Document	Document Title
US09209269B2	Semiconductor structure and method for manufacturing the same A method for manufacturing a semiconductor structure comprises following steps: providing an SOI substrate, forming a gate stack on the SOI substrate, forming sidewall spacers on sidewalls of the gate stack, and forming source/drain regions on each side of the gate stack; depositing a first metal layer on surfaces of an entire semiconductor structure, and then removing the first metal layer; forming an amorphous semiconductor layer on surfaces of the source/drain regions; depositing a second metal layer on surfaces of the entire semiconductor structure, and then removing the second metal layer; and annealing the semiconductor structure. Accordingly, the present invention further provides a semiconductor structure. The present invention is capable of effectively reducing contact resistance at source/drain regions.
US09209255B2	Semiconductor device including an electrode structure formed on nitride semiconductor layers According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a nitride semiconductor layer, a first electrode provided on the layer, a second electrode provided on the layer, a insulating film provided on the layer, a first control electrode provided on the film, and a conductor provided on the film. The first control electrode includes a first edge, and a second edge. The first edge is provided between the second edge and the first electrode. The conductor includes a first portion and a third edge positioned between the first portion and the first electrode. An electric field strength at a first region is substantially equal to an electric field strength at a second region. The first region overlaps the first edge when projected onto a plane perpendicular to a stacking direction. The second region overlaps the third edge when projected onto the plane.
US09209254B2	Structure and manufacturing method of the structure, and gallium nitride-based semiconductor light-emitting device using the structure and manufacturing method of the device In a structure including a gallium nitride-based semiconductor having an m-plane as a principal plane, and a metal layer provided on the principal plane, the principal plane has an n-type conductivity. An interface between the gallium nitride-based semiconductor and the metal layer contains oxygen. The metal layer includes a crystal grain extending form a lower surface to an upper surface of the metal layer.
US09209253B2	Nitride based semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof A nitride based semiconductor device includes a first metallic junction layer, a Schottky junction layer on the first metallic junction layer, a first group III nitride semiconductor layer on the Schottky junction layer, a first insulating pattern layer on the first group III nitride semiconductor layer, the first insulating layer pattern including curved protrusions, a second group III nitride semiconductor layer laterally grown on the first group III nitride semiconductor layer, a first type group III nitride semiconductor layer on the second group III nitride semiconductor layer, the first type group III nitride semiconductor layer being simultaneously doped with aluminum (Al) and silicon (Si), an ohmic junction layer formed on the first type group III nitride semiconductor layer, a second metallic junction layer on the ohmic junction layer, and a metallic supporting substrate on the second metallic junction layer.
US09209251B2	Semiconductor device having switching transistor that includes oxide semiconductor material One object is to provide a new semiconductor device whose standby power is sufficiently reduced. The semiconductor device includes a first power supply terminal, a second power supply terminal, a switching transistor using an oxide semiconductor material and an integrated circuit. The first power supply terminal is electrically connected to one of a source terminal and a drain terminal of the switching transistor. The other of the source terminal and the drain terminal of the switching transistor is electrically connected to one terminal of the integrated circuit. The other terminal of the integrated circuit is electrically connected to the second power supply terminal.
US09209249B2	Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same To realize a semiconductor device having a power MOSFET satisfying both a low conduction resistance and a high junction breakdown voltage by a simple and easy manufacturing method. Over an n-type substrate, a p-type epitaxial layer of a low concentration is formed, and, in an active part, a plurality of active regions is defined by a plurality of trenches that is formed in the epitaxial layer and extends in a first direction with first intervals in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. In the epitaxial layer between the adjacent trenches, an n-type diffusion region that functions as a drain offset layer is formed, and, in the epitaxial layer between a side wall of the trench and the n-type diffusion region, a p-type diffusion region connected with a channel region (the p-type diffusion region) is formed, to constitute a super junction structure. Further, by forming an n-type diffusion region in the epitaxial layer, having a prescribed width from a side wall of a trench lying in the end part of the active part toward an outer periphery part, to achieve the improvement of a drain breakdown voltage.
US09209248B2	Power transistor A power transistor includes a number of transistor cells. Each transistor cell includes a source region, a drain region, a body region and a gate electrode. Each source region is arranged in a first semiconductor fin of a semiconductor body. Each drain region is at least partially arranged in a second semiconductor fin of the semiconductor body. The second semiconductor fin is spaced from the first semiconductor fin in a first horizontal direction of the semiconductor body. Each gate electrode is arranged in a trench adjacent the first semiconductor fin, is adjacent the body region, and is dielectrically insulated from the body region by a gate dielectric. Each of the first and second semiconductor fins has a width in the first horizontal direction and a length in a second horizontal direction, wherein the length is larger than the width.
US09209245B2	Semiconductor device having plural patterns extending in the same direction A photomask has a mask blank and a light shielding film formed on the mask blank. The light shielding film includes a plurality of opening traces extending in a first direction. An end of a first opening trace in the first direction and an end of a second opening trace in the first direction are in different positions in the first direction. The second opening trace adjoins the first opening trace.
US09209239B2	Method of fabricating semiconductor device The method includes forming a metal interconnection layer and a first interlayer insulating layer on a semiconductor substrate, forming a reservoir capacitor region by etching the first interlayer insulating layer to expose the metal interconnection layer, forming a barrier metal layer on the reservoir capacitor region, forming a sacrificial insulating layer on the barrier metal layer in a lower portion of the reservoir capacitor region, performing a pre-cleaning process to remove the barrier metal layer on a sidewall of the reservoir capacitor region, and removing the sacrificial insulating layer.
US09209235B2	Organic light-emitting display apparatus and method of manufacturing the same An organic light-emitting display apparatus includes a substrate; a thin film transistor (TFT) on the substrate; a pixel-defining layer (PDL) disposed on the TFT and comprising a first area having a first thickness and a second area having a second thickness greater than the first thickness, and a via hole in the first area; a pixel electrode disposed on at least a portion of the first area, and electrically connected to the TFT via the via hole; an intermediate layer on the pixel electrode, the intermediate layer comprising an emission layer (EML); and an opposite electrode on the intermediate layer. According to a method of manufacturing the organic light emitting display apparatus, the PDL is formed on the substrate and then the pixel electrode is formed on the first area.
US09209227B2	Organic electroluminescence display panel and organic electroluminescence display apparatus An organic electroluminescence (EL) display panel includes an anode electrode formed above a bank and formed opposite to a plurality of cathode electrodes, and a charge functional layer commonly formed for each of the organic light-emitting layers across a plurality of aperture areas formed in the bank. A distance from the center of the display region to the end of the anode electrode is shorter than a distance from the center of the display region to the end of the charge functional layer.
US09209225B2	Cell structure of resistive non-volatile memory and manufacturing method thereof A cell structure of a non-volatile memory is provided. The cell structure includes a first metal layer, a first dielectric layer, a first material layer, a second material layer, a first transition layer, a second metal layer, a second dielectric layer, a third material layer, a fourth material layer, a second transition layer, and a third metal layer. The first dielectric layer has a first via, and the first metal layer is exposed through the first via. The first material layer and the second material layer are reacted with each other to form the first transition layer. The second dielectric layer has a second via, and the second metal layer is exposed through the second via. The third material layer and the fourth material layer are reacted with each other to form the second transition layer.
US09209222B2	Surveillance device A surveillance device includes a circuit card assembly disposed in a housing and a plurality of light emitting diodes disposed on the circuit card assembly, each of the plurality of light emitting diodes configured to emit a narrow beam of light. The surveillance device further includes a diffuser disposed in the housing, the diffuser configured to spread the narrow beam of light and a Fresnel lens disposed in the housing, the Fresnel lens configured to spread and redirect light emitted from the diffuser.
US09209205B2	Thin film transistor, and thin film transistor array panel and organic light emitting diode display including the same A thin film transistor includes a semiconductor which is disposed on a substrate and includes a source region, a drain region and a channel region, a gate insulating layer disposed on the semiconductor, a gate electrode disposed on the gate insulating layer, an interlayer insulating layer disposed on the gate electrode, contact holes defined in the interlayer insulating layer, the contact holes respectively exposing the source region and the drain region of the semiconductor, and a source electrode and a drain electrode which are disposed on the interlayer insulating layer and respectively contact the source region and the drain region through the contact holes, where at least one of the contact holes exposing the source region and the drain region obliquely traverses the semiconductor.
US09209204B2	Thin film transistor array panel and method of manufacturing the same A thin film transistor array panel and a method of manufacturing the same, the thin film transistor array panel including: a polysilicon thin film transistor formed on a substrate, in which a source region and a drain region of a semiconductor layer of the thin film transistor are electrically connected to a power supply line. The power supply line is configured to apply a voltage to remove a floating state of a polysilicon semiconductor layer.
US09209201B2	Systems and methods for integrating different channel materials into a CMOS circuit by using a semiconductor structure having multiple transistor layers A multilayer semiconductor structure having a layout footprint with a first region and a non-overlapping second region and different transistor types fabricated using different channel material. The semiconductor structure comprises a first transistor layer comprising a first type of channel material in the first region but no channel material in the second region. The semiconductor structure further comprises a second transistor layer comprising a second type of channel material in the second region but no channel material in the first region. The second transistor layer is vertically elevated above the first transistor layer. A first transistor is fabricated on the first transistor layer. A second transistor is fabricated on the second transistor layer, and the first transistor is interconnected with the second transistor to form a circuit.
US09209189B2	Semiconductor integrated circuit device and method for producing the same A capacitive element has improved electrical properties. The capacitive element is configured in a DRAM cell and has a lower electrode, a capacitive insulator film formed over the lower electrode, and an upper electrode formed over the capacitive insulator film. The upper electrode has a structure in which from the capacitive insulator film side of this electrode, a first upper electrode, a second upper electrode and a third upper electrode are stacked in turn. The third upper electrode is a tungsten film that may contain an impurity. Between the first and third upper electrodes, the second upper electrode is interposed which is a barrier film for preventing the possible impurity in the third upper electrode from diffusing into the capacitive insulator film.
US09209188B2	Compact semiconductor memory device having reduced number of contacts, methods of operating and methods of making An integrated circuit including a link or string of semiconductor memory cells, wherein each memory cell includes a floating body region for storing data. The link or string includes at least one contact configured to electrically connect the memory cells to at least one control line, and the number of contacts in the string or link is the same as or less than the number of memory cells in the string or link.
US09209182B2	Dummy metal gate structures to reduce dishing during chemical-mechanical polishing The described embodiments of mechanisms for placing dummy gate structures next to and/or near a number of wide gate structures reduce dishing effect for gate structures during chemical-mechanical polishing of gate layers. The arrangements of dummy gate structures and the ranges of metal pattern density have been described. Wide gate structures, such as analog devices, can greatly benefit from the reduction of dishing effect.
US09209176B2	Semiconductor modules and methods of forming the same Electronic modules, and methods of forming and operating modules, are described. The modules include a capacitor, a first switching device, and a second switching device. The electronic modules further include a substrate such as a DBC substrate, which includes an insulating layer between a first metal layer and a second metal layer, and may include multiple layers of DBC substrates stacked over one another. The first metal layer includes a first portion and a second portion isolated from one another by a trench formed through the first metal layer between the two portions. The first and second switching devices are over the first metal layer, a first terminal of the capacitor is electrically connected to the first portion of the first metal layer, and a second terminal of the capacitor is electrically connected to the second portion of the first metal layer, with the capacitor extending over the trench.
US09209175B2	MOS devices having epitaxy regions with reduced facets An integrated circuit structure includes a gate stack over a semiconductor substrate, and an opening extending into the semiconductor substrate, wherein the opening is adjacent to the gate stack. A first silicon germanium region is disposed in the opening, wherein the first silicon germanium region has a first germanium percentage. A second silicon germanium region is over the first silicon germanium region. The second silicon germanium region comprises a portion in the opening. The second silicon germanium region has a second germanium percentage greater than the first germanium percentage. A silicon cap substantially free from germanium is over the second silicon germanium region.
US09209172B2	FinFET and fin-passive devices A method of forming a semiconductor structure within a semiconductor substrate is provided. The method may include forming, on the substrate, a first group of fins associated with a first device; a second group of fins associated with a second device; and a third group of fins located between the first group of fins and the second group of fins, whereby the third group of fins are associated with a third device. A shallow trench isolation (STI) region is formed between the first and the second group of fins by recessing the third group of fins into an opening within the substrate, such that the recessed third group of fins includes a fin top surface that is located below a top surface of the substrate. The top surface of the substrate is substantially coplanar with a fin bottom surface corresponding to the first and second group of fins.
US09209171B2	Semiconductor device, method for manufacturing same, and nonvolatile semiconductor memory device Provided is a semiconductor element having, while maintaining the same integratability as a conventional MOSFET, excellent switch characteristics compared with the MOSFET, that is, having the S-value less than 60 mV/order at room temperature. Combining the MOSFET and a tunnel bipolar transistor having a tunnel junction configures a semiconductor element that shows an abrupt change in the drain current with respect to a change in the gate voltage (an S-value of less than 60 mV/order) even at a low voltage.
US09209168B2	Circuit with inter-layer vias and intra-layer coupled transistors A circuit comprises a first layer comprising a first voltage line, a first transistor coupled with the first voltage line, a second transistor coupled with the first voltage line, and a first line coupling a drain of the first transistor with a gate of the second transistor. The circuit also comprises a second layer comprising a second voltage line, a third transistor coupled with the second voltage line, a fourth transistor coupled with the second voltage line, and a second line coupling a drain of the third transistor with a gate of the fourth transistor. The circuit further comprises an inter-layer interconnect structure coupling the first transistor with the third transistor, and the second transistor with the fourth transistor.
US09209162B2	Light emitting device including RGB light emitting diodes and phosphor Disclosed herein is a light emitting device including at least three light emitting diodes having different peak emission wavelengths to primarily emit light in a blue, green or red wavelength range, and a wavelength-conversion means to convert primary light into secondary light in a visible light wavelength range. The light emitting device of the current invention has a high color temperature of 2,000 to 8,000 K or 10,000 K and a high color rendering index of 90 or more, and emits yellow-green light or orange light having a wide emission wavelength range. Since the light emitting device having high color temperature and excellent color rendering properties can easily realize desired emission on the color coordinate system, it is applicable to mobile phones, notebook computers, and keypads or backlight units for various electronic products, and in particular, automobiles and exterior and interior lighting fixtures.
US09209160B2	Semiconductor devices compatible with mono-rank and multi-ranks A provided memory device is compatible with a mono-rank or multi-ranks. A plurality of memory layers are stacked in the memory device. The memory device receives an address signal and chip select signals in response to a chip identification signal and a mode signal used to determine a mono-rank or multi-ranks. The plurality of memory layers operate as the mono-rank accessed by the address signal, or operate as the multi-ranks accessed by the chip select signals.
US09209157B2	Formation of through via before contact processing The formation of through silicon vias (TSVs) in an integrated circuit (IC) die or wafer is described in which the TSV is formed in the integration process prior to contact or metallization processing. Contacts and bonding pads may then be fabricated after the TSVs are already in place, which allows the TSV to be more dense and allows more freedom in the overall TSV design. By providing a denser connection between TSVs and bonding pads, individual wafers and dies may be bonded directly at the bonding pads. The conductive bonding material, thus, maintains an electrical connection to the TSVs and other IC components through the bonding pads.
US09209152B2	Molding material and method for packaging semiconductor chips A method and apparatus for packaging a semiconductor chip is presented. A semiconductor device includes a chip, a lead, and an encapsulant. The encapsulant includes a stabilization layer, a laminate molding layer connected to the stabilization layer, and a conductive strip connected to the laminate molding layer. The conductive strip electrically connects the contact area of the chip to the lead.
US09209151B2	Embedded semiconductor device package and method of manufacturing thereof A package structure includes a dielectric layer, at least one semiconductor device attached to the dielectric layer, one or more dielectric sheets applied to the dielectric layer and about the semiconductor device(s) to embed the semiconductor device(s) therein, and a plurality of vias formed to the semiconductor device(s) that are formed in at least one of the dielectric layer and the one or more dielectric sheets. The package structure also includes metal interconnects formed in the vias and on one or more outward facing surfaces of the package structure to form electrical interconnections to the semiconductor device(s). The dielectric layer is composed of a material that does not flow during a lamination process and each of the one or more dielectric sheets is composed of a curable material configured to melt and flow when cured during the lamination process so as to fill-in any air gaps around the semiconductor device(s).
US09209150B2	Embedded packages, methods of fabricating the same, electronic systems including the same, and memory cards including the same Embedded packages are provided. The embedded package includes a chip attached to a first surface of a core layer, a plurality of bumps on a surface of the chip opposite to the core layer, and a first insulation layer surrounding the core layer, the chip and the plurality of bumps. The first insulation layer has a trench disposed in a portion of the first insulation layer to expose the plurality of bumps.
US09209142B1	Semiconductor bonding with compliant resin and utilizing hydrogen implantation for transfer-wafer removal A transfer substrate with a compliant resin is used to bond one or more chips to a target wafer. An implant region is formed in a transfer substrate. A portion of the transfer substrate is etched to form a riser. Compliant material is applied to the transfer substrate. A chip is secured to the compliant material, wherein the chip is secured to the compliant material above the riser. The chip is bonded to a target wafer while the chip is secured to the compliant material. The transfer substrate and compliant material are removed from the chip. The transfer substrate is opaque to UV light.
US09209140B2	Semiconductor devices and methods of manufacture thereof Semiconductor devices and methods of manufacture thereof are disclosed. In some embodiments, a semiconductor device includes a substrate, and a plurality of contact pads disposed over the substrate. The contact pads are arranged in a ball grid array (BGA), and the BGA includes a plurality of corners. A metal dam is disposed around each of the plurality of corners of the BGA.
US09209136B2	Hybrid carbon-metal interconnect structures Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards techniques and configurations for hybrid carbon-metal interconnect structures in integrated circuit assemblies. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a substrate, a metal interconnect layer disposed on the substrate and configured to serve as a growth initiation layer for a graphene layer and the graphene layer, wherein the graphene layer is formed directly on the metal interconnect layer, the metal interconnect layer and the graphene layer being configured to route electrical signals. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.
US09209128B2	Integrated circuit assembly with cushion polymer layer A method of forming an integrated circuit assembly includes forming an insulator layer on a preliminary semiconductor assembly. The preliminary semiconductor assembly includes a semiconductor substrate having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, a semiconductor circuitry layer formed on the first side of the semiconductor substrate, and a conductive via extending through the semiconductor substrate from the semiconductor circuitry layer to the second side. The insulator is formed on the second side and an end of the conductive via. The method includes forming a polymer layer on the insulator layer, removing a quantity of the polymer layer sufficient to expose the end of the conductive via through the insulator layer, and forming a conductive contact on the polymer layer and the end of the conductive via.
US09209126B2	Self-aligned fine pitch permanent on-chip interconnect structures and method of fabrication An interconnect structure and methods for making the same include sidewall portions of an interlevel dielectric layer. The sidewall portions have a width less than a minimum feature size for a given lithographic technology and the width is formed by a thickness of the interlevel dielectric layer when conformally formed on vertical surfaces of a mandrel. The sidewall portions form spaced-apart openings. Conductive structures fill the spaced-apart openings and are separated by the sidewall portions to form single damascene structures.
