating the identified packet flow is then propagated to upstream switches, which are upstream from the first switch in the network. The congestion notification message is then snooped by the upstream switches. Virtual queues within the upstream switches are associated with the identified packet flow to hold packets associated with the identified packet flow. The packets associated with the identified packet flow are then re-routed to bypass the packet congestion in the first switch.
US09197560B2	Assigning identifiers to mobile devices according to their data service requirements A network fabric includes a mobile device associated with a service type and a server including a processor and memory storing program code for assigning identifiers to mobile devices in accordance with an identifier assignment policy. The processor, in response to executing the program code stored in the memory, associates a service type with the mobile device, maps the service type to an identifier predetermined to cause frames bearing the identifier to receive a particular frame-forwarding treatment within the network fabric, assigns the identifier to the mobile device based on the service type of the mobile device, and sends the identifier to the mobile device for inclusion in frames transmitted by the mobile device.
US09197556B2	Communications over multiple protocol interfaces in a computing environment According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a method and technique for communications over multiple protocol interfaces in a computing environment is disclosed. The method includes: identifying a network interface for egress data packet communications; responsive to the identified network interface differing from a data packet fragmentation technique desired for the data packet communications, deriving fragmentation data according to the desired data packet fragmentation technique; generating an application layer header for the data packet communications; storing values of the fragmentation data in select fields of the application layer header; fragmenting the data packet communications according to the desired data packet fragmentation protocol; and transmitting the data packet communications including the application layer header over the identified network interface.
US09197550B2	Method and device for determining forwarding rule for data packet A method and corresponding device for determining forwarding rule for data packet in Virtual Private LAN Service with Provider Backbone Bridge (PBB-VPLS) network are disclosed. In the method, a value in a backbone service instance identifier (I-SID) field of the received data packet is firstly examined, then a virtual split horizon group corresponding to the data packets is determined based on the I-SID value, wherein the virtual split horizon group defines a forwarding rule for the data packets between different pseudo wire ports of the PBB-VPLS network. With the dynamic split horizon group, the method dynamically adapts to different forwarding rules for multiple I-VPLS instances with different tree topologies, and is capable of supporting multiple I-VPLS instances with different root sites and tree topologies in one B-VPLS instance, thereby ensuring the stability of the backbone network and reducing the network operation cost.
US09197549B2	Server load balancer traffic steering A network switch comprises a load balancer steering mechanism configured to receive a service request received from a load balancer and forward the service request to a first server in a load-balanced server cluster. The service request was initiated by a client and transmitted to the load balancer. The network switch is configured to receive return traffic transmitted by the first server, and to automatically steer the return traffic to the load balancer.
US09197546B2	System and method for providing a messaging cluster with hybrid partitions Described herein is a system and method for providing a messaging cluster with hybrid partitions. In accordance with an embodiment, a computer environment or messaging system includes a cluster of message brokers, which supports a hybrid of one or more fixed type partitions and/or on-demand type partitions. A message producer can be associated with a configuration that indicates a type of partition to be used for connection with that message producer. The cluster of message brokers assign to that connection a partition of the type indicated by the connection. Upon a load-balancing or failover of a message broker having active connections to message producers, those connections having an indication of fixed type partition are assigned to the same partition at a failed-over message broker, while those connections having an indication of on-demand type partition can be assigned to any on-demand partition at the failed-over message broker.
US09197541B2	Router with passive interconnect and distributed switchless switching A multi-chassis router with passive interconnect and distributed switchless interconnect for connecting a plurality of nodes in full mesh is disclosed. This system allows direct and indirect communication between a source node and a destination node. In direct communication, data propagates via links connecting the source and destination nodes. In indirect communication, data is first sent to an intermediate node via links connecting the source and intermediate nodes. The intermediate node sends the data either to the destination node via links connecting the intermediate node and the destination node. A passive device with replaceable plugs connects the plurality of nodes in full mesh. The passive device facilitates setting up and updating a network.
US09197538B2	Rule-based routing to resources through a network Techniques for determining which resource access requests are handled locally at a remote computer, and which resource access requests are routed or “redirected” through a virtual private network. One or more routing or “redirection” rules are downloaded from a redirection rule server to a remote computer. When the node of the virtual private network running on the remote computer receives a resource access request, it compares the identified resource with the rules. Based upon how the identified resource matches one or more rules, the node will determine whether the resource access request is redirected through the virtual private network or handled locally (e.g., retrieved locally from another network). A single set of redirection rules can be distributed to and employed by a variety of different virtual private network communication techniques.
US09197523B2	Systems and methods for extracting media from network traffic having unknown protocols Methods and systems for analyzing network traffic. An analysis system receives network traffic, which complies with a certain protocol. The received network traffic carries a data item, which may be of value to an analyst. In order to access the data item in question, the analysis system automatically identifies the media type of the data item, by processing the network traffic irrespective of the protocol. The analysis system identifies the media type irrespective of the protocol in order to avoid the computational complexity involved in decoding the protocol.
US09197516B2	In-service throughput testing in distributed router/switch architectures Various embodiments relate to a system and related method of measuring at least one transport link's performance in a communications network. An originating device controlled by a customer may generate testing frames that are transported to a receiving device also controlled by the customer through the at least one transport link that connects the two devices. In some embodiments, the transport links may transfer the testing frames while the transport links are transporting other data traffic. The receiving device may parse incoming frames and, upon identifying the testing frames, may generate echoing response frames. In some embodiments, the echoing response frames may be placed in one of a series of priority-based service queues. The originating device may then receive the response frames through the transport links and may measure the stream of incoming frames to measure and analyze the transport links' performance.
US09197511B2	Anomaly detection in network-site metrics using predictive modeling Methods and apparatus for anomaly detection in network-site metrics using predictive modeling are described. A method comprises obtaining time-series data for a given time range, wherein the time-series data comprises values for a network-site analytics metric for each of a plurality of sequential time steps across the given time range. The method includes generating a predictive model for the network-site analytics metric based on at least a segment of the time-series data. The method includes using the predictive model to predict an expected value range for the network-site analytics metric for a next time step after the segment and, based on the expected value range, determining whether an actual value for the network-site analytics metric for the next time step is an anomalous value.
US09197501B2	Zero-step auto-customization of mobile applications In an embodiment, mobile application downloaded and installed in a mobile device is launched for the first time. The mobile application automatically locates a configuration server and connects automatically to the located configuration server. After connection is established with the configuration server, appropriate configuration parameters set is identified and automatically fetched to the mobile device. The fetched configuration parameters set is automatically applied to the mobile application. After applying the configuration parameters set, automatically authenticate the mobile application to an enterprise server. Thus, when the user of the mobile device launches the installed mobile application for the first time, the zero-step auto-customization noted above takes place without manual intervention. The user is thus able to use the mobile application in a normal manner subject to the configurations applied.
US09197500B2	Role based server installation and configuration The described systems and methods are directed at configuring a server based on a selected role. An installation application is configured to install core components in a server where these core components enable the server to perform the basic functions of a network computing device. A role management application is configured to enable a system administrator to select a role for the server and to automatically determine software components associated with the selected role. The role management application is then configured to build the software components and install the components on the server. The role management application is further configured to configure the components for the selected role. The automated installation process performed by the role management application enables a server to be efficiently configured for a particular role without installing other unnecessary components unrelated to the role.
US09197492B2	Internet protocol analyzing Included are methods for facilitating routing of control data associated with a communication to a plurality of recorders. One such method, among others, includes receiving control data related to a communication and routing the received control data to at least one recorder via a layer 3 protocol.
US09197488B2	Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and non-transitory computer readable medium An information processing apparatus includes a plurality of communication interfaces connected to a plurality of communication networks that are independent from each other, the plurality of communication interfaces each receiving data from a terminal connected to at least one of the plurality of communication networks, the plurality of communication interfaces each transmitting data to the terminal on a basis of terminal identification information, a first acquiring section that acquires the terminal identification information of a destination terminal, and service information indicating a service that can be executed in the destination terminal, a second acquiring section that acquires service information indicating a service that can be executed in a candidate terminal, and a selecting section that selects one of the plurality of communication interfaces on a basis of the service information of the destination terminal and the service information of the candidate terminal.
US09197487B2	High performance DNS traffic management The present disclosure provides systems, methods, and products for high performance implementation of traffic management rules. In various embodiments, traffic management rules, such as DNS traffic management rules, are functionally expressed as rows in one or more lookup tables that are deployed to DNS resolution servers. The DNS resolution server uses the domain name, resource record type, traffic management rule types, and/or traffic management variable values to search for or look up an answer, from among multiple answers corresponding to the domain name and resource record type that meets the traffic management criteria. This look up is done without executing conventional traffic management code or scripts.
US09197485B1	Geographically appropriate domain name system assignment Computer-readable media, systems, and methods for geographically appropriate domain name system assignment are described. In embodiments, a mobile internet protocol session is initialized with a packet data serving node, and a registration request is communicated to a home agent, the home agent acting as a router on a home network of the mobile device and enabled to tunnel one or more data packets to the mobile device when the mobile device is outside the home network. Further, in embodiments a registration reply is received from the home agent, the registration reply including a domain name system server assignment to a domain name system server acting as a translator capable of converting one or more hostnames into one or more associated IP addresses during the mobile IP session.
US09197484B2	Server infrastructure for digital plaque displaying certificates, associated documents and current status A digital plaque that can display one of several stored certificates that can also retrieve updates to a displayed certificate when needed. The digital plaque is used to display a certificate and associated information. Typically the certificate displayed is one of an award, a recognition, a score card, a picture, a transcript, a document, a sales deed, a ticket, a poster, a document cover, a book cover, a patent application, a granted patent and a graduation record. A collection of such certificates is stored in memory and displayed when selected by a user. Status information and supporting documents associated with the selected certificate can be retrieved from a remote server and portions of the retrieved information can be displayed.
US09197473B2	Preamble with modified signal field (SIG) for use in wireless communications A wireless communication device (‘device’) is configured to generate an OFDM/A packet that includes at least one OFDM/A symbol that includes at least one SIG having SIG information modulated on only even (or odd) sub-carriers and does not include any information modulated on odd (or even) sub-carriers of a set of OFDM/A sub-carriers. The set of OFDM/A sub-carriers may be all or less than all of available sub-carriers. The device may generate the packet to include a preamble and a payload such that the payload, which may be composed of at least one additional OFDM/A symbol, includes data modulated on some or all of the sub-carriers of the set of OFDM/A sub-carriers. The device can modulate and transmit SIG information and data differently within the preamble and the payload (e.g., with higher ordered modulation or MCS for the data and less power per sub-carrier than for the preamble).
US09197466B2	Radio frequency carrier generation architecture A method of compensating carrier tone generation between duty cycles includes receiving a carrier frequency signal and a reference frequency signal, where the carrier frequency signal is mixed with a communication signal in a signal path. The method includes determining a first and second time differences between the carrier frequency signal and the reference frequency signal at respective clock edges of the reference frequency signal. The method includes converting the first time difference to a first corresponding phase value and the second time difference to a second corresponding phase value based on an operating frequency, and determining a phase difference between the first corresponding phase value and the second corresponding phase value. In turn, the method includes adjusting the communication signal with the phase difference independent of the signal path to maintain phase continuity in the signal path between the duty cycles.
US09197458B1	Edge equalization via adjustment of unroll threshold for crossing slicer A system and method for decision feedback equalization of a crossing slicer. A serial receiver includes a data slicer and a crossing slicer, and implements decision feedback equalization for the data slicer, with a plurality of data weights. The serial receiver also implements decision feedback equalization for the crossing slicer, using crossing weights that are interpolated between corresponding pairs of the data weights. The crossing weights may be formed by any suitable interpolation method, including linear interpolation, cubic interpolation, or spline interpolation.
US09197455B2	Two stage adaptive equalizer for a batch receiver A two stage adaptive filter for use in a batch receiver includes an equalizer filter having as inputs an acquired signal representing a batch of data points and an equalizer filter value. The filtered signal is batch processed to produce reference and data symbols, which symbols are input to a residual filter to generate iteratively over the batch an error value. The error value is convolved with the equalizer filter value to produce a new equalizer filter value for use by the equalizer filter when a next batch of data points is processed.
US09197448B2	Direct response and feedback system The invention provides methods and systems for analyzing and routing items.
US09197442B2	Relay apparatus and relay method A first port included in a relay apparatus transmits a first type of frame to a second relay apparatus. A second port transmits a second type of frame to the second relay apparatus. A control unit specifies on the basis of transfer information that a transfer destination port of the first type of frame which is for accessing a node connected to the second relay apparatus is the first port. After that, the control unit generates the second type of frame including the first type of frame according to a load on the first port. Instead of transmitting the first type of frame from the first port, the control unit transmits the second type of frame from the second port.
US09197439B2	Field bus network having two main users and at least one dependent user The disclosure relates to a field bus network having two masters and at least one slave which are connected to one another in a dual ring comprising a first ring and a second ring and each of the two masters being configured for generator data packets and sending out a generated data packet on each of the rings at regular time intervals. The at least one slave being configured for receiving a data packet at an input and forwarding it at an output. Each of the two masters being configured for receiving a data packet coming from the other master in each case at an input and forwarding it at an output.
US09197435B2	Channel selection in a multimedia system A method for a client module to provide a channel selection request in a multimedia system begins by receiving an input signal from a client. The method continues by interpreting the input signal to determine type of signal. The method continues, when the type of signal is control information, by determining whether the control information relates to a local command or a system-level command. The method continues, when the control information relates to a system-level command, by processing the control information for conveyance to a multimedia server to produce a control message. The method continues by transmitting the control message to the multimedia server.
US09197432B2	Adaptive test system for network function and performance evaluation A method may include receiving a first set of parameters associated with a test environment, the test environment including a test system for testing a network, receiving a test objective, conducting a first test case based on the received first set of parameters and the test objective, automatically determining, by the test system, whether the test objective has been satisfied based on a first test result associated with the first test case, and automatically adapting, by the test system, a second test case based on the first test result when it is determined that the test objective has not been satisfied.
US09197427B2	Methods and systems for screensharing A user engaged in an online chat session with one or more other users can start a screen sharing session with the other users without having to leave the context of the online chat session. In an implementation, a chat window for the chat session includes a screen sharing button. The screen sharing button can be clicked to start a screen sharing session with the other chat participants. A system generated message is displayed within the chat windows of the other chat participants inviting them to view the remote screen. Upon accepting the invite, a viewer is launched to show the information being displayed on the remote screen.
US09197424B2	Inline power device for multiple inline formats Techniques are provided for delivering power to powered devices. Power is received from an inline power device and the power is separated into multiple power distribution paths. The power is received at a connector jack comprising conductor pins configured to receive the power and data. A transceiver is configured to interface with the first portion and the second portion of the conductor pins of the connector jack. The power distribution paths are electrically isolated, and rectifying diodes are configured to interface with the conductor pins are also electrically isolated. The power is transmitted from the inline power device across the multiple power distribution paths.
US09197418B2	Communication system for authenticating messages with uniquely specified genuine information In a sensor network system, a transmitter device uses a message authentication key generated by a message generator to transmit a message with authenticator to plural receiver devices, which in reply produce a certification by a certification generator from a message with authenticator held by a message holder to transmit the certification to the transmitter device. An information generator of the transmitter device uses an identification from a reception checker and the message authentication key thus generated to generate an authentication key notification, which will be transmitted to receiver devices having transmitted the certification. In the receiver devices, the message holder holds the authentication key notification, from which an authentication key acquirer acquires the message authentication key, which a message authenticator uses to compare the message with authenticator generated with the message with authenticator held in the message holder to confirm the received message.
US09197416B2	Verification apparatus, verification program, and verification method In a verification apparatus, a biometric information acquisition unit acquires a plurality of biometric information pieces from an object. A first verification unit calculates, as a verification score, the similarity between the biometric information piece and a verification information piece, and compares the calculated verification score with a first determination value to determine whether the biometric information piece matches the verification information piece. When the verification fails, a second verification unit performs verification on the plurality of biometric information pieces having a predetermined relationship, using the verification information piece and a second determination value which defines a less stringent criterion than the first determination value. The second verification unit compares the verification score with the second determination value, and determines that the match is confirmed when a plurality of biometric information pieces satisfy the criterion defined by the second determination value.
US09197413B1	Hybrid secure communication system and method Systems and methods for securely communicating between a mobile computing device and a vehicle system are provided. A method includes receiving authentication data from the mobile computing device over a first communication link between the vehicle system and the mobile computing device. The method further includes authenticating the mobile computing device using the authentication data received over the first communication link. Subsequent to the initial authentication phase, the method further allows transmitting encrypted data from the vehicle system to the mobile computing device (and vice-versa) over a second communication link. The encrypted data is encrypted using the authentication data transmitted over the first communication link. The second communication link is a wireless communication link that is more susceptible to one or more security risks than the first communication link.
US09197407B2	Method and system for providing secret-less application framework In one embodiment, providing, by a client device, device information and key data over a network to a server device, the device information uniquely identifying the client device; generating a device key, by a device key generation logic, at the server device based on the device information; receiving a module from the server device, the module comprising a bound content key and the device key generation logic, wherein the bound content key is encrypted by the device key at the server device; and processing protected content using the module.
US09197401B2	Multi-band receiver A multi-band receiver according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an analog-to-digital converter configured to convert multi-band analog radio signals into a digital baseband signal, and a first signal extracting unit configured to generate a first path signal by changing a sampling rate of the digital baseband signal and sample-delaying the digital baseband signal, and generate a second path signal by bypassing the digital baseband signal, wherein the first signal extracting unit extracts a first baseband signal using a group delay difference between the first and second path signals caused by a sample delay difference between the first and second path signals.
US09197400B1	Method and apparatus for joint estimation of carrier frequency offset and sampling frequency offset In a method for determining timing information in a receiver, a receiver receives a modulated signal and demodulates the modulated signal using an demodulator to produce a demodulated signal. An analog to digital converter converts the demodulated signal to a digital signal and first and second signals are produced from the digital signal. The first signal is analyzed to determine a first phase difference with respect to different portions of the signal, and the second signal is analyzed to determine a second phase difference with respect to different portions of the second signal. The second signal is a frequency domain representation of at least a portion of the first signal. A joint estimate of a sampling period offset and a carrier frequency offset is generated based on the first phase difference and the second phase difference.
US09197389B2	Method and apparatus for transmitting channel quality control information in wireless access system Methods and devices for transmitting or receiving channel quality control information through a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) in a wireless access system that supports hybrid automatic retransmit request (HARQ) are discussed. The method in one embodiment performed by a user equipment (UE) includes receiving a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) signal including an initial uplink grant, transmitting uplink data using two transport blocks based on the initial uplink grant, receiving a negative acknowledgement (NACK) information for one of the two transport blocks, and transmitting a channel quality control information along with the one of the two transport blocks which is retransmitted according to the NACK information or a new transport block through the PUSCH to which the HARQ is applied. A number of coded symbols required to transmit the channel quality control information (Q′) is calculated based on the initial uplink grant.
US09197386B2	Method and apparatus for transmitting/receiving a reference signal in a wireless communication system A base station apparatus for transmitting a reference signal in a wireless communication system is provided in which a processor generates the same sequence for resource elements (REs) allocated to each layer for reference signal transmission and spreads or covers Walsh codes for a user equipment—specific reference signal sequence such that sequences generated for the resource elements can be orthogonal to each other on a time axis. The Walsh code spreading or covering by the processor is applied on a frequency axis based on a plurality of resource blocks (RBs) or based on a pair of resource blocks such that mutually different sequences having mutually different sequence values can be mapped between resource blocks or between pairs of resource blocks. A transmission module transmits the reference signal, to which the generated reference signal sequence is applied to user equipment via each layer.
US09197385B2	Systems and methods for demodulation reference signal selection An evolved Node B (eNB) for demodulation reference signal (DMRS) selection is described. The eNB includes a processor and instructions stored in memory that is in electronic communication with the processor. The eNB determines a DMRS configuration based on a modulation and coding scheme (MCS). The eNB also determines downlink control information (DCI). The DCI includes signaling that indicates the DMRS configuration. The eNB further sends the DCI.
US09197376B2	Transmission time interval (TTI) bundling operation within communication systems TTI bundling is included for Msg3 transmissions in LTE communications. A reserved group of preambles or reserved set of random access preamble transmission opportunities are used to indicate user equipment (UE) need of uplink (UL) transmission of a TTI-bundled Msg3. The UE transmits the same redundancy version for transmissions within a TTI bundle as the eNB expects even if any of the transmissions are dropped due to collisions with an Msg3 transmission. In addition, co-existence of TTI bundling and UL semi-persistent scheduling (SPS) for TDD DL/UL configurations is provided using SPS intervals which are multiples of various fixed time periods.
US09197375B2	Method and arrangement in a telecommunication system for handling status information of data units A method is provides in a receiving node for handling status information of data units transmitted from a sending node to the receiving node over a radio link. The receiving node establishes (401) that a number of data units that has been transmitted by the sending node are missing. The receiving node sends (402) a reduced status message to the sending node over the radio link, which message is reduced such that it comprises the negative acknowledgement for a first part of missing data units and omits negative acknowledgements for the rest of the missing data units. The omitted negative acknowledgement for the rest of the missing data units will not erroneously be interpreted as correctly received data units by the sending node.
US09197366B2	FEC (forward error correction) decoder with dynamic parameters FEC (Forward Error Correction) decoder with dynamic parameters. A novel means by which FEC parameters may be encoded into, and subsequently extracted from, a signal stream to allow for adaptive changing of any 1 or more operational parameters that govern communications across a communication channel. FEC parameters are encoded directly into a data frame such that the data frame is treated identical to all other data frames within the signal stream. When the data frame actually includes FEC parameters, it is characterized as a CP (Control Packet) type. For example, when decoding an MPEG stream, an MPEG block that includes FEC parameters, that MPEG block is characterized as a CP MPEG block. The means by which FEC parameters are encoded and extracted from the signal stream allows for much easier adaptive modification of the manner by which signal are encoded, modulated, and processed within a communication system.
US09197348B2	Optical transmission device and optical transmission method There is provided an optical transmission device including: a packet disassembler configured to disassemble a packet into a plurality of signals having a different wavelength; an amplifier configured to amplify, for each of the wavelength, each signal into which the packet is disassembled by the packet disassembler, based on a correction value set for each wavelength; and a multiplexer configured to multiplex the respective signals amplified by the amplifier so as to transmit a packet generated by multiplexing the respective signals.
US09197345B2	Receiver optical module for receiving wavelength multiplexed optical signals and method to assemble the same A receiver optical module to facilitate the assembling is disclosed. The receiver optical module includes an intermediate assembly including the optical de-multiplexer and the optical reflector each mounted on the upper base, and the lens and the PD mounted on the sub-mount. The latter assembly is mounted on the bottom of the housing; while, the former assembly is also mounted on the bottom through the lower base. The upper base is apart from the bottom and extends in parallel to the bottom to form a surplus space where the amplifying circuit is mounted.