US09209122B2	Bump including diffusion barrier bi-layer and manufacturing method thereof Provided herein is a bump including a diffusion barrier bi-layer, the bump having: a conductive layer; a first diffusion barrier layer formed on or above the conductive layer, and comprising an alloy of nickel and phosphorus; a second diffusion barrier formed on or above the first diffusion barrier layer, and comprising copper; and a solder layer formed on or above the second diffusion barrier layer. A manufacturing method for producing a bump is also provided.
US09209110B2	Integrated device comprising wires as vias in an encapsulation layer Some novel features pertain to an integrated device that includes a substrate, a first die coupled to the substrate, a first encapsulation layer coupled to the substrate and the first die, and a second encapsulation layer in the first encapsulation layer. The second encapsulation layer includes a set of wires configured to operate as vias. In some implementations, the integrated device includes a set of vias in the first encapsulation layer. In some implementations, the integrated device further includes a second die coupled to the substrate. In some implementations, the second encapsulation layer is positioned between the first die and the second die. In some implementations, the integrated device further includes a cavity in the first encapsulation layer, where the second encapsulation layer is positioned in the cavity. In some implementations, the cavity has a wall that is non-vertical. In some implementations, at least one of the wires is non-vertical.
US09209104B2	Electronic devices assembled with thermally insulating layers Provided herein are electronic devices assembled with thermally insulating layers.
US09209103B2	Battery heating circuits and methods based on battery discharging and charging using resonance components in series and current limiting components A circuit for heating a battery includes the battery including parasitic damping and current storage components, a switch unit, a switching control component coupled to the switch unit, a charge storage component, and a current limiting circuit. The damping component, current storage component, switch unit, and charge storage component are connected. The switching control component is configured to turn on and off the switch unit so as to control a first current flowing from the battery to the first charge storage component and a second current flowing from the first charge storage component to the battery. The current limiting circuit is configured to limit the second current flowing from the charge storage component to the battery. The circuit for heating the battery is configured to heat the battery by at least discharging and charging the battery.
US09209082B2	Methods of localized hardening of dicing channel by applying localized heat in wafer kerf Various embodiments include localized hardening of dicing channels in an integrated circuit (IC) wafer. In some embodiments, a method includes: applying localized heat to a metal interconnect in a wafer kerf on an IC wafer using a heat source; and removing the heat source to cool the metal interconnect after the applying of the localized heat to the metal interconnect, wherein the applying of the heat and the removing of the heat source increases a hardness of the metal interconnect.
US09209080B2	Semiconductor device comprising a protective structure on a chip backside and method of producing the same A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor chip including a first main face and a second main face. The second main face is the backside of the semiconductor chip. The second main face includes a first region and a second region. The second region is a peripheral region of the second main face and the level of the first region and the level of the second region are different. The first region may be filled with metal and may be planarized to the same level as the second region.
US09209076B2	Method of double patterning lithography process using plurality of mandrels for integrated circuit applications A method includes performing a double patterning process to form a first mandrel, a second mandrel, and a third mandrel, with the third mandrel being between the first mandrel and the second mandrel, and etching the third mandrel to cut the third mandrel into a fourth mandrel and a fifth mandrel, with an opening separating the fourth mandrel from the fifth mandrel. A spacer layer is formed on sidewalls of the first, the second, the fourth, and the fifth mandrels, wherein the opening is fully filled by the spacer layer. Horizontal portions of the spacer layer are removed, with vertical portions of the spacer layer remaining un-removed. A target layer is etched using the first, the second, the fourth, and the fifth mandrels and the vertical portions of the spacer layer as an etching mask, with trenches formed in the target layer. The trenches are filled with a filling material.
US09209066B2	Isolation structure of semiconductor device The invention relates to an isolation structure of a semiconductor device. An exemplary isolation structure for a semiconductor device comprises a substrate comprising a trench; a strained material in the trench, wherein a lattice constant of the strained material is different from a lattice constant of the substrate; an oxide layer of the strained material over the strained material; a high-k dielectric layer over the oxide layer; and a dielectric layer over the high-k dielectric layer filling the trench.
US09209063B2	Apparatus for transferring substrates The present invention relates to an apparatus for transferring a substrate. The apparatus includes a supporting member; an elevating and rotating member; a transferring unit; a first arm whose one end is supported by the elevating and rotating member to be rotatable; a second arm whose one end is supported by the transferring unit to be rotatable and whose the other end is supported by the other end of the first arm to be rotatable; and an arm driving part, installed on the first arm, which drives the other end of the second arm to pivot on the other end of the first arm to allow the first arm and the second arm to be folded or unfolded and thus removes the state of singularity by rotating the other end of the second arm based on the other end of the first arm.
US09209061B2	Electrostatic chuck device An electrostatic chuck device is provided in which it is possible to uniformize an in-plane temperature distribution in a placement surface on which a plate-shaped sample such as a wafer is placed and it is possible to improve in-plane uniformity of plasma etching of the plate-shaped sample by uniformizing plasma density on the plate-shaped sample. The electrostatic chuck device includes an electrostatic chuck section that has an upper surface as a placement surface on which a plate-shaped sample is placed, and is made to have an internal electrode for electrostatic adsorption built-in, and a cooling base section that cools the electrostatic chuck section, wherein a heater element (4) having a heater pattern (21) of a predetermined shape is provided between the electrostatic chuck section and the cooling base section, and an island-shaped portion (24) that is independent from the heater pattern (21) and is made of the same material as the heater pattern (21) is provided in a gap portion (23) of the heater pattern (21).
US09209052B2	Semiconductor manufacturing apparatus and device manufacturing method using substrate distortion correction A semiconductor manufacturing apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a vacuum chamber. A stage mounts a semiconductor substrate thereon within the vacuum chamber. An electrostatic chuck fixes the semiconductor substrate onto the stage. A sensor detects a height of a surface of the semiconductor substrate fixed onto the stage by the electrostatic chuck. A processor determines whether the surface of the semiconductor substrate is distorted based on the height of the surface of the semiconductor substrate. The processor calculates correction values for a pattern transferred onto the surface of the semiconductor substrate by exposure based on the height of the surface of the semiconductor substrate when the surface of the semiconductor substrate is distorted. An exposure part exposes the surface of the semiconductor substrate to light using the correction values.
US09209051B2	Mounting apparatus and mounting method for flip chip bonding semiconductor chips using two-step pressing process In one embodiment the mounting apparatus mounts an upper chip on a lower chip, and thermally presses the upper chip with the lower chip. The mounting apparatus includes a first movement part for mounting the upper chip on the lower chip and preliminarily bonding by thermal pressing, and a second movement part for mainly bonding the plurality of upper chips preliminarily bonded with the plurality of lower chips for a longer time. The second movement part thermally presses the upper chips preliminarily bonded on the lower chip in a state that the upper chips are adsorbed on an adsorption surface parallel to a loading surface of the lower chip on which the upper chips are loaded.
US09209050B2	Laser crystallization system and method of manufacturing display apparatus using the same A laser crystallization system is disclosed. In one embodiment, the laser crystallization system includes i) a mother substrate including first, second, and third display regions sequentially arranged in a first direction and ii) a stage for supporting the mother substrate and moving in the first direction and in a second direction. The system also includes i) a first laser irradiation unit for irradiating a first laser beam having a width greater than or identical to a width of a side of one of the display regions in the first direction and ii) a second laser irradiation unit spaced apart from the first laser irradiation unit and irradiating a second laser beam having a width greater than or identical to the width of the side in the first direction. Furthermore, the first and second laser beams may correspond to widths of sides of the first and third display regions.
US09209043B2	Semiconductor manufacturing method and semiconductor manufacturing apparatus In a semiconductor manufacturing method for performing thermal treatment of a substrate with plasma while moving the substrate on which devices are formed relatively to a plasma generating apparatus which generates the plasma by allowing electromagnetic fields to act on a plasma gas, a second surface of the substrate is irradiated with the plasma of the plasma generating apparatus in a state where the second surface of the substrate which is the opposite side of a first surface of the substrate on which the devices are formed faces the plasma generating apparatus.
US09209036B2	Method for controlling the profile of an etched metallic layer An ashing chemistry employing a combination of Cl2 and N2 is provided, which removes residual material from sidewalls of a patterned metallic hard mask layer without residue such that the sidewalls of the patterned metallic hard mask layer are vertical. The vertical profiled of the sidewalls of the patterned metallic hard mask layer can be advantageously employed to reduce pattern factor dependency in the etch bias between the pattern transferred into an underlying layer and the pattern as formed on the metallic hard mask layer. Further, the ashing chemistry can be employed to enhance removal of stringers in vertical portions of a metallic material layer.
US09209035B2	Photoresist pattern trimming methods Provided are methods of trimming photoresist patterns. The methods involve coating a photoresist trimming composition over a photoresist pattern, wherein the trimming composition includes a matrix polymer, a thermal acid generator and a solvent, the trimming composition being free of cross-linking agents. The coated semiconductor substrate is heated to generate an acid in the trimming composition from the thermal acid generator, thereby causing a change in polarity of the matrix polymer in a surface region of the photoresist pattern. The photoresist pattern is contacted with a developing solution to remove the surface region of the photoresist pattern. The methods find particular applicability in the formation of very fine lithographic features in the manufacture of semiconductor devices.
US09209032B2	Electric pressure systems for control of plasma properties and uniformity This disclosure relates to a plasma processing system for controlling plasma density near the edge or perimeter of a substrate that is being processed. The plasma processing system may include a plasma chamber that can receive and process the substrate using plasma for etching the substrate, doping the substrate, or depositing a film on the substrate. This disclosure relates to a plasma processing system for controlling plasma density near the edge or perimeter of a substrate that is being processed. In one embodiment, the plasma density may be controlled by reducing the rate of loss of ions to the chamber wall during processing. This may include biasing a dual electrode ring assembly in the plasma chamber to alter the potential difference between the chamber wall region and the bulk plasma region.
US09209026B2	Method of fabricating a thin-film device A method of forming a thin-film device includes forming an oxide-semiconductor film formed on the first electrical insulator, and forming a second electrical insulator formed on the oxide-semiconductor film, the oxide-semiconductor film defining an active layer. The oxide-semiconductor film is comprised of a first interface layer located at an interface with the first electrical insulator, a second interface layer located at an interface with the second electrical insulator, and a bulk layer other than the first and second interface layers. The method further includes oxidizing the oxide-semiconductor film to render a density of oxygen holes in at least one of the first and second interlayer layers is smaller than a density of oxygen holes in the bulk layer.
US09209025B2	Low temperature poly-silicon thin film, method for making the thin film, and transistor made from the thin film The present invention provides a method for making low temperature poly-silicon thin film, including the step of growing amorphous silicon layer, the step of firstly growing a layer of silicon oxide over the amorphous silicon layer; then forming a plurality of concave surfaces across the silicon oxide layer, wherein the concave surfaces will reflect light beams vertically projected toward the silicon oxide; and finally, the step of projecting excimer laser beam toward the amorphous silicon layer through the silicon oxide layer to transform the amorphous silicon layer into the low temperature poly-silicon thin film. The present invention further provides a low temperature poly-silicon thin film made from the method described above, and also a low temperature poly-silicon transistor. When the excimer laser annealing process is implemented to make the low temperature poly-silicon thin film, the starting point and direction of the recrystallization can be controlled so as to attain larger grain size.
US09209020B2	Method of forming an epitaxial semiconductor layer in a recess and a semiconductor device having the same Semiconductor devices and methods of epitaxially forming a semiconductor layer in a recess of a semiconductor device are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method of epitaxially forming a semiconductor layer in a recess may include: providing a chemical vapor deposition system; placing a semiconductor substrate having a recess into the chemical vapor deposition system, wherein the semiconductor substrate includes at least one fissure extending from a surface of the recess into the semiconductor substrate; epitaxially forming a liner including a first semiconductor material within the recess and over the at least one fissure; and epitaxially forming a semiconductor layer including a second semiconductor material over the liner.
US09209015B2	Substrate processing apparatus Provided is a substrate processing apparatus, which comprises a process chamber configured to process a substrate, a first plasma generation chamber in the process chamber, a first reactive gas supply unit configured to supply first reactive gas into the first plasma generation chamber, a pair of first discharge electrodes configured to generate plasma and to excite the first reactive gas, a first gas ejection port installed in a side wall of the first plasma generation chamber to eject an active species toward the substrate, a second plasma generation chamber in the process chamber, a second reactive gas supply unit configured to supply second reactive gas into the second plasma generation chamber, a pair of second discharge electrodes configured to generate plasma and to excite the second reactive gas, and a second gas ejection port installed in a side wall of the second plasma generation chamber to eject an active species.
US09209014B2	Multi-step bake apparatus and method for directed self-assembly lithography control A method of forming a patterned substrate includes casting a layer of a block copolymer having an intrinsic glass transition temperature Tg, on a substrate to form a layered substrate. The method also includes heating the layered substrate at an annealing temperature, which is greater than about 50° C. above the intrinsic glass transition temperature Tg of the block copolymer, in a first atmosphere. The method further includes thermally quenching the layered substrate to a quenching temperature lower than the intrinsic glass transition temperature Tg, at a rate of greater than about 50° C./minute in a second atmosphere. The method further includes controlling an oxygen content in the first and second atmospheres to a level equal to or less than about 50 ppm to maintain the annealing and quenching temperatures below a thermal degradation temperature Td of the block copolymer.
US09209013B2	Constructions comprising thermally conductive stacks containing rutile-type titanium oxide Some embodiments include methods of forming rutile-type titanium oxide. A monolayer of titanium nitride may be formed. The monolayer of titanium nitride may then be oxidized at a temperature less than or equal to about 550° C. to convert it into a monolayer of rutile-type titanium oxide. Some embodiments include methods of forming capacitors that have rutile-type titanium oxide dielectric, and that have at least one electrode comprising titanium nitride. Some embodiments include thermally conductive stacks that contain titanium nitride and rutile-type titanium oxide, and some embodiments include methods of forming such stacks.
US09209012B2	Selective etch of silicon nitride A method of etching silicon nitride on patterned heterogeneous structures is described and includes a remote plasma etch formed from a fluorine-containing precursor and a nitrogen-and-oxygen-containing precursor. Plasma effluents from two remote plasmas are flowed into a substrate processing region where the plasma effluents react with the silicon nitride. The plasmas effluents react with the patterned heterogeneous structures to selectively remove silicon nitride while very slowly removing silicon, such as polysilicon. The silicon nitride selectivity results partly from the introduction of fluorine-containing precursor and nitrogen-and-oxygen-containing precursor using distinct (but possibly overlapping) plasma pathways which may be in series or in parallel.
US09209008B2	Fast start induction RF fluorescent light bulb A fast starting induction RF fluorescent lamp that is able to replace an ordinary incandescent light bulb, both in its ability to screw into a standard incandescent light bulb socket and to have the general look of the ordinary incandescent light bulb, but with all of the advantages of an induction lamp, as described herein. The present disclosure describes structures for an induction RF fluorescent lamp that includes a bulbous portion, an electronics portion, and a screw base, creating an external look that is similar to the profile of an ordinary incandescent light bulb, and with structures within the bulbous portion that facilitate rapid luminous development during the turn-on phase of the induction fluorescent lamp.
US09209007B2	Short arc discharge lamp A short arc discharge lamp that includes: a body that includes a reflection surface and a front opening, the reflection surface is curved in a concave shape and includes a first reflection surface section having a shape along a first quadric surface of revolution and a second reflection surface section having a shape along a second quadric surface of revolution; a cathode and an anode opposed to each other in discharge space defined by the reflection surface; and a window member covering the front opening. The first reflection surface section has a focal point at a position between the cathode and the anode, and the second reflection surface section is continuous from the first reflection surface section, and has a focal point at a position displaced toward front from the focal point of the first reflection surface section.
US09209005B2	Method and apparatus for mass spectrometry A method for analyzing ions according to their mass-to-charge ratio and mass spectrometer for performing the method, comprising directing a collimated ion beam along an ion path from an ion source to an ion detector, causing a portion of the ion beam to contact one or more surfaces prior to reaching the ion detector, wherein the method comprises providing a coating on and/or heating the one or more surfaces to reduce variation in their surface patch potentials. The method is applicable to multi-reflection time-of-flight (MR TOF) mass spectrometry.
US09209004B2	Method and system for processing mass spectrometry data, and mass spectrometer Provided is a method for quantitatively estimating the probability of substance identification based on the result of an MS2 analysis using a certain MS1 peak as the precursor ion, before performing the MS2 analysis. Based on the result of MS1 and MS2 analyses and substance identification performed for each of a number of fractionated samples obtained from a known preparatory sample, an identification probability estimation model creator grasps m/z and S/N ratios of MS1 peaks having high probabilities of successful identification, calculates a parameter which determines the order of MS1 peaks and a parameter representing an identification probability estimation model, and stores the parameters in a memory. When identifying a substance, an approximate order is calculated for an MS1 peak obtained by the analysis. The identification probability for that peak is estimated from the approximate order with reference to the identification probability estimation model.
US09209003B2	Quantification of an analyte in serum and other biological matrices Methods and systems for quantifying analytes in a biological sample are provided comprising preparing a biological sample for mass spectrometric analysis, utilizing an ionization source to ionize at least a portion of the prepared biological sample to generate an ionized analyte flow, introducing the ionized analyte flow into a differential mobility spectrometer set at a compensation voltage selected to extract ionized analyte molecules from the ionized analyte flow, introducing an output analyte flow of the differential mobility spectrometer into a mass spectrometer to detect and quantify analyte ions in the output analyte flow.
US09209002B2	Geiger-Muller counter tube and radiation measurement apparatus A Geiger-Muller counter tube includes an enclosing tube, an anode conductor, a cathode conductor, an inert gas, and a quenching gas. The enclosing tube is at least partially cylindrical and has a sealed space. The anode conductor includes an anode electrode and a linear first metal lead portion. The anode electrode is arranged inside the space and formed in a rod shape. The first metal lead portion is connected to the anode electrode and supported at an end of the enclosing tube. The cathode conductor includes a cylindrical cathode electrode and a linear second metal lead portion. The cathode electrode surrounds a peripheral area of the anode electrode inside the space. The second metal lead portion is connected to the cathode electrode and supported at the end of the enclosing tube. The cathode electrode has a side surface through a part of which a through-hole passes.
US09208994B2	Electron beam apparatus for visualizing a displacement of an electric field The present invention provides an electron beam apparatus comprising a means for visualizing an axial displacement of a retarding electric field, and a means for adjusting axial displacement. The axial displacement visualizing means includes a reflective plate (6), and an optical system (2, 3) for converging a secondary electron beam (9) on the reflective plate (6), and the axial displacement adjusting means includes an incline rotation mechanism (8) for a sample stage (5). With this configuration, in electron beam apparatuses such as SEM and the like, such problems as visual field displacement caused by displacement of the axial symmetry of the electric field between an objective lens (3) and a sample (4) and inability to measure secondary electrons and reflected electrons that provide desired information can be eliminated.
US09208993B2	Charged-particle microscopy with enhanced electron detection A method of investigating a flux of output electrons emanating from a sample in a charged-particle microscope, which flux is produced in response to irradiation of the sample by a beam of input charged particles, the method comprising the following steps: Using a detector to intercept at least a portion of the flux so as to produce a set {Ij} of pixeled images Ij of at least part of the sample, whereby the cardinality of the set {Ij} is M>1. For each pixel p, in each image Ij, determining the accumulated signal strength Sij, thus producing an associated set of signal strengths {Sij}. Using the set {Sij} to calculate the following values: An average signal strength S per pixel position i; A variance σ2S in S per pixel position i. Using these values S and σ2S to at least one map of said part of the sample, selected from the group comprising: A first map, representing variation in energy of detected electrons as a function of position. A second map, representing variation in number of detected electrons as a function of position. The set {Ij} may be produced in different ways, such as: By iteratively repeating a procedure whereby an entire nth image In is captured before proceeding to capture an entire (n+1)th image In+1, or By iteratively repeating a procedure whereby, at an nth pixel position, a plurality M of different detector samples is collected before proceeding to an (n+1)th pixel position.
US09208980B2	Pneumatic detector with integrated electrical contact The present disclosure relates to an advanced pneumatic detector (APD) alarm switch. The present APD may comprise a deformable diaphragm configured to make contact with a contact surface. This contact surface may be integral to a surface of the insulating material within the APD.
US09208978B2	Electromagnetic operating device An electromagnet mechanism is coaxially disposed with a vacuum interrupter that is disposed in a circuit breaker, and has a movable core and a fixed core facing each other and an electromagnetic coil that makes the movable core and the fixed core separate or come into contact in response to electromagnetic force. A driving rod which is movably disposed in the axial direction of the electromagnet mechanism is coupled to the movable core, and in which one side is coupled to the circuit breaker and the other side passes through an opening side end plate of the electromagnet mechanism to be extended outward from the opening side end plate of the electromagnet mechanism. An indication unit is disposed on the opening side end plate of the electromagnet mechanism, and indicates a state of the circuit breaker in conjunction with the movement of the driving rod.
US09208972B2	Slide fasteners A slide fastener includes rows of elements arranged so as to face one another along edges of opening-closing ends of opposing fastener tapes; and a slider. The slide fastener can be interposed between a powered device on an output side and a power supply unit and a signal unit on an input side so as to form an input-output line that activates the powered device with a closing operation of the slide fastener. The elements form a top holding section by bringing ends of element-upper-leg portions arranged so as to face one another closer to or away from one another; and a bottom holding section by bringing ends of element-lower-leg portions arranged to face one another closer to or away from one another in cooperation with interlock or separation of the interlock portions of the elements arranged to face one another, which form part of the input-output line.
US09208970B2	Key assembly for a handheld electronic device having a one-piece keycap A key assembly for an electronic device having a one-piece keycap and an electronic device having such a keycap are provided. In accordance with one embodiment, there is provided a key assembly for use in an electronic device, comprising: a keycap having a plurality of rigid key portions separated by mechanically deforming portions; and a flexible member having opposed first and second sides, the first side having a plurality of key stems which are attached to the plurality of key portions, the second side having a plurality of actuators for actuating dome switches of the electronic device.
US09208948B2	Monolithic ceramic electronic component A method for manufacturing a monolithic ceramic electronic component includes the steps of preparing a first ceramic outer layer, stacking a plurality of inner electrodes and a plurality of ceramic green sheets on the first ceramic outer layer, forming an inner portion, applying first pressing in the stacking direction, forming an outer portion on the inner portion to form a second ceramic outer layer, applying second pressing in the stacking direction to form a multilayer body, cutting the mother multilayer body to obtain individual multilayer bodies, sintering the individual multilayer bodies to obtain ceramic bodies, and forming first and second outer electrodes on the outer surface of each of ceramic bodies.
US09208941B2	Apparatus and method for safe state retention A transformer core apparatus includes a body of highly magnetically permeable material, a permanent magnet arranged in a safe state position for saturating the body with a permanent magnetic field, and means for removing the permanent magnetic field from the body.
US09208939B2	Transformer winding with cooling channel At least two winding modules nested hollow-cylindrically one inside the other and extending around a common winding axis, wherein said winding modules are spaced radially apart from one another within at least one hollow-cylindrical cooling channel arranged therebetween by means of insulation strips, wherein the insulation strips have a cross-sectional form which avoid a surface profile radially with respect to the winding axis, the insulation strips including one of a fiber-reinforced epoxy, polyester resin, or from an unreinforced thermoplastic material.
US09208935B2	Electronic component An electronic component including a substrate, an insulating unit provided on the substrate, and a conductor coil provided within the insulating unit, wherein a distance from the outermost portion of the conductor coil in one axial direction to the outermost portion of the substrate in one axial direction is greater than 0.0125 times a length of the substrate in one axial direction, thus having enhanced reliability.
US09208929B2	GTMS connector for oil and gas market A feed-through element for harsh environments is provided that includes a support body with at least one access opening, in which at least one functional element is arranged in an electrically insulating fixing material. The electrically insulating fixing material contains a glass or a glass ceramic with a volume resistivity of greater than 1.0×1010 Ωcm at the temperature of 350° C. The glass or a glass ceramic has a defined composition range in the system SiO2—B2O3-MO.
US09208928B2	Method for producing multilayer graphene-coated substrate The present invention provides a method of producing a multi-layer graphene-laminated substrate which comprises laminating, on a substrate surface, multi-layer graphenes from a mass of multi-layer graphenes. The method of the present invention can provide an electrically conductive film and a transparent electrically conductive film made of graphenes more easily and stably.
US09208927B2	Shielded electrical cable A shielded electrical cable includes conductor sets extending along a length of the cable and spaced apart from each other along a width of the cable. First and second shielding films are disposed on opposite sides of the cable and include cover portions and pinched portions arranged such that, in transverse cross section, the cover portions of the films in combination substantially surround each conductor set. An adhesive layer bonds the shielding films together in the pinched portions of the cable. A transverse bending of the cable at a cable location of no more than 180 degrees over an inner radius of at most 2 mm causes a cable impedance of the selected insulated conductor proximate the cable location to vary by no more than 2 percent from an initial cable impedance measured at the cable location in an unbent configuration.
US09208925B2	High performance, high temperature wire or cable A wire or cable comprises a core (10) and a sheath including a wrapped film (16) of polyetherether ketone (PEEK) and a flameproofing layer (14) comprising mica particles dispersed in a polymer matrix such as a silicone. An outer coating (18) of PEEK or another polymer may be provided, which may be sintered to provide a tough outer protective covering. The PEEK and mica layers combine synergistically to provide a sheath of increased flame resistance as well as high flexibility and resistance to mechanical stresses, while being of reduced weight and diameter.
US09208923B2	Power cable comprising interpolymer compositions and methods for making the same Interpolymer resins having ethylene monomer residues and residues of a non-conjugated diene comonomer. The non-conjugated diene comonomer can be a dialkenyl phthalate. Incorporation of non-conjugated diene comonomers into interpolymers can provide additional labile unsaturation sites for cross-linking. The interpolymers and cross-linked variations thereof can be employed in a variety of articles of manufacture, such as, for example, as insulation material for power cables.
US09208907B2	Method of validating nuclear reactor in-vessel detector output signals A method to perform signal validation for either reactor fixed incore detectors and/or core exit thermocouples to enhance core monitoring systems. The method uses a combination of both measured sensor signals and expected signal responses to develop a ratio of measured to expected signals. The ratios are evaluated by determining the expected ratios for each detector based on the behavior of the remaining collection of detectors, taking into account the geometry/location of the other detectors. The method also provides for automatic removal of invalid detectors from the core power distribution determination if sufficient detectors remain on line to adequately characterize the core's power distribution.
US09208904B2	Reinforcement for a nuclear fuel assembly A tie rod for reinforcing a nuclear fuel assembly. The tie rod includes an outer, hollow tubular member that extends from above the top nozzle through the bottom nozzle of the fuel assembly and has an axially split lower tip with an enlarged end and an upper portion having a circumferential threaded region. An inner rod extends axially through the hollow of the outer tube and has a slightly enlarged tip which spreads the split tip of the outer tube to lock the split tip below the lower nozzle of the fuel assembly. A nut is turned down on the upper threaded portion of the outer hollow tube and staked in position to lock the tie rod in position.
US09208900B2	System and method for performing address-based SRAM access assists A method and a system are provided for performing address-based memory access assist. An address is received for a memory access and a determination is made, based on the address, that access assist is enabled for at least one storage cell corresponding to the address. The access assist is applied to the at least one storage cell to perform the memory access.
US09208895B1	Cell current control through power supply Techniques and corresponding circuitry are presented for controlling the amount of current flowing through the cells of a memory circuit during a sensing operation though a feedback arrangement. The amount of current supplied to bit lines from an external power supply by regulation circuitry is compared with a reference level. Based on this comparison, the level on the control gates of clamp transistors in the sense amp circuits is set to control the amount of current supplied to the bit lines. This can reduce device variation since the levels are replicated locally at the generator on the chip. The circuitry can also be used more generally to determine the current level drawn during a sensing operation.
US09208894B2	Methods of charging auxiliary power supplies in data storage devices subject to power on and /or hot plugging and related devices A method of operating a data storage device can be provided by receiving first power and second power at a data storage device, that includes a semiconductor memory, upon powering on of the data storage device or hot-plugging of the data storage device. The first power can be applied to the data storage device and the second power can be applied after a delay to an auxiliary power supply included in the data storage device based on when an inrush current, generated from applying the first power, occurred. Related devices are also disclosed.
US09208891B2	Memory array with power-efficient read architecture Various embodiments comprise apparatuses and methods including a three-dimensional memory apparatus having upper strings and lower strings. The upper strings can include a first string of memory cells and a second string of memory cells arranged substantially parallel and adjacent to one another. The lower strings can include a third string of memory cells and a fourth string of memory cells arranged substantially parallel and adjacent to one another. The strings can each have a separate sense amplifier coupled thereto. The first and third strings and the second and fourth strings can be configured to be respectively coupled in series with each other during a read operation. Additional apparatuses and methods are described.
US09208888B1	Techniques for improving reliability and performance of partially written memory blocks in modern flash memory systems Methods and apparatus to improve reliability and/or performance of partially written memory blocks in flash memory systems are described. In some embodiments, a storage device stores information corresponding to a partial write operation performed on a partially programmed memory block of a non-volatile memory. Memory controller logic then cause application of a reduced voltage level and/or an offset value to portion(s) of the non-volatile memory during a read or write operation to the non-volatile memory based at least in part on the stored information. Other embodiments are also disclosed and claimed.
US09208887B2	Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device A non-volatile semiconductor memory device according to one embodiment includes: a cell array; and a data writing unit that repeatedly executes a write loop including a programming operation of applying a program voltage to a selected word line and a passage voltage to non-selected word lines during writing of data, in which, when a difference between the passage voltage used in an n-th write loop and the passage voltage used in an n+1-th write loop is expressed as ΔVn and when a condition of L
US09208885B2	Vertical structure semiconductor memory devices and methods of manufacturing the same A semiconductor memory device includes: a semiconductor region extending vertically from a first region of a substrate; a plurality of gate electrodes disposed on the first region of the substrate in a vertical direction, but separated from each other along a sidewall of the semiconductor region; a gate dielectric layer disposed between the semiconductor region and the plurality of gate electrodes; a substrate contact electrode extending vertically from the impurity-doped second region of the substrate; and an insulating region formed as an air gap between the substrate contact electrode and at least one of the plurality of gate electrodes.
US09208881B2	NAND memory array with mismatched cell and bitline pitch Embodiments of the present disclosure describe methods, apparatus, and system configurations for NAND memory arrays with mismatched cell and bitline pitch. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US09208879B2	Fail address detector, semiconductor memory device including the same and method of detecting fail address A fail address detector includes cam latch groups configured to store fail addresses and a comparing section connected to the cam latch groups in common and configured to detect whether or not a fail address corresponding to a comparison address exists among the fail addresses received from the cam latch groups. The cam latch groups share the comparing section in time division.
US09208864B2	Semiconductor memory with integrated biologic element A memory includes cytokines, such as macromolecule proteins, as a poly-state data storage. Each fold state of multiple fold states of a protein are associated with a data value. Current flow through the protein is associated with a resistance of the protein associated with its current fold state. Application of light, electric fields or heat via an associated element or elements facilitates placement of a protein in a fold state that corresponds to an associated resistance and correlates with an incoming data value. Measuring of current or resistance allows for reading of a data value associated with the protein.
US09208860B2	SRAM bit-line and write assist apparatus and method for lowering dynamic power and peak current, and a dual input level-shifter Described is an apparatus comprising a plurality of memory arrays, local write assist logic units, and read/write local column multiplexers coupled together in a group such that area occupied by the local write assist logic units and the read/write local column multiplexers in the group is smaller than it would be when global write assist logic units and the read/write global column multiplexers are used. Described is a dual input level-shifter with integrated latch. Described is an apparatus which comprises: a write assist pulse generator operating on a first power supply; one or more pull-up devices coupled to the write assist pulse generator, the one or more pull-up devices operating on a second power supply different from the first power supply; and an output node to provide power supply to a memory cell.
US09208849B2	Semiconductor device and method for driving semiconductor device, and electronic device The memory circuit has a first writing mode in which data can be retained for a long time and a second writing mode in which data can be written at high speed. The memory circuit in which data reading is performed on the basis of a determined conductive state of a transistor includes first and second capacitor parts that are connected through a switch and retain electric charge corresponding to the data. The first writing mode is a mode where the switch is on and electric charge corresponding to the data is accumulated in the first and second capacitor parts that are electrically connected. The second writing mode is a mode where the switch is off, electric charge corresponding to the data is accumulated in the first capacitor part, and electric charge corresponding to the data is not accumulated in the second capacitor part.
US09208844B1	DDR retiming circuit An integrated circuit receives a DDR (Double Data Rate) data signal and an associated DDR clock signal, and communicates those signals from integrated circuit input terminals a substantial distance across the integrated circuit to a subcircuit that then receives and uses the DDR data. Within the integrated circuit, a DDR retiming circuit receives the DDR data signal and the associated DDR clock signal from the terminals. The DDR retiming circuit splits the DDR data signal into two components, and then transmits those two components over the substantial distance toward the subcircuit. The subcircuit then recombines the two components back into a single DDR data signal and supplies the DDR data signal and the DDR clock signal to the subcircuit. The DDR data signal and the DDR clock signal are supplied to the subcircuit in such a way that setup and hold time requirements of the subcircuit are met.
US09208841B2	Tracking circuit A circuit is in a memory macro and comprises a write path, a read path, a selection circuit, and a clock generator circuit. The write path includes a first signal generated based on a first edge of a clock signal in a write operation of the memory macro. The read path includes a second signal generated based on a first edge of the clock signal in a read operation of the memory macro. The selection circuit is configured to select the first signal as a third signal in the write operation of the memory macro, and to select the second signal as the third signal in the read operation of the memory macro. The clock generator circuit is configured to generate a second edge of the clock signal in the write operation or in the read operation based on the third signal.
US09208838B2	Terminal for accessing wireless network and running method thereof Disclosed in the disclosure are a terminal for accessing a wireless network and a method for running the same, wherein the terminal includes an expanded external RAM and is configured to store the terminal firmware program obtained from the host side into the expanded external RAM, run the same and interact with the host side to complete a service. the terminal in the disclosure need not expand the FLASH storage space, and the terminal stores the terminal firmware program obtained from the host side into the expanded external RAM thereof, then runs the same and interacts with the host side to complete the service. The terminal does not use FLASH to store the terminal firmware program, avoiding the failure of not being able to be upgraded or used, wherein the failure is due to the exception of the terminal FLASH and reducing the costs of the wireless network access terminal.
US09208835B2	Timing violation handling in a synchronous interface memory A phase-change memory includes a phase to provide an upper row address from a row address buffer, a phase to combine the upper row address with a lower row address to select data for a row data buffer, and a phase to output the data from the row data buffer, where an activate command starts and following activate commands are ignored until a preset time has elapsed.
US09208834B2	Latch circuit, nonvolatile memory device and integrated circuit A latch circuit may include a plurality of latches configured to operate in response to power supplied to a pull-up power supply node and a pull-down power supply node, a delay unit configured to generate a 1st delayed reset signal and a 2nd delayed reset signal by delaying a 1st reset signal and a 2nd reset signal, a power supply unit configured to supply identical power to the pull-up power supply node and the pull-down power supply node in response to the activated 1st reset signal or the activated 2nd reset signal, a 1st reset unit configured to reset a plurality of latches to a 1st level in response to the 1st delayed reset signal and a 2nd reset unit configured to reset the plurality of latches to a 2nd level in response to the 2nd delayed reset signal.
US09208829B2	Designated memory sub-channels for computing systems and environments A memory channel can be divided into two or more memory sub-channels, wherein each one of the memory sub-channels includes two or more memory components configured to store data made accessible on that memory sub-channel, and wherein the two or more memory components in each one of the memory sub-channels are respectively connected via at least one transmission line and can be individually accessed (addressed) on their associated sub-channel.
US09208825B1	Disk drive having a conformal peripheral foil seal having an opening covered by a central metal cap A novel hermetically sealed disk drive comprises a disk drive enclosure that includes a disk drive base with a bottom face, four side faces, and a top cover. The disk drive also comprises a peripheral foil seal overlapping each of the four side faces and having a first opening therethrough that overlies the upper surface of the top cover. The peripheral foil seal conforms to the disk drive enclosure and is adhered to the top face and to each of the four side faces by a first continuous adhesive layer. The hermetically sealed disk drive also includes a central metal cap completely covering the first opening and being adhered to the upper surface of the top cover through the first opening by a second continuous adhesive layer. The central metal cap is thicker than the continuous metal foil, and the disk drive enclosure is helium-filled.
US09208821B2	Method and system to process digital audio data A method to process digital audio data displays the digital audio data in one or more tracks along a time line in a graphical interface of a computer system and defines arrange regions within the time line of the digital audio data as objects for manipulation. Tracks within a selected arrange region are processed as an entity in accordance with commands received through the graphical user interface.
US09208819B1	Dynamic split-frame preview of video editing effects This disclosure relates to dynamic split-frame preview of video editing effects. An editing component determines a set of editing effects for the video, generates a copy of the video, applies the set of editing effects to the copy, and provides the video and the copy to a rendering component. The rendering component generates a mask based on a set of mask criteria, renders a split-frame composite video using the video and the edited video based at least in part on the mask, and provides playback of the split-frame composite video. The split-frame composite video provides a dynamic split-frame preview of video editing effects, wherein one frame includes the video, and another frame includes the edited copy of the video.
US09208814B2	CD player and method for ejection control thereof A compact disc (CD) player and method for ejection control thereof is provided. The CD player has: a CD tray, an eject button, a front-end module, a back-end module, and a fast response eject module, wherein the front-end module and the back-end module are coupled to each other and integrated in an integrated circuit (IC). The fast response eject module has a tray control module for detecting a status of the eject button, and an ejection detection module for controlling the ejecting/inserting of the CD tray according to the detected status of the eject button after the CD player is powered up and before the front-end module starts to work. The CD player of the invention may quickly respond to the status of the eject button and control ejecting/inserting of the CD tray immediately after the CD player is powered up.