US09197343B2	Transmitting methods of a signal on a random access channel in a wireless communication system A transmitting method of a signal on a random access channel in a wireless communication system is provided, including that a terminal transmits a preamble on the random access channel with a set time length ahead of the end position of an uplink pilot time slot, wherein the length of the preamble is the length of two symbols without a cyclic prefix. Another transmitting method of a signal on a random access channel in a wireless communication system is provided, including that a terminal transmits a cyclic prefix and a preamble on the random access channel with a set time length ahead of the end position of an uplink pilot time slot, wherein the length of the preamble is the length of two symbols without a cyclic prefix. The methods can avoid the interference of the preamble to the data of the uplink subframe, and can improve the coverage area of the random access channel and the work efficiency of the time division duplex system.
US09197342B2	Communication device, communication system and communication method A communication device includes an addition unit which outputs a result of adding a predetermined number to the number of data blocks of a first signal, a comparison unit which, on the basis of comparison of the addition result with the number of data blocks of a second signal outputs the addition result of subtracting the number of data blocks of the second signal from the addition result, as a selection result, a data insertion unit which, on the basis of comparison of the selection result with the number of data blocks of the first signal, inserts either of the first signal and adjustment data into the second signal, and a storage unit which stores the selection result, and outputs the selection result stored last time to the addition unit, as the predetermined number.
US09197341B2	Method, apparatus, and logic for wireless data transmission In certain embodiments, a method comprises receiving a data transmission comprising a header with a symbol and at least one symbol delimiter. The method may comprise monitoring the received data transmission to determine whether a time period between successive symbol delimiters of the header exceeds a maximum time. The method may comprise resetting a transponder to an initial state if the time period exceeds the maximum time. The maximum time may be determined based at least in part on the symbol after receiving successive symbol delimiters.
US09197336B2	System and method for providing customized audio content to a vehicle radio system using a smartphone A method is disclosed for providing real time information content from a remote content source to an individual travelling in a vehicle over a personal electronic device (PED) of the individual, for playback over a subsystem of the vehicle. A control is designated on the vehicle subsystem which enables the individual to request the information content from the remote content source. A short range wireless link is established between the user's PED and the vehicle subsystem and the PED is used to access the information content from at least one Cloud based information service. The information content is then streamed back to the vehicle subsystem over the PED and played back to the individual, at least substantially in real time, while the individual is traveling in the vehicle.
US09197322B2	Digital optical spectral shaping A method and system for generating an optical channel signal for transmission through an optical fiber link of an optical communications system. A digital filter processes an input data signal using a compensation function and a shaping function to generate a pair of multi-bit sample streams representing a target optical E-field envelope of the optical channel signal. A modulator modulates an optical carrier light using the pair of multi-bit sample streams to generate the optical channel signal. The compensation function is designed to at least partially compensate impairments of the optical fiber link. The predetermined shaping function is designed to modify a baseband spectrum of the target optical E-field envelope.
US09197317B2	Communication system, and communication device A communication system includes information acquisition devices having facility information and an information collection device for collecting the facility information from the information acquisition devices. The information collection device requests the information acquisition devices to send the facility information by using the first communication unit and the second communication unit of the information collection device. Each of the information acquisition devices includes a communication scheme specifying section for specifying which one of the first communication unit and the second communication unit in each of the information acquisition devices has first received the request to send from the information collection device, and a communication control section for making a reply to the request to send by using the communication unit specified by the communication scheme specifying section.
US09197309B2	Systems and methods for providing signals of multiple active wireless transmitters Systems and methods for combining signals from multiple active wireless transmitters are discussed herein. An exemplary system comprises a radio enclosure, a first transmitting RFU, a second transmitting RFU, and a combiner. The first transmitting RFU may be configured to receive a signal, upconvert the signal, compare a phase of the upconverted signal to a predetermined phase value, and adjust the phase of the signal based on the comparison to provide a first phase-adjusted upconverted signal. The second transmitting RFU may be configured to receive the signal, upconvert the signal, compare a phase of the upconverted signal to the predetermined phase value, and adjust the phase of the signal based on the comparison to provide a second phase-adjusted upconverted signal. The coupler may be configured to combine the first and second phase-adjusted upconverted signals to create an output signal and provide the output signal to an antenna for transmission.
US09197304B2	Method and apparatus for conveying antenna configuration information via masking A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for conveying information regarding the antenna configuration and/or the transmission diversity scheme to a recipient, such as a mobile device. In particular, information regarding the antenna configuration and/or the transmission diversity scheme can be conveyed by masking, such as cyclic redundancy check masking, to provide information regarding the antenna configuration and/or the transmission diversity scheme. In this regard, a set of masks can be determined based upon hamming distances between the masks and bit diversities between the masks and where each of the masks within the set is associated with an antenna configuration and a transmission diversity scheme.
US09197301B2	Method and apparatus for configuring transmission mode Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and an apparatus for configuring a transmission mode, where the method includes: obtaining channel matrix information, where the channel matrix information is any one of the following: a precoding matrix indicator which most matches a current uplink channel matrix of a terminal, a current downlink precoding matrix indicator of the terminal, an uplink channel matrix of the terminal and the precoding matrix indicator which most matches the current uplink channel matrix of the terminal, and the uplink channel matrix of the terminal and the current downlink precoding matrix indicator of the terminal; determining performance of data transmission performed by adopting a closed-loop mode and an open-loop mode according to the channel matrix information, and selecting the data transmission mode according to the determined performance of data transmission, where the data transmission mode includes the open-loop mode, the closed-loop mode.
US09197296B2	Method and apparatus for maximum ratio transmission mobile transmit diversity system A method and apparatus for providing maximum ratio transmission mobile transmit diversity is provided. The method may include selecting a first transmit power for a first antenna and a second transmit power for a second antenna, wherein the first and second transmit powers are selected to generate a target power output, and using a first average power tracking unit to generate the first selected transmit power and a second average power tracking unit to generate the second selected transmit power.
US09197286B2	Radio communication apparatus An apparatus includes: an offset adjustment unit supplying an offset correction signal corresponding to a frequency switching to an adder unit receiving output from a mixer; a timing adjustment unit adjusting the timing of a frequency switching signal supplied to a local oscillator and the timing of an offset correction amount switching signal supplied to the offset adjustment unit for changing an offset amount in correspondence with the frequency switching in the local oscillator; a noise amount measurement and calculation unit receiving a signal obtained by amplifying and filtering the signal from the adder unit, to measure a noise amount of the signal and generates a timing determination signal based on the noise amount; and a control unit controlling frequency switching signal timing and the offset correction amount switching signal supplied to the timing adjustment unit, based on the timing determination signal from the noise amount measurement and calculation unit.
US09197281B2	Method for power amplification and electronic device thereof An apparatus and method for applying digital pre-distortion (DPD) technology in an electronic device which uses an envelope tracking (ET) method is provided. The electronic device includes an antenna, a modem, a transceiver configured to convert a signal generated in the modem into a radio frequency signal, an ET modulator configured to supply power to a power amplifier based on an amplitude component of the signal generated in the modem, and the power amplifier configured to amplify power of a signal received from the transceiver based on an output signal of the ET modulator. The modem generates a signal by using a DPD) variable corresponding to output impedance of the power amplifier caused by the antenna from among a plurality of DPD variables.
US09197273B2	Case for mobile communication device with flash and camera controls A mobile device case is formed with a hollow case housing for receiving a mobile device and controlling a mobile device camera therein. The mobile device includes a case connector for electronically connecting the case to the mobile device at insertion of the mobile device into the hollow case housing and at least one camera control actuator for controlling operation of the mobile device camera, when the mobile device is present in the hollow case housing. The hollow case housing comprises a first housing section and a second housing section that comes together by respective tongue and groove elements to thereby encapsulate the mobile device.
US09197264B1	Reducing interference for multiple receive antennas Methods, systems, and devices are described for reducing interference for wireless communication in a wireless device with multiple receive antennas. In aspects for reducing interference, a combined signal may be generated by combining a plurality of received signals from a plurality of respective receive antennas of the wireless device, for example, using one or more different types of combining A common distortion of the plurality of received signals may be estimated based at least in part on the combined signal, and interference reduction may be performed on one or more of the plurality of received signals based at least in part on the estimated common distortion.
US09197262B2	Low-power and low-cost adaptive self-linearization system with fast convergence A signal processing method includes inputting a digital signal, providing a plurality of coefficients; and determining an output. The output is approximately equal to an aggregate of a plurality of linear reference components, and each of the linear reference components is approximately equal to an aggregate of a corresponding set of digital signal samples that is scaled by the plurality of coefficients.
US09197261B2	Vehicle-mounted audio device and automobile The present invention provides a vehicle-mounted audio device including a casing, a tuner, an audio output unit, a housing chamber, an opening of the housing chamber, a housing, a lock mechanism, and a casing connector. The tuner is disposed in the casing. The audio output unit is for amplifying and outputting an audio signal supplied from the tuner. The housing chamber is defined in the casing. The opening is defined in a front panel of the casing. The housing is for accommodating a portable audio device. The housing is removably housed in the housing chamber through the opening. The lock mechanism is for selectively locking the housing in the housing chamber and unlocking the housing from the housing chamber. The casing connector is electrically connected to the audio output unit and disposed in the housing for disengageably connecting to an audio signal output connector of the portable audio device.
US09197260B2	Radio frequency receiver system for wideband signal processing Wireless communication is ubiquitous today and deployments are growing rapidly leading to increased interference, increasing conflicts, etc. As a result monitoring the wireless environment is increasingly important for regulators, service providers, Government agencies, enterprises etc. Such monitoring should be flexible in terms of the networks being monitored within the wireless environment but should also provide real-time monitoring to detect unauthorized transmitters, provide dynamic network management, etc. Accordingly, based upon embodiments of the invention, a broadband, real-time signal analyzer (RTSA) circuit that allows for the deployment of RTSA devices in a distributed environment wherein determination of policy breaches, network performance, regulatory compliance, etc. are locally determined and exploited directly in network management or communicated to the central server and network administrators for subsequent action. Beneficially the RTSA exploits a broadband RF front end in conjunction with parallel direct down conversion and FFT techniques.
US09197255B2	RF transmitter with average power tracking and methods for use therewith A RF transmitter includes a power amplifier that generates a transmit signal modulated with outbound data for transmission to a remote communication device via an antenna section. A supply voltage to power the power amplifier is adjusted based on an average power tracking signal. A reflected power from the antenna section is measured. The average power tracking signal is adjusted based on the reflected power to compensate for the changes in impedance of the antenna section and to maintain a desired linearity.
US09197250B2	Method and apparatus for channel coding and decoding in a communication system using a low-density parity-check code An apparatus and method are provided for channel coding in a communication system using a Low-Density Parity-Check (LDPC) code. The method includes determining degrees for each of a plurality of column groups of an information part; determining a shortening order based on the degrees; generating a parity check matrix based on the shortening order; and performing coding using the parity check matrix.
US09197243B2	Compression ratio for a compression engine An output sequence of data elements is processed. The output sequence of data elements represents a sequence of input data elements in a compressed format. An output data element comprises a backward reference for each string in the input data elements that occurs again in an input data element that is used to produce the output data element. A backward reference identified in a selected output data element is used for selecting the string to which it refers in the stored input data elements. The selected string is combined with strings of one or more subsequent output data elements. A matching sequence in the stored input data elements matching at least part of one or more combined strings is found. A combined string of the one or more combined strings having the longest matching sequence is selected. The backward reference is redefined to indicate the longest matching sequence.
US09197239B2	Method and system for analog-to-digital converter with near-constant common mode voltage Methods and systems for an analog-to-digital converter with near-constant common mode voltage may comprise, in an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) having sampling switches on each of two input lines to the ADC, N double-sided and M single-sided switched capacitors on each input line: sampling an input voltage by closing the sampling switches, opening the sampling switches and comparing voltage levels between the input lines, iteratively switching the double-sided switched capacitors between a reference voltage (Vref) and ground, and iteratively switching the single-sided switched capacitors between ground and voltages that may equal Vref/2x where x ranges from 0 to m−1 and m is a number of single-sided switched capacitors per input line. A common mode offset of the ADC may be less than VADC—fs/128 +VADC—fs/256+VADC—fs/512+VADC—fs/1024 when m equals 4 and where VADC—fs is the full-scale voltage of the ADC.
US09197227B2	Semiconductor device The disclosed invention is intended to adjust the driving power of an oscillation circuit to be optimal with a simple circuit configuration. A chip includes an oscillation circuit, an amplifier, an effective value measuring circuit, and a control unit. The oscillation circuit includes an inverting amplifier and a resistor coupled in parallel to the inverting amplifier. The oscillation circuit in which the inverting amplifier is coupled to a crystal oscillator outside the chip generates an oscillation circuit by driving the crystal oscillator. The effective value measuring circuit measures an effective value of an oscillation signal produced by the oscillation circuit. The control unit controls the gain of the inverting amplifier so that the effective value will be equal to a target voltage.
US09197225B2	Control voltage mirror circuit A circuit for implementing a control voltage mirror is provided. A filter includes a filter capacitor connected to a control voltage and a distal side of the capacitor connected to a voltage reference. The control voltage mirror includes an operational amplifier having a positive input connected to the control voltage, and a negative input is connected to an output and coupled to the distal side of the capacitor. Voltage across the capacitor is held to be near or at zero volts, substantially eliminating capacitor leakage current.
US09197215B1	Graphene-based non-boolean logic circuits A dual-gate transistor having a negative differential resistance (NDR) region is disclosed. The dual-gate transistor includes a back-gate, a zero-bandgap graphene layer disposed on the back-gate, a top-gate disposed on a portion of the zero-bandgap graphene layer adjacent to the top-gate, and a drain disposed on a portion of the zero-bandgap graphene layer adjacent to the top-gate and displaced from the source. Also included is a dynamic bias controller configured to simultaneously sweep a source-drain voltage and a top-gate voltage across a Dirac point to provide operation within the NDR region. Operation within the NDR region is employed to realize non-Boolean logic functions. Graphene-based non-Boolean logic circuits are constructed from pluralities of the disclosed dual-gate transistor. Pattern recognition circuitry for operation between 100 GHz and 500 GHz is also disclosed via the graphene-based non-Boolean logic circuits.
US09197213B1	Level shifter A level shifter includes a voltage converter having an input and an output coupled to a first node, a transistor coupled between a power node and a third node and having a gate coupled to the first node, a transistor coupled between a fourth node and a reference node and having a gate coupled to the first input node, a voltage converter having an input coupled to a second input node and an output coupled to a second node, a transistor coupled between the power node and the fourth node and having a gate coupled to a second node, a transistor coupled between the third node and the reference node and having a gate coupled to the second input node, a third inverter coupled between the third node and the fourth node and an fourth inverter coupled between the third node and the fourth node.
US09197211B2	Reset synchronization logic circuit A digital circuit portion comprises a flip-flop (20) having a clock input (22) and an output (data); a clock signal (ck); and a gate (24) between said clock signal (ck) and said clock input (22), said gate (24) being arranged selectively to couple the clock signal (ck) to the clock input (22) in dependence upon the output of the flip-flop (20).
US09197194B2	Methods and apparatuses for use in tuning reactance in a circuit device Methods and apparatuses for use in tuning reactance are described. Open loop and closed loop control for tuning of reactances are also described. Tunable inductors and/or tunable capacitors may be used in filters, resonant circuits, matching networks, and phase shifters. Ability to control inductance and/or capacitance in a circuit leads to flexibility in operation of the circuit, since the circuit may be tuned to operate under a range of different operating frequencies.
US09197193B2	Signal separation apparatus A signal separation apparatus includes a piezoelectric substrate on which a transmission filter and a reception filter are provided. The reception filter includes first, second and third longitudinally coupled resonator-type elastic wave filter devices and the first, second and third longitudinally coupled resonator-type elastic wave filter devices each including a two-stage cascade connection structure. The signal separation apparatus further includes virtual ground wiring lines that are not connected to a ground potential and that connect ground terminals of adjacent longitudinally coupled resonator-type elastic wave filter units to each other on at least one of a first, second, and third group-A longitudinally coupled resonator-type elastic wave filter units side and a first, second, and third group-B longitudinally coupled resonator-type elastic wave filter units side.
US09197192B2	Electronic component including a surface acoustic wave element and a pillar member An electronic component includes a support layer that surrounds an element region on a principal surface of a piezoelectric substrate, when viewed in plan from a z-axis direction. A surface acoustic wave element is provided in the element region. A cover layer is provided on the support layer, and is opposed to the principal surface. A pillar member connects the principal surface and the cover layer in a space surrounded by the principal surface, the support layer, and the cover layer, and does not contact with the support layer.
US09197189B2	Acoustic wave device An acoustic wave device includes resonator structures each including resonators arranged next to each other, and each of the resonator structures is excited in at least two vibration modes as the resonators thereof are coupled and resonate with each other. At least one of the resonator structures exhibits stronger resonance characteristics in one of the vibration modes than in the other vibration mode or modes within the filter band.
US09197183B2	Method of fabricating a single-piece micromechanical component including at least two distinct functional levels The invention relates to a method of fabricating a single-piece micromechanical component including at least two distinct functional levels. According to the invention, the method includes a LIGA process on a single level combined with the machining of the LIGA deposition directly on the substrate.
US09197180B2	Audio unit mountable in personal watercraft An audio unit mountable in a personal watercraft, comprises a speaker, an automated adjustment device for automatically adjusting a volume of a sound emitted from the speaker such that the volume of the sound becomes an automated sound volume value corresponding to an engine speed or a watercraft speed, and a sound volume manipulation member manipulated by a rider to change the volume of the sound emitted from the speaker with respect to the automated sound volume value; wherein when the engine speed or the watercraft speed satisfies a predetermined deceleration condition, the automated adjustment device cancels a sound volume increase amount with respect to the automated sound volume value which was caused by the rider's manipulation of the sound volume manipulation member before the predetermined deceleration condition is satisfied, and adjusts the sound volume such that the volume of the sound becomes the automated sound volume value.
US09197176B2	Amplification device and transmitter According to one embodiment, an amplification device includes an input terminal into which an input signal is inputted, a first amplifier, an output terminal, a variable impedance module connected at an output end of the first amplifier, a second amplifier, a reference impedance element connected at an output end of the second amplifier, a magnitude comparator, a phase comparator, and a controller. The controller is configured to control impedance of the variable impedance module so that impedance at a point between the first amplifier and the variable impedance approaches a first value.
US09197175B2	Methods and systems for pre-emphasis of an envelope tracking power amplifier supply voltage Embodiments provide systems and methods for producing an envelope tracking (ET) PA supply voltage with minimum headroom relative to the desired RF output signal of the PA. In an embodiment, the PA supply voltage is generated by applying an ET signal to an ET path of the wireless device, and by further applying pre-emphasis to the ET signal to compensate for a frequency response of the ET path. Embodiments operate by estimating the frequency response of the ET path and determining the pre-emphasis based on the estimate of the frequency response of the ET path. In embodiments, the pre-emphasis is applied using a pre-emphasis filter, which may be within or outside of the ET path. Further, the pre-emphasis may be applied to the ET signal in digital or analog form.
US09197170B2	Active lumped element circulator An integrated circuit can comprise: a first port, a second port, and a third port; and a plurality of microwave operational amplifiers coupled to each other and the first port, the second port, and the third port. The plurality of microwave operational amplifiers can be arranged to substantially pass a signal provided to the first port to the second port while substantially isolating the signal provided to the first port from the third port; the plurality of microwave operational amplifiers can be arranged to substantially pass a signal provided to the second port to the third port while substantially isolating the signal provided to the second port from the first port; and the plurality of microwave operational amplifiers can be arranged to substantially pass a signal provided to the third port to the first port while substantially isolating the signal provided to the third port from the second port.
US09197163B2	Systems, and methods of RF power transmission, modulation, and amplification, including embodiments for output stage protection Methods and systems for vector combining power amplification are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a plurality of signals are individually amplified, then summed to form a desired time-varying complex envelope signal. Phase and/or frequency characteristics of one or more of the signals are controlled to provide the desired phase, frequency, and/or amplitude characteristics of the desired time-varying complex envelope signal. In another embodiment, a time-varying complex envelope signal is decomposed into a plurality of constant envelope constituent signals. The constituent signals are amplified equally or substantially equally, and then summed to construct an amplified version of the original time-varying envelope signal. Embodiments also perform frequency up-conversion.
US09197160B2	Method and apparatus for performing analog-to-digital conversion on multiple input signals A method, computer-readable storage medium, and signal processing apparatus for processing a plurality of input signals. The method includes receiving or generating a first intermediate signal and a second intermediate signal. The first and second intermediate signals are summed and the summed signals are output to a signal analog-to-digital converter having a predetermined sampling frequency.
US09197152B2	Control method implemented in a power converter and intended for identifying parameters linked to the magnetic saturation of an electric motor A control method implemented in a power converter including an inverter connected to a synchronous electric motor including permanent magnets, the electric motor being modeled in the power converter by a mathematical model of currents in the electric motor expressing a flux current and a torque current on the basis of magnetic-saturation parameters. The control method identifies magnetic-saturation parameters during a learning procedure including applying a static voltage signal and a high-frequency voltage signal along an axis of the flux and/or an axis of the torque of the motor to cause an oscillation of the current on the axis of the flux and/or on the axis of the torque.
US09197150B2	Vehicular charging system A vehicular charging system includes: a generator which has a field coil and is mounted on a vehicle; a storage battery which stores power; a storage state detection sensor which detects a charge state; and a power generation driving torque control device which calculates an actual value and a target value of power generation driving torque of the generator, and controls the generator based on the calculated target value. The power generation driving torque control device controls the generator based on a first target value of the power generation driving torque when a running state of the vehicle moves into a deceleration mode, and decreases the power generation driving torque to control the generator based on a second target value of the power generation driving torque when a charge state of the storage battery reaches a reference value, the second target value being smaller than the first target value.
US09197124B2	Method and apparatus to reduce overcurrent during the startup of a switching regulator A power supply apparatus includes an inductor to store and discharge energy and a circuit to charge the inductor using a plurality of charging pulses. The circuit skips a charging pulse of the plurality of charging pulses to reduce overcurrent associated with the inductor.
US09197122B2	Load drive circuit, load drive method, and luminaire A load drive circuit may include a DC power source configured to provide a DC output voltage for at least one load based on an output voltage of an AC/DC converter, the DC output voltage having a ripple, a variable resistance module connected to the load, a ripple reduction module that generates, based on a reference voltage and a feedback signal from the load, a variable resistance adjusting signal for adjusting the resistance of the variable resistance module so as to reduce a ripple of the load current, wherein the reference voltage is generated based on the DC output voltage, and a reference voltage adjusting module that adjusts the average value of the reference voltage based on the variable resistance adjusting signal, so as to make the average value of the reference voltage approach the average value of the feedback signal as much as possible.
US09197116B2	Annular rotor for an electric machine The invention relates to an annular rotor having a hollow shaft for an electric machine. In order to allow transport of such a machine, particularly for a very large model, the rotor is divided in the circumferential direction into a plurality of partial annular rotor segments (1). The rotor further comprises a hollow shaft, wherein the closed ring shape of the rotor can be broken by separating the rotor segments (1) from each other.