US09208807B2	Motor polarity testing of a dual stage actuated disk drive head suspension Methods and apparatus concern testing a disk drive suspension. Testing includes moving a first portion of a suspension relative to a second portion. A pair of motors is mounted on the suspension. The testing further includes measuring an electrical signal that is intrinsically produced by the motors, combined in a circuit, in response to the relative movement. The testing further includes identifying a characteristic of the electrical signal and determining whether an orientation of one or both of the motors is reversed relative to an intended motor orientation based on the characteristic of the electrical signal. The testing can determine whether the orientation of both motors matches the intended motor orientation, whether the orientation of one motor is reversed in a same polarity condition, whether the orientations of both motors are reversed in a mutual reverse polarity condition, or whether the suspension has a mechanical or electrical defect.
US09208802B2	Magnetic recording head and disk drive provided therewith According to one embodiment, a magnetic recording head includes a main pole configured to apply a recording magnetic field to a recording layer of a recording medium, a trailing shield opposed to the main pole with a write gap therebetween, and a high-frequency oscillator between the main pole and the trailing shield in a range of a width of the main pole in a track width direction, and configured to generate a high-frequency magnetic field. The high-frequency oscillator includes a spin injection layer, an intermediate layer, and an oscillation layer, and at least the oscillation layer comprises divided oscillation regions.
US09208796B2	Estimation of speech energy based on code excited linear prediction (CELP) parameters extracted from a partially-decoded CELP-encoded bit stream and applications of same Methods, systems, and non-transitory computer readable media for estimating speech energy of an encoded bit stream based on coding parameters extracted from the partially-decoded bit stream are disclosed. In an embodiment, a disclosed method includes receiving a CELP-encoded bit stream, partially decoding the bit stream, and estimating the speech energy of the bit stream based a set of four or fewer CELP parameters extracted from the partially decoded bit stream. In another embodiment, a disclosed method includes receiving a CELP-encoded bit stream, partially decoding the bit stream, extracting at least one CELP parameter from the partially decoded bit stream, and estimating the speech energy of the bit stream based on the extracted at least one CELP parameter without calculating a linear prediction coding (LPC) filter response energy.
US09208794B1	Providing sound models of an input signal using continuous and/or linear fitting Voice enhancement and/or speech features extraction may be performed on noisy audio signals. An input signal may convey audio comprising a speech component superimposed on a noise component. The input signal may be segmented into discrete successive time windows including a first time window spanning a duration greater than a sampling interval of the input signal. A transform may be performed on individual time windows of the input signal to obtain corresponding sound models of the input signal in the individual time windows. A first sound model may describe a superposition of harmonics sharing a common pitch and chirp in the first time window of the input signal. Linear fits in time of the sound models over individual time windows of the input signal may be obtained. The linear fits may include a first linear fit in time of the first sound model over the first time window.
US09208779B2	Mixture of n-gram language models Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for creating a static language model from a mixture of n-gram language models. One of the methods includes receiving a set of development sentences W, receiving a set of language models GM, determining a set of n-gram language model weights λM based on the development sentences W and the set of language models GM, determining a set of sentence cluster weights γC, each of the sentence cluster weights corresponding to a cluster in a set of sentence clusters, each cluster in the set of sentence clusters associated with at least one sentence from the set of development sentences W, and generating a language model from the set of language models GM, the set of n-gram language model weights λM, the set of sentence clusters, and the set of sentence cluster weights γC.
US09208765B1	Audio visual presentation with three-dimensional display devices Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to an audio visual display device, which includes a transparent display module, a sensing module, and a controller. The sensing module generates sensing signals in response to detecting an object at a disc jockey side of the transparent display module. The controller includes stores computer executable codes which, when executed at a processor, are configured to: generate display signals for the transparent display module to control its pixels to display an image corresponding to the display signals; receive the sensing signals from the sensing module, and generate an object coordinate according to the sensing signals; in response to an audio visual display instruction, generate the display signals corresponding to a virtual disc jockey equipment; and in response to the object coordinate matching coordinates of the virtual disc jockey equipment, generate an audio effect command for the virtual disc jockey equipment.
US09208763B2	Method, apparatus and software for providing user feedback A device for providing feedback to a user of a string instrument is described. The device comprises receiving circuitry operable in use to communicate with at least one finger sensor capable of detecting the force of a finger on a string, a camera operable in use to capture an image and a display operable in use to display data, wherein the receiving circuitry, camera and display are connected to processing circuitry which is operable to: detect, from the receiving circuitry, the force of a user's finger on at least one string at a given time; detect, from the camera, the position of the user's finger on the at least one string at the given time; compare the detected force of the user's finger and the position of the user's finger on the at least one string at the given time with a predetermined value of force and position at the given time; and generate, on the basis of the said comparison, feedback to display on the display.
US09208759B2	Compound-resonance driver (CRD) bass enhancement system A compound resonance driver or CRD may be used to enhance the tonal qualities of a bass drum system or other sound system. A CRD may comprise a flex ring having two hinge pieces. The flex ring may further comprise a plurality of magnets and the flex ring may be easily folded and placed in a drum and then unfolded. A fixed circular component with a complementary magnet orientation may secure the flex ring. The fixed circular component may be attached to outwardly facing components that resonate or otherwise improve upon the sound of a drum or any sound producing, or sound shaping device or instrument, encompassing properties of an acoustic enclosure. The mass and shape of the CRD may increase the excursion of a drumhead. This longer excursion produces a more natural low frequency waveform.
US09208749B2	Electronic device and method for enhancing readability of an image thereof An electronic device is provided, which includes a light sensor, an algorithm engine, an adjustment engine, and a display. The light sensor detects an ambient brightness around the electronic device. The algorithm engine is coupled to the light sensor. The algorithm engine determines at least one adjustment function according to the ambient brightness. The adjustment engine is coupled to the algorithm engine. The adjustment engine adjusts the luminance component of each pixel of an image according to the at least one adjustment function to enhance the brightness and/or the contrast of the image. The display is coupled to the adjustment engine for displaying the adjusted image.
US09208748B2	Single user input mechanism for controlling electronic device operations A unique input mechanism for controlling several operations of an electronic device is provided. Using the unique input mechanism, which may be the single input mechanism for providing user inputs to the electronic device, a user may provide different inputs or combinations of inputs to control different operations based on the current mode or capacity of the electronic device. For example, a single, short click of a button may control a media operation (e.g., play/pause) in a media mode, and the same input may control a telephony operation (e.g., initiate/terminate call) in a telephony mode. In some embodiments, different inputs may be associated with different types of operations. The unique input mechanism may include, for example, a button, a switch, a key, or an actuator.
US09208743B2	Active matrix display device A display driving circuit having a shift register is formed on the display panel. The shift register includes a first stage having first and second transistors and a second stage having a third and fourth transistor. A voltage of a control electrode of the first transistor is boosted by a voltage of a first pulse line changing from low to high. In an On state, the second transistor connects the control electrode of the first transistor and a constant voltage line. A voltage of a control electrode of the third transistor is boosted by a voltage of a second pulse line changing from low to high. In an On state, the fourth transistor connects the control electrode of the third transistor and a constant voltage line. The fourth transistor is switched on by a signal from the first stage.
US09208742B2	Semiconductor device, driver circuit, and display device To provide a semiconductor device including a narrowed bezel obtained by designing a gate driver circuit. A gate driver of a display device includes a shift register unit, a demultiplexer circuit, and n signal lines. By connecting the n signal lines for transmitting clock signals to one stage of the shift register unit, (n−3) output signals can be output. The larger n becomes, the smaller the rate of signal lines for transmitting clock signals which do not contribute to output becomes; accordingly, the area of the shift register unit part is small compared to a conventional structure in which one stage of a shift register unit outputs one output signal. Therefore, the gate driver circuit can have a narrow bezel.
US09208741B2	Display panel On a display panel 10, a first scanning signal line drive circuit 12 is formed along a side of a display region 11 and a second scanning signal line drive circuit 13 is formed along the opposite side by the same process as pixel circuits. The size of a transistor included, the width of a wiring line, or the like, differs between the first and second scanning signal line drive circuits 12 and 13, and the two scanning signal line drive circuits have different sizes in a lateral direction. By this, the center of the display region matches that of a non-integral-type display panel, ensuring compatibility with the non-integral-type display panel. Moreover, by suitably determining the widths of or spacings between wiring lines included in the two scanning signal line drive circuits, leakage between the wiring lines and breaks in the wiring lines are reduced, improving yield of display panels.
US09208738B2	Display substrate, method of manufacturing the same, and display apparatus having the same A display apparatus includes a substrate and a display area and a peripheral area on the substrate. The peripheral area is outside the display area, and a gate driving circuit is disposed in the peripheral area. The gate driving circuit includes a first stage coupled to a first gate line and a second stage coupled to a second gate line, and the first stage and the second stage are configured as mirror images of each other.
US09208735B2	Voltage adjustment method and apparatus of liquid crystal display panel A voltage adjustment method and apparatus of a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel. The method comprises: acquiring initial reference voltage (RV) values of gamma voltage pairs corresponding to respective gray scales, which includes a first and a second gamma voltage; fixing the first gamma voltages, adjusting respectively the second gamma voltages in accordance with flicker values of the brightness of the LCD panel and the initial RV values of the second gamma voltages, and acquiring the adjusted voltage values of the second gamma voltages; and adjusting synchronously, with an equal proportion, the initial RV value of the first gamma voltage and the adjusted voltage value of the second gamma voltage corresponding to each gray scale respectively, so that the brightness corresponding to the gray scale is adjusted to be the same as the brightness corresponding to the same gray scale in the gamma standard voltage curve.
US09208729B2	Low color shift multi-view display device and display method thereof According to various embodiments of the invention, gamma curves for multiple pixel groups can be calibrated using look-up tables or by using reference voltage groups provided by gamma voltage generators so that the pixels can display multiple images with correct gray levels at different view angles. Therefore, color shift can be avoided or lessened without necessarily using extra circuitry on the display panel. Also, any related light transmittance or light utilization efficiency reduction may be decreased or eliminated.
US09208723B2	Semiconductor device including transistor with oxide semiconductor A semiconductor device of the invention includes a data line, a power source line, a first scan line, a second scan line, a first transistor, a second transistor, a memory circuit, a third transistor, and a light-emitting element. A gate of the first transistor is connected to the data line, and a first terminal thereof is connected to the power source line; a gate of the second transistor is connected to the first scan line, and a first terminal thereof is connected to a second terminal of the first transistor; the memory circuit is connected to a second terminal of the second transistor and the second scan line; a first terminal of the third transistor is connected to the light-emitting element; and the memory circuit holds a first potential inputted from the power source line or a second potential inputted from the second scan line, and applies the potential to a gate of the third transistor to control emission/non-emission of the light-emitting element.
US09208721B2	Organic EL display apparatus and method of fabricating organic EL display apparatus A method of fabricating an organic EL display apparatus includes: obtaining a representative current (I)-voltage (V) characteristic of a display panel including pixels each having an organic EL device and a driving transistor; dividing the display panel into a plurality of divided regions, and calculating a light-emitting efficiency and a light-emission starting current value for each of the divided regions calculated by a luminance (L)-I characteristic of the divided region; measuring luminance of light emitted from each of the pixels and calculating an L-V characteristic of each of the pixels; calculating an I-V characteristic of each pixel by dividing each luminance value of the L-V characteristic calculated for the pixel by light-emitting efficiency, and by adding a light-emission starting current value; and calculating a correction parameter for each pixel such that the I-V characteristic of each pixel is corrected to the representative I-V characteristic.
US09208720B2	Organic electroluminescence displaying apparatus which suppresses a defective display caused by a leak current at a time when an emission period controlling transistor is off An organic EL displaying apparatus which suppresses a defective display caused by a leak current at a time when an emission period controlling transistor is off is provided. The organic EL displaying apparatus comprises a plurality of pixels each of which includes an organic EL element, a power supply line, a driving transistor and the emission period controlling transistor, a data line, and a control line. In this apparatus, in a certain one of the pixels, a resistance Roff—ILM between source and drain electrodes of the emission period controlling transistor in an off state of the emission period controlling transistor, and a resistance Rbk—Dr between source and drain electrodes of the driving transistor in a state that a minimum gradation displaying data voltage has been applied to a gate electrode of the driving transistor satisfy Roff—ILM≧Rbk—Dr.
US09208719B2	Display device and active matrix driving method thereof A driving method of a display device is disclosed. According to one aspect, the method includes applying a first voltage of a predetermined level to an anode of a plurality of organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) included in a plurality of pixels. A plurality of driving transistors are driven to be connected to the plurality of OLEDs. The method further includes transmitting a first power source voltage of a logic high level to the anode of the plurality of OLEDs as a threshold voltage to compensate a threshold voltage of the plurality of driving transistors, and applying a data voltage to a plurality of pixels as a data writing step turning on a plurality of driving transistors. The second power source voltage applied to the cathode of the plurality of OLEDs is changed to a second voltage of the logic low level in a state in which a plurality of driving transistors are turned on. In the turned on state, light is emitted from the plurality of OLEDs.
US09208717B2	Semiconductor device and driving method thereof Brightness irregularities that develop in a light emitting device due to is persion among pixels in the threshold values of TFTs used for supplying electric current to light emitting devices become obstacles to improved image quality of the light emitting device. As an image signal input to a pixel from a source signal line, a desired electric potential is applied to a gate electrode of a TFT for supplying electric current to an EL device, through a TFT having its gate and drain connected to each other. A voltage equal to the TFT threshold value is produced between the source and the drain of the TFT 105. An electric potential in which the image signal is offset by the amount of the threshold value is therefore applied to the gate electrode of the TFT. Further, TFTs are disposed in close proximity to each other within the pixel, so that dispersions in the TFT characteristics do not easily develop. A desired drain current can thus be supplied to the EL device even if there is dispersion in the threshold values of the TFTs among pixels, because this is offset by the threshold value of the TFT.
US09208712B2	Method of driving a display panel using switching elements between data channels and data lines and display panel driving apparatus for performing the method A display panel driving apparatus includes a first switching element and a second switching element. The first switching element applies first pixel data to a first pixel connected with a first data line of a display panel during a first sub frame period. The first switching element is connected with a data channel of a data driving part. The second switching element applies second pixel data having a level higher than a level of the first pixel data to a second pixel connected with a second data line of the display panel during a second sub frame period. The second switching element is connected with the data channel. Thus, display quality of a display apparatus may be enhanced.
US09208709B2	Backlight for a display Systems and devices are provided for using an organic light emitting diode (OLED) as a backlight for a liquid crystal display (LCD) device. In one embodiment, an OLED backlight may include one or more OLED elements disposed between two substrates. The OLED backlight may be optically bonded to the back of an LCD, and may further be electrically connected with the LCD active matrix. In one embodiment, information transmitted to selected pixels of the LCD active matrix may also be used by elements of the OLED backlight which are electrically connected to the selected LCD pixels. For example, the OLED backlight may respond to grayscale information transmitted to selected LCD pixels by emitting a corresponding intensity of light. In some embodiments, the LCD device may include other functions, such as touch sensing capabilities, which may be integrated with the LCD and OLED backlight.
US09208702B2	Advertising device for diverse terrain The invention relates to an advertising device that includes: a base having a lower support surface and a longitudinal channel in the upper part thereof for mounting and attaching an advertising poster, three-dimensional advertising designs made of a flexible shape-memory material, a means of attaching the advertising poster to the base, and a means of attaching the base to the ground.
US09208698B2	Device, method, and graphical user interface for manipulating a three-dimensional map view based on a device orientation An electronic device displays on a display a first three-dimensional map view of a respective map location. The first three-dimensional map view is viewed from a first angle while an orientation of the electronic device corresponds to a first orientation. The electronic device detects a rotation of the electronic device with at least one orientation sensor, and determines a respective orientation of the electronic device. The respective orientation is distinct from the first orientation. While detecting the rotation of the electronic device, the electronic device updates the first three-dimensional map view with a respective three-dimensional map view of the respective map location. The respective three-dimensional map view is viewed from a respective angle distinct from the first angle. The respective angle is determined in accordance with the respective orientation of the electronic device.
US09208697B2	Information display device, information display method, and program A method is provided for displaying information. The method comprises displaying, on a touch screen, at least one representation of a geographic location. The method further comprises detecting contact between an operating member and a position on the touch screen; and displaying, based on the detected contact, information associated with the geographic location. The method still further comprises detecting removal of the operating member from the touch screen; and maintaining display of the geographic location information after detection of the removal.
US09208691B2	Machine system having overtaking functionality An overtaking control system is disclosed for use with a plurality of machines operating at a common worksite. The overtaking control system may have an input device that is configured to receive an input from an operator of the first machine of the plurality of machines indicative of a desire to overtake a second machine of the plurality of machines. The overtaking control system may also have a location device configured to generate a location signal indicative of a location of the first machine at the common worksite. The overtaking control system may further have at least one controller configured to make a comparison of a projected path of the first machine with a map of the common worksite based on the location signal, and selectively activate the input device only when the comparison indicates that the projected path of the first machine does not overlap with a no-overtaking zone at the common worksite.
US09208690B2	Calculating time to go and size of an object based on scale correlation between images from an electro optical sensor A method for calculating a Time To Go value between a vehicle and an intruding object. First and second images of the object are retrieved at first and second points of time. A scaling factor is selected and the second image scaled with the scale factor. The scaled image is resampled to a set position. Correlation values are calculated between the first image and the resampled scaled image for different horizontal displacements and/or different vertical displacements for the resampled scaled image. A maximum correlation value is found based on the correlation values. Selecting the scaling factor, resampling, calculating the correlation values, and finding the maximum correlation values are repeated a second predetermined number of times. A largest maximum correlation value is found among the maximum correlation values and the scale factor associated with the largest maximum correlation value. The Time To Go is calculated based on the associated scale factor.
US09208682B2	Lane level congestion splitting A controller receives probe data from a vehicle traveling on a path segment. The probe data may be collected by a mobile device. The path segment may be a multilane roadway. The controller identifies a first lane of the path segment from the probe data. The controller associated a forked route with the first lane of the path segment. The controller calculates different traffic values for the lanes of the path segment. One traffic value may be calculated directly from speeds derived from the path data. Another traffic value may be calculated by the probe data and a historical relationship.
US09208679B2	System and method for configuring the remote control functionality of a portable device A system and method used to configure a smart device to command functional operations of a target appliance. The smart device retrieves from a controllable appliance, such as a settop box, data indicative of a codeset identity of the target appliance wherein the codeset identity was determined during a process used to configure a conventional universal remote control to command functional operations of the target appliance and wherein the process used to configure the conventional universal remote control is performed in cooperation with the controllable appliance. A remote control application resident on the smart device then uses the data indicative of the codeset identity retrieved from the controllable appliance to also configure the smart device to command functional operations of the target appliance.
US09208669B2	Apparatus and method for improved live monitoring and alarm handling in video surveillance systems Systems and methods for annotating a display of a video data stream with customized information are provided. Methods include selecting a video data stream, creating a video graphic help file (VGH file) associated with the video data stream, a data capture device associated with the video data stream, a monitored area captured by the data capture device associated with the video data stream, or a salvo view, adding customized information to the VGH file, determining a need to access the VGH file, recalling the VGH file, and displaying customized information in the VGH file.
US09208665B2	Automated, remotely-verified alarm system with intrusion and video surveillance and digital video recording An automated self-monitored alarm verification solution including at least a premises portion, a server portion, and an end user device portion. Alarm verification includes capturing by an image capture device at least one image in response to a detection event, and transmitting a first data signal including the image to a local signal processing device. The signal processing device transmits a second signal including at least a portion of the image to a remote hosted server according to at least a first set of predetermined parameters. After receiving the second signal, the server transmits a third signal including at least a portion of the image from the hosted server to a user device. Using the user device, a user views the image and indicates a validity status of the alarm based at least in part on the content of the image. Based at least upon either the validation status indicated by the user, or upon a failure to receive a message including a validation status from the user within a predetermined duration of time, the server portion may send an alarm signal to an emergency response service.
US09208662B2	Methods and devices for selectively controlling and varying surface texture and/or force levels on a mobile device using haptic feedback Mobile devices having haptic interfaces located on an edge or back of mobile phones for selectively controlling and varying surface texture and/or force levels are provided. The haptic interfaces may allow for haptic interaction with the user of the mobile device when audio or visual feedback is not practical. The haptic interface may be an electro-mechanical system that may include a matrix or array of individually addressable actuators that can convey haptic information through the deformation of a flexible surface or membrane covering the array of individually addressable actuators. The array of “individually addressable” actuators may provide each actuator the ability to be separately addressable or addressable as a group (i.e. two or more) actuators.
US09208656B2	Slot machine including a plurality of video reel strips On the slot machine, a slot game including a base game and free games is caused to proceed on a display. On the base game reel strips, on all of a plurality of reels, symbols whose each kind is the same, other than feature symbols and wild symbols, are arranged in succession. On the free game reel strips, on all of a plurality of reels, symbols whose each kind is the same, other than the feature symbols and the wild symbols, are arranged in succession and in addition thereto, only in a case of top symbols whose payout multiplying factor is the highest, the top symbols whose number is larger than a number of top symbols displayed on the base game reel strips are arranged in succession.
US09208652B2	Methods and systems for conducting lottery games with portable devices enabled for near field communication (NFC) In some embodiments, the instant invention provides for a computer system that includes a processor executing the code to: receive an indication indicating that a player desires to participate in a lottery game based on a near field communication (NFC) between a mobile device of the player and a first game piece associated with the lottery game conducted by a game conducting authority; conduct a drawing in accordance with rules of the lottery game; receive an indication identifying an action performed by the player in accordance with the rules of the lottery game where the action is based on: i) a result of the drawing and ii) NFC communication between the mobile device of the player and a second game piece associated with the lottery game; and distribute a prize to player in accordance with the rules of the lottery game.
US09208651B2	Wagering game apparatus and method with enhancement parameter dictated by prior play A gaming system for conducting a wagering game includes a display device configured to portray wagering game outcomes indicated by symbols populated in symbol arrays. The gaming system receives a first wager and displays a first symbol array to indicate the outcome for the first wager. The gaming system receives a second wager and displays a second symbol array to indicate the outcome for the second wager. During portrayal of the second outcome, the first symbol array is displayed simultaneously with the second symbol array, and the first symbol array is modified according to one or more symbols in the second symbol array. The gaming system provides an award according to the improvement, if any, in the second symbol array resulting from the modification.
US09208650B2	Gaming system and method of gaming A method of gaming, game controller and gaming system wherein an amount wagered on a game is determined and symbols selected from a symbol set to display in designated symbol positions, the resulting symbols used to determine a first game outcome. Symbols are re-selected for at least one of the designated symbol positions a number of times depending on the amount wagered, to provide a corresponding number of further game outcomes in which a jackpot prize is eligible to be awarded.
US09208644B2	Wagering game system with pausing feature A gaming system includes one or more controllers and one or more memory devices storing instructions that, when executed by at least one of the one or more controllers, cause the gaming system to initiate a wagering game to be played via a gaming machine and in response to a pause event, temporarily pause the wagering game-in-progress, prior to revealing a final outcome of the wagering game. While the game-in-progress is paused, the one or more controllers allow the gaming machine to participate in a community event along with a plurality of other gaming machines and in response to an end-pause event associated with the community event, reinstate the paused game-in-progress at the gaming machine.
US09208636B2	Gaming machine, gaming system, and gaming method In a gaming system including gaming terminals, each gaming terminal executes a bonus game when the result of a base game satisfies a predetermined condition. If a first gaming machine that does not have an entry right exists among the gaming terminals when the base game is executed, the controller performs drawing of the entry right for the first gaming terminal. The controller sets an award expected in a bonus game of a first case to be greater than an award expected in a bonus game of a second case. The first case is a case that the bonus game is triggered in a gaming terminal that has the entry right when the base game is executed, and the second case is a case that the bonus game is triggered in the gaming terminal that does not the entry right when the base game is executed.
US09208619B1	Tracking the use of at least one destination location Tracking the use of at least one destination location is disclosed. Initially, four or more first images are received from a first camera having a first field of view. It is then determined that the first vehicle is stopped within the at least one destination location at a first time and that the first vehicle has left the at least one destination location at a second time. A first characteristic of an occupant of the first vehicle based on a first image is determined to correspond to a second characteristic of the occupant of the first vehicle based on a second image. It is then determined that the occupant of the first vehicle traveled between the first vehicle and a payment station. Payment information specifying a period of time that was received by a third-party parking payment system is received. The period of time is then associated with the first vehicle.
US09208616B2	Mobile terminal and method of controlling the same A mobile terminal and a method of controlling a mobile terminal are provided. A depth level of a stereoscopic graphic object using binocular parallax is controlled according to a user's usage pattern, and displaying of the stereoscopic graphic object is controlled according to various events such as various input signals.
US09208615B2	Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and program for facilitating an input operation by a user in response to information displayed in a superimposed manner on a visual field of the user There is provided an image processing device including a superimposition display position determining unit which determines a position of an object having a predetermined flat surface or curved surface out of an object imaged in an input image based on an environment map, a superimposition display image generating unit which generates a superimposition display image by setting superimposition display data at the position of the object determined by the superimposition display position determining unit, an image superimposing unit which superimposes the superimposition display image on a visual field of a user, an operating object recognizing unit which recognizes an operating object imaged in the input image, and a process executing unit which executes a process corresponding to an item selected based on a position of the operating object recognized by the operating object recognizing unit.
US09208606B2	System, method, and computer program product for extruding a model through a two-dimensional scene A system, method, and computer program product are provided for extruding an object through a two-dimensional scene. In use, a two-dimensional object is identified within a two-dimensional scene. Additionally, a three-dimensional model is determined that corresponds to the two-dimensional object. Further, the three-dimensional model is extruded through the two-dimensional scene to create a three-dimensional object.
US09208602B2	Techniques and architecture for improved vertex processing An apparatus may include an index buffer to store an index stream having a multiplicity of index entries corresponding to vertices of a mesh and a vertex cache to store a multiplicity of processed vertices of the mesh. The apparatus may further include a processor circuit, and a vertex manager for execution on the processor circuit to read a reference bitstream comprising a multiplicity of bitstream entries, each bitstream entry corresponding to an index entry of the index stream, and to remove a processed vertex from the vertex cache when a value of the reference bitstream entry corresponding to the processed vertex is equal to a defined value.
US09208601B2	Computing plausible road surfaces in 3D from 2D geometry Road network data can include two dimensional (2D) coordinates corresponding to junctions and non-junctions in the road network. Height values for roads at junctions can be obtained from optimizing a cost function or as input. Height values for roads at non-junction locations can be obtained from a height function defined using the height values for the junctions. Pitch, yaw, and roll vectors can be obtained for non-junction locations using the height function, the 2D coordinates, and one or more road parameters, respectively. These vectors can define a coordinate frame for the road, along with which a width can provide points for defining polygons for the road. Road surface data can be constructed from the polygons. The polygons can be provided to a device display for rendering of a three dimensional image of navigation data.
US09208587B2	Systems and methods for compressed sensing for multi-shell magnetic resonance imaging A method of compressed sensing for multi-shell magnetic resonance imaging includes obtaining magnetic resonance imaging data, the data being sampled along multi-shell spherical coordinates, the spherical coordinates coincident with a plurality of spokes that converge at an origin, constructing a symmetric shell for each respective sampled multi-shell to create a combined set of data, performing a three-dimensional Fourier transform on the combined set of data to reconstruct an image, and de-noising the reconstructed image by iteratively applying a sparsifying transform on non-sampled data points of neighboring shells. The method can also include randomly under-sampling the imaging data to create missing data points. A system configured to implement the method and a non-transitory computer readable medium are also disclosed.
US09208575B2	Method and device for detecting face, and non-transitory computer-readable recording medium for executing the method In the present disclosure, a plurality of frames of input images sequentially received for a predetermined time interval is obtained, and a face detecting operation is performed on a first frame if a full detecting mode is implemented. If a face is detected from a specific region of the first frame during the face detecting operation, a face tracking mode is implemented, a second frame is divided to produce the divided input image portions of the second frame, and the face tracking operation is performed on a surrounding region of the specific region of the divided input image portions of the second frame that corresponds to the specific region in the first frame. If the face is not detected in the face tracking mode, a partial detecting mode is implemented, and the face detecting operation is performed on image portions resized on divided input image portions of a third frame to which a specific region of the third frame corresponding to the specific region of the first frame belongs.
US09208571B2	Object digitization Digitizing objects in a picture is discussed herein. A user presents the object to a camera, which captures the image comprising color and depth data for the front and back of the object. For both front and back images, the closest point to the camera is determined by analyzing the depth data. From the closest points, edges of the object are found by noting large differences in depth data. The depth data is also used to construct point cloud constructions of the front and back of the object. Various techniques are applied to extrapolate edges, remove seams, extend color intelligently, filter noise, apply skeletal structure to the object, and optimize the digitization further. Eventually, a digital representation is presented to the user and potentially used in different applications (e.g., games, Web, etc.).
US09208560B2	Image registration method An image registration method for registering images into a coordinate system includes the following steps: (a) performing image normalization on a source image and generating a normalized image; (b) retrieving at least one color-deconvoluted image from color-deconvoluting the source image; (c) determining at least one image feature from the at least one color-deconvoluted image; (d) comparing the at least one image feature of the at least one color-deconvoluted image with a target image, and generating a relative matching structural feature result; and (e) transforming the normalized image into a registered image according to the matching structural feature result.
US09208558B2	Methods and systems for producing an implant A computer implemented method for determining the 3-dimensional shape of an implant to be implanted into a subject includes obtaining a computer readable image including a defective portion and a non-defective portion of tissue in the subject, superimposing on the image a shape to span the defective portion, and determining the 3-dimensional shape of the implant based on the shape that spans the defective portion.
US09208556B2	Method, system, software and medium for advanced intelligent image analysis and display of medical images and information Computerized interpretation of medical images for quantitative analysis of multi-modality breast images including analysis of FFDM, 2D/3D ultrasound, MRI, or other breast imaging methods. Real-time characterization of tumors and background tissue, and calculation of image-based biomarkers is provided for breast cancer detection, diagnosis, prognosis, risk assessment, and therapy response. Analysis includes lesion segmentation, and extraction of relevant characteristics (textural/morphological/kinetic features) from lesion-based or voxel-based analyzes. Combinations of characteristics in several classification tasks using artificial intelligence is provided. Output in terms of 1D, 2D or 3D distributions in which an unknown case is identified relative to calculations on known or unlabeled cases, which can go through a dimension-reduction technique. Output to 3D shows relationships of the unknown case to a cloud of known or unlabeled cases, in which the cloud demonstrates the structure of the population of patients with and without the disease.
US09208555B1	Method for inspection of electrical equipment Exemplary methods for inspecting electrical equipment in a power distribution network can include the steps of recording, by a mobile device, a photograph with a view of the object, transmitting recording information of the mobile device and the photograph to a computer server hosting a power network description database; generating, from a model stored in the power network description database of a candidate object and based on the recording information of the mobile device, a representation of the candidate object, and comparing the transmitted photograph and the generated representation to identify and characterize the object in the photograph as the candidate object.
US09208549B2	Method and apparatus for color transfer between images A method and an arrangement for color transfer between images for compensating color differences between at least two images as a first and a second image represented by pixel data are recommended, wherein for corresponding feature points of the images a color map and a geometric map are calculated for compensating a first image by applying said geometric map and said color map to the first image resulting in a compensated first image for detecting regions where a compensation fails by comparing the compensated first image with the second image to perform a color transfer excluding image regions where the compensation failed. The method can be performed on the fly and is applicable for equalizing color differences between images different in geometry and color.
US09208531B2	Digital dentistry The systems and methods disclosed herein employ a scanning system for capturing highly detailed digital dental models. These models may be used within a dentist's office for a wide array of dental functions including quality control, restoration design, and fitting. These models may also, or instead, be transmitted to dental laboratories that may, alone or in collaboration with the originating dentist or other dental professionals, transform the digital model into a physical realization of a dental hardware item.
US09208524B2	Device, system, and method of automatic financial-instrument management Devices, systems, and methods of automatic Financial-Instrument (FI) management. In some embodiments, a system includes, a memory having stored thereon financial-instrument-based (FI-based) management instructions; and a processor to execute the FI-based management instructions resulting in a FI-based management application, wherein the FI-based management application may receive portfolio data corresponding to a plurality of financial-instrument portfolios associated with a plurality of clients, wherein the FI-based management application may automatically identify one or more portfolios of the plurality of portfolios satisfying at least one criterion, wherein, for each identified portfolio, the FI-based management application may receive client-specific management data corresponding to a client associated with the identified portfolio, wherein the client-specific management data includes at least client-specific destination information defining at least one destination, and wherein, for each identified portfolio, the FI-based management application may automatically communicate portfolio-related data corresponding to the identified portfolio to the destination defined by the management data.
US09208521B2	Computerized method and system for dynamically creating and updating a user interface The number of users viewing a given variable directly affects the rate of change and/or outcome of said variable. In the case of eCommerce, pricing of products and/or services is based upon a user accessing a website on which products and/or services are for sale. An initial price indicia associator associates initial price indicia with the products and/or services files. The initial pricing can be based upon historical indicia or the engine itself. Thereafter, a price indicia adjuster adjusts the pricing responsive to user access of the website or related website. A user interface meter shown on the website indicates to potential buyers how much interest there is in the product and/or service being sold so that peer activity is exhibited to potential buyers to encourage sales and impulsive buying behavior. Pricing is dynamic and adjusts in real-time at a rate determined by the amount of users accessing the website.
US09208516B1	Audio system Methods and systems for providing audio information based on gaze information are described. In an example, a computing device may be configured to receive gaze information indicative of a wearer-view associated with the computing device. Based on the gaze information, the computing device may be configured to determine content displayed in the wearer-view. Further, the computing device may be configured to determine audio information relating to the content and cause an audio stream associated with the audio information to be played at the computing device.
US09208513B1	Automated branding of generic applications A mobile phone comprising a processor, a memory comprising a system partition and a data partition, and an application stored in the system partition of the memory. When executed by the processor, the application determines a brand identity associated with the mobile phone, accesses branding assets associated with the application based on the brand identity, and adapts the function of the application based on the accessed branding assets.
US09208506B2	Geofenced event-based fan networking: methods The present invention is a fan networking system (FNS), available through a software application, executing on fans' portable smart devices for an event to be held in a venue. A FNS may offer event-customized services to fans, such as messaging, fan groups, mementos, coupons, “friends”, and contests. The level of services might depend on whether a fan is attending; timing (pre-, during, post-performance); for a competitive event, whether the fan affiliates with the home or away team; and the category of fan (e.g., audience, management, performer). Determination of whether a fan is attending may be done with geolocation services, e.g., through GPS. A fan might need to remain within the venue for some period of time to qualify as attending. Services to attending fans may extend for a period beyond the event itself.
US09208498B2	Methods and apparatuses to track keywords for establishing communication links Methods and apparatuses to track keywords used for matching advertisements that provide references to make calls for real time communications. One embodiment includes: selecting an advertisement based on a condition; providing a reference for presentation with the advertisement, to identify the condition and the advertisement; and charging an advertisement fee in response to a call via the reference for a real time communication session.
US09208492B2	Systems and methods for biometric authentication of transactions Systems and methods are provided for authorizing a user in connection with a transaction at a transaction terminal. The systems and methods described herein enable a series of operations whereby a user using a mobile device can capture a code that uniquely identifies a transaction terminal. In addition the mobile device can also capture a user's biometrics, generate a biometric identifier and biometrically verify the user's identity by comparing the biometric identifier to a previously generated biometric identifier. If the user is biometrically authenticated the mobile device can generate a transaction request including, a user identifier, a mobile device identifier, and the transaction terminal code and transmit the transaction request to a system server. Based on the transaction request, the system server can further authenticate the user and/or approve the requested transaction. If the user is authenticated, the system server can instruct the terminal to advance the financial transaction.
US09208475B2	Apparatus and method for email storage Embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus for storing emails, comprising a neural network arranged to receive information associated with an email, to determine a storage location of the email according to one or more of the attributes of the email and to output information identifying the determined storage location.
US09208473B2	Conditional disclosure of a response to content posted in a social network Technologies are generally described for a social networking service (SNS). In some examples, a method performed under control of a server may include receiving a user input associated with the user responding to content posted in an online forum, determining whether a threshold condition set by the user is satisfied for the user's response to be disclosed with regard to a particular piece of content posted in the online forum, and disclosing the user's response to the particular piece of content posted in the online forum when the threshold condition is determined to be satisfied.
US09208468B2	Inventory management system The present disclosure provides an inventory management system that offers significant improvement over existing systems by automating requests to restock inventory. The present disclosure details an inventory management system that provides real time visibility to stock levels and streamlines materials management activities, while addressing the issues of human resource misallocations, inaccurate inventory data management and related out of stock conditions. Moreover, the system of the present disclosure promotes a high level of confidence in inventory data that enables on-hand inventory levels to be reduced, thereby reducing costs and waste.
US09208467B2	Optimizing inventory in accordance with a constrained network In one embodiment, optimizing inventory includes accessing service level band sets. Each service level band set is associated with a policy group, and includes service level bands. Each service level band of a service level band set has a service level priority with respect to any other service level bands of the same service level band set. An inventory band set is determined for each service level band set. Each inventory band set includes inventory bands, where each inventory band satisfies a corresponding service level band assuming an unconstrained network. Each inventory band of an inventory band set has an inventory priority with respect to any other inventory bands of the same inventory band set. A feasible supply chain plan that satisfies the inventory band sets is generated in order of the inventory priorities until a constrained network is depleted.
US09208454B2	System and method for providing a unified messaging and modeling infrastructure A system and method for providing a unified messaging and modeling infrastructure (UMMI) is disclosed. The system may comprise an input module of a first operations support system configured to receive information for processing at the first operations support system and a processor module of the first operations support system configured to process the information received at the first input module and an output module of the first operations support system configured to transmit a standardized data sheet to the second operations support system. The system may comprise an input module of the second operations support system configured to receive the standardized data sheet and a processor module of the second operations support system configured to update the standardized data sheet based on processing operations at the second operations support system and to generate executable code to support interface functionality based on definitions of the standardized data sheet.