US09197112B2	Device for dynamic balancing of a rotating component of a centrifuge A device for limiting an unbalance in inside a centrifugal, with an electric motor to drive a rotating component disposed in an enclosure around a rotational axis, wherein a rotor of the electric motor is non-rotatably connected to the rotating component, a bearing assembly for the rotor and the stator to be arranged in, and a stabilizer unit which generates as a function of a disturbing force acting on the rotating component a balancing force that is adapted to compensate said latter, the bearing assembly including support means such as to make the stator radially movable, and the stabilizer arranged radially outside and/or inside said stator and/or support means of the bearing assembly and having stabilizing means whereby in aggregate a radial balancing force can be generated.
US09197107B2	Stator, method for manufacturing stator, and flat conductor for winding A stator includes: a stator core having a plurality of slots and teeth parts; and coils each formed by winding a flat conductor and disposed in the slots. Of the corners of the rectangular cross-section of the flat conductor, a first corner located on the inner circumference side of the coil when the flat conductor is wound to form the coil is provided with a round chamfer having a radius larger than that of another corner. When the coil is inserted into the slots of stator core elements, the rectangular cross-section of the coil is disposed such that the first corner faces toward the outer circumference side of the stator.
US09197101B2	Wireless electric power transmission apparatus A wireless electric power transmission apparatus as an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: two antennas having the ability to transmit electric power by a non-contact method via resonant magnetic coupling, one of the two antennas being a series resonant circuit, of which the resonant frequency is fs, the other antenna being a parallel resonant circuit, of which the resonant frequency is fp; an oscillator which is connected to one of the two antennas that transmits RF power; and a control section which controls a transmission frequency according to the magnitude of the electric power to be transmitted from one of the two antennas to the other. If a coupling coefficient between the two antennas is k, then fs and fp are set so as to satisfy the inequality fs/fp<−0.6074×k2+0.0466×k+0.9955.
US09197098B2	Standby power system that predicts a need to supply power to a load to minimize start time of a generator Some embodiments relate to a standby power system. The standby power system includes a sensor that is adapted to monitor a primary power source which provides power to a load. In some embodiments, the sensor may monitor characteristics of the power supplied by the primary power source 12 that may be used to sense abnormalities. The standby power system further includes a generator that is also adapted to supply power to the load. As an example, the generator may include an internal combustion engine that drives an alternator. The standby power system further includes a generator controller that operates the generator and exchanges data with the sensor. The generator controller predicts a need to supply power to the load based on data received from the sensor. The generator controller then acts to minimize a time to availability of the generator based on the prediction.
US09197094B2	Wireless charger and charging system with multi-compatibility A wireless charger and charging system compatible with several wireless charging solutions is provided. The wireless charger includes a charging module having a transmitting member that transfers wireless power to a receiving member of a chargeable device so that a battery of the chargeable device can be charged. If the chargeable device is compliant with a recognized wireless charging solution, a charging session can be initiated and the charging module can charge the chargeable device using a charging protocol that is compatible with the wireless charging solution.
US09197087B2	Portable charger with rotatable locking portions A portable electrical power source configured to provide power for a portable electronic device includes a base, a chargeable battery, a connector, and at least one locking structure. The base includes a first surface and a second surface facing away from the first surface. The base defines a receiving room between the first surface and the second surface and at least one cavity. The chargeable battery is received in the receiving room. The locking structures are rotatably received in the cavities to lock the portable electronic device onto the first surface of the base. The connector is positioned on the first surface and is electrically connected to the chargeable battery and the portable electronic device. The chargeable battery charges the portable electronic device through the connector.
US09197085B2	Control device for vehicle In a vehicle including a charge circuit for carrying out external charging to charge a vehicle-mounted battery with a power supply external to the vehicle, a vehicle ECU. determines that there is an impedance error when a state where a reduction width of an input voltage Vin applied to the charge circuit from the power supply external to the vehicle is exceeding a threshold width ΔV continues for a predetermined time, and outputs a first termination instruction to a charger ECU. The charger ECU receiving the first termination instruction causes the charge circuit to stop to terminate external charging. The charger ECU controls the charge circuit such that, when the input voltage Vin falls down to a threshold voltage V1 the current flowing through an external power supply system is reduced to suppress further reduction in the input voltage Vin.
US09197081B2	High-efficiency battery equalization for charging and discharging A non-contiguous group of cells in a battery of cells is selected for charging or discharging the battery.
US09197076B2	Arrangement of a battery system using DC/DC converters for a vehicle A battery system includes a plurality of groups of series-connected battery cells, a plurality of DC/DC converters and a first switch. The groups of series-connected battery cells are themselves in turn connected in series. The DC/DC converters are connected on the input side to a first pole and to a second pole of a group of battery cells associated with the respective DC/DC converter, and are connected in series on the output side between a first output of the battery system and a second output of the battery system. The first switch is connected in a first current path between the first pole of a first group of battery cells and the first output of the battery system, and has a control input, which is connected to a controller, for a first control signal.
US09197060B2	Inductive fault current limiter with divided primary coil configuration An inductive fault current limiter (1) has a normally conducting primary coil assembly (2) with a multiplicity of turns (3) and a superconducting, short-circuited secondary coil assembly (4), wherein the primary coil assembly (2) and the secondary coil assembly (4) are at least substantially coaxial with respect to each other and at least partially interleaved in each other. The primary coil assembly (2) has a first coil section (2a) and a second coil section (2b), wherein the turns (3) of the first coil section (2a) of the primary coil assembly (2) are disposed radially inside the secondary coil assembly (4) and the turns (3) of the second coil section (2b) of the primary coil assembly (2) are disposed radially outside the secondary coil assembly (4). The fault current limiter has an increased inductance ratio.
US09197059B2	Near field RF communicators having refined energy sharing characteristics utilizing improved shunt current control A near field RF communicator has an inductive coupler to enable inductive coupling with a magnetic field of an RF signal; a rectifier to rectify an AC voltage derived from an RF signal inductively coupled to the inductive coupler; and a regulator to regulate a voltage derived from an RF signal inductively coupled to the inductive coupler, the regulator having a voltage-controlled impedance and a regulator controller to provide a control voltage for the voltage controlled impedance and to vary the control voltage in dependence upon a current flowing through the voltage controlled impedance. To prevent the voltage regulator from drawing excess current and energy from an RF field in which the communicator is present the voltage regulator is controlled to provide a chosen impedance characteristic.
US09197047B2	Wire guiding out portion structure for winding tape A wire guiding out portion structure for winding a tape includes: a gutter-shaped or inverted-gutter-shaped wire guiding wall; and a plate-shaped wire supporting wall opposed to the wire guiding wall. At least two ribs for preventing a tape from slipping arranged parallel to each other in a wire guiding out direction are provided on at least one of the wire guiding wall and the wire supporting wall. A leading rib of the wire guiding wall or the wire supporting wall is projected longer in a wire radial direction than a second rib of the wire guiding wall or the wire supporting wall. At least two ribs arranged parallel to each other in a wire guiding out direction are provided on the wire guiding wall and the wire supporting wall. The ribs of the wire guiding wall are projected in the same height in the wire radial direction.
US09197044B2	Wire harness with clip and wire harness having the same There is provided a wire harness with clip in which a clip for fixing a protect tube without winding tape is integrally molded, and a wire harness having the wire harness with clip. The wire harness with clip is provided with a clip to be latched into an attaching hole of a panel, molded integral with an electric wire. The clip includes a main body, a latch part upstanding from a lower face of the main body and is latched into the attaching hole, and an electric wire fixing part disposed on an upper face of the main body and integrally molded on an outer periphery of the electric wire so as to fix the electric wire, the electric wire fixing part including an engaging projection engaging with an inner periphery of a protect tube passing the electric wire therethrough and protecting the electric wire, and a restriction part.
US09197043B2	Tape winding structure at wire guiding out portion A tape winding structure at a wire guiding out portion includes: a gutter-shaped or inverted-gutter-shaped wire guiding wall; and a plate-shaped wire supporting wall opposed to an opening of the wire guiding wall in a wire radial direction, wherein a notch portion for exposing a wire is provided on an end of the wire guiding wall at the opening side, wherein the wire supporting wall is narrower than the wire guiding wall in the wire radial direction at the notch portion, wherein the notch portion is positioned at a corner in a crossing direction between the wire supporting wall and the wire guiding wall, and wherein when a plurality of wires are wound together with the wire guiding wall and the wire supporting wall by a tape, the wire exposed at the notch portion is adhered at a sloped portion of the wound tape.
US09197040B2	Plug-in circuit breaker assembly including insulative retainers A circuit breaker assembly includes a housing, an electrical bus structure within the housing, a number of first plug-in members coupled to the bus structure, and a number of insulative retainers coupled to the bus structure. A corresponding one of the number of insulative retainers is operatively associated with a corresponding number of the number of first plug-in members. Each of a number of circuit breakers includes a manual operator and a number of second plug-in members disposed opposite the manual operator. The number of second plug-in members electrically engage a number of the number of first plug-in members. The corresponding one of the number of insulative retainers is disposed about the corresponding number of the number of first plug-in members, in order to insulate the corresponding number of the number of first plug-in members, and to retain the number of second plug-in members.
US09197027B2	Method for making laser module The invention provides a method for making a laser module, comprising: Step 1: fixing a laser crystal and a nonlinear crystal through at least one spacing element to form a first structure; Step 2: assembling the first structure on a substrate; Step 3: removing the spacing element to form a first laser module. According to the invention, the laser crystal and the nonlinear crystal are separately fixed on a heat conductive substrate to form the laser module, thereby the size of the laser module is reduced.
US09197024B1	Method of reinforcing a hermetic seal of a module The present invention is directed to low-cost, low-processing temperature, and simple reinforcement, repair, and corrosion protection for hermetically sealed modules and hermetic connectors. A thin layer of glass is applied over the module's seal or the connector' glass frit. The layer of glass comprises an alkali silicate glass. The layer of glass is produced from a material which is a low viscosity liquid at room temperature prior to curing and is cured at low temperatures (typically no more than about 160 degrees Celsius). Subsequent to curing, the layer of glass is intimately bonded to the seal, watertight, and is stable from about negative two-hundred forty-three degrees Celsius to at least about seven-hundred twenty-seven degrees Celsius. The glass layer provides corrosion protection, seals any existing leaks, and possesses good flexibility and adhesion. The resulting bond is hermetic with good aqueous durability and strength similar to that of monolithic structures.
US09197023B2	Apparatus for enabling simultaneous content streaming and power charging of handheld devices An apparatus for enabling simultaneous multimedia content streaming and power charging of handheld devices, comprises a universal connector installed in a first device and enables connectivity of at least one multimedia display interface and at least one data interface with a second device, the first device is connected to the second device using a charging-streaming cable having, at one end, a first connector compliant with the universal connector, and at the other end, a second connector compliant with a multimedia display interface and a third connector compliant with a data interface of the second device, wherein streaming of the multimedia content is from the universal connector in the first device to the second connector in the second device and power charging of the first device is through the third connector of the second device; and a detector for determining a type of the multimedia display interface of the second device.
US09197021B2	Micro SIM card socket The micro SIM card socket of the Present Disclosure, by manufacturing the contact terminals in a “U” shape, can resolve the problem of narrowing contact terminal installation space due to miniaturization trends, and also the problem of collision between the card front end and the contact terminals when a card is inserted; it can effectively prevent the malfunction or poor contact that can occur due to the inability of the contact terminals to firmly contact the connection terminals of the SIM card when the SIM card is inserted.
US09197019B2	Grounding clip for electrical components Grounding clips for electrical components are disclosed to eliminate or significantly reduce ESD and EMI. A grounding clip includes a first leg oppositely disposed with respect to a second leg and connected to the second leg by a third leg, mounting tabs for connecting the first and second legs to a PCB, a resilient upper flange formed in the third leg and angled with respect to the third leg inwardly toward the first mounting tab and the second mounting tab (e.g., for compression fit with respect to an SFP mounting cage), resilient flanges formed in the first and second legs and angled to extend inwardly toward one another. A hook member extends outwardly from an edge of the first leg to form an electromagnetic gasket with respect to a front panel and grounding clip.
US09197015B2	Connector A connector includes a spring portion, a lock member and a movable member. When the movable member is forced to be moved from a non-operation position to an operation position, an operation portion of the movable member operates an operated portion of the lock member to move a lock portion of the lock member from a lock position to an unlock position. When the movable member is held at the operation position, a front end of the spring portion presses a pressed portion of the movable member to move the movable member towards the non-operation position. When the movable member is released, the movable member is moved back from the operation position to the non-operation position so that the operation portion stops to operate the operated portion to move the lock portion back to the lock position.
US09197009B2	Connection terminal A connection terminal includes a terminal fitting part that fits with a leading end portion of a mating connection terminal, a square tubular part that continues to a rear end of the terminal fitting part and a lance engagement surface that is formed on the square tubular part and that, when the connection terminal is inserted into a terminal accommodation hole of a connector housing, is contacted to a projected part of a lance provided in the terminal accommodation hole to prevent the connection terminal from disengaging from the terminal accommodation hole. The lance engagement surface is a hook-shaped engagement surface that is formed by an opening across a top wall of the square tubular part facing the lance and a sidewall part continuing to a side edge of the top wall.
US09197005B2	Waterproof cover for an electrical plug A waterproof cover (10) to enclose a plug assembly (11) of an electrical lead. The cover (10) including a first and a second hollow cover body (17, 18). The bodies (17, 18) being pivotally attached for angular relative movement between an open position and a closed position. The bodies (17, 18) in the closed position providing a chamber (9) to receive the plug assembly (11). The bodies (17, 18) having a longitudinal axis and each with opposite longitudinal end walls. Each end wall (22) being provided with a recess. The recesses of adjacent end walls (22) providing an aperture through which an electrical lead (12, 13) is to extend to an associated male or female plug portion (13, 15). A seal (25) extends between the body portions (17, 18) to completely surround the chamber (9) so that in the closed position the body portions sealingly close the chamber (9) to provide a water proof seal.
US09197004B2	Electrical connector An electrical connector, comprises an insulative housing defining a number of receiving passages extending along a front-to-rear direction and throughout front and rear surfaces thereof. A plurality of contacts are received into the receiving passages of the insulative housing. And a hollow metallic shell encloses the insulative housing. An annular slot is formed between the insulative housing and the metallic shell, and a plurality of gaps are formed between the plurality of contacts and the corresponding receiving passages. The electrical connector further comprises a plurality of seals filled into the annular slot and the plurality of gaps.
US09197002B2	Connector supporting structure and connector-equipped electronic device A connector supporting structure includes a substrate, a connector mounted on the substrate, and a casing covering at least a portion of the substrate and supporting the connector. The casing includes an opening to expose a part of the connector from an inside of the casing to an outside. Side surfaces of the connector are pressed by inner surfaces of the opening.
US09196999B2	Two-part modular connector and smart managed interconnect link using the two-part modular connector Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a two-part cable connector. The connector includes two parts that when mate together the outer shape and dimensions of the connector are compatible to an outer shape and dimensions of a cable connector of a known standard. The first connector part terminated at an end of a communication cord and the second connector part detachably connected to the first connector to enable separation of said second part from said first part. The second connector part of the cable connector is insertable into a communication port and comprises an identification number to uniquely identify the communication port.
US09196998B1	Electrical outlet cover An electrical outlet cover assembly can include a plate configured to be connected to an electrical outlet, the plate including at least one outlet aperture configured to receive an electrical socket of the electrical outlet, a pair of rectangular hook apertures disposed through a lower end of the plate, and a pair of square clasp apertures disposed through an upper end of the plate, and a box configured to connect to the plate and cover the electrical outlet, the box including a pair of rigid hooks disposed at a lower end of the box, the pair of hooks being received by the pair of hook apertures, and a pair of spring clasps disposed at an upper end of the box, the pair of clasps being received by the pair of clasp apertures.
US09196994B2	Connector mechanism and related electronic device A connecter mechanism includes a casing, a half socket and a door. The casing includes a first actuating portion, an opening and a pivot hole. The half socket is disposed inside the casing. The door is movably disposed on the casing to cover the half socket. The door includes a body, at least one pivot shaft, a cover and a second actuating portion. The pivot shaft is disposed on a side of the body. The cover is connected to an edge of the body for covering the opening. The second actuating portion is connected to the other edge of the body opposite to the cover. Position of the cover relative to the opening is adjusted via the second actuating portion and the first actuating portion.
US09196992B2	Frame-shaped connector having reduced contact member pitch A connector capable of realizing a narrower pitch of contact members, and suppressing displacement of the contact members. A connector comprises a frame and a plurality of contact members held by the frame. The contact members held by the frame are elastically deformed by being sandwiched between an IC package and a printed board. At this time, terminal portions of the IC package and terminal portions of the printed board are electrically connected via a plurality of conductive path portions of each contact member. The frame is formed by a frame portion, a plurality of longitudinal ribs extending in a manner bridging the frame portion, and a plurality of transverse ribs extending orthogonal to the longitudinal ribs in a manner bridging the frame portion. The contact members are held in slits formed by the longitudinal ribs and the transverse ribs.
US09196989B2	Battery connector for electronic device A battery connector for a battery of a portable electronic device includes an insulation body and a plurality of elastic pins. Each elastic pin includes a mounting portion, a buffering portion, and a contacting portion connected to each other. The mounting portion is secured on the insulation body, the contacting portion is perpendicularly connected to the buffering portion. The elastic pins are positioned on the insulation body, and the contacting portions correspondingly are assembled in the grooves.
US09196987B2	Connector A connector includes a plug and a receptacle. The plug includes: contacts; a reinforcing plate formed in an elongate plate shape; and locking parts provided at positions projected from opposite side surfaces of a housing in a width direction thereof. The receptacle includes: contacts having the number and positions corresponding to those of the contacts of the plug; and hold-down parts provided at positions projected from respective side surfaces of a housing in a width direction thereof. Each of the hold-down parts has an insertion opening and an internal space into which the locking part of the plug can be inserted in a depth direction of the housing, and a holding part for holding the locking part at a predetermined position. The insertion opening is in communication with the internal space in the depth direction of the housing.
US09196982B2	Circuit board-circuit board connector A first connector is provided with a first terminal and a first housing that has a first mating guide portion, and a second connector is provided with a second terminal and a second housing that has a second mating guide portion. The first mating guide portion includes a recessed portion into which the second mating guide portion is inserted, and an end wall portion, wherein the inside faces thereof define the lengthwise-direction outsides of the first housing in the recessed portion.
US09196980B2	High performance surface mount electrical interconnect with external biased normal force loading A surface mount electrical interconnect adapted to provide an interface between solder balls on a BGA device and a PCB. A socket substrate is provided with a first surface, a second surface, and a plurality of openings sized and configured to receive the solder balls on the BGA device. A plurality of electrically conductive contact tabs are attached to the socket substrate so that contact tips on the contact tabs extend into the openings. The contact tips electrically couple with the BGA device when the solder balls are positioned in the openings. Vias electrically couple the contact tabs to contact pads located proximate the second surface of the socket substrate. Solder balls are bonded to the contact pads to electrically and mechanically couple the electrical interconnect to the PCB.
US09196961B2	Transferring assembly and method for transferring a radiofrequency identification device onto an object A transferring assembly and a method for transferring onto an object a RFID identification device including of a microchip connected to an antenna made of electrically conductive material. A film of adhesive material is applied to a supporting element. The microchip is applied on the film of adhesive material in a zone of the supporting element. The antenna is formed by applying the wire made of electrically conductive material to the film of adhesive material and electrically connecting the antenna to the microchip. The zone is pressed against a surface of the object, with the RFID identification device facing the surface. The adhesive material, and/or the supporting element, are chosen so that the adhesive material has an adhesiveness on the surface of the object that is significantly greater than the adhesiveness of the film on the supporting element.
US09196960B2	System for illuminating an object with a wave or for imaging an object with a wave A system for illuminating an object with a wave or for imaging an object with a wave comprises a lens, a plurality of transducers and a control unit connected to the plurality of transducers. The lens comprises a plurality of resonator elements incorporated inside a medium and is able to convert a near field wave of the lens to a far field wave, or reciprocally. The resonator elements are at a sub wavelength distance from each others. The control unit provides signals to the transducers so that a plurality of points on the object are illuminated as desired, or obtains signals from the transducers to build an image of a plurality of points of the object. The points are at sub wavelength distance from each others.
US09196951B2	Millimeter-wave radio frequency integrated circuit packages with integrated antennas A package structure includes a planar core structure, an antenna structure disposed on one side of the planar core structure, and an interface structure disposed on an opposite side of the planar core structure. The antenna structure and interface structure are each formed of a plurality of laminated layers, each laminated layer having a patterned conductive layer formed on an insulating layer. The antenna structure includes a planar antenna formed on one or more patterned conductive layers of the laminated layers. The interface structure includes a power plane, a ground plane, signal lines, and contact pads formed on one or more patterned conductive layers of the laminated layers of the interface structure. The package structure further includes an antenna feed line structure formed in, and routed through, the interface structure and the planar core structure, and connected to the planar antenna.
US09196930B2	Vehicle battery cell with integral control circuit The present disclosure relates to a vehicle battery pack having battery cells with an integral control circuit configured to communicate with a battery energy control module.
US09196925B2	Glass particles Glass particles including Li, P and S, wherein when a Raman spectrum of the glass particles is measured five times or more and a peak at 330 to 450 cm−1 in the Raman spectrum is separated into peaks of components by waveform separation, the standard deviation of the area ratio of each of the peaks of the components is 3.0 or less, the area of the peak of PS43− component obtained by the waveform separation is 10 to 95% of the total area, and the area of P2S74− component obtained by the waveform separation is 5 to 45% of the total area, and the area of the peak of PS43− component is larger than the area of the peak of P2S74− component.
US09196923B2	Electrolyte solution having ionic liquid and lithium-ion battery having the same The present invention provides an electrolyte solution including an ionic liquid having the structure of formula (I): wherein R1 is C1-C6alkyl, R2 is C2-C7alkyl, A− is defined in the specification. The electrolyte solution of the present invention has high conductivity and high thermal stability.
US09196920B2	Electrochemical cell having a safety device An electrochemical cell is provided including, but not limited to, a can having a side wall that is coupled to a first end and having a cover at a second end of the can to close the second end of the can, a cell element within the can, electrolyte within the can, and a safety device. The can forms a vent at the first end configured to allow gases and/or effluent to exit the can once the pressure inside the can reaches a predetermined amount. The safety device is provided adjacent a first end of the cell element and between the cell element and the first end of the housing. The safety device is configured to exert an additional force on the vent to aid in the deployment of the vent.
US09196917B2	Fuel cell membrane electrode assembly A fuel cell membrane electrode assembly includes two electrodes and a proton exchange membrane sandwiched between the two electrodes. Each electrode includes a catalyst layer. The catalyst layer includes a number of tube carriers having electron conductibility, a number of catalyst particles uniformly adsorbed on inner wall of each of the plurality of tube carriers, and proton conductor filled in each of the plurality of tube carriers. The tube carriers jointly define a plurality of reaction gas passages for transferring reaction gas to surfaces of the plurality of catalyst particles. One end of each of the tube carriers is connected with the proton exchange membrane.
US09196910B2	Fuel cell A close attachment region is provided on the outer side relative to an outer edge portion of a gas diffusion layer and on the inner side relative to the inner edge portion of a gasket as seen from the thickness direction of a polymer electrolyte membrane, such that separators and a frame member are closely attached to each other. Thus, it becomes possible to suppress an increase in the manufacturing cost and a reduction in the power generation performance, which is attributed to the impurity eluted from the gasket and flowing toward the gas diffusion layer.