US09208453B2	Targeted multi-dimension data extraction for real-time analysis Methods and systems for extracting targeted data for real-time reporting are discussed. In an example, a system can include a data store, a server, and a denormalized database. The data store can maintain data created by an application. The server can be communicatively coupled to the data store. The server can include a data extraction module and a data compression module. The data extraction module can extract a subset of the data stored in the data store according to an extraction scheme. The data compression module can compress the extracted subset of the data into a set of aggregated key value pairs. The denormalized database can store the aggregated key value pairs.
US09208451B2	Automatic identification of information useful for generation-based functional verification A computer-implemented method, an apparatus and a computer program for automatically extracting useful information for functional verification. The method comprising performing repeatedly both operating an instruction generator associated with a Design Under Test (DUT), whereby a generated instruction is determined, the generated instruction having one or more instruction attributes; and collecting information relating to the generated instruction. Based on the generated instruction and the collected information, a classification technique is utilized to classify the information based on the instruction attributes.
US09208448B2	System, method and computer program product for incremental learning of system log formats A method for learning a data format is disclosed including but not limited to inputting an initial description of a data format and a batch of data comprising data in a new data format not covered by the initial description, instructions to use the first description to parse the records in the data source; discarding records in the input data that parse successfully, instructions to collect records that fail to parse, instructions to accumulate a quantity, M of records that fail to parse, returning a modified description that extends the initial description to cover the new data, transforming the first description, D into a second description D′ to accommodate differences between the input data format and the first description D by introducing options where a piece of data was missing in the input data and introducing unions where a new type of data was found in the input data.
US09208446B2	Methods of increasing fidelity of quantum operations Systems and methods are provided for improving fidelity of a quantum operation on a quantum bit of interest. A controlled quantum gate operation, controlled by the quantum bit of interest, id performed on an ancillary quantum bit. An energy state of the ancillary quantum bit is measured to facilitate the improvement of the fidelity of the quantum operation.
US09208444B1	Determining happiness indices A computer-implemented method that includes the actions of receiving a request for data indicative of a user segment of a social networking platform, accessing user data of the social networking platform, identifying a portion of the accessed user data, analyzing contents of the portion of the accessed user data, determining happiness scores for the users in the user segment, identifying a first subset of the users as being happy users, and identifying a second subset of the users as being unhappy users, determining a frequency at which the particular user performs one or more actions, comparing the determined frequencies at which the users in the second subset perform the one or more actions to a threshold frequency, identifying a third subset of the users included in the second subset, and generating a happiness index for the user segment that is based on one or more determined happiness scores.
US09208438B2	Duplication in decision trees A packet classification system, apparatus, and corresponding apparatus are provided for enabling packet classification. A processor of a security appliance coupled to a network uses a classifier table having a plurality of rules, the plurality of rules having at least one field, to build a decision tree structure for packet classification. Duplication in the decision tree may be identified, producing a wider, shallower decision tree that may result in shorter search times with reduced memory requirements for storing the decision tree. A number of operations needed to identify duplication in the decision tree may be reduced, thereby increasing speed and efficiency of a compiler building the decision tree.
US09208431B2	Method and apparatus for strategic synaptic failure and learning in spiking neural networks Certain aspects of the present disclosure support a technique for strategic synaptic failure and learning in spiking neural networks. A synaptic weight for a synaptic connection between a pre-synaptic neuron and a post-synaptic neuron can be first determined (e.g., according to a learning rule). Then, one or more failures of the synaptic connection can be determined based on a set of characteristics of the synaptic connection. The one or more failures can be omitted from computation of a neuronal behavior of the post-synaptic neuron.
US09208428B2	Identification articles Presently disclosed subject matter is directed to an identification article, methods of its manufacture and a sheet material forming part thereof. The article in accordance with the disclosed subject matter has a first end and a second end configured for attachment to each other through a contact section configured at either the first end or the second end. The article comprising a first, top layer including a bottom side, a second, bottom layer including a top side, and an identification component, wherein the bottom side of the first layer and the top side of the second layer bonded to at least encapsulate therebetween the identification component. In addition, the contact section comprises a release section constituting an end portion of the second layer, coated with a release agent on the top side thereof.
US09208419B2	Controlling apparatus for controlling a first printing apparatus and a second apparatus A controlling apparatus, which controls a first printing apparatus that prints an image on a continuous sheet and a second printing apparatus that prints on the continuous sheet on a downstream side in a conveyance direction of the continuous sheet, stores a printing state of the first printing apparatus and a second printing apparatus. When an error is detected in the first printing apparatus, conveyance of the continuous sheet is suspended, and occurrence position of the error is specified. When it is detected that the error is solved, and conveyance of the continuous sheet is restarted, control is performed such that the second printing apparatus performs printing on the continuous sheet on which printing has been finished by the first printing apparatus before the detection of the error, based on the specified occurrence position of the error.
US09208416B2	Image processing apparatus performing halftone process on image data based on a corrected tone value and an error value of target pixels The present invention provides an image processing apparatus that includes a processor. The processor is configured to calculate a corrected tone value of a target pixel using a tone value of the target pixel and an error value of a previously processed pixel; determine a dot value of the target pixel by comparing the corrected tone value with a threshold value; calculate an error value of the target pixel using the corrected tone value and a first density value when the dot value indicates to form a dot and the dot to be formed is a first dot formed in isolation; and calculate an error value of the target pixel using the corrected tone value and a second density value when the dot value indicates to form a dot and the dot to be formed is a second dot formed at a particular location in consecutive dots.
US09208408B2	Printing apparatus and correction method of the printing apparatus In an apparatus including a first acquisition unit configured to acquire information of an operation amount of a conveyance unit configured to convey a printing medium, a second acquisition unit configured to acquire information of a density of an image printed by a printhead, and a specify unit configured to specify the density of the image based on histogram collection on the information of the density of the image acquired by the second acquisition, the following correction is made. More specifically, a correction value of the information of the operation amount based on a histogram on the acquired information of the operation amount is decided. Then, based on the decided correction value, the acquired information of the operation amount is corrected.
US09208407B2	Image forming apparatus having a display section and a lighting section An image forming apparatus includes an operating section accepting an operation by a user, a receiving section receiving data for a print job from an externally connected instrument, an image forming section starting an image forming based on a print job if the operating section accepts an operation to start the print job or if the receiving section receives data for the print job, a display section displaying varieties of information for printing on a display area, a lighting section illuminating the display section from a back portion thereof, and a control section causing lighting of the lighting section to be turned off gradually part by part until finally turned off entirely if entire lighting of the lighting section is in a state of keeping being turned on when the image forming section starts an image forming.
US09208400B2	Registration and comparison of three-dimensional objects Information of different scans of physical objects may require comparison, for example to determine if the scans are of the same object or if an object has changed, or better information for a three dimensional model may be desired. Different scans of physical objects may be compared by determining lines or planes tangent to a surface at a discrete number of points, registering three dimensional information provided by the scans using the tangent lines or planes, and determining a measure of discrepancy between the surfaces. Three dimensional information of different scans of the same object may also be merged after determining lines or planes tangent to a surface at a discrete number of points and performing registration and merging.
US09208397B2	Codeless QR code A service provider receives, from a user, picture information captured by a user device from a picture mark associated with a product or service of a merchant. It determines a matching picture image by comparing the picture information with picture images in a server, previously registered by the merchant. It also determines, out of attributes previously registered by the merchant, a matching attribute set uniquely associated with the matching picture image. The attributes may be web links, mobile APPs, or any media files that the merchant desires to communicate to users about its products or services. The service provider then communicates to the user the matching attribute set to be loaded on the user device and direct the user to the web links, mobile APPs, or media files that the merchant predetermined.
US09208396B2	Image processing method and device, and program In image processing of multi-viewpoint image data including image data captured with different focal lengths, an image of high quality, distance information with high precision, etc., are obtained by utilizing image data with different angles of view (focal lengths). An image processing device for generating combined image data using multi-viewpoint image data including image data acquired with different focal lengths, includes a resolution converting unit configured to perform resolution conversion for at least part of image data in multi-viewpoint image data in accordance with a focal length to be output and an image combining unit configured to generate combined image data with the focal length to be output using the resolution-converted image data.
US09208394B2	Authentication of an article of manufacture using an image of the microstructure of it surface The present application concerns the visual identification of materials or documents for tracking or authentication purposes.It describes methods to automatically authenticate an object by comparing some object images with reference images, the object images being characterized by the fact that visual elements used for comparison are non-disturbing for the naked eye. In some described approaches it provides the operator with visible features to locate the area to be imaged. It also proposes ways for real-time implementation enabling user friendly detection using mobile devices like smart phones.
US09208392B2	Methods and apparatus for progressive pattern matching in a mobile environment Methods and apparatus for performing efficient pattern matching in a client-server network are described herein. A communication device acquires an object to be matched. At least one reduced set of features is extracted from the object to be matched and a determination as to whether the object to be matched matches one of a plurality of known objects in a local library stored on the communication device is generated. An indication representing a match of the object is presented if the determination indicates a local match exists in the local library. A match request including the at least one reduced set of features is transmitted for a remote matching determination when the determination indicates that no local match exists in the local library. In accordance with some aspects, a series of one or more match requests may be transmitted for a remote matching determination.
US09208385B2	System and method for moving object detection and processing A method is provided for an intelligent video processing system based on object detection. The method includes receiving an input video sequence corresponding to a video program, obtaining a plurality of frames of the input video sequence, and obtaining a computational constraint and a temporal rate constraint. The method also includes determining one or more regions of interest (ROIs) of the plurality of frames based on the computational constraint and temporal rate constraint, and selecting a desired set of frames from the plurality of frames based on the ROIs such that the desired set of frames substantially represent a view path of the plurality of frames. Further, the method includes detecting object occurrences from the desired set of frames based on the selected desired set of frames such that a computational cost and a number of frames for detecting the object occurrences are under the computational constraint and temporal rate constraint.
US09208383B2	Commodity recognition apparatus and method for recognizing commodity by the same A commodity recognition apparatus, which recognizes, from an image captured by an image capturing section and stored in a storage section, a commodity imaged in the image, identifies, for each image captured by the image capturing section, an image capturing condition of light source for the image. The commodity recognition apparatus selects the image captured by the image capturing section under a given image capturing condition identified and displays the selected image on a display section.
US09208382B2	Methods and systems for associating a keyphrase with an image Novel tools and techniques are described for identifying objects and/or persons. In one aspect, a method might comprise obtaining a digital image of an object(s) with a digital image recording device. The digital image may be transmitted to a remote computer system, and compared to multiple preexisting digital images using an image comparison software application running thereon. A set of preexisting digital images matching the digital image of the object(s) may be identified, and a (best match) keyphrase associated with the preexisting digital images may be determined. The keyphrase may be returned to a user computer for user confirmation or rejection. In some embodiments, a point cloud may be generated for each object in the image, and fitted with available 3D models, so as to confirm the keyphrase. In some embodiments, the confirmed keyphrase may be sent to a user computer for implementation in a cadastral survey application.
US09208376B2	Identification of people using multiple skeleton recording devices Method(s) and system(s) for identification of an unknown person are disclosed. The method includes receiving skeleton data comprises data of multiple skeleton joints of the unknown person from skeleton recording devices. The method further includes extracting G gait feature vectors from the skeleton data. Further, the method includes classifying each gait feature vector into one of N classes based on a training dataset for N known persons and computing a classification score for each class. The method also includes clustering the training dataset into M clusters based on M predefined characteristic attributes of the known persons, tagging each gait feature vector with one of the M clusters based on a distance between a respective gait feature vector and cluster centers of M clusters, and determining a clustering score for each M cluster. The method further includes identifying the unknown person based on clustering scores and classification scores.
US09208372B2	Image processing apparatus, image processing method, program, and electronic appliance There is provided an image processing apparatus including an image processing unit configured to carry out adjustment that makes disparity larger than disparity corresponding to processed images, which are moving images to be processed, based on an amount of change over time in a magnitude of the disparity corresponding to the processed images.
US09208371B2	Low power navigation devices, systems and methods A system and method are disclosed for conserving power during navigation, e.g., user device pointer/cursor navigation, using a fingerprint image sensor, that may comprise processing, via a computing device, fingerprint image sensor data indicative of finger position and movement with respect to a fingerprint image sensor surface in a finger navigation mode to determine if the finger is in a first finger navigation mode; processing, via the computing device, fingerprint image sensor data indicative of finger position and movement with respect to a fingerprint image sensor surface in a finger navigation mode to determine if the finger is in a second finger navigation mode; and transitioning, via the computing device, the fingerprint image sensor from a first power consumption mode to a second power consumption mode, based on detecting a transition from the first finger navigation mode to the second finger navigation mode.
US09208364B2	Identification information access device The present invention provides an identification information access device configured to read identification information stored in an RFID tag even if the RFID tag is located at a position at which identification information of the RFID tag has been difficult to read. An identification information access device includes: a first antenna unit configured to read identification information stored in an RFID IC tag included in a storage medium; a control device configured to be electrically connected to the first antenna unit and to drive the first antenna unit so as to acquire the identification information in accordance with an electromagnetic wave transmitted from the first antenna unit; and a second antenna unit configured to be independent from the first antenna unit, to be disposed at a position separated from the first antenna unit, and not to be electrically connected to the first antenna unit and to the control device.
US09208361B1	Magnetic stripe card reader A magnetic stripe card reader useful for reading magnetic stripe bearing cards having at least one magnetic track, the magnetic stripe reader including a magnetic stripe reader head including multiple magnetic sensors including at least one magnetic track reading sensor for reading data encoded in a magnetic track of a magnetic stripe and at least one magnetic sensor which does not read encoded data, the magnetic stripe reader head providing magnetic sensor outputs including at least one magnetic track sensor reading output and at least one magnetic sensor output which has no encoded data therein and a subtractor operative to subtract at least a portion of the at least one magnetic sensor output, which has no encoded data therein, from the at least one magnetic track sensor reading output having card data encoded thereon, thereby to cancel interference from the at least one magnetic track reading output.
US09208359B2	Always-available embedded theft reaction subsystem A platform including an always-available theft protection system is described. In one embodiment, the system comprises a power management logic to selectively power elements of the system, a disarming logic to disarm the platform from an armed mode when a disarming command is received via an interface, the interface powered when the platform is in the armed and suspecting modes to detect the disarming command. The system further comprises, in one embodiment, a risk behavior logic to detect a potential problem via a interface, the interface powered when the platform is in the armed mode to detect the potential problem, and a core logic component to provide logic to analyze the potential problem, and to move the platform to a suspecting mode, when the potential problem indicates a theft suspicion, the core logic powered when the risk behavior logic detects the potential problem.
US09208354B2	Techniques for securing use of one-time passwords Various embodiments are generally directed to the provision and use of a secure enclave defined within a storage of a computing device by a processor element thereof to store executable instructions of an OTP component implementing logic to generate and use one-time passwords (OTPs) to enable access to services provided by another computing device. An apparatus includes a storage; a first processor element; and first logic to receive a one-time password (OTP) routine, store the OTP routine within a first secure enclave defined by the first processor element within the storage, obtain a measure of the contents of the first secure enclave with the OTP routine stored therein, transmit the first measure to a computing device, and receive an OTP seed. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09208349B1	Securing data gathering devices of a personal computing device while performing sensitive data gathering activities to prevent the misappropriation of personal user data gathered therewith A functional library can secure data gathering devices of a personal computing device on behalf of a secure application program to provide a more secure computing session during which sensitive data gathering activities are performed using any of those data gathering devices. The functional library, when incorporated within a personal computing device, creates a secure personal computing device on which to execute application programs such as mobile banking applications. The secure functional library acquires exclusive access to one or more of a predetermined plurality of the data gathering devices on behalf of a calling secure software application. Exclusive access is achieved by gaining access to each of the predetermined set and then locking that access throughout either the entire computing session, or at least until the execution of sensitive data gathering activities being performed during that computing session have been completed. The data gathering devices to be included in the predetermined set can be those that are deemed particularly vulnerable to exploitation in view of the types of sensitive data gathering activities to be conducted, or simply all of them for maximum security. The predetermined set can be defined and set for a particular application, or they can be defined more generally within the context of specific sensitive tasks or activities to be conducted.
US09208341B2	System and method for synchronizing an encrypted file with a remote storage A method and system for synchronizing an encrypted file with a remote storage is disclosed. According to one embodiment, a computer-implemented method comprises providing a user with a user application and an encryption key in a portable memory device. The user runs the user application to securely access to a storage on a cloud storage system. A file is encrypted with the encryption key stored in the portable memory device and synchronized with the cloud storage system.
US09208331B2	Efficient storage of encrypted data in a dispersed storage network A method begins with a processing module receiving a request to store a data object from a first requesting device. The method continues with the processing module determining that a substantially similar version of the data object is currently stored in a DSN. The method continues with the processing module determining that a number of unique combinations of retrieving the plurality of sets of encoded data slices has exceeded a threshold and, when so, encoding, with a same decode threshold number and an increased pillar width number, the data object to create and store a plurality of sub-set of redundancy encoded data slices. The method continues with the processing module creating a unique combination of retrieving the data object for the first requesting device based on the plurality of sets of encoded data slices and the plurality of sub-set of redundancy encoded data slices.
US09208330B2	System for execution of security related functions An apparatus having a first memory circuit, a plurality of arithmetic modules, and a plurality of second memory circuits. The first memory circuit may be configured to read or write data to or from a host. The plurality of arithmetic modules each may be configured to be enabled or disabled in response to control signals received from the first memory circuit. The plurality of second memory circuits may be configured to read or write data to or from the first memory circuit through a data exchange layer. The arithmetic modules provide cryptographic protection of the data.
US09208328B2	Security system and method for operating systems A device comprising an operating system to run processes and a middleware layer operable to launch applications. An application launched by the middleware layer is run using one or more processes in the operating system. The operating system has a user layer and a kernel wherein the processes run in the user layer and interact with other processes running in the user layer through the kernel, the interaction being in response to calls to the kernel made by the processes. The device has one or more policy files defining policies for interaction of processes with the kernel of the device, and a monitor configured to monitor interaction of a process with the kernel to link or associate defined policies to the process, and to read code defined in the policy file or files linked or associated to the process.
US09208322B1	Privacy leak detection in .NET framework A binary application suitable for the .Net framework is disassembled into human readable code. Or, CIL or MSIL code is obtained. The methods are put into a representation indicating which methods of the code call other methods. A source method call chain having a source API and a sink method call chain having a sink API are discerned from the representation. APIs are put into the same format as the methods to allow matching. A method in common between the two call chains indicates that a privacy leak exists. The application is downloaded from a remote server to a computing device where the analysis occurs.
US09208318B2	Method and system for device integrity authentication A networked device performs integrity authentication by determining, using a processor, a measured integrity value of the device. The measured integrity value is compared by the processor to an embedded integrity value of the device. Application of a policy to the device is facilitated by the processor based on the comparison.
US09208315B2	Identification of telemetry data Methods, systems, and computer-readable media are disclosed for identifying telemetry data. A particular method scans a file and compares the file to at least one attribute to be used for telemetry collection. When the file is identified as a telemetry candidate, an offer to submit a sample of the file is sent to a server. A response to the offer is received from the server. If the response to the offer indicates an acceptance, a sample of the file is sent to the server.