US09196906B2	Power storage device and method for manufacturing the same A power storage device is reduced in weight. A metal sheet serving as a negative electrode current collector is separated and another negative electrode current collector is formed. For example, through the step of forming silicon serving as a negative electrode active material layer over a titanium sheet and then performing heating, the titanium sheet can be separated. Then, another negative electrode current collector with a thickness of more than or equal to 10 nm and less than or equal to 1 μm is formed. Thus, light weight of the power storage device can be achieved.
US09196899B2	Anode active material for use in lithium secondary battery An anode active material for use in a lithium secondary battery including a mixture of graphite I that has, according to X-ray powder diffraction, d002 of not smaller than 0.3354 nm and not greater than 0.337 nm, Lc(004) of smaller than 100 nm, La(110) of not smaller than 100 nm, and a half width of the peak of a plane (101) at a diffraction angle (2θ) of 44 degrees to 45 degrees of not smaller than 0.65 degree and another graphite so as to have, according to X-ray powder diffraction, d002 of not smaller than 0.3354 nm and not greater than 0.337 nm, Lc(004) of not smaller than 80 nm, La(110) of not smaller than 100 nm, and a half width of the peak of a plane (101) at a diffraction angle (2θ) of 44 degrees to 45 degrees of not smaller than 0.5 degree.
US09196898B2	Stepped electrode assembly Disclosed herein is an electrode assembly including two or more electrode plates, each of which has electrode tabs, and a separator plate disposed between the electrode plates and/or a one-unit separation sheet disposed between the electrode plates to cover side surfaces of the electrode plates, which constitute an electrode tab non-formation region, wherein the electrode plates are stacked in a height direction on the basis of a plane such that the electrode plates having opposite polarities face each other in a state in which the separator plate and/or the separation sheet is disposed between the electrode plates, a stack constituted by the electrode plates includes electrode plates having different sizes, and an absolute value of the difference in thickness between the electrode plates having different sizes facing each other is 0 to 79 μm.
US09196895B2	Sealed secondary battery Provided is a sealed secondary battery having a current interrupt mechanism with a high heat resistance that prevents fusion of the current collecting plate by the Joule heat generated during high-rate charge and discharged. A current interrupt mechanism 80 of a sealed secondary battery 10 provided in accordance with the present invention is configured such that when the internal pressure inside a battery case 12 rises above the predetermined level, a current interrupt valve 30 is deformed by the internal pressure in a direction of separating from a rectangular plate-shaped current collecting plate 72 and the current collecting plate breaks in the portion of an annular groove 79 of a central thin section 74 of the current collecting plate.
US09196891B2	Electrode structure and battery device manufacturing method An electrode is provided with a metal terminal extending from a battery module main body, a bolt which has an expanded section configuring a retaining section at a rear end portion and penetrates the metal terminal upward, and an insulating body which insulates the metal terminal and the battery module case one from the other. The insulating body is provided with a drop preventing section which abuts at least a lower surface of the expanded section of the bolt and prevents the bolt from dropping from the metal terminal.
US09196889B2	Electrode structure and battery device manufacturing method An electrode is provided with a metal terminal extending from a battery module main body, a bolt which has an expanded section configuring a retaining section at a rear end portion and penetrates the metal terminal upward, and an insulating body which insulates the metal terminal and the battery module case one from the other. The insulating body is provided with a drop preventing section which abuts at least a lower surface of the expanded section of the bolt and prevents the bolt from dropping from the metal terminal.
US09196884B2	Separator for lithium secondary battery and lithium secondary battery comprising the same Disclosed is a separator for a lithium secondary battery and a lithium secondary battery comprising the same. The separator may include a thermoplastic polyolefin-based polymer porous sheet and an aramid-based non-woven fabric sheet stacked on at least one surface of the polyolefin-based polymer porous sheet, wherein the polyolefin-based polymer sheet and the aramid-based non-woven fabric sheet are adhered with an adhesive, and the adhesive loses an adhesive performance at 80° C. or more to separate the two sheets. The separator has a shut-down function and excellent high-temperature shape stability.
US09196883B2	Battery module A battery module including a battery array including: a plurality of battery cells, each including a first surface at a first end of the battery cell; an electrode terminal at the first end; a second surface at a second end of the battery cell opposite the first end; and a side surface extending between the first and second ends, the second surfaces of first and second battery cells of the plurality of battery cells facing each other.
US09196881B2	Battery pack for use with a power tool and a non-motorized sensing tool A system includes a power tool having a motor, a drive mechanism mechanically coupled to the motor, and an output element mechanically coupled to the drive mechanism. The motor is operable to drive the drive mechanism and the output element. The system also includes a non-motorized sensing tool having a printed circuit board and a sensing element electrically coupled to the printed circuit board. The sensing element is operable to detect an external characteristic and output a signal to the circuit board. The circuit board is operable to condition the signal into a human-comprehensible form. The system further includes a rechargeable battery pack removably and independently coupled to the power tool and the non-motorized sensing tool to power the motor to drive the drive mechanism and the output element when connected to the power tool and the circuit board and the sensing element when connected to the non-motorized sensing tool.
US09196879B2	Battery pack A battery pack may include a drainage device provided at a bottom portion of the housing case. The drainage device may include a drain hole communicating between the inside and the outside of the housing case, so that water introduced into the housing case is discharged to the outside of the housing case. The drainage device may be disposed between two of the terminal members that are connected to electrodes of the battery cells.
US09196877B2	Battery cell isolation system A method and apparatus comprising a number of battery cells, a housing having a plurality of channels, an assembly, and a number of grooves. The housing is configured to hold the number of battery cells. The assembly is configured to separate the number of battery cells from the housing in which the housing has the plurality of channels. The number of grooves is formed by the assembly and surfaces of the number of battery cells.
US09196875B2	Manufacturing method for organic EL lighting device Anodes of a plurality of organic EL elements are connected together. A forward bias voltage relative to the potential of anodes and a reverse bias voltage are alternately applied to cathodes of the plurality of organic EL elements at a predetermined period. The ratio of the time for which the reverse bias voltage is applied and the time for which the forward bias voltage is applied is increased.
US09196864B2	Encapsulated structure of light-emitting device, encapsulating process thereof and display device comprising encapsulated structure An encapsulated structure of a light-emitting device, an encapsulating process thereof, and a display device comprising said encapsulated structure. The encapsulated structure of the light-emitting device comprises: a light-emitting device; and a protective layer of a sulfonate salt formed on a top electrode of the light-emitting device, the sulfonate salt having the following structure: wherein the cation X+ is Li+, Na+ or K+; and R is a substituent selected from the group consisting of unsubstituted alkyl groups having more than 5 carbon atoms, substituted alkyl groups having more than 5 carbon atoms, and alkoxyl groups having more than 5 carbon atoms.
US09196856B2	Organic light emitting devices The present invention relates to monochromatic organic light emitting devices. The organic light emitting device includes a substrate, an anode, a cathode and an organic electroluminescent medium disposed between the anode and the cathode, wherein the organic electroluminescent medium includes compound monochromatic luminescent layer; and the compound monochromatic luminescent layer includes host A doped with monochromatic dopant and host B doped with monochromatic dopant, wherein the host A is consisted of two kinds of materials with different transporting characteristics, one is hole-transporting material, and the other is electron-transporting material. In addition, the present invention further relates to white organic light emitting devices, wherein the organic electroluminescent medium is consisted of at least one compound monochromatic luminescent layer, which includes host A doped with monochromatic dopant and host B doped with monochromatic dopant. The present invention provides a design to improve the lifetime of the organic light emitting device markedly.
US09196854B2	Organic EL lighting emitting device, method of manufacturing the same, and organic EL light source device An organic EL light emitting device and an organic EL light source device having the organic EL light emitting device are described. A method of manufacturing the organic EL light emitting device includes forming a scaling layer over a sealing layer base material by using at least one of chemical vapor deposition and physical vapor deposition, joining the sealing layer to an organic EL substrate having an organic EL device so as to cover the organic EL device, and removing the sealing layer base material to leave the sealing layer that covers the organic EL device.
US09196851B2	Organic photoelectric device and image sensor An organic photoelectric device includes a first electrode, a metal nanolayer contacting one side of the first electrode, an active layer on one side of the metal nanolayer, and a second electrode on one side of the active layer. An image sensor includes the organic photoelectric device.
US09196849B2	Polymer/inorganic multi-layer encapsulation film This invention relates to a polymer/inorganic multi-layer encapsulation film, and more particularly, to a multi-layer encapsulation film, which includes a plasma polymer thin film layer formed using a cross-shaped precursor having Si—O bonding and an inorganic thin film layer, and ensures flexibility and has improved encapsulation.
US09196842B2	Aromatic amine derivative and organic electroluminescent element An organic electroluminescence device having a long lifetime and a higher emission efficiency and a specific aromatic amine derivative which provides such an organic electroluminescence device are provided. In the specific aromatic amine derivative, a dibenzofuranyl group or a dibenzothiophenyl group is bonded via a p-phenylene and a heteroaryl group is bonded via a m-phenylene. The organic electroluminescence device includes a cathode, an anode and an organic thin film layer including one or more layers which is disposed between the cathode and the anode. The organic thin film layer includes at least one light emitting layer and at least one layer of the organic thin film layer includes the aromatic amine derivative singly or in combination.
US09196831B2	Two-terminal memory with intrinsic rectifying characteristic Providing for two-terminal memory having an inherent rectifying characteristic(s) is described herein. By way of example, the two-terminal memory can be a resistive switching device having one or more “on” states and an “off” state, to facilitate storage of digital information. A conductive filament can be electrically isolated from an electrode of the two-terminal memory by a thin tunneling layer, which permits a tunneling current for voltages greater in magnitude than a positive rectifying voltage or a negative rectifying voltage. The two-terminal memory cell can therefore have high resistance to small voltages, mitigating leakage currents in an array of the two-terminal memory cells. In addition, the memory cell can be conductive above a rectifying voltage, enabling reading of the memory cell in response to a suitable read bias, and erasing of the memory cell in response to a suitable negative erase bias.
US09196830B2	Wrap around phase change memory A device is disclosed. The device includes a top electrode, a bottom electrode and a storage element between the top and bottom electrodes. The storage element includes a heat generating element disposed on the bottom electrode, a phase change element wrapping around an upper portion of the heat generating element, and a dielectric liner sandwiched between the phase change element and the heat generating element.
US09196813B2	Light-emitting device and method for manufacturing the same A highly reliable light-emitting device and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. A light-emitting element and a terminal electrode are formed over an element formation substrate; a first substrate having an opening is formed over the light-emitting element and the terminal electrode with a bonding layer provided therebetween; an embedded layer is formed in the opening; a transfer substrate is formed over the first substrate and the embedded layer; the element formation substrate is separated; a second substrate is formed under the light-emitting element and the terminal electrode; and the transfer substrate and the embedded layer are removed. In addition, an anisotropic conductive connection layer is formed in the opening, and an electrode is formed over the anisotropic conductive connection layer. The terminal electrode and the electrode are electrically connected to each other through the anisotropic conductive connection layer.
US09196810B2	Vertical solid-state transducers having backside terminals and associated systems and methods Vertical solid-state transducers (“SSTs”) having backside contacts are disclosed herein. An SST in accordance with a particular embodiment can include a transducer structure having a first semiconductor material at a first side of the SST, a second semiconductor material at a second side of the SST opposite the first side, and an active region between the first and second semiconductor materials. The SST can further include first and second contacts electrically coupled to the first and second semiconductor materials, respectively. A portion of the first contact can be covered by a dielectric material, and a portion can remain exposed through the dielectric material. A conductive carrier substrate can be disposed on the dielectric material. An isolating via can extend through the conductive carrier substrate to the dielectric material and surround the exposed portion of the first contact to define first and second terminals electrically accessible from the first side.
US09196807B2	Light emitting element To provide a semiconductor light emitting element with high luminous efficiency, the light emitting element includes: a substrate; a semiconductor laminate placed above the substrate, the semiconductor laminate comprising a second semiconductor layer, an active layer and a first semiconductor layer laminated in this order from the substrate; and a first electrode and a second electrode placed between the substrate and the semiconductor laminate, wherein the semiconductor laminate is divided in a plurality of semiconductor blocks by a groove, wherein the first electrode includes protrusions that are provided in each of the plurality of semiconductor blocks and that penetrate the second semiconductor layer and the active layer to be connected to the first semiconductor layer, and wherein the second electrode is connected to the second semiconductor layer in each of the plurality of semiconductor blocks and has an external connector that is exposed on the bottom of the groove.
US09196801B2	Lighting device and method of manufacturing the same In a first aspect of the present invention, a lighting device includes a light-emitting element, a frame including a phosphor that can be excited by light emitted from the light-emitting element, the frame having an inner side surface surrounding the light-emitting element and an outer side surface being positioned outside the inner side surface that demarcates a quadrilateral area, and a light-transmitting resin arranged in the quadrilateral area demarcated by the inner side surface of the frame and sealing the light-emitting element that is positioned inside the quadrilateral area, and the light-transmitting resin being further provided in contact with an outer side surface of the frame. In some embodiments, it is disclosed that the light-transmitting resin provided in contact with the outer side surface of the frame may include a diffuser.
US09196798B2	Semiconductor light-emitting device and fabricating method thereof A semiconductor light-emitting device including an epitaxial structure, a first electrode structure, a second electrode structure, a light reflective metal layer, a resistivity-enhancing structure and a protection ring is provided. The light-emitting epitaxial structure has a first surface and a second surface. The light-emitting epitaxial structure has a first zone and a second zone. The first electrode structure is disposed within the first zone. The second electrode structure is disposed within the second zone. The light reflective metal layer is disposed adjacent to the second surface. The resistivity-enhancing structure is disposed in contact with a surface of the light reflective metal layer and corresponding to a position of the first electrode structure. The protection ring has a first portion and a second portion. The first portion surrounds a sidewall of the light reflective metal layer. The second portion corresponds to the second electrode structure.
US09196794B2	Semiconductor light-emitting device, method for forming recesses of the same, and light source apparatus using the same A semiconductor light-emitting device made of a nitride-based semiconductor includes a semiconductor stacked structure having a nonpolar plane or a semipolar plane as a principal plane, and including an active layer for emitting polarized light. The semiconductor light-emitting device includes a striped structure which is provided in a position intersecting an exit path of the polarized light and includes a plurality of recesses. An angle formed between the extension direction of the recesses and the polarization direction of the polarized light is from 0° to 45°. The recesses have a minute uneven structure (texture) at at least part of a surface of each recess, the minute uneven structure being shallower than the depth of each recess.
US09196786B2	Semiconductor light emitting element and method for manufacturing the same According to one embodiment, a semiconductor light emitting element includes an n-type semiconductor layer including a nitride semiconductor, a p-type semiconductor layer and a light emitting layer. The p-type semiconductor layer includes a first p-side layer of Alx1Ga1−x1N (0≦x1<1) including Mg, a second p-side layer of Alx2Ga1−x2N (0
US09196785B2	Light emitting device having surface-modified quantum dot luminophores Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to a light emitting device including a light emitting diode and a surface-modified luminophore. The surface-modified luminophore includes a quantum dot luminophore and a fluorinated coating arranged on the quantum dot luminophore.
US09196782B2	Dye-sensitized solar cell with hybrid nanostructures and method for fabricating working electrodes thereof A dye-sensitized solar cell with hybrid nanostructures comprises a negative-polarity conductive substrate, a metal oxide layer, a positive-polarity conductive substrate and an electrolyte. The metal oxide layer has a plurality of nanoparticles and a plurality of nanotubes. The metal oxide layer and the electrolyte are arranged between the negative-polarity conductive substrate and the positive-polarity conductive substrate. The nanoparticles increase contact area with dye and thus enhance power generation efficiency. The nanotubes increase carrier mobility and thus effectively transfer electricity to electrodes. The solar cell integrates the advantages of nanoparticles and nanotubes and offsets the disadvantages thereof to effectively enhance the photovoltaic conversion efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells.
US09196779B2	Double sided barrier for encapsulating soda lime glass for CIS/CIGS materials A method of fabricating a thin film photovoltaic device is provided. The method subjects a soda lime glass substrate having a front side, backside, and edges to a first cleaning process and forms a first coating of silicon dioxide overlying the backside and the edges. The method further subjects the substrate to a second cleaning process and forms a second coating of silicon dioxide overlying the front side and the edges of the substrate. Furthermore, the method includes causing a barrier layer comprising the first coating and the second coating to encapsulate entirely the front side, backside, and edges. The barrier layer includes at least a thickness of oxygen rich silicon dioxide to contain any sodium bearing material within the substrate. Moreover, the method includes forming a thickness of metal material overlying the second coating on the front side followed by an absorber material and window material plus a top electrode.
US09196775B2	Solar battery cell In a solar battery cell, a plurality of silver electrodes are formed in a dot shape with a predetermined gap therebetween linearly along a rear surface tab line. Pitches among the silver electrodes are set so as to be large in a central part of a silicon substrate and small at the ends of the silicon substrate. By arranging many silver electrodes at ends of the silicon substrate having a large stress, the rigidity at the ends is improved, and the warpage is decreased, thereby suppressing cell cracking.
US09196772B2	Layered element and photovoltaic device comprising such an element This layered element, in particular for a photovoltaic device, includes a polymer layer, a moisture-sensitive layer, and a protective coating forming a moisture barrier inserted between the polymer layer and the moisture-sensitive layer. The protective coating includes an antireflection multilayer comprising at least two thin layers differing in refractive index from each other.
US09196765B2	Nanostructured solar cell Systems and methods for fabrication of nanostructured solar cells having arrays of nanostructures are described, including nanostructured solar cells having a repeating pattern of pyramid nanostructures, providing for low cost thin-film solar cells with improved PCE.
US09196752B2	Backside bulk silicon MEMS An integrated circuit device that comprises a single semiconductor substrate, a device layer formed on a frontside of the single semiconductor substrate, a redistribution layer formed on a backside of the single semiconductor substrate, a through silicon via (TSV) formed within the single semiconductor substrate that is electrically coupled to the device layer and to the redistribution layer, a logic-memory interface (LMI) formed on a backside of the single semiconductor substrate that is electrically coupled to the redistribution layer, and a MEMS device formed on the backside of the single semiconductor substrate that is electrically coupled to the redistribution layer.
US09196745B2	Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof Provided are a transistor which has electrical characteristics requisite for its purpose and uses an oxide semiconductor layer and a semiconductor device including the transistor. In the bottom-gate transistor in which at least a gate electrode layer, a gate insulating film, and the semiconductor layer are stacked in this order, an oxide semiconductor stacked layer including at least two oxide semiconductor layers whose energy gaps are different from each other is used as the semiconductor layer. Oxygen and/or a dopant may be added to the oxide semiconductor stacked layer.
US09196742B2	Thin film transistor substrate, method for manufacturing the same, and liquid crystal display panel A TFT substrate (20a) includes a plurality of pixel electrodes (17a) provided in a matrix, a plurality of TFTs (5) each provided for a corresponding one of the pixel electrodes (17a), and a plurality of auxiliary capacitors (6a) each provided for a corresponding one of the pixel electrodes (17a). Each of the auxiliary capacitors (6a) includes a capacitor line (11b) made of a material identical to that of the gate electrode (11aa) of the TFT (5) and provided in a layer identical to that of the gate electrode (11aa) of the TFT (5), the gate insulating film (12) provided so as to cover the capacitor line (11b), and a corresponding one of the pixel electrodes (17a) provided on the gate insulating film (12) so as to overlap with the capacitor line (11b) and being in conduction with a drain electrode (14ca).
US09196734B2	Thin-film transistor substrate and method for fabricating the same, display The invention provides a thin-film transistor substrate, including: a substrate; a metal lead structure formed on the substrate, wherein the metal lead structure includes: a main conductor layer formed on the substrate, wherein the main conductor has a sidewall; a top conductor layer having a first portion, second portion and third portion, wherein the first portion is formed on the main conductor layer, the second portion is formed on the sidewall of the main conductor layer, and the third portion is formed on the substrate, and a continuous structure is formed by the first portion, the second portion and the third portion.
US09196731B2	Semiconductor device Sometimes to warp a group III nitride semiconductor and a silicon by the stress of the group III nitride semiconductor acting on the silicon. A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a buffer layer, and a semiconductor layer. A trench is formed on a sixth face of the semiconductor layer. The trench passes through the semiconductor layer and the buffer layer. The bottom of the trench reaches at least the inside of the substrate.
US09196701B2	High density MOSFET array with self-aligned contacts enhancement plug and method A semiconductor substrate comprises epitaxial region, body region and source region; an array of interdigitated active nitride-capped trench gate stacks (ANCTGS) and self-guided contact enhancement plugs (SGCEP) disposed above the semiconductor substrate and partially embedded into the source region, the body region and the epitaxial region forming the trench-gated MOSFET array. Each ANCTGS comprises a stack of a polysilicon trench gate embedded in a gate oxide shell and a silicon nitride spacer cap covering the top of the polysilicon trench gate; each SGCEP comprises a lower intimate contact enhancement section (ICES) in accurate registration to its neighboring ANCTGS; an upper distal contact enhancement section (DCES) having a lateral mis-registration (LTMSRG) to the neighboring ANCTGS; and an intervening tapered transitional section (TTS) bridging the ICES and the DCES; a patterned metal layer atop the patterned dielectric region atop the MOSFET array forms self-guided source and body contacts through the SGCEP.
US09196693B2	Method of manufacturing a semiconductor device having a buried field plate A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a first compound semiconductor material on a semiconductor substrate and forming a second compound semiconductor material on the first compound semiconductor material. The second compound semiconductor material includes a different material than the first compound semiconductor material such that the first compound semiconductor material has a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG). The method further includes forming a buried field plate in the first compound semiconductor material so that the 2DEG is interposed between the buried field plate and the second compound semiconductor material, and electrically connecting the buried field plate to a terminal of the semiconductor device.
US09196691B2	Metal gate electrode of a field effect transistor A method of fabricating a metal gate electrode of a field effect transistor includes forming a dielectric layer over an active region, and forming an opening in the dielectric layer. The method further includes partially filling the opening with a high-dielectric-constant material, partially filling the opening with a conformal first metal material over the high-dielectric-constant material, and filling the opening with a capping layer over the first metal material. The method further includes partially removing the first metal material and capping layer in the opening using a wet etching process. The method further includes fully removing the remaining capping layer in the opening using a wet etching process. The method further includes depositing a second metal material in the opening over the remaining first metal material, and planarizing the second metal material.
US09196682B2	Nanoparticle complex, method of manufacturing the same, and device including the nanoparticle complex A nanoparticle complex, including a semiconductor nanocrystal; and a metal complex ligand on the surface of the semiconductor nanocrystal. The nanoparticle complex may further include a polymer shell contacting the metal complex ligand.