US09208314B1	Systems and methods for distinguishing code of a program obfuscated within a packed program A computer-implemented method for distinguishing code of a program obfuscated within a packed program may include (1) retrieving memory of the packed program that includes the code of the obfuscated program in an unobfuscated state and unpacking code that unpacks the code of the obfuscated program when the packed program is executed, (2) identifying an import address table within the memory of the packed program, (3) determining that the import address table is an import address table of the code of the obfuscated program, (4) determining that a region of code within the memory of the packed program may be the code of the obfuscated program by determining that the region of code uses the import address table, and (5) performing a security operation on the region of code. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
US09208311B2	Detection of a threat in a communications network Disclosed is a method for detecting a threat against a host computer coupled to the front-end computer. A communication connection is established between the host computer and a source computer with a handshake procedure through a front-end computer. Application data is received in the front-end computer from the source computer. The received application data is returned from the front-end computer to the source computer. It is monitored in the front-end computer if a predetermined message is received from the source computer in response to the return of the application data. If the predetermined message is received in the front-end computer, it is determined that the source computer is a trusted communication party, But if the predetermined message is not received, the source computer is determined as a threat. The invention relates also to computing device implementing the method and a computer program product.
US09208303B2	Mobile terminal and application program login method thereof The present invention discloses a mobile terminal and an application program login method thereof. The method includes acquiring the to-be-authenticated fingerprint information inputted by a user when the user is required to log into an application program; determining whether the to-be-authenticated fingerprint information is the same as a correct fingerprint information which is locally preset and corresponds to the application program; if yes, then acquiring, according to the identifying fingerprint information, a user name and a password corresponding to the application program from a login information file which is locally preset; and logging into the application program according to the user name and the password. By logging into the application program via fingerprint, the present invention not only ensures the security of personal information, but also allows the user to quickly log into the application program, thereby improving user experience.
US09208300B2	Apparatus and method for secure authentication of a communication device A system that incorporates the subject disclosure may perform, for example, receiving a baseline credential and an external credential, mapping the external credential to the baseline credential in a secure element memory, receiving a request for an authentication from a secure device processor of the communication device where the request for the authentication includes a user credential inputted into the communication device, comparing the user credential with the baseline credential to verify the authentication, and providing the authentication and the external credential to the secure device processor without providing the baseline credential to enable the secure device processor to provide the external credential to an external entity device that is remote from the communication device. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US09208293B1	Authentication for tag-based content delivery A method of authenticating a content reference that is related to a public information display to reduce third party interference with the content reference is provided. The method comprises reading information from a tag, the information including a content reference, wirelessly transmitting the information, and comparing the information with authentication information associated with the content reference. The content reference identifies a content. The method also comprises sending an authentication result, wherein the authentication result is based on the comparing, and requesting the content when the authentication result is positive.
US09208292B2	Entering a secured computing environment using multiple authenticated code modules Systems, apparatuses, and methods, and for entering a secured system environment using multiple authenticated code modules are disclosed. In one embodiment, a processor includes a decoder and control logic. The decoder is to decode a secured enter instruction. The control logic is to find an entry corresponding to the processor in a match table in a master authenticated code module and to read a master header and an individual authenticated code module from the master authenticated code module in response to decoding the secured enter instruction.
US09208287B2	System and method for remote tele-health services A tele-health services cabin includes a plurality of vital signs monitoring devices, a cabin management unit, and videoconferencing hardware via which a remote practitioner in a remote medical call center videoconferences with a patient in the cabin to diagnose symptoms of the patient. The cabin management unit includes a processor that controls the cabin, a data input at which patient data is provided from the vital signs monitoring devices, and a transmitter connectable to a communication link for bi-directional communication between the cabin management unit and the medical call center, where the transmitter transmits the patient data to the medical call center. The tele-health services cabin may include a patient chair including a motorized seat back and at least one sensor encapsulated in the seat back. The tele-health services cabin may include a hands-free medical device station. The tele-health services cabin may include an automatic cleaning system.
US09208270B2	System and method for establishing bidirectional links between multiphysics modeling and design systems A system and method for implementing, on one or more processors, a bidirectional link between a design system and a multiphysics modeling system includes establishing via a communications link a connection between the design system and the multiphysics modeling system. Instructions are communicated via the communication link that include commands for generating a geometric representation in the design system based on parameters communicated from the multiphysics modeling system. One or more memory components can be configured to store a design system dynamic link library and a multiphysics modeling system dynamic link library. A controller can be operative to detect an installation of the design system, and implement via the dynamic link libraries, bidirectional communications of instructions between the design system and the multiphysics modeling system.
US09208261B2	Power reduction for fully associated translation lookaside buffer (TLB) and content addressable memory (CAM) An apparatus and method for saving power during TLB searches is disclosed. In one embodiment, a TLB includes a CAM having a plurality of entries each storing a virtual address, and enable logic coupled to the CAM. Responsive to initiation of a TLB query by a thread executing on a processor that includes the TLB, the enable logic is configured to enable only those CAM entries that are associated with the initiating thread. Entries in the CAM not associated with the thread are not enabled. Accordingly, an initial search of the TLB for responsive to the query is conducted only in the CAM entries that are associated with the thread. Those CAM entries that are not associated with the thread are not searched. As a result, dynamic power consumption during TLB searches may be reduced.
US09208260B1	Query suggestions with high diversity Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for enhancing selecting relevant and diverse advertisements. In one aspect, a method includes receiving an initial query, selecting one or more additional queries relating to the initial query, including selecting a first additional query and a second diverse additional query, identifying one or more content items for each of the additional queries, the one or more content items forming a content block, and providing a content block and associated additional query to be displayed at a client device along with search results associated with the initial query.
US09208259B2	Using symbols to search local and remote data stores An approach is provided that uses symbols to represent search criteria. In this approach, a symbol is received from a user in a search request. Search criteria that corresponds to the received symbol is retrieved from a computer accessible data store. Data stores are searched for the plurality of search criteria that correspond with the received symbol and search results are retrieved based on the searching performed. These retrieved search results are then provided to the user.
US09208253B2	Efficient transfer of web content to different user platforms Web content for different user platforms is provided in an efficient way. A request is received for an identified page of content from a client device, through a communication network, at a computer system configured as an application server. The user platform implemented by the client device is identified, from among user platforms supported by the application server. A View of the identified page of content is retrieved from storage by a processor of the computer system. The View of the identified page of content is processed to in a format reproducible on the client device for presentation to a user via execution of the identified user platform. For example, the View of the identified page of content is transmitted through the communication network to the client device in JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) or Extensible Markup Language (XML).
US09208248B2	Social network posting analysis using degree of separation correlation A degree of social network separation of a social network user that generated expressive content of a social media posting is identified relative to a specified social network user for each of a group of social media postings. Social media postings with an equivalent identified degree of social network separation relative to the specified social network user are grouped. Differences between the expressive content of the grouped social media postings at different degrees of social network separation are determined. The determined differences between the expressive content of the grouped social media postings at the different degrees of social network separation are rendered.
US09208246B2	Content distribution using embeddable widgets A content distribution system allows authors to freely syndicate their content to content distributors in a way that ensures that the author receives appropriate credit for the impact of the content upon readers. The system provides an embeddable control that publishers can embed in a web site or other distribution channel. Authors provide the content displayed within the embeddable control and can include advertisements as well as any content restrictions. For advertisers, the system allows them to advertise with the content instead of the publisher, and allows them to do so in all of the venues that host the content. This places control of monetization of content back in the hands of the author, and incentivizes the author to maximize the distribution of his content to reach the widest possible audience rather than to hoard content at his own site.
US09208244B2	Referencing change(s) in data utilizing a network resource locator The subject disclosure relates to techniques for referencing a change in data utilizing a network resource locator. An interface component can receive one or more requests that are associated with a data set from a client, and send, based on the one or more requests, a network resource locator and at least one portion of the data set to the client. Further, a data service component can compute a parameter that is associated with a change of the data set, and include the parameter in the network resource locator. In other embodiments, the data service component can receive a request utilizing the network resource locator, determine the change of the data set based on the parameter, and send the change of the data set to the client.
US09208222B2	Note management methods and systems Note management methods and systems are provided. First, inputs are received along a timeline, and at least one note is generated according to the inputs. The at least one note is recorded and arranged along the timeline. In some embodiments, a thumbnail is generated for a respective predefined interval on the timeline according to the at least one note in the respective predefined interval, and the thumbnail of the respective predefined interval is displayed along the timeline.
US09208218B2	Methods and apparatuses for generating search expressions from content, for applying search expressions to content collections, and/or for analyzing corresponding search results Methods, storage media, and apparatuses associated with evaluating a content item are disclosed herein. In various embodiments, a computer-implemented method may include receiving, by a search expression generator operated by a computer, the content item. Additionally, the method may include generating a search expression, by the search expression generator, based on the content item, to facilitate evaluating the content item based at least in part on searching other content items using the search expression. The search expression may indicate nested juxtapositions of sub-expressions of the search expression. In other embodiments, at least one storage medium may include instructions implementing a search engine that applies the search expression to a collection of other content items. In still other embodiments, an apparatus may include a configurator adapted to organize the collection of other content items. Other embodiments may also be disclosed and claimed.
US09208217B2	Providing users with a preview of text mining results from queries over unstructured or semi-structured text The system and methods described herein provide results previewing for an interactive text mining system in order to feedback partial query results to users before all results that are responsive to a query have been found. These partial results allow the user to see the progress of their text mining query much sooner.
US09208198B2	Technique for factoring uncertainty into cost-based query optimization A technique for factoring uncertainty into cost-based query optimization includes: determining the degree of uncertainty involved in the cost estimates for the query, determining the degree of sensitivity the query has to that uncertainty, and determining if there is an access path that performs well across the range of possible conditions that could occur at execution time, reducing the risk of performance spikes and performance volatility. If such an access path exists, select that access path; if not, perform parametric query optimization or query re-optimization.
US09208196B2	Configuration information management apparatus and retrieval method A configuration information management apparatus includes a control unit which, generates a retrieval formula pattern representing a pattern of a first relationship retrieval formula which has been input, executes retrieval processing on the retrieval formula pattern, measures a state required for the retrieval processing which has been executed, determines whether or not the state satisfies a first condition, and when the first condition is satisfied, stores a retrieval condition relating to a retrieval subject configuration item in the retrieval formula pattern satisfying the first condition in a database as a short retrieval key, and retrieves, when a second relationship retrieval formula is input and a retrieval formula pattern of the second relationship retrieval formula satisfies a second condition, the retrieval subject configuration item in the second relationship retrieval formula, on the basis of the short retrieval key.
US09208194B2	Expanding high level queries One or more computer processors identify words in a natural language query that have previously-established associations with stored data upon which the query will be executed. The natural language query is formatted to a query template that includes at least one first component and at least one second component. One or more computer processors modify the at least one first component of the a query template based on at least one link between the one or more words in the natural language query and the at least one first component. One or more computer processors generate a new query by adding one or more values to the query template. The one or more values are added to the query template based on the modification of the at least one first component. One or more computer processors execute a search based on the new query.
US09208192B2	Conditional storage of multiple information items A method for consistent version of multiple information items is provided. The method includes receiving a conditional request to copy a version of multiple information items at a condition fulfillment point of time that is associated with a fulfillment of a condition of the conditional request. Then determining that the condition is fulfilled, and participating in generating a condition fulfillment point in time version of the multiple information items.
US09208191B2	Lock-free, scalable read access to shared data structures At least one read operation of at least one object of an object graph is initiated. For each corresponding read operation, a reference count of the root object is incremented (with the reference count 1 for the root object initially reflecting a single anchor pointer pointing to the root object). Subsequently, one or more of the objects are changed. Incompatible changes result in the root object, at least one changed object, and any intervening objects within the hierarchy of objects being cloned. The anchor pointer is then linked to the cloned root object. The root object is later dropped when the reference count for the root object is zero. In addition, the object graph is traversed starting at the root object and ending at the at least one changed object removing any edges for such objects. Each object having a reference count of zero is then dropped.
US09208184B1	System design support apparatus and system design supporting method A system design support apparatus identifies design information elements each achieving a corresponding one of multiple requirements concerning a system to be newly designed, by using a first table. When multiple design information elements are identified with respect to a certain one of the requirements as a result of the identification, the system design support apparatus identifies a design information element that establishes a combination at a higher aptitude rank among the multiple design information elements, while referring to an aptitude rank of combined use of each of the multiple design information elements and design information elements identified with respect to another requirement among the multiple requirements, by using a second table. Then, the system design support apparatus outputs the design information elements, which are identified with respect to the multiple requirements, to a predetermined device.
US09208173B1	Techniques for medical image retreival A technique for searching for an image includes calculating wavelet features of a plurality of images. A keyword included in radiographic interpretation information is extracted for each of the stored images. The calculated wavelet features and the extracted keywords are stored in association with the respective stored images. A newly taken image is acquired and a wavelet feature of the acquired image is calculated. A keyword included in radiographic interpretation information corresponding to the acquired image is extracted and a search for similar radiographic interpretation information from the stored keywords is performed. A wavelet feature-based spatial distance between the acquired image and each of images corresponding to the radiographic interpretation information found is calculated. A search result of any images for which the calculated wavelet feature-based spatial distance is shorter than a predetermined value is output, in ascending order of the calculated wavelet feature-based spatial distance.
US09208167B1	Distributed data synchronization and conflict resolution Described herein are methods, systems, and computer program products for data synchronization and conflict resolution in a distributed data storage system. A first data access node receives a first request to modify a data element and transmits a first lock event to each other node. A second data access node receives a second request to modify the data element at substantially the same time as the first request is received and transmits a second lock event to each of the other nodes. The system determines that the first node has priority to modify the data element. The first node modifies the data element and transmits a first unlock event to each other node. The second node determines whether the second request to modify conflicts with the prior modification and modifies the data element based upon the second request, if the second request does not conflict with the prior modification.
US09208152B2	Document retrieval apparatus, document retrieval method, and computer readable medium A document retrieval apparatus includes a switching section that switches an operation mode between a first mode and a second mode, a processor, a storing section, and a retrieval section. In the first mode, when a document-related operation of a certain type is performed, the processor performs a process corresponding to the operation, and the storing section stores information indicating the operation and a document being a target or a result of the process into a memory so as to associate the information with the document. In the second mode, when the operation is performed, the retrieval section does not perform the process, and retrieves the document which was a target or a result of the process on the basis of data stored in the memory.
US09208119B2	Data transmitting device for adjusting signal transmission, image forming apparatus, data transmission controlling method, and recording medium storing data transmission control program thereof A data transmitting device is provided. The data transmitting device includes plural bundles of signal lines, each of which includes flatly arranged plural signal lines and which are overlaid in such a manner that surfaces of the bundles of signal lines are contacted with each other while the signal lines extend in a same direction, wherein signal transmission and reception are performed through the signal lines; a transmission timing adjuster to adjust signal transmission timing for each of the plural bundles of signal lines; and a transmission timing controller to perform time division control such that the transmission timing adjuster adjusts the signal transmission timing under the time division control for each of the plural bundles of signal lines.
US09208114B2	Storage device, computer-readable recording medium, and storage control method A storage device being one of a plurality of storage devices storing data includes a memory and a processor coupled to the memory. The processor executes determining, when having received a new request and a new priority information during a preparation for an execution of another update processing, whether a new priority indicated by the new priority information is higher than a priority of the update processing in the preparation. The process including canceling the update processing in the preparation when having determines at the determining that the new priority is higher than the priority of the update processing in the preparation. The process includes forwarding the new request and the new priority information to another storage device when having determined at the determining that the new priority is higher than the priority of the update processing in the preparation.
US09208106B2	Firmware management of storage class memory for connected or disconnected I/O adapters A computer program product is provided and includes a tangible storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for performing a method. The method includes detecting connections of two or more input/output (I/O) adapters, each of the two or more I/O adapters having one or more solid state devices (SSDs) connected thereto, and presenting a storage class memory address space for all of the connected SSDs that is independent of connections and disconnections between each of the one or more SSDs and each of the two or more I/O adapters and the processing unit.
US09208100B2	Directory replacement method and device The present invention provides a directory replacement method and device. An HA receives a data access request including a first address from a first CA, if a designated storage where a directory is located is entirely occupied by the directory, and a first directory entry corresponding to the first address is not in the directory, the HA selects a second directory entry from the directory, deletes it and adds the first directory entry into the directory; before the HA replaces the directory entry in the directory, no matter what status (for example, I status, S status or A status) a share status of a cache line corresponding to an address in the directory entry to be replaced is, the HA does not need to request a corresponding CA to perform an invalidating operation on data, but directly replaces the directory entry in the directory, thereby improving replacement efficiency.
US09208098B1	System and method for improving cache performance A method, computer program product, and computing system for receiving a read request on a first cache system, wherein the read request identifies previously-written content included within a data array. The previously-written content identified in the read request may be obtained from the data array. The previously-written content identified in the read request may be compressed, thus generating compressed previously-written content. A compression ratio may be determined for the compressed previously-written content.
US09208095B2	Configurable cache for a microprocessor A cache module for a central processing unit has a cache control unit with an interface for a memory, a cache memory coupled with the control unit, wherein the cache memory has a plurality of cache lines, at least one cache line of the plurality of cache lines has an address tag bit field and an associated storage area for storing instructions or data, wherein the address tag bit field is readable and writeable and wherein the cache control unit is operable upon detecting that an address has been written to the address tag bit field to initiate a preload function in which instructions or data from the memory are loaded from the address into the at least one cache line.
US09208093B2	Allocation of memory space to individual processor cores Techniques are generally described for a multi-core processor with a plurality of processor cores. At least one cache is accessible to at least two of the plurality of processor cores. The multi-core processor can be configured for separately allocating a memory space within the cache to the individual processor cores accessing the cache.
US09208089B2	Selective release-behind of pages based on repaging history in an information handling system An information handling system (IHS) includes an operating system with a release-behind component that determines which file pages to release from a file cache in system memory. The release-behind component employs a history buffer to determine which file pages to release from the file cache to create room for a current page access. The history buffer stores entries that identify respective pages for which a page fault occurred. For each identified page, the history buffer stores respective repage information that indicates if a repage fault occurred for such page. The release-behind component identifies a candidate previous page for release from the file cache. The release-behind component checks the history buffer to determine if a repage fault occurred for that entry. If so, then the release-behind component does not discard the candidate previous page from the cache. Otherwise, the release-behind component discards the candidate previous page if a repage fault occurred.
US09208080B2	Persistent memory garbage collection A technique includes identifying a dependency between a first persistent memory region and at least one other persistent memory region. The technique includes using a process having access to the first persistent memory region to selectively perform garbage collection for the first persistent memory region based at least in part on whether the process has access to the other persistent memory region(s) from which the first persistent memory region depends.
US09208079B2	Solid state memory (SSM), computer system including an SSM, and method of operating an SSM In one aspect, data is stored in a solid state memory which includes first and second memory layers. A first assessment is executed to determine whether received data is hot data or cold data. Received data which is assessed as hot data during the first assessment is stored in the first memory layer, and received data which is first assessed as cold data during the first assessment is stored in the second memory layer. Further, a second assessment is executed to determine whether the data stored in the first memory layer is hot data or cold data. Data which is then assessed as cold data during the second assessment is migrated from the first memory layer to the second memory layer.