US09196681B1	Metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor with reduced surface field folding A laterally diffused metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (LDMOSFET) includes a p-type body region formed in an n-type epitaxial layer, the p-type body region directly contacting a source contact region and extending past an end of the source contact region toward a drain contact region. The LDMOSFET also includes a p-type reduced surface field (PRSF) region formed in the n-type epitaxial layer, the PRSF region disposed between the p-type body region and the n-type buried layer. The LDMOSFET also includes an n-type drain drift region formed in the n-type epitaxial layer, the n-type drain drift region directly contacting the drain contact region. The LDMOSFET also includes an n-type drift region formed in the n-type epitaxial layer, the n-type drift region directly contacting the n-type drain drift region. The LDMOSFET also includes an n-type diffusion region in the n-type epitaxial layer, the n-type diffusion region electrically connecting the n-type buried layer with the n-type drift region and the n-type drain drift region.
US09196680B1	Metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor with reduced surface field folding A laterally diffused metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (LDMOSFET) includes: a source contact region, a gate contact region, a drain contact region, and an n-type buried layer. The LDMOSFET also includes a p-type body region formed in an n-type epitaxial layer, the p-type body region directly contacting the source contact region and extending past an end of the source contact region toward the drain contact region. The LDMOSFET also includes a p-type reduced surface field (PRSF) region formed in the n-type epitaxial layer, the PRSF region disposed between the p-type body region and the n-type buried layer. The LDMOSFET also includes an n-type drift region formed in the n-type epitaxial layer, the n-type drift region directly contacting the drain contact region. The LDMOSFET also includes an n-type diffusion region in the n-type epitaxial layer, the n-type diffusion region electrically connecting the n-type buried layer with the n-type drift region.
US09196663B2	Display device The present invention is intended to suppress power consumption of an EL display. In accordance with the brightness of an image to be displayed in a pixel portion, the contrast of the image is determined whether to be inverted or not, and the number of bits of the digital video signal to be input into the pixel portion is reduced, and the magnitude of a current to flow through the EL element is allowed to be maintained at a constant level even when a temperature of an EL layer changes by providing the EL display with another EL element to be used for monitoring a temperature.
US09196662B2	Organic light emitting display and method for manufacturing the same Disclosed are an organic light emitting display that has a configuration excluding a polarizing plate and exhibits improved flexibility and visibility, and a method for manufacturing the same, the organic light emitting display includes a touch electrode array facing the organic light emitting diode on the second buffer layer, the touch electrode array including first and second touch electrodes intersecting each other and an exterior light shielding layer including at least a color filter layer, an adhesive layer formed between the organic light emitting diode and the touch electrode array.
US09196661B2	Photodetector and up-conversion device with gain Embodiments of the invention are directed to IR photodetectors with gain resulting from the positioning of a charge multiplication layer (CML) between the cathode and the IR sensitizing layer of the photodetector, where accumulating charge at the CML reduces the energy difference between the cathode and the CML to promote injection of electrons that result in gain for an electron only device. Other embodiments of the invention are directed to inclusion of the IR photodetectors with gain into an IR-to-visible up-conversion device that can be used in night vision and other applications.
US09196658B2	Semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same, and microprocessor, processor, system, data storage system and memory system including the semiconductor device A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a first conductive pattern and a first pad over a substrate; forming a first and a second resistance variable elements over the first conductive pattern and the first pad, respectively; performing impurity doping into the second resistance variable element to produce a conductive contact; and forming a second conductive pattern over the first resistance variable element.
US09196647B2	Image pickup unit and image pickup display system An image pickup unit includes: an image pickup section including a plurality of pixels, the plurality of pixels each including a photoelectric converter device and a field-effect transistor; and a driving section reading out a signal charge with use of the transistor, the signal charge being accumulated in each of the plurality of pixels. The driving section turns off the transistor by applying an off-voltage to the transistor, the off-voltage being set in consideration of an off-leakage current between a source and a drain of the transistor.
US09196638B2	Light emitting device An object of the present invention is to provide a light emitting device in which variations in an emission spectrum depending on a viewing angle with respect to a side from which luminescence is extracted are decreased. A light emitting device according to the invention has a transistor, an insulating layer covering the transistor and a light emitting element provided in an opening of the insulating layer. The transistor and the light emitting element are electronically connected through a connecting portion. Additionally, the connecting portion is connected to the transistor through a contact hole penetrating the insulating layer. Note that the insulating layer may be a single layer or a multilayer in which a plurality of layers including different substances is laminated.
US09196637B1	Array substrate and display device The present disclosure provides an array substrate and a display device. The array substrate includes gate lines, data lines, and thin film transistors (TFTs) connected to the gate lines and the data lines. At least one of the data lines is divided into a first branch and a second branch at a predetermined region where an intersection of the at least one of the data lines and at least one of the gate lines is located. The first branch overlaps the at least one of the gate lines, and has a width less than a width of a non-overlapping portion of the at least one of the data lines which does not overlap the at least one of the gate lines. The second branch overlaps a gate electrode of a corresponding one of the TFTs, and serves as, or is connected to, a source electrode of the corresponding TFT.
US09196632B2	Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same An object of the present invention is to prevent the deterioration of a TFT (thin film transistor). The deterioration of the TFT by a BT test is prevented by forming a silicon oxide nitride film between the semiconductor layer of the TFT and a substrate, wherein the silicon oxide nitride film ranges from 0.3 to 1.6 in a ratio of the concentration of N to the concentration of Si.
US09196631B1	Array substrate and method for manufacturing the same, and display device Embodiments of the invention disclose an array substrate and a method for manufacturing the same, and a display device. The method for manufacturing an array substrate comprising: forming a gate metal layer, wherein the gate metal layer comprises gate lines; film-forming an active layer and film-forming a signal line metal layer, wherein the signal line metal layer comprises data lines; and forming both a pattern of the active layer and a pattern of the signal line metal layer simultaneously using a half-tone mask process, wherein after film-forming the active layer and before film-forming the signal line metal layer, the method further comprising: hollowing out a first region of the active layer through a patterning process, wherein the first region is below the data lines in a display area, and the first region excludes portions of the active layer corresponding to overlapping regions of the data lines and the gate lines.
US09196627B2	Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device and method of fabricating the same According to an aspect of the invention, a first insulating layer is buried in a first trench provided in at least one of an interstice between first and second semiconductor pillars, a side surface portion of the first semiconductor pillar opposed to the second semiconductor pillar, and a side surface portion of the second semiconductor pillar opposed to the first semiconductor pillar. A first trench penetrates each stack from an uppermost portion of the stack to a first conductive layer in a lowermost portion of the stack. The first trench is arranged away from a first connection portion. Each of the first conductive layers in contact with the first insulating layer includes a silicide layer.
US09196625B2	Self-aligned floating gate in a vertical memory structure Methods for building a memory device or electronic system may include a memory cell body extending from a substrate, a self-aligned floating gate separated from the memory cell body by a tunneling dielectric film, and a control gate separated from the self-aligned floating gate by a blocking dielectric film. The floating gate is flanked by the memory cell body and the control gate to form a memory cell, and the self-aligned floating gate is at least as thick as the control gate.
US09196618B2	Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same A semiconductor device and a method of fabricating the same are provided, in which a full overlap between a storage node contact and an active region to solve an overlay in an etching process and an etching width of a storage node is increased to improve a processing margin. The semiconductor device includes a main gate and a device isolation structure disposed in a semiconductor device, an isolation pattern disposed over the device isolation structure, and contact plugs disposed at each side of the isolation pattern.
US09196616B2	Memory device It is an object to provide a memory device where an area occupied by a memory cell is small, and moreover, a memory device where an area occupied by a memory cell is small and a data holding period is long. A memory device includes a bit line, a capacitor, a first insulating layer provided over the bit line and including a groove portion, a semiconductor layer, a second insulating layer in contact with the semiconductor layer, and a word line in contact with the second insulating layer. Part of the semiconductor layer is electrically connected to the bit line in a bottom portion of the groove portion, and another part of the semiconductor layer is electrically connected to one electrode of the capacitor in a top surface of the first insulating layer.
US09196615B2	Nonvolatile nanotube diodes and nonvolatile nanotube blocks and systems using same and methods of making same Under one aspect, a nanotube diode includes: a cathode formed of a semiconductor material; and an anode formed of nanotubes. The cathode and anode are in fixed and direct physical contact, and are constructed and arranged such that sufficient electrical stimulus applied to the cathode and the anode creates a conductive pathway between the cathode and the anode. In some embodiments, the anode includes a non-woven nanotube fabric having a plurality of unaligned nanotubes. The non-woven nanotube fabric may have a thickness, e.g., of 0.5 to 20 nm. Or, the non-woven nanotube fabric may include a block of nanotubes. The nanotubes may include metallic nanotubes and semiconducting nanotubes, and the cathode may include an n-type semiconductor material. A Schottky barrier can form between the n-type semiconductor material and the metallic nanotubes and/or a PN junction can form between the n-type semiconductor material and the semiconducting nanotubes.
US09196612B2	Semiconductor device including merged-unmerged work function metal and variable fin pitch A semiconductor device includes a plurality of first semiconductor fins formed on a semiconductor substrate to define first fin trenches. At least one second semiconductor fin is formed on the semiconductor substrate to define second fin trenches. A first work function metal layer is formed in the first and second fin trenches. The first work function metal layer formed in the second trenches has a first cavity formed therein such that the at least one second semiconductor fin realizes a different concentration of the first work function metal layer with respect to the plurality of first semiconductor fins.
US09196611B2	Reduced substrate coupling for inductors in semiconductor devices The present disclosure provides reduced substrate coupling for inductors in semiconductor devices. A method of fabricating a semiconductor device having reduced substrate coupling includes providing a substrate having a first region and a second region. The method also includes forming a first gate structure over the first region and a second gate structure over the second region, wherein the first and second gate structures each include a dummy gate. The method next includes forming an inter layer dielectric (ILD) over the substrate and forming a photoresist (PR) layer over the second gate structure. Then, the method includes removing the dummy gate from the first gate structure, thereby forming a trench and forming a metal gate in the trench so that a transistor may be formed in the first region, which includes a metal gate, and an inductor component may be formed over the second region, which does not include a metal gate.
US09196607B2	Stack packages and methods of manufacturing the same A stack package includes a substrate having connection terminals and a first chip on the substrate. The first chip has first connectors on edges thereof. A second chip is stacked on the first chip to expose outer portions of the first connectors. The second chip has second connectors on edges thereof. Connection members to connect the exposed outer portions of the first connectors to the connection terminals. Sidewall interconnectors to connect the exposed outer portions of the first connectors to the second connectors. The sidewall interconnectors extend from the exposed outer portions of the first connectors along sidewalls of the second chip to cover the second connectors.
US09196601B2	Semiconductor device Various aspects of the present disclosure provide a semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing thereof, which can facilitate stacking of semiconductor die while saving manufacturing cost. In an example embodiment, the semiconductor device may comprise a first semiconductor die, a second semiconductor die bonded to a top surface of the first semiconductor die, and a redistribution layer electrically connecting the first semiconductor die to the second semiconductor die, wherein the redistribution layer is formed to extend along surrounding side portions of the second semiconductor die.
US09196599B2	Connection device, method for manufacturing connection structure, method for manufacturing stacked chip component and method for mounting electronic component A connection device includes a mounting section on which an electronic component stacked with a thermosetting adhesive agent layer is mounted, a heat press head for heating and pressing the electronic component, a first elastic body that is disposed between the electronic component and a pressing surface of the heat press head so as to press an upper surface of the electronic component, and a support member that is disposed on a periphery of the electronic component and supports the first elastic body.
US09196597B2	Semiconductor package with single sided substrate design and manufacturing methods thereof A multilayer substrate includes a first outer conductive patterned layer, a first insulating layer exposing a portion of the first outer conductive patterned layer to define a first set of pads, a second outer conductive patterned layer, and a second insulating layer exposing a portion of the second outer conductive patterned layer to define a second set of pads. The multilayer substrate further includes inner layers each with an inner conductive patterned layer, multiple inner conductive posts formed adjacent to the inner conductive patterned layer, and an inner dielectric layer, where the inner conductive patterned layer and the inner conductive posts are embedded in the inner dielectric layer, and a top surface of each of the inner conductive posts is exposed from the inner dielectric layer.
US09196592B2	Methods of managing metal density in dicing channel and related integrated circuit structures Various embodiments include managing metal densities in kerf sections of an integrated circuit (IC) wafer. In some embodiments, a method includes: forming an integrated circuit (IC) wafer including a wafer kerf region, the wafer kerf region having a metal density of less than approximately 0.5 percent relative to a total density of the wafer kerf region.
US09196591B2	Chip with shelf life A method of forming a semiconductor structure includes forming a recess within a silicon substrate of an IC chip near a circuit of the IC chip. A metal layer is formed in the recess and the IC chip is exposed to an oxygen-containing environment to initiate the oxidation of a portion of the silicon substrate below the metal layer and adjacent to the circuit. The oxidation process consumes the portion of the silicon substrate below the metal layer forming a silicon dioxide layer that damages the circuit and causes the IC chip to be inoperable. The time to oxidize the portion of the silicon substrate below the metal layer and damage the circuit represents the shelf life of the IC chip.
US09196587B2	Semiconductor device having a die and through substrate-via Semiconductor devices are described that have a through-substrate via formed therein. In one or more implementations, the semiconductor devices include a semiconductor wafer and an integrated circuit die bonded together with an adhesive material. The semiconductor wafer and the integrated circuit die include one or more integrated circuits formed therein. The integrated circuits are connected to one or more conductive layers deployed over the surfaces of the semiconductor wafer and an integrated circuit die. A via is formed through the semiconductor wafer and the patterned adhesive material so that an electrical interconnection can be formed between the integrated circuits formed in the semiconductor wafer and the integrated circuits formed in the integrated circuit die. The via includes a conductive material that furnishes the electrical interconnection between the semiconductor wafer and the integrated circuit die.
US09196586B2	Semiconductor package including an embedded surface mount device and method of forming the same Embodiments of the present disclosure include semiconductor packages and methods of forming the same. An embodiment is a semiconductor package including a first package including one or more dies, and a package substrate bonded to a first side of the first package with by a first set of connectors. The semiconductor package further includes a surface mount device mounted to the first side of the first package, the surface mount device consisting essentially of one or more passive devices.
US09196580B2	Semiconductor device and semiconductor package containing the same A semiconductor device, having an electrode pad as a part of wirings on the uppermost layer thereof, includes a passivation film and a bump electrode for external connection. The passivation film is formed on the electrode pad, and the bump electrode is formed on the passivation film and electrically connected to the electrode pad. The electrode pad is formed so as to be smaller in size than the bump electrode, and parts of the wiring on the uppermost layer are formed under the bump electrode. In this manner, it is possible to utilize the area under the bump electrode effectively without sacrificing flatness of the passivation film. As a result, the semiconductor device and the semiconductor package can be made smaller.
US09196573B2	Bump on pad (BOP) bonding structure The embodiments described above provide enlarged overlapping surface areas of bonding structures between a package and a bonding substrate. By using elongated bonding structures on either the package and/or the bonding substrate and by orienting such bonding structures, the bonding structures are designed to withstand bonding stress caused by thermal cycling to reduce cold joints.
US09196572B2	Power semiconductor module A power semiconductor module comprising a substrate. The power semiconductor module has first and second DC voltage load current connection elements and first and second power semiconductor components. The first and second power semiconductor components are arranged along a lateral first direction of the substrate. The power semiconductor module has a foil composite having a first metallic foil layer and a structured second metallic foil layer and an electrically insulating foil layer arranged between the first and second metallic foil layers. The first power semiconductor component and the second power semiconductor component are electrically conductively connected to the foil composite and to the substrate. The first and second power semiconductor components are arranged on a common side in relation to the first and second DC voltage load current connection elements. The invention provides a power semiconductor module having a particularly low-inductance construction.
US09196565B2	Fixing assembly A fixing assembly includes a fixing frame, a fixing member, and a fastening member. The fixing frame includes a frame body and a guiding wall portion. The frame body is disposed between a circuit board and a heatsink. The guiding wall portion is connected to the frame body and has an elongated hole. The thicknesses of the guiding wall portion are reduced toward the frame body. The fixing member abuts against the guiding wall portion and is located over the heatsink. The fixing member has a screw hole communicated with the elongated hole. The fastening member is fastened to the screw hole via the elongated hole. The fastening member is retained by the elongated hole to move relative to the guiding wall portion along the elongated hole, so as to move the fixing member toward or away from the heatsink.
US09196559B2	Directly sawing wafers covered with liquid molding compound A method includes forming a passivation layer over a metal pad, wherein the metal pad is further overlying a semiconductor substrate of a wafer. A Post-Passivation Interconnect (PPI) is formed to electrically couple to the metal pad, wherein a portion of the PPI is overlying the passivation layer. A metal bump is formed over and electrically coupled to the PPI. The method further includes applying a molding compound over the metal bump and the PPI, applying a release film over the molding compound, pressing the release film against the molding compound, and curing the molding compound when the release film is pressed against the molding compound. The release film is then removed from the molding compound. The wafer is sawed into dies using a blade, with the blade cutting through the molding compound.
US09196548B2	Methods of using a trench salicide routing layer Methodology enabling selectively connecting fin structures using a segmented trench salicide layer, and the resulting device are disclosed. Embodiments include: providing on a substrate at least one gate structure; providing first and second fin structures in a vertical direction intersecting with the at least one gate structure; and providing a first segment of a salicide layer, the first segment being formed along a horizontal direction and being connected with the second fin structure and separated from the first fin structure.
US09196544B2	Integrated circuits with stressed semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) body contacts and methods for fabricating the same Integrated circuits with selectively stressed semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) body contacts and methods for fabricating integrated circuits with selectively stressed SOI body contacts are provided. An exemplary method for fabricating an integrated circuit includes forming a channel region and a body contact overlying and/or in an SOI substrate. Further, the method includes selectively applying a first stress to the source/drain region in a longitudinal direction. Also, the method includes selectively applying a second stress to the body contact in a lateral direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.
US09196535B2	Method and apparatus for separating semiconductor devices from a wafer An embodiment method for separating semiconductor devices from a wafer comprises using a carrier which acts an adjustable adhesive force upon the semiconductor devices and removing the semiconductor devices from the carrier by applying a mechanical or acoustical impulse to the carrier.
US09196533B2	Film for back surface of flip-chip semiconductor, dicing-tape-integrated film for back surface of semiconductor, process for producing semiconductor device, and flip-chip semiconductor device The present invention relates to a film for back surface of flip-chip semiconductor, which is to be formed on a back surface of a semiconductor element flip-chip connected onto an adherend, wherein an amount of shrinkage of the film for back surface of flip-chip semiconductor due to thermal curing is 2% by volume or more and not more than 30% by volume relative to a total volume of the film for back surface of flip-chip semiconductor before the thermal curing. According to the film for back surface of flip-chip semiconductor according to the present invention, since it is formed on the back surface of a semiconductor element having been flip-chip connected onto an adherend, it fulfills a function to protect the semiconductor element. In addition, in the film for back surface of flip-chip semiconductor according to the present invention, since an amount of shrinkage due to thermal curing is 2% by volume or more relative to a total volume of the film for back surface of flip-chip semiconductor before the thermal curing, a warp of a semiconductor element to be generated at the time of flip-chip connecting the semiconductor element onto an adherend can be effectively suppressed or prevented.
US09196528B2	Use of contacts to create differential stresses on devices Disclosed herein are various methods and structures using contacts to create differential stresses on devices in an integrated circuit (IC) chip. An IC chip is disclosed having a p-type field effect transistor (PFET) and an n-type field effect transistor (NFET), a PFET contact to a source/drain region of the PFET and an NFET contact to a source/drain region of the NFET. In a first embodiment, a silicon germanium (SiGe) layer is included only under the PFET contact, between the PFET contact and the source/drain region of the PFET. In a second embodiment, either the PFET contact extends into the source/drain region of the PFET or the NFET contact extends into the source/drain region of the NFET.
US09196527B2	Fuse structure for high integrated semiconductor device The present invention provides a technology capable of improving an operation reliability of a semiconductor device. Particularly, a fuse material which constitutes the copper can be prevented from migrating being locked in the recesses or the grooves after a blowing process. A semiconductor device includes an insulating layer including a concave-convex-shaped upper part; and a fuse formed on the insulating layer.
US09196521B2	Adjustable pick-up head and method for manufacturing a device An adjustable pick-up head, a collet head, a method to adjust a pick-up head and a method of manufacturing a device are disclosed. In one embodiment a pick-up head includes a shank having a holder and an intermediate body connected to the holder by a first joint. The pick-up head further includes a collet head connected to the intermediate body by a second joint.
US09196519B2	Achieving uniform capacitance between an electrostatic chuck and a semiconductor wafer Embodiments of the present invention provide a method for achieving uniform capacitance between a semiconductor wafer and an electrostatic chuck. In certain embodiments, the method comprises the step of forming a layer on a first side of the semiconductor wafer, wherein the layer has a specified resistivity. The method further comprises placing the semiconductor wafer on the electrostatic chuck, wherein the layer contacts the electrostatic chuck. The method further comprises applying a radio frequency signal to the electrostatic chuck, and processing a second side of the semiconductor wafer.
US09196516B2	Wafer temperature measurement tool A wafer temperature measurement tool for measuring the surface temperature of a semiconductor wafer. The tool can be used to measure temperature on different parts of the wafer to provide a high resolution temperature distribution map. The tool includes an internal calibrated weight that is slidably disposed within a tool body. A temperature sensor is attached to the bottom of the weight. Ceramic stands are attached to the bottom of the tool body. Gravity pulls down on the weight such that the temperature sensor contacts the wafer when the ceramic stands of the tool body are placed on the wafer.
US09196515B2	Litho cluster and modulization to enhance productivity The present disclosure relates to a lithographic tool arrangement for semiconductor workpiece processing. The lithographic tool arrangement groups lithographic tools into clusters, and selectively transfers a semiconductor workpiece between a plurality of lithographic tools of a first type in a first cluster to a plurality of lithographic tools of a second type in a second cluster. The selective transfer is achieved though a transfer assembly, which is coupled to a defect scan tool that identifies defects generated in the lithographic tool of the first type. The disclosed lithographic tool arrangement also utilizes shared structural elements such as a housing assembly, and shared functional elements such as gases and chemicals. The lithographic tool arrangement may consist of baking, coating, exposure, and development units configured to provide a modularization of these various components in order to optimize throughput and efficiency for a given lithographic fabrication process.
US09196512B2	Focus ring and manufacturing method therefor There is provided a focus ring capable of preventing a part of a heat transfer sheet from adhering to and remaining on a mounting table. The focus ring is arranged to surround a periphery of a substrate mounted on the mounting table having a temperature control device. Further, the focus ring includes a flexible heat transfer sheet. Furthermore, the focus ring is in contact with the mounting table via the heat transfer sheet, and the heat transfer sheet has a contact surface in contact with the mounting table and an anti-adhesion layer formed on the contact surface.
US09196508B2	Method for producing three-dimensional integrated circuit structure A three-dimensional integrateds circuit structure includes a first metal circuit substrate, an interposer substrate disposed on the first metal circuit substrate and electrically connected therewith, and at least one semiconductor component disposed on the interposer substrate. The interposer substrate is used to dissipate the heat generated by the operation of the semiconductor components, so as to achieve the objective of increasing the lifespan of the semiconductor components.
US09196495B2	Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same A semiconductor device in accordance with one embodiment of the invention can include a semiconductor substrate having a groove, a bit line, a pocket implantation region, a bottom insulating membrane, and a charge accumulation region. The bit line is formed on a side of the groove in the semiconductor substrate and acts as a source and a drain. The pocket implantation region is formed to touch (or contact) the bit line, has a similar conductivity type as the semiconductor substrate, and has a dopant concentration higher than that of the semiconductor substrate. The bottom insulating membrane is formed on and touches (or contacts) a side surface of the groove. The charge accumulation layer is formed on and touches (or contacts) a side surface of the bottom insulating membrane.
US09196467B2	Mass spectrum noise cancellation by alternating inverted synchronous RF A mass spectrometer comprising a controller configured to generate an RF signal to be applied to an electrode during the mass scan, wherein the electrode generates, based on the RF signal, an electric field to be applied to sample ions during a mass scan; an ion detector configured to detect sample ions passing through the electric field and generate a corresponding ion detection signal; and a sampling circuit configured to sample the ion detection signal; wherein the controller is configured to adjust a phase of the at least one RF signal relative to a sample timing of the sampling circuit and average successive mass scans to cancel a portion of the RF signal present in the ion detection signal.
US09196457B2	Flow cells for electron microscope imaging with multiple flow streams Provided are flow cell devices—referred to as nanoaquariums—that are microfabricated devices featuring a sample chamber having a controllable height in the range of nanometers to micrometers. The cells are sealed so as to withstand the vacuum environment of an electron microscope without fluid loss. The cells allow for the concurrent flow of multiple sample streams and may be equipped with electrodes, heaters, and thermistors for measurement and other analysis devices.
US09196456B2	Image acquisition method and transmission electron microscope An image acquisition method and system for use in transmission electron microscopy and capable of providing information about a wide range of frequency range. The method is initiated with setting at least one of the spherical aberration coefficient and chromatic aberration coefficient of the imaging system of the microscope to suppress attenuation of a contrast transfer function due to an envelope function. Then, an image is obtained by the imaging system placed in defocus conditions.
US09196449B1	Floating grid electron source A system comprises: an RF cavity; a main emitter; a floating grid configured to capture a portion of the electron current emitted by the main emitter; and a discharging emitter in electrical contact with the floating grid and configured to discharge the floating grid. The floating grid and the discharging emitter are electrically insulated from the main emitter and from the RF cavity, when the RF cavity is not in operation. The DC bias of the floating grid is adjusted so that the ending emission phase of the electron beam from the floating grid occurs earlier than the starting phase of back-bombardment of the electrons in the RF cavity, thereby suppressing the back-bombardment of the electrons. A floating grid can be also placed between the RF drive grid and the cathode in an IOT, thereby suppressing arcing of the cathode in the IOT.
US09196445B2	Electric fuse with torque restricting terminals Electrical fuses include slip fit terminal elements coupled to the ends of a fuse element. The terminal elements may rotate relative to the fuse element ends as the fuses are bolted to circuit conductors and protect the fuse element from being damaged.
US09196441B2	Modular relay sub-assembly A modular relay sub-assembly is provided. The modular relay sub-assembly can include a first housing portion, a second housing portion, a conductor having a first contact, and a split conductor. The second housing portion may be attached to a surface of the first housing portion. The conductor may be disposed inside a cavity formed by the two housing portions. The first contact may be accessible through a first opening in the first housing portion. The split conductor may include a first portion, a second portion, and a contact. The split conductor being disposed inside the cavity formed by the first and second housing portions. The second portion may be disposed at a position electrically isolated from the first portion. The contact of the split conductor can be accessible through a second opening in the first housing portion. The split conductor can be positioned to selectively contact the conductor.
US09196439B2	Vacuum interrupter arrangement for a circuit breaker A vacuum interrupter arrangement for a circuit breaker includes a first cylindrical shaped vacuum insert within which a pair of corresponding electrical contacts is coaxially arranged. The electrical contacts include a fixed electrical contact which is attached to the first vacuum insert and an axially movable electrical contact which is operated by a pushrod. A second cylindrical shaped vacuum insert is coaxially arranged to the first cylindrical shaped vacuum insert. Both vacuum inserts are coaxially surrounded by an outer vacuum container in order to form a double contact gap version.
US09196438B2	Safety system for high voltage network grounding switch The present invention is directed to a safety system integrated into a liquid-insulated high voltage network grounding switch, including modifications to the switch structure to provide an arrangement that is more efficiently installed with greater precision than found in conventional arrangements. The result is a switch assembly that adheres to updated IEEE/ANSI Standards, while still fitting into existing vault space meant to accommodate earlier switch gear.
US09196435B2	Tuned switch system The described embodiments relate to methods and apparatus for fine-tuning a resistance profile for a mechanical switch. In one embodiment, by combining a switch with one or more damping or support materials a tuned switch system can be formed. The damping or support materials can modify the force and displacement characteristics of the switch, thereby allowing a user experience to be customized. The damping or support materials can be arranged in series and/or in parallel with the mechanical switch.
US09196434B2	Method and device for performing diagnostics of an actuator, and actuator comprising one such device A diagnostic method for an actuator having a coil and a control device for supplying power to the coil, by controlling a power supply to the actuator by a diagnostic device, controlling a supply of power to the coil by a control device, monitoring an electric signal supplying the actuator, and deriving a diagnostic indicator of the actuator from a result of monitoring; and a device and computer code for executing the method.
US09196429B2	Contact structure for electromechanical switch The present disclosure discloses a contact structure for electromechanical switch. The contact structure is using the design including a PCB and a moving contact to allow the actuations and have great switch characteristics whose range is from DC to high frequency.
US09196428B2	Gang socket and jig for manufacturing capacitor element that uses said gang socket Provided is a gang socket with which capacitor elements can be manufactured without contaminating chemical conversion treatment liquids or semiconductor layer forming liquids even when the chemical conversion treatment liquids and semiconductor layer forming liquids are corrosive and with which heat treatment can be carried out without obstacles even when heat treatment is carried out during the manufacture of the capacitor elements. This gang socket (1) is provided with a plurality of conductive socket main units (2) provided with insertion openings (37) and an insulator part (5) forming a plurality of receiving parts (6) that can accommodate at least part of the socket main units (2) and provided with a plurality of small openings (7) connecting to the bottom surface of the receiving parts (6) on a bottom surface (5b). The insulator part (5) is constituted of a material having heat resistance and corrosion resistance. At least part of the socket main units (2) are accommodated and secured in the receiving parts (6) of the insulator part (5), and the insertion openings (37) and the small openings (7) are connected.
US09196421B2	Multilayer ceramic electronic component There is provided a multilayer ceramic electronic component, including: a ceramic body formed by laminating dielectric layers having an average thickness of 0.7 μm or less; external electrodes formed on external surfaces of the ceramic body; and internal electrodes respectively disposed on the dielectric layer so as to have a gap formed therebetween, wherein, when a narrowest gap between the internal electrode edges adjacent to one another is denoted by Gmin, 10 μm≦Gmin≦60 μm is satisfied.
US09196419B2	Wireless electric power transmission apparatus A wireless electric power transmission apparatus as an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: two antennas 107, 109 having the ability to transmit electric power by a non-contact method via resonant magnetic coupling, one of the two antennas being a series resonant circuit, of which the resonant frequency is fs, the other antenna being a parallel resonant circuit, of which the resonant frequency is fp; and an oscillator 103 which is connected to one of the two antennas that transmits RF power. If the coupling coefficient between the two antennas 107 and 109 is k, then fs and fp are set so as to satisfy the inequality −1.1516×k2+0.0363×k+0.9983≦fs/fp<1.
US09196399B2	Composite superconductor, and method for producing composite superconductor A method for producing a composite superconductor includes: a structure forming process of forming a structure including a metal covering member (20) including at least one to-be-joined portion, a superconductor (30) arranged inside the metal covering member, and a reinforcing member (40) arranged between the superconductor (30) and the at least one to-be-joined portion; and a joining process of joining thereafter the at least one to-be-joined portion.
US09196398B2	Discontinuous shielding tapes for data communications cable The present arrangement provides a communication cable having a plurality of twisted pair communication elements, a jacket surrounding the twisted pairs and a shield element disposed between the pairs and the jacket. The shield element is constructed as a tape substrate with a plurality of foil shielding elements disposed thereon, the foil shielding elements being formed in the shape of triangles and arranged on the substrate with at least a first foil shield element having a base of its triangle shape disposed substantially parallel to a longitudinal edge of the tape substrate. Each subsequent triangle is disposed on the tape substrate at a distance apart from the first triangle foil shielding element with a base of its triangle shape disposed substantially parallel to an opposite longitudinal edge of the tape substrate.
US09196395B2	Conductive member and method for producing same A conductive member includes a metal part and an elastomer part. The conductive member is configured such that, when the conductive member is interposed between a first member and a second member, the elastomer part is elastically deformed so that a top end portion of at least one upper surface-side convex part in the metal part is pressed toward a side of the second member, and a top end portion of at least one under surface-side convex part in the metal part is pressed toward a side of the first member.
US09196385B2	Lifetime mixed level non-volatile memory system A flash controller for managing at least one MLC non-volatile memory module and at least one SLC non-volatile memory module. The flash controller is adapted to determine if a range of addresses listed by an entry and mapped to said at least one MLC non-volatile memory module fails a data integrity test. In the event of such a failure, the controller remaps said entry to an equivalent range of addresses of said at least one SLC non-volatile memory module, The flash controller is farther adapted to determine which of the blocks in the MLC and SLC non-volatile memory modules are accessed most frequently and allocating those blocks that receive frequent writes to the SLC non-volatile memory module and those blocks that receive infrequent writes to the MLC non-volatile memory module.
US09196381B2	Technique to operate memory in functional mode under LBIST test A method for testing an integrated circuit having memory comprises performing a structural test on the integrated circuit using data obtained from operating the memory in a functional mode. In another embodiment, an integrated circuit comprises a memory mode selection module, a memory module, and an output selection module. The memory mode selection module is configured to receive a functional mode signal and a test mode signal, and selectively transmit either the functional mode signal or the test mode signal based on a state of a control signal. The memory module is configured to receive the signal from the memory mode selection module and store data corresponding to signal to memory cells. The output selection module is configured to receive the data from the memory cells, and transmit the data to downstream circuitry, which may use the data to perform a structural test, such as a logic built-in self-test.
US09196380B2	Method for measuring data retention characteristic of resistive random access memory device A method for measuring data retention characteristic of an RRAM device includes: a) controlling a temperature of a sample stage to maintain the RRAM device at a predetermined temperature; b) setting the RRAM device to a high-resistance state or a low-resistance state; c) measuring data retention time by applying a predetermined voltage to the RRAM device so that a resistive state failure of the RRAM device occurs; d) repeating the steps a)-c) to perform a plurality of measurements; e) calculating a resistive state failure probability F(t) of the RRAM device from the data retention time in the plurality of measurements; and f) fitting the resistive state failure probability F(t), and calculating predicted data retention time tE by using parameters obtained from the fitting. The data retention time of the RRAM device may be predicted by combining voltage acceleration and temperature acceleration.
US09196378B2	Semiconductor memory device and operating method thereof A semiconductor memory device includes a fuse array block including a plurality of fuses programmed with state information, an operation direction control block suitable for controlling a program operation direction and a boot-up operation direction of the fuse array block, and a fuse information loading block suitable for loading the state information which is programmed in the plurality of fuses of the fuse array block through the boot-up operation.
US09196375B2	Semiconductor storage device A semiconductor storage device according to the present embodiment includes a memory cell array including a plurality of memory cells. A plurality of word lines are electrically connected to control gates of the memory cells. A plurality of bit lines are electrically connected to one end of a current path of the memory cells. A sense amplifier part detects data stored in the selected memory cells. A power supply part converts an external power supply voltage to an internal power supply voltage and supplies the internal power supply voltage to the sense amplifier part. A power supply wire extends above the memory cell array and is provided to range from the power supply part to the sense amplifier part.
US09196370B2	Reducing noise in semiconductor devices The present disclosure includes methods, devices, modules, and systems for reducing noise in semiconductor devices. One method embodiment includes applying a reset voltage to a control gate of a semiconductor device for a period of time. The method further includes sensing the state of the semiconductor device after applying the reset voltage.
US09196365B2	Semiconductor memory device and operating method thereof A semiconductor memory device and an operating method thereof are set forth. The semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array with a string. The string comprises a first dummy memory cell and a second dummy memory cell. A circuit is configured to provide a program voltage and one or more operation voltages to the string during a program operation. Control logic is configured to control the circuit to increase a first threshold voltage of the first dummy memory cell and to increase a second threshold voltage of the second dummy memory cell. The first threshold voltage and a second threshold voltage increase by a hot carrier injection mechanism.
US09196360B2	Operating resistive memory cell A circuit that includes a current source and a current comparator is disclosed. The current source is connected to a resistive memory cell to generate a driving current thereto. The current comparator has a sensing node connected to the current source and the resistive memory cell to sense an injection current injected to the current comparator through the sensing node, wherein when a resistive state of the resistive memory cell switches such that the current comparator determines that an amount of the injection current increases to exceed or decreases to reach threshold value, the current comparator turns off the current source.
US09196337B2	Low sensing current non-volatile flip-flop A low sensing current non volatile flip flop includes a first stage to sense a resistance difference between two magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs) and a second stage having circuitry to amplify the output of the first stage. The output of the first stage is initially pre-charged and determined by the resistance difference of the two MTJs when the sensing operation starts. The first stage does not have a pull-up path to a source voltage (VDD), and therefore does not have a DC path from VDD to ground during the sensing operation. A slow sense enable (SE) signal slope reduces peak sensing current in the first stage. A secondary current path reduces the sensing current duration of the first stage.
US09196335B2	Magnetic memory According to one embodiment, a magnetic memory includes magnetoresistive effect elements each including a first magnetic layer, a tunnel barrier layer, and a second magnetic layer which are successively stacked, and a ferroelectric capacitor provided above the magnetoresistive effect elements via an insulating layer, and including a lower electrode, a ferroelectric film, and an upper electrode which are successively stacked.
US09196328B2	Semiconductor memory apparatus and operation method using the same A semiconductor memory apparatus includes a command processing block configured to generate a voltage generation start signal, a first write control signal, a second write control signal, a read signal, and an operation signal in response to a first control signal and a second control signal in a write operation, and a memory control block configured to electrically couple a memory block, which stores data, to a sense amplifier or apply a predetermined voltage to the memory block in response to the voltage generation start signal, the first write control signal, the second write control signal, the read signal, and the operation signal.
US09196327B2	Data storage device, storage media controller and storage media control method A storage media control method, by which a data strobe signal is shifted by different phase shifts at different time intervals during a write-leveling operation to be received by a storage media and compared to a clock signal for returning a data signal. At the storage media side, during the write-leveling operation, a synchronous transmission between the received data strobe signal and the clock signal causes a transition event at the data signal. The number of transition-event occurrences is counted. When the count shows that just one transition event has occurred over a full round of phase shift tests of the data strobe signal, the phase shift corresponding to the transition event is used in the adjustment of the data strobe signal, which is received by the storage media as the data extraction reference of a write operation.
US09196322B2	Semiconductor memory device that does not require a sense amplifier A semiconductor memory device that does not require a sense amplifier includes a memory cell group having at least one memory cell, a buffer unit, and a bias voltage unit. The buffer unit includes a tri-state buffer that has an input terminal coupled to the memory cell group, and an output terminal coupled to a data line unit. The tri-state buffer is operable to switch between a conducting state and a non-conducting state. The bias voltage unit controls supply of a preset bias voltage to the input terminal of the tri-state buffer. By using the tri-state buffer, the parasitic capacitance attributed to the memory cell can be reduced, such that no sense amplifier is required to ensure proper operation, thereby reducing power consumption.
US09196318B2	Low temperature drift voltage reference circuit A voltage reference circuit includes a first enhancement-mode PMOS transistor, a first enhancement mode NMOS transistor, and a first depletion-mode PMOS transistor coupled in series between a voltage supply and a ground. A second depletion-mode PMOS transistor is coupled to the first enhancement PMOS transistor to form a feedback circuit. A first resistive device is coupled between the voltage supply and the second depletion-mode PMOS transistor, and a second resistive device is coupled between the second depletion-mode PMOS transistor and the ground. A bias circuit is coupled to a gate of the first enhancement-mode NMOS transistor. The first enhancement-mode PMOS transistor and the first depletion-mode PMOS transistor are configured to operate in saturation region. A first reference voltage across the first resistor and a second reference voltage across the second resistor are configured to be independent of the magnitude of the voltage supply and have low temperature drift.
US09196315B2	Three dimensional gate structures with horizontal extensions A device on an integrated circuit includes a stack of alternating semiconductor lines and insulating lines, and a gate structure over the stack of semiconductor lines. The gate structure includes a vertical portion adjacent the stack on the at least one side, and horizontal extension portions between the semiconductor lines. Sides of the insulating lines can be recessed relative to sides of the semiconductor lines, so at least one side of the stack includes recesses between semiconductor lines. The horizontal extension portions can be in the recesses. The horizontal extension portions have inside surfaces adjacent the sides of the insulating lines, and outside surfaces that can be flush with the sides of the semiconductor lines. The device may include a second gate structure spaced away from the first mentioned gate structure, and an insulating element between horizontal extension portions of the second gate structure and the first mentioned gate structure.
US09196313B2	Stacked device identification assignment Some embodiments include apparatus and methods having dice arranged in a stack. The dice include at least a first die and a second die, and a connection coupled to the dice. The connection may be configured to transfer control information to the first die during an assignment of a first identification to the first die and to transfer the control information from the first die to the second die during an assignment of a second identification to the second die.
US09196307B2	Geo-location video archive system and method A system and method for recording, uploading, and archiving video recordings, including a front-end and a back-end application. The preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a front-end application wherein video is recorded using a mobile device. The recorded video is embedded with date, time and GPS location data. The video is stored on an online back-end database which catalogs the video according to the embedded data elements. The video may be selectively reviewed by relevant experts or emergency personnel for immediate response to the uploaded video and/or distribution to the proper parties. The video may also be archived for later review and use by any number of end-users.
US09196302B1	Electronic system with media maintenance mechanism and method of operation thereof An apparatus includes: a media; a head over the media; a read channel, coupled to the head, configured to extract data from the media; control circuitry, coupled to the read channel, configured to execute a read command; and wherein the read channel is further configured to: generate, based on extracting the data from the media, a data condition indicator, and provide, for use by the control circuitry, the data and the data condition indicator.
US09196300B2	Optical recording medium, recording/reproducing apparatus, and recording/reproducing method An information recording medium, on which when a spare area for a replacement block for replacing a defect block created in a predetermined area of an information recording medium is enlarged or newly allocated, defect status information of blocks within the enlarged or newly allocated spare area is changed and written on the information recording medium. By managing the defect status information of the blocks within the enlarged or newly allocated spare area, unnecessary operations of a drive system are eliminated thus improving efficiency of the drive system.
US09196292B1	Rotary spindle having a disk clamp bottom land facing and in contact with a shaft top land A rotary spindle has a rotatable shaft that defines a shaft axis of rotation, and has a shaft top land that is normal to the shaft axis of rotation. A disk mounting hub has an outer disk mounting surface, and has an inner cylindrical bore with an inner cylindrical surface that faces and is in radial compression with an outer cylindrical surface of the shaft at a cylindrical hub-to-shaft interface. The cylindrical hub-to-shaft interface is substantially concentric about the shaft axis of rotation. A disk clamp is fastened to the rotatable shaft, and the disk clamp has a clamp bottom land that faces and is in contact with the shaft top land.
US09196289B2	Method and device for high density data storage A local probe storage array is provided that includes a substrate, and a polymeric layer over the substrate, the polymeric layer comprising a crosslinking agent that has been cured, the crosslinking agent comprising at least three alkyne groups.
US09196285B2	Magnetic recording medium fabrication method and apparatus A method of fabricating a magnetic recording medium sequentially forms a magnetic recording layer, a protection layer, and a lubricant layer on a stacked body. The stacked body is enclosed in a transfer container unit without exposing the stacked body to atmosphere after forming the protection layer on the stacked body by a deposition apparatus, and the transfer container unit is transported to a vapor-phase lubrication deposition apparatus. The stacked body is removed from the transfer container unit without exposing the stacked body to the atmosphere, in order to form the lubricant layer on the stacked body within the vapor-phase lubrication deposition apparatus.
US09196284B2	In-line type film forming apparatus and method for manufacturing magnetic recording medium There is provided an in-line type film-forming apparatus that can prevent a substrate from being dropped out of a carrier and convey the carrier at high speed. A first supporting member (41) is supported to be displaceable in a direction along an attaching face (S1) of the support base (40) in accordance with the growth of the first supporting member (41) due to thermal expansion in a horizontal direction, a second supporting member (42) is supported to be displaceable in a direction negating the growth of the first supporting member (41) due to thermal expansion in the horizontal direction along an attaching face (S2) of the first supporting member (42) in accordance with the growth of the second supporting member (42) due to thermal expansion in the horizontal direction, and a holder (3) is supported to be displaceable in a direction negating the growth of the first and second supporting members (41) and (42) due to thermal expansion in the vertical direction along an attaching face (S3) of the third supporting member (43) in accordance with the growth of the holder (3) due to thermal expansion in the vertical direction.
US09196278B1	Laser array for heat assisted magnetic recording An apparatus comprises a unitary laser diode comprising an array of two or more active regions, at least one of which outputs a light beam in response to an input current. The apparatus also includes two or more waveguides, each waveguide corresponding to an active region of the array. At least one of the waveguides receives the at least one light beam from the at least one active region.
US09196272B1	Sensor structure having increased thermal stability A reader sensor having a dusting layer having a thickness less than 5 Angstroms between and in contact with the AFM layer and with the pinned layer. The dusting layer comprises a non-magnetic, electrically conducting material, such as ruthenium or iridium. The reader sensor has a free layer composed of a material free of nickel (Ni).
US09196259B2	Electronic device and copyright protection method of audio data thereof A copyright protection method of audio data applied to an electronic device. Left and right channel audio signal values are retrieved from audio signals of an audio source. Enveloping difference values between each left channel audio signal and each right channel audio signal are calculated to determine a time slot. The left channel audio signals and the right channel audio signals respectively modulated, thereby writing digital copyright information in corresponding positions of the time slot according to the modulation.
US09196258B2	Spectral shaping for speech intelligibility enhancement A speech intelligibility enhancement (SIE) system and method is described that improves the intelligibility of a speech signal to be played back by an audio device when the audio device is located in an environment with loud acoustic background noise. In an embodiment, the audio device comprises a near-end telephony terminal and the speech signal comprises a speech signal received over a communication network from a far-end telephony terminal for playback at the near-end telephony terminal.
US09196257B2	Apparatus and a method for converting a first parametric spatial audio signal into a second parametric spatial audio signal An apparatus for converting a first parametric spatial audio signal representing a first listening position or a first listening orientation in a spatial audio scene to a second parametric spatial audio signal representing a second listening position or a second listening orientation is described, the apparatus including: a spatial audio signal modification unit adapted to modify the first parametric spatial audio signal dependent on a change of the first listening position or the first listening orientation so as to obtain the second parametric spatial audio signal, wherein the second listening position or the second listening orientation corresponds to the first listening position or the first listening orientation changed by the change.
US09196256B2	Data processing method that selectively performs error correction operation in response to determination based on characteristic of packets corresponding to same set of speech data, and associated data processing apparatus A data processing method for performing data processing on wireless received data and an associated data processing apparatus are provided, where the data processing method is applied to an electronic device. The data processing method includes the steps of: wirelessly receiving a plurality of packets corresponding to a same set of speech data from another electronic device; and selectively performing error correction operation on at least one of the plurality of packets to obtain the set of speech data, wherein whether to perform the error correction operation is determined according to at least one characteristic of the plurality of packets. More particularly, the error correction operation is selectively performed for at least one scenario of a timing critical scenario and a re-transmission limited scenario.
US09196254B1	Method for implementing quality control for one or more components of an audio signal received from a communication device Disclosed is a method for implementing quality control for one or more components of an audio signal received from a communication device. In one embodiment, a Goertzel calculation is used to identify different frequency components of a selected sample. The identified frequency components of the selected sample may be analyzed based on predefined factors pertaining to the typical music and speech component of a typical audio signal. The analysis of the frequency component of the selected sample gives resulting values that is compared to a bottom threshold for determining whether the identified component is a music component or a speech component. Further, the classified frequency components may be graded based on quality parameters. The quality parameters may include a predefined frequency range, allowable deviation, and noise frequency range. Further, the classified frequency components of the audio signal may be improved based on grading of the classified frequency components.
US09196247B2	Voice recognition method and voice recognition apparatus A voice recognition method includes: detecting a vocal section including a vocal sound in a voice, based on a feature value of an audio signal representing the voice; identifying a word expressed by the vocal sound in the vocal section, by matching the feature value of the audio signal of the vocal section and an acoustic model of each of a plurality of words; and selecting, with a processor, the word expressed by the vocal sound in a word section based on a comparison result between a signal characteristic of the word section and a signal characteristic of the vocal section.
US09196245B2	Semantic graphs and conversational agents Semantic clustering techniques are described. In various implementations, a conversational agent is configured to perform semantic clustering of a corpus of user utterances. Semantic clustering may be used to provide a variety of functionality, such as to group a corpus of utterances into semantic clusters in which each cluster pertains to a similar topic. These clusters may then be leveraged to identify topics and assess their relative importance, as for example to prioritize topics whose handling by the conversation agent should be improved. A variety of utterances may be processed using these techniques, such as spoken words, textual descriptions entered via live chat, instant messaging, a website interface, email, SMS, a social network, a blogging or micro-blogging interface, and so on.
US09196243B2	Method and system for efficient spoken term detection using confusion networks Systems and methods for spoken term detection are provided. A method for spoken term detection, comprises receiving phone level out-of-vocabulary (OOV) keyword queries, converting the phone level OOV keyword queries to words, generating a confusion network (CN) based keyword searching (KWS) index, and using the CN based KWS index for both in-vocabulary (IV) keyword queries and the OOV keyword queries.
US09196240B2	Automated text to speech voice development A group of users may be presented with text and a synthesized speech recording of the text. The users can listen to the synthesized speech recording and submit feedback regarding errors or other issues with the synthesized speech. A system of one or more computing devices can analyze the feedback, modify the voice or language rules, and recursively test the modifications. The modifications may be determined through the use of machine learning algorithms or other automated processes.
US09196223B2	Display panel and display apparatus comprising the same A display panel and a display apparatus having the display panel are disclosed. The display panel includes: a substrate having a flat panel shape; a light output layer disposed on the substrate and outputting light by an electrical drive; and a semiconductor layer including a plurality of switching elements arranged in a matrix form and switching based on a driving signal for driving the light output layer, and a plurality of lines to transmit the driving signal to the plurality of switching elements, wherein each of the lines extends with a predetermined width, a first width of the line at a central portion thereof in a lengthwise direction thereof is thicker than a second width thereof at one end portion thereof in the lengthwise direction.
US09196220B2	Three-dimensional image display apparatus and method of driving the same A display apparatus includes a display panel including left-eye pixels and right-eye pixels, a three-dimensional controller which separates a first image signal into left-eye and right-eye image signals, outputs a second image signal such that the left-eye image signal is applied to the left-eye pixels during a left-eye frame, a black image signal corresponding to a black data is applied to the right-eye pixels during the left-eye frame, the black image signal is applied to the left-eye pixels during a right-eye frame, and the right-eye image signal is applied to the right-eye pixels during the right-eye frame, and an image display controller which controls the second image signal in response to a control signal, where the left-eye pixels are alternately arranged with the right-eye pixels in the unit of two pixels in a first direction and in the unit of a predetermined number of pixels in the second direction.
US09196219B1	Custom color spectrum for skin detection The implementations described include automatically detecting an object in a series of images, identifying that object as having a hand shape, obtaining color value samples from the object and utilizing those color values to generate a custom color spectrum from use in detecting and tracking a user's hand. In some implementations, the custom color spectrum may be periodically updated by obtaining additional color value samples of the user's hand and updating the custom color spectrum to include those color value samples.
US09196209B2	Charge recycling circuit A charge recycling circuit is configured to recycle charges which are discharged by a driving circuit during a discharge period and provide the recycled charges for charging the driving circuit during a charge period. Power consumption in the driving circuit may thus be reduced.
US09196206B2	Liquid crystal display In one embodiment of the present invention, each pixel includes first and second subpixels. CS bus lines connected to the respective storage capacitors of the first and second subpixels are electrically independent of each other. A CS voltage has a waveform that inverts its polarity at least once a frame, which includes a first subframe for sequentially scanning a series of odd rows and a second SF for sequentially scanning even rows that have been skipped during the first SF. A source signal voltage varies so as to have two frames or subframes with mutually opposite polarities. A CS voltage has a waveform that has quite opposite consequences on the effective voltage of a subpixel of a pixel connected to the jth scan line to be selected during the first subframe and on that of another subpixel of a pixel connected to the (j+1)th scan line to be selected during the second subframe. In this manner, the deterioration in display quality, which would be caused if either a source line inversion drive or a block inversion drive is applied to a multi-pixel technology, can be minimized.
US09196204B2	Image processing apparatus and image processing method An image processing apparatus includes an image display unit and a luminance control unit. The image display unit includes pixels arranged in a matrix, each of which is formed of a first sub-pixel, a second sub-pixel, a third sub-pixel, and a fourth sub-pixel, and performs image display. The luminance control unit adjusts a ratio between a generation amount of first luminance generated by the first sub-pixel, the second sub-pixel, and the third sub-pixel and a generation amount of second luminance generated by the fourth sub-pixel. Over all input tones, the luminance control unit makes the generation amount of the second luminance lower than the generation amount of the first luminance and generates the second luminance so that a function representing a luminance value of the second luminance is continuous.
US09196200B2	Method of establishing look-up table for electrophoretic display and device thereof A method of establishing a look-up table for an electrophoretic display is disclosed. The method is for establishing a plurality of driving waveforms of the electrophoretic display to the look-up table. The method includes dividing the plurality of driving waveforms to a plurality of time intervals according to a plurality of voltage values of the plurality of driving waveforms. The method also includes preparing a plurality of voltage waveform records according to the plurality of the voltage values and numbers of a unit times of the corresponding time intervals, and storing the plurality of voltage waveform records into the look-up table. Therefore, the storing capacity occupied by the look-up table of the electrophoretic display may be saved.
US09196196B2	Pixel and organic light emitting display device using the same There is provided an organic light emitting display device for providing a compensation period of a threshold voltage. The organic light emitting display device includes: a scan driver configured to supply a plurality of scan signals to a plurality of scan lines, each of the scan signals having a width greater than two horizontal periods; a data driver configured to supply a plurality of data signals to a plurality of data lines; and a pixel including an organic light emitting diode, a pixel circuit having a first transistor for controlling an amount of current supplied to the organic light emitting diode, and a compensation circuit configured to control a voltage of a gate electrode of the first transistor to compensate for deterioration of the organic light emitting diode; wherein the scan driver is configured to supply a current scan signal which partially overlaps in time with a previous scan signal.
US09196192B2	Display device, power control device, and driving method thereof A display device includes a plurality of pixels and a power supply controller that includes a first power supply source unit supplying a high power supply voltage, and a second power supply source unit supplying a low power supply voltage. The high power supply voltage is different from the low power supply voltage. The power supply controller connects one of the first and second power supply source units to the plurality of the pixels. The one of the first and second power supply source units is switched to another of the first and second power supply source units at a switching time, at which the one of the first and second power supply source units stops operation.
US09196186B2	Display device and method for driving display device A display device (10) includes a timing control section (13) and a signal line drive circuit (16), either of which receives a lower power supply voltage level than the other, and a level changing circuit (20) for changing an amplitude level (T) of a reset signal (B). The timing control section (13) and the level changing circuit (20) receive the reset signal (B). The level changing circuit (20) changes the amplitude level (T) of the supplied reset signal (B) and then supply, to the signal line drive circuit (16), a reset signal (Ba) with a converted amplitude level. This makes it possible to achieve an image display with low power consumption and a stable display quality.
US09196179B2	Transaction card with display of transportation system updates A method and system enables users of a system such as a mass transit system to receive status information about the system. The information may relate to one or more stops or vehicles along various routes of the system. The user is provided with a display device, and one or more readers are positioned throughout the system. The display device includes a display screen that displays system status information, a driving circuit, an antenna and an inductive coil. When the display device's inductive coil is in the presence of a proximate electromagnetic field and the antenna receives a data signal, the inductive coil delivers power to the driving circuit, and the driving circuit causes the display screen to display updated system status information.
US09196173B2	Visualizing the mood of a group of individuals Techniques are described for visualizing the mood of a group of individuals. In one example, a graphical display is divided into regions representing different emotions. Input indicative of an emotion is received from individuals located in an area of interest. As the input is received, a set of indicators is output in each of the regions of the graphical display. Each indicator represents a different one of the individuals who is experiencing the emotion associated with the region in which the indicator is displayed and is displayed with a color assigned to the emotion. The indicators are animated to move over time toward a center of the graphical display and are removed upon reaching the center of the graphical display. In this way, the graphical display depicts a current mood for the group and indicates a rate of change of each of the different emotions.
US09196171B2	3JCN music notation There is no staff in 3JCN Music Notation. Therefore, 3JCN Music Notation is very simple compare to Western Notation. A note in 3JCN Music Notation is represented by a lower case letter for the pitch class (a through g), preceded by the note's octave (1 through 11) and followed by the note's duration (a real number). For example, 6c1 is for note “c” in 6th octave (middle C) with 1 unit of duration.
US09196163B2	Driving support apparatus and driving support method There are provided a driving support apparatus and a driving support method in which the reliability can be improved. In the driving support apparatus, in a traveling direction of the host vehicle and a direction crossing the traveling direction, an intersection where the host vehicle and the moving object cross is predicted; a virtual TTC that it takes for the host vehicle to arrive at the intersection and a virtual TTV that it takes for the moving object to arrive at the intersection when the moving object moves in the direction crossing the traveling direction at a virtual speed which is set virtually, are respectively acquired; and the driving support in the host vehicle is implemented based on the relative relationship between the virtual TTC and the virtual TTV.
US09196158B2	Traffic management device and system A smart traffic control device transmits information to approaching vehicles regarding its current and future state enabling vehicles to control their speed to avoid arriving at the traffic control device until it permits the passage of traffic, thus avoiding stopping, idling and reaccelerating when reaching the traffic control device. In other embodiments the traffic control device or systems receives information from vehicles, transmitting it to other vehicles.
US09196152B2	System, method, and software for location assisted mapping and patient monitoring A system and method for location-based healthcare facility management including the steps of generating a map of the healthcare facility, receiving ongoing location data of a remote device positioned within the healthcare facility, receiving ongoing patient data associated with patients being monitored in the healthcare facility, and delivering a notification to the remote device based on the location data of the remote device at a particular time. The remote devices may be notified of alarming conditions and may be notified with the best route to use for arriving to the alarming condition. The remote devices may be updated with patient data and regional data associated with the regions in which they are located and patients located nearby.
US09196143B2	Mobile device, method and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for monitoring a vehicle path The invention discloses a mobile device for monitoring a vehicle path. The mobile device includes a setting module, a satellite-positioning module, a determination module, and an alarm module. The setting module is configured to set a preset route from a starting point to a destination. The satellite-positioning module is configured to receive a satellite-positioning signal. When the mobile device is located in a vehicle, the determination module is configured to determine whether the vehicle is driving along the preset route based on the satellite-positioning signal. When the vehicle deviates from the preset route for a default alarming time, the alarm module is configured to perform an alarm action.
US09196140B1	Bluetooth theft prevention Apparatus having corresponding methods comprise: a first Bluetooth device configured to determine identities of second Bluetooth devices that are within communication range of the first Bluetooth device based on Bluetooth signals exchanged between the first Bluetooth device and the second Bluetooth devices; and a processor configured to i) determine whether the second Bluetooth devices are allowed within the communication range of the first Bluetooth device based on the identities of the second Bluetooth devices, and ii) provide an alarm indication responsive to the processor determining that any of the second Bluetooth devices are not allowed within the communication range of the first Bluetooth device. Apparatus also comprise the second Bluetooth devices.
US09196130B2	Gaming system and method providing a matching game having a player-adjustable volatility Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a gaming system and method providing a matching game having a player-adjustable volatility. Generally, in various embodiments, the gaming system enables a player to select one of a plurality of different sets of symbols for the gaming system to employ for a play of the matching game. The sets of symbols include different characteristics or features such that the volatility of the matching game differs depending on which particular set of symbols the player selects for the play of the matching game. The gaming system of the present disclosure thus enables the player to tailor the volatility of the matching game to the player's liking by selecting a particular set of symbols.
US09196129B2	Gaming system, gaming device and method for providing a strategy game having a plurality of awards The disclosed gaming system, gaming device and method provide a game including a plurality of awards, each of the awards associated with a plurality of award characteristics, including an award value and a level of difficulty. Based at least in part on the award characteristics associated with the awards, a player strategically chooses which award or awards to play for (i.e., which award or awards to attempt to collect) in the game. In certain multiplayer embodiments, two or more players can work together to obtain awards.
US09196117B2	Game support system and method A game support system includes a DB server for storing in a DB user information including a user's unique identification and the user's own money, a web server for posting information about a plurality of game rooms, and a game processing server for admitting the user to a game room selected by the user from among the plurality of game rooms and processing a game in the selected game room. The game support system further includes a participation money designation server for providing an input window to allow the user to designate a part of the user's own money as participation money required for participation in the selected game room. The system, for example, allows the user to continue to play a game without moving out to another portal or game site.
US09196115B1	Performance based basketball scoring system An automated, replicable, process-based original concept that provides a self-validating, defined quantification of the relevance of one or more active physical efforts performed by two or more different competing real-life basketball teams engaged in at least one real-life basketball contest or its adaptations.
US09196108B2	Apparatus and method of maintaining and repairing banknote validator using a network There is provided an apparatus and a method of maintaining, repairing and/or optimizing a banknote validator using a network. The apparatus includes a banknote validator configured to count banknotes or determine genuineness or fitness of the banknotes, a wired or wireless network connection unit configured to relay or transmit one or more first data items and/or software, first data items and software updating, maintaining and/or repairing the banknote valuator and including security information, and a server configured to receive one or more second data items and software version information from the banknote validator and optionally transmit maintenance and repair results to the banknote validator through the wired or wireless network connection unit. The wired or wireless network connection unit may comprise a predetermined smart device or a web adjuster.
US09196105B2	Method of operating an election ballot printing system A method includes receiving a voter list and one or more different types of ballot images. The method includes receiving a side file which associates the ballot images with the voters of the voter list, and using a control program to access the side file and select one of the ballot images which corresponds to a selected voter of the voter list. A print job is formed which includes the selected ballot image.
US09196096B2	3D-consistent 2D manipulation of images One embodiment involves receiving selection of a first quadrilateral and a second quadrilateral in an image being edited in an image editing application. An edge of the first quadrilateral may be shared with an edge of the second quadrilateral. In this embodiment, one or more manipulations associated with the first quadrilateral and/or the second quadrilateral may be received. In response to the received manipulation(s), an updated view of the image is generated or otherwise displayed according to one embodiment. The updated view may be based at least in part on the image, the received manipulation(s), and/or one or more constraints. For example, the updated view may be based at least in part on a three-dimensional scene constraint. In embodiments, the updated view is consistent with a three-dimensional scene in the image. In some embodiments, the updated view is generated in real-time or substantially real-time.
US09196093B2	Information presentation device, digital camera, head mount display, projector, information presentation method and non-transitory computer readable medium A digital camera functioning as an information presentation device is provided with a CG superimposition unit 17 which functions so that a virtual object is superimposed on a real space image captured by an imaging element 3, and is displayed on a display unit 23; a visual line detection unit 12 which detects a visual line of a person included in the real space image captured by the imaging element 3; and a superimposing position determination unit 11 which determines a superimposing position of the virtual object on the basis of the visual line detected by the visual line detection unit 12.
US09196083B2	Time-continuous collision detection using 3D rasterization A PCS culling technique may be augmented utilizing a motion blur (three-dimensional) rasterizer. The culling technique can be used for continuous collision detection.
US09196080B2	Medial axis decomposition of 2D objects to synthesize binocular depth A computer-based method for generating a stereoscopic image from a two dimensional (2D) image such as a 2D cell animation. An object is selected in the 2D image, such as an animated character, and is stored in memory as the base image. With an erosion engine, the selected object is eroded to generate a set of eroded versions of the base image corresponding to a number of erosion levels. Each erosion level image may be formed by eroding or removing a set of outer or edge pixels from the image on the prior level. The method continues with calculating a parallax shift value for each of the eroded versions of the base image. An alternate eye image is then generated by compositing the set of eroded versions along with the base image. The eroded versions are horizontally offset from the base image by the level-specific parallax shift values.
US09196077B1	Efficient inter-processor communication in ray tracing Novel method and system for distributed database ray-tracing is presented, based on modular mapping of scene-data among processors. Its inherent properties include matching between geographical proximity in the scene with communication proximity between processors.
US09196075B2	Animation of computer-generated display components of user interfaces and content items Animation of computer-generated display components of user interfaces and content items is provided. An animation application or engine creates images of individual display components (e.g., bitmap images) and places those images on animation layers. Animation behaviors may be specified for the layers to indicate how the layers and associated display component images animate or behave when their properties change (e.g., a movement of an object contained on a layer), as well as, to change properties on layers in order to trigger animations (e.g., an animation that causes an object to rotate). In order to achieve high animation frame rates, the animation application may utilize three processing threads, including a user interface thread, a compositor thread and a rendering thread. Display behavior may be optimized and controlled by utilizing a declarative markup language, such as the Extensible Markup Language, for defining display behavior functionality and properties.
US09196069B2	Digital image manipulation There is disclosed a method for seamlessly replacing areas in a digital image with corresponding data from temporally close digital images depicting substantially the same scene. The method uses localized image registration error minimization over a fixed preliminary boundary. A least cost closed path which constitutes a boundary for the area to be replaced is calculated using dynamic programming. The replacement area is blended such that image data information from one image is seamlessly replaced with image data information from another image.
US09196063B2	Super-resolution apparatus and method An image-based super-resolution method using a cone-beam-based line-of-response (LOR) reconfiguration in a positron emission tomography (PET) image is provided. That is, an apparatus and method for reconfiguring a super-resolution PET image using a cone-beam-based LOR reconfiguration is provided.
US09196056B2	Electro-optical system and method for analyzing images of a scene to identify the presence of a target color An electro-optical system and method are provided for analyzing images of a scene to identify the presence of a target color, such as human skin tones. The system includes a thermal detector for obtaining a thermal image of the scene within a thermal waveband. The system also includes at least one additional detector for obtaining at least one additional image of the scene at an additional waveband different from the thermal waveband. The system also includes a controller. The controller is configured to: process the thermal image to identify portions of the scene having a temperature exceeding a threshold value; process the additional image to identify portions of the scene having a target color; and output a positive response if a same portion of the scene is identified in the thermal image and the additional image.
US09196052B1	System for viewing contents in a burial vault An improved burial vault of the type having a stationary portion including a floor panel, a pair of side panels extending upwardly from the floor panel of the stationary portion, a head piece extending upwardly from the floor panel of the stationary portion, a foot piece extending upwardly from the floor panel of the stationary portion, and an open top, and a pivoting portion including a lid pivotally attached to one side panel of the stationary portion. The improvement includes a camera. The improvement further includes the camera being disposed within the lid of the pivoting portion so as to allow remote viewing of the contents of the improved burial vault while the improved burial vault is partially buried in the ground so as to allow access and servicing of the camera.
US09196050B2	Image-based bridge identification and boundary detection Systems and methods for image-based bridge identification and boundary detection are provided. One example method includes determining, by one or more computing devices, a wide bridge mask and a narrow bridge mask based at least in part on a road mask and a water mask. The method includes selecting, by the one or more computing devices, a portion of an image depicting a bridge based at least in part on the wide bridge mask and the narrow bridge mask. The method includes identifying, by the one or more computing devices, a plurality of line features included in the portion of the image depicting the bridge. The method includes determining, by the one or more computing devices, a bridge boundary in the portion of the image based at least in part on the plurality of line features. One example system includes a bridge image extraction module and a bridge boundary determination module.
US09196049B2	Method and system for regression-based 4D mitral valve segmentation from 2D+t magnetic resonance imaging slices A system and method for regression-based segmentation of the mitral valve in 2D+t cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) slices is disclosed. The 2D+t CMR slices are acquired according to a mitral valve-specific acquisition protocol introduced herein. A set of mitral valve landmarks is detected in each 2D CMR slice and mitral valve contours are estimated in each 2D CMR slice based on the detected landmarks. A full mitral valve model is reconstructed from the mitral valve contours estimated in the 2D CMR slices using a trained regression model. Each 2D CMR slice may be a cine image acquired over a full cardiac cycle. In this case, the segmentation method reconstructs a patient-specific 4D dynamic mitral valve model from the 2D+t CMR image data.
US09196034B2	Method of fast analysis of the relief elements featuring on the internal surface of a tyre In a method of fast analysis of relief elements featuring on an inner surface of a tire, a three-dimensional image of the surface is captured, and each pixel of the image is assigned a greyscale value proportional to a topographical elevation of a point corresponding to the pixel, so as to obtain a starting image. The image is transformed into an orthogonal reference frame (OXY) in which an abscissa axis (OX) represents circumferential values and an ordinate axis (OY) represents radial values. Each point of the surface, i.e., each pixel, is assigned an altitude gradient value (f(p)) by comparing an elevation of the point with an elevation of a discrete and reduced number of points arranged on a straight line passing through a pixel being considered (p) and oriented in a circumferential direction.
US09196031B2	Appearance inspection apparatus and method An appearance inspection apparatus comprises an inspection part for detecting a defect of a pattern on the basis of an image of a surface of a substrate on which the pattern is formed, which is captured by an imaging part. The inspection part comprises an image transfer part for transferring image data which is obtained by imaging a region to be inspected on the substrate and stored in an image storing memory by the imaging part to a plurality of image processing memories and a plurality of GPUs for taking image data corresponding to respective regions to be processed out of transferred image data which are transferred to the image processing memories by the image transfer part and performing an inspection process for defect detection on the image data. The inspection part further comprises an image processing control part for acquiring inspection tasks each prescribing inspection details from an inspection task holding part and controlling the plurality of GPUs in accordance with the inspection tasks, respectively, independently of the image transfer by the image transfer part.
US09196029B2	Threshold setting device for setting threshold used in binarization process, object detection device, threshold setting method, and computer readable storage medium A threshold setting device, an object detection device, a threshold setting method, and a computer readable storage medium are shown. According to one implementation, the threshold setting device includes, an image acquisition unit, a ratio acquisition unit, and a setting unit. The image acquisition unit acquires an image including a specific object. The ratio acquisition unit acquires ratio information related to a ratio of a plurality of colors present in the specific object. The setting unit sets, based on the ratio information acquired by the ratio acquisition unit, a threshold used in a binarization process performed on the image including the specific object acquired by the image acquisition unit.
US09196018B2	No-reference spatial aliasing measure for digital image resizing A method includes identifying an area in an image that is associated with strong directional energy. The method further includes determining a first estimate of signal energy for the area and a second estimate of aliasing energy for the area. The method further includes estimating a severity of an aliasing error of the image based on the first estimate and the second estimate.
US09196005B2	Vending kiosk user interface systems and methods An exemplary method includes a computer-implemented vending kiosk user interface system 1) receiving a camera image captured by a mobile device, the camera image including a visual representation of a vending kiosk located within a vicinity of the mobile device, 2) detecting the visual representation of the vending kiosk within the camera image, 3) generating, based on the detecting of the visual representation of the vending kiosk within the camera image, an augmented reality image that includes a combination of camera image content included in the camera image and virtual content associated with a vending service, and 4) directing the mobile device to display the augmented reality image. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.
US09195999B2	Methods and systems for routing e-invoices Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media are provided for routing electronic invoices. The computer system is in data communication with a network. The computer system is programmed to receive an electronic invoice in a first electronic invoice format via the network, translate the electronic invoice from the first electronic invoice format to an intermediary electronic invoice format, and identify, using the processor, a second electronic invoice format that is different than the first electronic invoice format. The computer system is further programmed to translate the electronic invoice from the intermediary electronic invoice format to the second electronic invoice format and transmit the electronic invoice in the second electronic invoice format via the network.
US09195991B2	Display of user selected advertising content in a digital environment A system and method for placing an advertisement in a digital environment based upon a user's choice, subject to certain predetermined parameters, is disclosed. Through the method, a user is assigned a rating based upon, for example, his performance in a game. A list of advertisements which correspond to that rating is displayed to the user, who may then select a desired advertisement from the list. The selected advertisement is then displayed in the digital environment. Reports may be generated based upon the advertisements selected and the number of selections and/or impressions (e.g., uses or viewings) by the user, which may be sent to advertisers.
US09195983B2	System and method for a secure cardholder load and storage device A system for a secure cardholder and storage device includes a mobile communication device and a secure card transporter (SCT). The SCT includes a Near Field Communication (NFC) chip, a microprocessor, a magnetic stripe card reader, a contact chip card reader, a contactless card reader, an audio jack interface and a micro-USB interface. The SCT interfaces with the mobile communication device via the audio jack interface or the micro-USB interface, and the SCT captures payment card data and transmits the captured payment card data to a merchant point of sale (POS) checkout system both in the physical and virtual environments. The system provides convenient buying experience for buyers, and secure and informative transaction for sellers.
US09195982B2	System and method for interfacing a client device with a point of sale system An information technology system taking the form of a management console, central server, point of sale system, software running on a point of sale system and software running on a customer's mobile phone. The software on the customer's mobile phone lets a customer interact with the point of sale system, allowing the customer to view a pending economic transaction, optionally add or remove items to the transaction, and pay for the transaction using payment information stored on the mobile phone.
US09195977B2	System and method for remote deposit system Described is a method and system for a remote deposit system. The method comprises receiving facsimile data corresponding to facsimile of a plurality of checks, constructing digitized images of the checks as a function of the facsimile data, gathering check data from each of the digitized images, and processing the check data according to a check processing procedure to settle transactions referenced by each of the checks.
US09195974B2	Remote deposit capture compatible check image generation A check image generator application generates a remote deposit capture RDC compatible check image. The RDC compatible check image is sent from a sender mobile device to a recipient mobile device. The RDC compatible check image may pass through a server and may be encrypted. The recipient mobile device receives the RDC compatible check image and forwards it to a financial institution for deposit.
US09195949B2	Data analysis and predictive systems and related methodologies A method, computer system, and computer memory medium optimizing a transductive model Mx suitable for use in data analysis and for determining a prognostic outcome specific to a particular subject are disclosed. The particular subject may be represented by an input vector, which includes a number of variable features in relation to a scenario of interest. Samples from a global dataset D also having the same features relating to the scenario and for which the outcome is known are determined. In an embodiment, a subset of the variable features within a neighborhood formed by the samples are ranked in order of importance to an outcome. The prognostic transductive model is then created based, at least in part, on the subset, the ranking, and the neighborhood. The subset and the neighborhood are then optimized until the accuracy of the transductive model is maximized.
US09195948B2	Clinical diagnosis support method and system based on hierarchical fuzzy inference technology Disclosed is a clinical diagnosis supporting method and system based on hierarchical fuzzy inference. The clinical diagnosis supporting method includes the steps of: (a) extracting check data of a plurality of check items for each of a plurality of patients from a respective check item database; (b) selecting a characteristic from the check data of each of the check items; (c) hierarchical fuzzy-inferring the check data from which the characteristic is selected, for each check item; (d) extracting a check opinion for each disease based on an output value of the fuzzy inference for each check item; and (e) making a synthetic clinical estimation based on the extracted check opinion.
US09195944B1	Scoring site quality Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for determining site quality scores. In one aspect, a method includes obtaining a plurality of measurements of durations of user visits to resources included in a particular site; and determining a site quality score for the particular site based at least in part on the plurality of measurements, wherein determining the site quality score for the particular site comprises computing a statistical measure from the plurality of measurements.
US09195940B2	Jabba-type override for correcting or improving output of a model Example methods, apparatuses, or articles of manufacture are disclosed that may be implemented, in whole or in part, using one or more computing devices to facilitate or otherwise support one or more processes or operations for a Jabba-type override for correcting or improving output of a model, such as a machine-learned model, for example.
US09195933B2	Electronic circuit and electronic device including the same A counter includes: a count processing circuit including a nonvolatile register; a regulator receiving voltage from a direct current power supply, generating power supply voltage based on the received voltage for the count processing circuit, and supplying the power supply voltage to the count processing circuit; and a delay circuit receiving the power supply voltage and supplying a count signal to the count processing circuit after the power supply voltage is supplied to the count processing circuit. After having received the power supply voltage from the regulator, the count processing circuit updates a count value in response to the count signal and holds the updated count value in the nonvolatile register in a non-volatile manner.
US09195922B2	Image forming device that forms color images by superposing a plurality of images In an image forming device, a processor extracts a fine line region from image data, the fine line region including at least one of characters and lines; determines whether an area of the fine line region is greater than a first prescribed quantity; sets an execution condition to include a first execution condition and a second execution condition, the first execution condition being applied where the area is greater than the first prescribed quantity and being more likely to be met than the second execution condition; forms registration marks for two different colors in response to determination that a reference value set for a combination of the two different colors meets the first execution condition or the second execution condition whichever is applicable in terms of the area; and adjust image-forming positions corresponding to the two different colors subject to correction of misregistration.
US09195918B2	Light scanning device capable of executing automatic light amount control and image forming apparatus equipped with the same A light scanning device that performs rapid scanning synchronization timing detection to thereby enable automatic light amount control to be executed rapidly and with high accuracy. A light amount sensor disposed on a scanning line of the laser light receives the laser light. A controller controls the timing of emission by the laser emitting device and a light amount of the laser light based on image data, according to an output from the light amount sensor. A temperature sensor detects the temperature of the laser emitting device or in the light scanning device. A storage section stores data indicative of a relationship between temperature, current supplied to the laser emitting device, and light amount. A controller controls current to be supplied to the laser emitting device based on temperature detected by the temperature detecting unit and data stored in the storage section.
US09195914B2	Construction zone sign detection Methods and systems for detection of a construction zone sign are described. A computing device, configured to control the vehicle, may be configured to receive, from an image-capture device coupled to the computing device, images of a vicinity of the road on which the vehicle is travelling. Also, the computing device may be configured to determine image portions in the images that may depict sides of the road at a predetermined height range. Further, the computing device may be configured to detect a construction zone sign in the image portions, and determine a type of the construction zone sign. Accordingly, the computing device may be configured to modify a control strategy associated with a driving behavior of the vehicle; and control the vehicle based on the modified control strategy.
US09195912B1	Face annotation method and a face annotation system A face annotation method and a face annotation system adapted for a current owner to annotate contacts in online social networks (OSNs) are provided. The face annotation method includes: providing a Hierarchical Database Access (HDA) architecture for each member according to various social network contexts; providing a Fused Face Recognition (FFR) unit which uses an Adaboost algorithm to fuse a plurality types of base classifiers; and constructing a Face Recognizer by integrating the HDA architecture and the corresponding FFR unit for the owner and each member via respective types of the social network contexts; and selecting suitable personalized Face Recognizers and merging multiple personalized Face Recognizer results by using at least two collaborative FR strategies.
US09195907B1	Method for omnidirectional processing of 2D images including recognizable characters The invention is a method for omnidirectional recognition of recognizable characters in a captured two-dimensional image. An optical reader configured in accordance with the invention searches for pixel groupings in a starburst pattern, and subjects located pixel groupings to a preliminary edge crawling process which records the pixel position of the grouping's edge and records the count of edge pixels. If two similar-sized pixel groupings are located that are of sizes sufficient to potentially represent recognizable characters, then the reader launches “alignment rails” at pixel positions substantially parallel to a centerline connecting the center points of the two similarly sized groupings. A reader according to the invention searches for additional recognizable characters within the rail area, and subjects each located pixel grouping within the rail area to a shape-characterizing edge crawling process for developing data that characterizes the shape of a pixel grouping's edge. After adjusting the orientation representation of the shape-characterizing data the reader compares the developed shape-characterizing data to previously stored shape-characterizing data to determine the character represented by the grouping on the basis of the best fit data.
US09195904B1	Method for detecting objects in stereo images A method detects an object in a pair of stereo images acquired of a scene, by first generating a cost volume from the pair of stereo images, wherein the cost volume includes matching costs for a range of disparity values, for each pixel the stereo images, between the stereo images in the pair. Feature vectors are determined from sub-images in the cost volume using a feature function of the disparity values with a minimal accumulated cost within regions inside the sub-images. Then, a classifier is appled to the feature vectors to detect whether the sub-image includes the object.
US09195898B2	Systems and methods for image recognition using mobile devices Implementations relate to systems and methods for real-time image recognition and mobile visual searching. A mobile device, such as a cellular phone, acquires an image and pre-processes the acquired image to generate a visual search query based on objects detected in the acquired image. The visual search query includes the acquired image or a query image extracted therefrom and metadata associated with the detected objects. The mobile device wirelessly communicates the visual search query to a remote server, and in response to the visual search query, the remote server recognizes an object in the query image based on the associated metadata. The remote server then generates information content based on the recognized object and communicates the information content to the mobile device to be presented via the mobile device.
US09195897B2	Media processing device, media processing system, and control method of a media processing device A media processing device 1 has an MICR reader 17 that reads magnetic ink characters recorded on a check; an interface 32 that communicates with a web browser; and a control unit 30 that controls the MICR reader 17 to read magnetic ink characters recorded on the check based on control data received from the web browser, and sends data based on the read result of the MICR reader 17 to the web browser.
US09195895B1	Systems and methods for detecting traffic signs Systems and methods are provided for detecting traffic signs. In one implementation, a traffic sign detection system for a vehicle include at least one image capture device configured to acquire at least one image of a scene including a traffic sign ahead of the vehicle. The traffic sign detection system also includes a data interface and at least one processing device programmed to receive the at least one image via the data interface, transform the at least one image, sample the transformed at least one image to generate a plurality of images having different sizes, convolve each of the plurality of images with a template image, compare each pixel value of each convolved image to a predetermined threshold, and select local maxima of pixel values within local regions of each convolved image as attention candidates, the local maxima being greater than the predetermined threshold.
US09195893B2	Biometric matching technology Biometric matching technology, in which a watch list is managed, multiple images of a potential suspect are accessed, and parallel pre-processing of the multiple images is controlled. Based on the pre-processing, an image of the potential suspect to use in matching against the watch list is determined and the determined image is used to search sorted biometric data included in the watch list. A subset of persons from the watch list is identified based on the search and parallel analysis of the determined image of the potential suspect against detailed biometric data associated with the subset of persons in the watch list is controlled. Based on the parallel analysis, it is determined whether the potential suspect matches a person in the watch list and a result is outputted based on the determination.
US09195891B2	Method of predicting crop yield loss due to n-deficiency A method for determining the yield loss of a crop using remote sensor data is described. The yield loss is determined using the reflectivity of green light by the crop canopy measured from remote sensor data such as an aerial photograph that is digitized and spatially referenced to the field's longitude and latitude. Green pixel values from the aerial photograph, expressed relative to green pixel values from well-fertilized areas of the field, are transformed to yield losses using a linear transformation that was developed using empirical data. A similar method is described to determine recommended nitrogen fertilization rates for the crop fields. The yield loss data is useful for nitrogen fertilization management, as it allows a producer of crops to weigh the expense of fertilization against the loss of revenue due to yield loss.
US09195888B2	Document registration apparatus and non-transitory computer readable medium A document registration apparatus includes a receiving unit that receives a request for registration of a registration candidate document from a new registrant, a word extracting unit that extracts a word from the registration candidate document, a registrant information acquiring unit that acquires information on the new registrant, an associating unit that associates the extracted word with a group to which the new registrant belongs, a first storage unit that stores history information, a second storage unit that stores an identifier of a previous registrant and a group to which the previous registrant has belonged, an extracting unit that extracts an identifier of a previous registrant who registered a word identical to the extracted word, and extracts a group to which the previous registrant has belonged, a registration permission determining unit that determines whether to allow registration, and a document registering unit that registers the registration candidate document.
US09195866B1	Systems and methods for tracking subjects A radio frequency identification (RFID) network and methods thereof for tracking subjects in a closed environment includes distributing RFID readers across the environment, at least some being at environment entry points. Readers have unique reader identifiers and communicate with a computer system. These identifiers and reader locations are stored. The ingress and/or egress of subjects bearing passive RFID tags is acquired by reading the unique subject identifiers off the tags from up to forty feet along with the reader identifiers of the readers making the readings. This informs a map comprising positions, on an environment diagram, of the subjects. The status of the readers is maintained by receiving and analyzing status signals from the readers. A subject data store is maintained and includes the ingress/egress data and electronic addresses of the subjects. An instruction set data store, each set corresponding to one of a plurality of events, is also maintained.
US09195854B2	System and method for controlling the on and off state of features at runtime Methods and systems are provided for turning on and off features at run time. The method includes providing a unique enabling predicate (e.g., an “if enabled” statement) for one or more executable features (blocks of code), configuring a permissions library, and caching the configured permissions library. The method further includes interrogating the cache with the first “if enabled” predicate, executing the block of code (feature) if the cache yields “true” for the requesting user, and not executing the code block if the cache yields “false” for the requesting user.
US09195851B1	Offloading encryption to the client Exemplary methods for offloading encryption to a client include receiving from a first client a first encrypted data and a corresponding first encrypted key, and decrypting the first encrypted key to recover a first key, without decrypting the first encrypted data. In one embodiment, the methods further include encrypting the first key using a second key to create a second encrypted key, wherein the second key is available only to the storage system, and storing the second encrypted key and the first encrypted data as received, without having to decrypt and re-encrypt the first encrypted data.
US09195846B2	Access grants Provided are, among other things, systems, methods, apparatuses and techniques for storing access grants. In one implementation, a blinding factor and access information for accessing a restricted object are obtained; blinded access information is generated for the restricted object based on the access information and the blinding factor; and an anchor node is stored into a data store, with the anchor node being accessible by submission of an identifier, the anchor node at least one of containing or referring to sufficient information to obtain access to the blinding factor and the blinded access information, and the identifier for the anchor node being independent of the blinding factor.
US09195835B2	System and method for initializing tokens in a dictionary encryption scheme Computer systems and applications are provided for encrypting data in a manner which preserves the ability to process the encrypted data. The method includes arranging a plurality of plaintext symbols in lexicographical order; defining respective first and second subsets of the lexicographically arranged symbols; defining a first and a second set of random tokens for use with the first and second subsets of symbols, respectively; adding a first random constant value to each token in the first set of random tokens; adding a second random constant value to each token in the second set of random tokens; defining the first set of random tokens comprises establishing a first average distance between tokens; and defining the second set of random tokens comprises establishing a second average distance between tokens; wherein the second average distance is different than the first average distance, and the second random constant value is greater than the first random constant value.
US09195833B2	System and method for implementing application policies among development environments In a system for facilitating distributed security and vulnerability testing of a software application, each development sandbox in a set of sandboxes receives a portion of the entire application, and the received portion may be tested based on an application-level security policy to obtain a pass/fail result. The portion of the application corresponding to a certain sandbox may be modified and rescanned (i.e., retested) until the modifications, i.e., development achieves functional and quality requirements, and a pass result is obtained. Thereafter, the scan results are promoted to a policy sandbox, where a compliance result for the entire software application can be obtained based on, at least in part, the promoted results. Other sandboxes may also perform their respective pass/fail testing using the promoted results, thus minimizing the need for synchronizing the code changes in different sandboxes before testing for security policy in any sandbox and/or during application-level scanning.
US09195831B1	Verified boot A user-provided keystore may be utilized in a boot process to verify a boot image as disclosed herein. A device may be determined to be in a locked or verified state. A selected keystore may be determined to not verify against a first key such as a root key. A user may provide a keystore to a device. The system may display a prompt to the user which asks whether the user would like to continue to boot or not, if the system determines that the keystore does not verify against the first key. The user may respond to the prompt by indicating a desire to continue booting. The system may determine that the boot image verifies against the keystore and finish booting the device. Thus, the prompt may alert the user to a threat to the integrity of the boot process or device.
US09195819B2	Methods and systems for verifying ownership of a physical work or facilitating access to an electronic resource associated with a physical work A method and system for allowing owners of a physical work, such as a book, to purchase an electronic version of the work by validating their ownership of the work using a personal electronic device, such as a smartphone, and marking the work. The owner is instructed to mark the work and to capture camera images of the work. The images are analyzed to identify the work, determine whether the work has been previously marked, and to verify that the work has been marked by the owner. Analysis may be performed remotely by a server in communication with the personal electronic device. Various means for authenticating ownership of the work are also disclosed, including 3D analysis, page curvature analysis, concurrent still image and video capture, detection of use of a video display to spoof the work, and geofencing.
US09195818B2	Adaptive virtual keyboard for handheld device In various embodiments, the size, shape, and arrangement of keys on a virtual keyboard may be determined based on touchscreen contacts made by the user. Further, the actual contact patch made by the user may be analyzed to interpret which point of contact was intended, and other factors such as spelling and context may also be considered. These factors may be determined based on a calibration session and/or on continuing inputs during operation of the keyboard, and applied to future operational interpretations of the touchscreen contacts.
US09195813B2	Secure gesture Aspects of the disclosure provide a system that includes a protected module, an input module and a gesture engine. The protected module is configured to be accessible based on a specific gesture of a user predetermined to have a right to access the protected module. The input module is configured to receive an input gesture from a requester to access the protected module. The gesture engine is configured to be trained to process the input gesture in order to grant/deny an access to the protected module by the requester.
US09195802B2	Dynamic critical access override for medication dispensing apparatuses A critical access override list may be generated dynamically based on patient profile information for a single patient or a group of patients. A single patient or group of patients is initially identified. Patient profile information for the patient or group of patients is accessed. The patient profile information is analyzed, and medications are selected for critical access override. The selected medications are added to a critical access override list available to a medication dispensing apparatus to provide quicker access to the medications for emergency situation purposes via critical access override dispensing in which fewer steps are performed than normal medication dispensing events.
US09195801B1	Systems and methods for treatment planning based on plaque progression and regression curves Systems and methods are disclosed for evaluating a patient with vascular disease. One method includes receiving patient-specific data regarding a geometry of the patient's vasculature; creating an anatomic model representing at least a portion of a location of disease in the patient's vasculature based on the received patient-specific data; identifying one or more changes in geometry of the anatomic model based on a modeled progression or regression of disease at the location; calculating one or more values of a blood flow characteristic within the patient's vasculature using a computational model based on the identified one or more changes in geometry of the anatomic model; and generating an electronic graphical display of a relationship between the one or more values of the calculated blood flow characteristic and the identified one or more changes in geometry of the anatomic model.
US09195788B2	Resource-oriented method of power analysis for embedded system The present invention provides a method for efficient resource-oriented power evaluation. By mapping instructions to microarchitecture components, both advantages of high-level simulation performance and fine-grained power model are obtained. The present invention effectively reduces simulation runtime overhead and provides an accurate power estimation result. The present invention is nearly as accurate as gate-level simulators, with an error rate of less than 1.2 while achieving simulation speeds of up to 20 MIPS, five orders faster than a commercial gate-level simulator. By using the present invention, it is easy to analyze power consumption profile and peak power.
US09195787B2	Methods and apparatus for modeling and simulating spintronic integrated circuits Described are apparatus and method for simulating spintronic integrated circuit (SPINIC), the method comprising: generating a spin netlist indicating connections of spin nodes of spin circuits and nodes of general circuits; and modifying a modified nodal analysis (MNA) matrix for general circuits to generate a spin MNA matrix for solving spin circuits and general circuits of the spin netlist.
US09195786B2	Hardware simulation controller, system and method for functional verification Systems and methods of using hardware to simulate software, specifically the semantic operations defined in HDL simulation languages. Traditional software HDL simulation kernel operations of advancing time, activating threads in response to notified events, and scheduling those threads of execution are handled via a simulation controller. The simulation controller is comprised of a timing wheel, an event-processor, a thread/process dispatch engine, a token processor, and a resource-allocator. These components work together with a control logic component to perform the semantic operations of an HDL software kernel.
US09195776B2	Systems and methods of multisite administrator logging A change manager module in communication with a website receives copies of instructions to change the content or configuration of the website. These instructions are formatted into an entry for a log and stored in a log associated with the website. The entry may contain identifiers for the entry, the party that requested the change, and the website, as well as a timestamp of the time of the change, and information identifying a changed feature of the website and a changed state of the changed feature. A copy of the log entry is also transmitted to a central database in a separate memory from the memory containing the website, which stores entries from multiple websites for viewing and organizing. Entries reflecting undesired changes may then be reverted based on the data in the log entries.
US09195775B2	System and method for managing and/or rendering internet multimedia content in a network A system and a method render internet multimedia content in a network using an application to render the internet multimedia content and/or locally stored multimedia content on one or more rendering devices in the network. The application may provide web browser functions, such as, for example, receiving, processing, decoding and/or rendering the internet multimedia content. The application may have an enhanced user interface which may enable a user to select the internet multimedia content and a rendering device in the network, send the internet multimedia content to the rendering device and/or control rendering of the internet multimedia content on the rendering device.

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