US09208076B2	Nonvolatile storage device and method of storing data thereof A data storing method of a nonvolatile storage device that includes a plurality of nonvolatile memory devices electrically connected to a plurality of channels is provided. The data storing method includes allocating part of write data provided from a host to the nonvolatile memory devices to each channel; determining whether at least one channel among the channels is present that is connected to a nonvolatile memory device in a last page offset state; and when the at least one channel is determined to be present, scheduling erase commands on the plurality of channels, scheduling write commands on the plurality of channels with respect to the allocated write data, and executing the erase commands and the write commands on the plurality of channels.
US09208073B2	Firmware storage and maintenance A mechanism is provided for improved firmware storage and maintenance. For each master device in a plurality of master devices: an amount of Flash memory space required by the master device is identified and the amount of Flash memory space from a Flash component is allocated to the master device as a virtual Flash memory allocation. An initial sector location of the virtual Flash memory allocation in a data structure is recorded as an offset into the Flash component and a length of the virtual Flash memory allocation and device information is also recorded in the data structure. Data that allows the master device to boot up is then loaded into the virtual Flash memory allocation.
US09208068B2	Data storage devices including multiple host interfaces and user devices including the same Disclosed is an information storing device which includes a first interface for connection with a host; a second interface for connection with the host; a first memory unit including a first controller controlling a first nonvolatile memory, the first controller communicating with the host via the first interface; and a second memory unit including a second controller controlling a second nonvolatile memory, the second controller communicating with the host via the second interface.
US09208063B1	Method for testing mobile application and associated apparatus and system The application testing system and method provide an efficient and effective way to test multiple application variants of an application on at least one mobile device. The application testing system may cause a first application variant selection indication to be transmitted to at least one mobile device having the application. The first application variant selection indication may be configured to cause the mobile device to interact with the application according to a first application variant of the plurality of application variants. The application testing system may analyze data corresponding to the usage of the first application variant by the at least one mobile device, and cause a second application variant selection indication to be transmitted to the mobile device, wherein the second application variant selection indication is configured to cause the mobile device to interact with the application according to a second application variant of the plurality of application variants.
US09208059B2	ETL debugger A computer-implemented ETL debugger for a data flow associated with an extract, transform and load (ETL) process that provides a user with a graphical representation of an ETL job. The graphical representation includes individualized representations of one or more data sources, one or more data destinations, and one or more transform operations for data flowing from a data source to a data destination. The user selects a subset of the transform operations. In response, the ETL debugger generates an execution script based on the received subset, and may initiate a debug process by executing the generated execution script.
US09208054B2	Web service for automated cross-browser compatibility checking of web applications One embodiment presents a user interface to a first user, the user interface being configured to enable the first user to provide user input that: specifies a first web application, and a behavior exploration specification, a plurality of web browsers, and a set of comparison rules for the first web application; requests a plurality of models to be constructed with respect to the web browsers for the first web application based on the behavior exploration specification; requests the models of the first web application to be compared with each other based on the set of comparison rules; and requests one or more results of the comparison performed on the models of the first web application to be presented; and in response to each user input received from the first user, performs one or more operations for the first user.
US09208049B2	Method and device for managing desktop with an additional mirror desktop in the same operation interface A mirror desktop is started to acquire desktop icons of an operation object desktop such that desktop icon content of the mirror desktop is substantially the same as that of the operation object desktop. The desktop icons of the mirror desktop are displayed in accordance with a saved arrangement manner of the mirror desktop without affecting the original arrangement mode of the operation object desktop so as to provide a personalized mirror desktop for the user. The operation object desktop is not directly operated, and therefore the loss and disorder of the content of the operation object desktop can be avoided.
US09208041B2	Dynamic protection of a master operating system image Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for dynamic protection of a master operating system image are provided. Embodiments include monitoring, by an image deployment monitor, an operational state of a deployed copy of a master operating system (OS) image; detecting, by the image deployment monitor, a change in the operational state of the deployed copy of the master OS image; in response to detecting the change, generating, by the image deployment monitor, a configuration recommendation to prevent the change from occurring in operational states of future deployed copies of the master OS image; and providing, by the image deployment monitor, the configuration recommendation to the master OS image.
US09208027B2	Address error detection Address error detection including a method that receives a read address corresponding to a read location in a memory. Data is read from the read location in the memory. The data is transformed at a computer based on the data and the read address to produce read data. Error correction codes (ECC) bits associated the read data are read from the read location in the memory. The ECC bits were generated based on the write data. It is determined whether the read data has an address error responsive to the read data and the ECC bits associated with the write data. An error is generated in response to determining that the read address has an address error.
US09208026B2	Utilizing a local area network memory and a dispersed storage network memory to access data A method begins by a processing module encoding data based on a decode threshold parameter and a pillar width parameter to produce a set of encoded data slices and selecting a local area network (LAN) pillar width value of encoded data slices of the set of encoded data slices for storage in LAN available memories, wherein the LAN pillar width value is based on the decode threshold parameter, the pillar width parameter, and quantities of the LAN available memories. The method continues with the processing module selecting a wide area network (WAN) pillar width value of encoded data slices of the set of encode data slices for storage in a dispersed storage network (DSN) memory of a wide area network, wherein the WAN pillar width value is based on the decode threshold parameter and the pillar width parameter.
US09208023B2	Systems and methods for scheduling post-write read in nonvolatile memory Post-write reading of data stored in a memory is performed only after a threshold amount of time has elapsed from the time the data was programmed. The threshold amount of time is at least the relaxation time of the memory cells, so that memory cells have reached stable states when post-write reading is performed.
US09208020B2	Efficient error handling mechanisms in data storage systems A data storage system configured to efficiently search and update system data is disclosed. In one embodiment, the data storage system can attempt to correct errors in retrieved data configured to index system data. Metadata stored along with user data in a memory location can be configured to indicate a logical address associated in a logical-to-physical location mapping with a physical address at which user data and metadata are stored. The data storage system can generate modified versions of logical address indicated by the metadata and determine whether such modified versions match the physical address in the logical-to-physical mapping. Modified versions of the logical address can be generated by flipping one or more bits in the logical address indicated by the metadata. Efficiency can be increased and improved performance can be attained.
US09208019B2	Method and apparatus to perform concurrent read and write memory operations Subject matter disclosed herein relates to read and write processes of a memory device. During a write process to a particular partition in a memory array, a response to a read request of contents of the particular partition may be delayed. In some embodiments, the contents of the particular partition may be indirectly read during the write process without delaying the response to the read request. The contents of the particular partition can be indirectly read by determining the contents of the particular partition based, at least in part, on an error correction code based, at least in part, on contents of memory partitions of the memory array.
US09208013B2	Cross communication of common problem determination and resolution Approaches for problem determination and resolution process cross communication are provided. Embodiments provide cross communication of a problem determination and resolution among similar data center devices. Specifically, symptoms of an error condition encountered for one data center device are captured by a first enterprise group, along with an associated resolution solution, and made available to an another enterprise group managing a commonly configured data center device, which may be faced with a similar error condition. The error signature and resolution steps captured by the first enterprise group are subsequently made available within and across multiple management domains operating within a common model (e.g., a publication-subscription system). Within this model, both the originator of the error determination and resolution (i.e., publisher), and one or more commonly configured data center devices susceptible to the same error condition (i.e., subscribers), can filter, access, and control the flow of error resolutions.
US09208008B2	Method and apparatus for multi-chip reduced pin cross triggering to enhance debug experience Embodiments include apparatuses, systems, and methods for reduced pin cross triggering to enhance a debug experience. A time-division packetizing (TDP) technique may be employed to facilitate communication of triggers between integrated circuits (ICs) connected in series forming a TDP communication ring. The ICs on the TDP communication ring may each include a cross trigger interconnect structure for interpreting between trigger signals and hardware core instructions. The serial TDP communication across the ICs on the TDP communication ring allows the ICs to be connected in a manner that each cross trigger interconnect structure on each IC may function as if it were part of a single cross trigger interconnect structure across all of the ICs on the TDP communication ring. The individual ICs may operate asynchronously and a trigger clock may be passed along with other trigger data to implement the debugging techniques uniformly on each IC.
US09208002B2	Equalizing bandwidth for multiple requesters using a shared memory system A method for equalizing the bandwidth of requesters using a shared memory system is disclosed. In one embodiment, such a method includes receiving multiple access requests to access a shared memory system. Each access request originates from a different requester coupled to the shared memory system. The method then determines which of the access requests has been waiting the longest to access the shared memory system. The access requests are then ordered so that the access request that has been waiting the longest is transmitted to the shared memory system after the other access requests. The requester associated with the longest-waiting access request may then transmit additional access requests to the shared memory system immediately after the longest-waiting access request has been transmitted. A corresponding apparatus and computer program product are also disclosed.
US09207995B2	Mechanism to speed-up multithreaded execution by register file write port reallocation Various systems and processes may be used to speed up multi-threaded execution. In certain implementations, a system and process may include the ability to write results of a first group of execution units associated with a first register file into the first register file using a first write port of the first register file and write results of a second group of execution units associated with a second register file into the second register file using a first write port of the second register file. The system, apparatus, and process may also include the ability to connect, in a shared register file mode, results of the second group of execution units to a second write port of the first register file and connect, in a split register file mode, results of a part of the first group of execution units to the second write port of the first register file.
US09207992B2	Methods and apparatus for processing load balancing in distributed problem processing Systems and techniques for computational load balancing. A problem space is partitioned into subspaces and the subspaces are assigned to processing nodes. The load of nodes associated with outer subspaces is compared with the load of nodes associated with inner subspaces, and partition boundary adjustments are made based on the relative loads of outer versus inner subspaces.
US09207990B2	Method and system for migrating critical resources within computer systems A method and system for migrating at least one critical resource during a migration of an operative portion of a computer system are disclosed. In at least some embodiments, the method includes (a) sending first information constituting a substantial copy of a first of the at least one critical resource via at least one intermediary between a source component and a destination component. The method further includes (b) transitioning a status of the destination component from being incapable of receiving requests to being capable of receiving requests, and (c) re-programming an abstraction block to include modified addresses so that at least one incoming request signal is forwarded to the destination component rather than to the source component.
US09207989B2	System and method for providing virtual device Disclosed is a system and method for providing a virtual terminal. A virtual cloud server may configure a plurality of virtual terminals by employing a virtual machine in a cloud environment. The virtual cloud server may provide an application of a heterogeneous platform to a terminal that accesses the virtual cloud server. A cooperative middleware apparatus may determine a cloud server suitable for a mobile terminal among a plurality of cloud servers, based on content information of content and virtual terminal information stored in the plurality of cloud servers.
US09207988B2	Method, system, and device for managing server hardware resources in a cloud scheduling environment A method, system, and device for managing hardware resources in a cloud scheduling environment includes a zone controller. The zone controller can manage groups of node servers in a cloud datacenter using a checkin service. The checkin service allows server groups to be created automatically based on one or more hardware characteristics of the node servers, server health information, workload scheduling or facilities management parameters, and/or other criteria.
US09207987B2	Dispersion dependency in oracle clusterware A method and apparatus for resource dispersion in a clusterware system is provided. The resource profiles for resources within a cluster of nodes are stored. Each resource profile includes attributes for a resource. One or more of the attributes in one of the resource profiles includes a dispersion dependency attribute that specifies that the resource is preferably not co-located with another resource. Resources are placed within the cluster based, at least in part, on the dispersion preference.
US09207984B2	Monitoring and automatic scaling of data volumes Aspects of a data environment, such as various capacities of data stores and instances, can be managed using a separate control environment. A monitoring component of the control environment can periodically communicate with the data environment to obtain performance information. The information is analyzed, using algorithms such as trending and extrapolation algorithms, to determine any recommended scaling of resources in the data environment. The scaling can be performed automatically, or as authorized by a customer. A workflow can be instantiated that includes tasks necessary to perform the scaling. The scaling of storage capacity can be performed without affecting the availability of the data store.
US09207975B2	Managing distributed execution of programs Techniques are described for managing distributed execution of programs. In some situations, the techniques include determining configuration information to be used for executing a particular program in a distributed manner on multiple computing nodes and/or include providing information and associated controls to a user regarding ongoing distributed execution of one or more programs to enable the user to modify the ongoing distributed execution in various manners. Determined configuration information may include, for example, configuration parameters such as a quantity of computing nodes and/or other measures of computing resources to be used for the executing, and may be determined in various manners, including by interactively gathering values for at least some types of configuration information from an associated user (e.g., via a GUI that is displayed to the user) and/or by automatically determining values for at least some types of configuration information (e.g., for use as recommendations to a user).
US09207972B2	Meta-application management in a multitasking environment Techniques are disclosed to identify concurrently used applications based on application state. Upon determining that usage of a plurality of applications, including a first state of a first application of the plurality of applications, satisfies a criterion for identifying concurrently used applications, the plurality of applications is designated as a first meta-application having a uniquely identifiable set of concurrently used applications. The first meta-application has an associated criterion for launching the first meta-application. Upon determining that the criterion for launching the first meta-application is satisfied, at least one of the plurality of applications is programmatically invoked.
US09207965B2	Managing multi-application contexts A method and system for managing software application states selects a plurality of stateful applications for reinstatement at a later time. A set of data contexts is generated based on the selected applications. The set of data contexts is pushed onto a data stack. Thereafter the set of data contexts is popped from the data stack for reinstatement. Each step or function may be initiated automatically or through user input, and may be used in a single-user, multi-user or collaborative setting.
US09207956B2	Class loading device for a java runtime environment, cluster system and method of executing a function A class loading device for a Java runtime environment, wherein the class loading device is configured to load predetermined source code written in R programming language to parse the R source code and, based on the parsed R source code, generate corresponding bytecode at least of a first Java class and transfer same to the Java runtime environment.
US09207954B2	Configurable aircraft data acquisition and/or transmission system An aircraft data acquisition and/or transmission system comprises a memory having stored therein a first state machine configuration comprising a first allocation between a plurality of transition criteria objects stored in a first area of the memory and a plurality of state objects stored in a second area of the memory separate from the first area. A processor is coupled to the memory and at least one application executable by the processor causes a first data acquisition and/or transmission behavior in the aircraft by running the first state machine configuration, receives a second state machine configuration comprising a second allocation between the plurality of transition criteria objects and the plurality of state objects, and causes a second data acquisition and/or transmission behavior in the aircraft by running the second state machine configuration.
US09207946B2	Auto-cloudifying applications via runtime modifications An approach is provided in which a distributed runtime environment executes a software application that includes isolated runtime constructs corresponding to an isolated runtime environment. During the execution, the distributed runtime environment identifies isolated runtime constructs included in the software application and selects distributed runtime constructs corresponding to the isolated runtime constructs. In turn, the distributed runtime environment executes the distributed runtime constructs in lieu of executing the isolated runtime constructs.
US09207944B1	Doubling thread resources in a processor Methods and systems are provided for managing thread execution in a processor. Multiple instructions are fetched from fetch queues. The instructions satisfy the condition that they involve fewer bits than the integer processing pathway that is used to execute them. The instructions are decoded, and divided into groups. The instructions are processed simultaneously through the pathway, such that part of the pathway is used to execute one group of instructions and another part of the pathway is used to execute another group of instructions. These parts are isolated from one another so the execution of the instructions can share the pathway and execute simultaneously and independently.
US09207941B2	Systems, apparatuses, and methods for reducing the number of short integer multiplications Systems, methods, and apparatuses for calculating a square of a data value of a first source operand, a square of a data value of a second source operand, and a multiplication of the data of the first and second operands only using one multiplication are described.
US09207940B2	Robust and high performance instructions for system call Robust system call and system return instructions are executed by a processor to transfer control between a requester and an operating system kernel. The processor includes execution circuitry and registers that store pointers to data structures in memory. The execution circuitry receives a system call instruction from a requester to transfer control from a first privilege level of the requester to a second privilege level of an operating system kernel. In response, the execution circuitry swaps the data structures that are pointed to by the registers between the requester and the operating system kernel in one atomic transition.
US09207939B2	Performing shadowing function by virtual machine manager in two-level virtual machine environment There is a need for providing the Xeon CPU with a two-level VM that is independent of VMM types and prevents the throughput from degrading when the OS operates the privilege register. A machine is provided with a processor and memory. The machine includes a first virtual machine manager for managing a virtual machine, a second virtual machine for managing an operating system, first management information, and second management information. The processor is provided with a register and a shadowing function. The machine uses a virtualization method. The first virtual machine manager detects a call from the second virtual machine manager. The first virtual machine manager enables the shadowing function when it is determined that an instruction for enabling the shadowing function caused the call.
US09207932B2	Uniform references Embodiments of the present invention provide a novel and non-obvious method, system and computer program product for uniform references to artifacts in a software configuration management tool. In one embodiment, a data processing system configured to resolve artifact references can include a software configuration management tool and uniform reference resolution logic coupled to the tool. In this regard, the uniform reference logic can be programmed to resolve a path name to a referenced artifact by processing a uniform reference specifying the referenced artifact.
US09207924B2	Apparatus for enabling delivery and access of applications and interactive services The invention provides a system, a method and a computer program product that facilitate access to one or more applications by a computing device. The invention includes determining one or more contexts associated with at least one of the computing device and a user of the computing device, such that the one or more contexts describe at least one of an environment and an activity of the at least one of the user and the computing device. Thereafter at least one contextual tag corresponding to the one or more contexts is generated. Subsequently, the one or more applications associated with the at least one contextual tag are identified and the computing device is enabled to access the one or more applications.
US09207923B2	Compiler optimization for memoization of pure function arguments Exemplary embodiments of the present invention disclose a method and system for replacing an unevaluated input that is constant at runtime to a group of instructions that calculates an output and can not modify the unevaluated input with invocation code that calls evaluation code. In a step, an exemplary embodiment identifies a group of instructions with an unevaluated input that is constant at runtime that calculates an output and can not modify the unevaluated input. In another step, an exemplary embodiment identifies an unevaluated input to the group of instructions that is constant at runtime. In another step, an exemplary embodiment generates an evaluation code that evaluates the unevaluated input. In another step, an exemplary embodiment replaces the unevaluated input with an invocation code that invokes the evaluation code.
US09207913B2	API publication on a gateway using a developer portal A protocol is provided for configuring and publishing an API on an API gateway using an API developer portal. An executable module is created on the API gateway that includes variables that control API runtime behaviors. A flag is included in the executable module indicating that the executable module may be published to the API developer portal. An API template is created on the API gateway that is linked to the flagged executable module, and that specifies the executable module variables that may be configured on the API developer portal. On the API developer portal, the API template is selected, the variables specified by the API template are configured, and the configured API template is saved and published as an API on the API gateway.
US09207910B2	Digital signal processor having instruction set with an xK function using reduced look-up table A digital signal processor is provided having an instruction set with an xK function that uses a reduced look-up table. The disclosed digital signal processor evaluates an xK function for an input value, x, by computing Log(x) in hardware; multiplying the Log(x) value by K; and determining the xK function by applying an exponential function in hardware to a result of the multiplying step. One or more of the computation of Log(x) and the exponential function employ at least one look-up table having entries with a fewer number of bits than a number of bits in the input value, x.
US09207908B1	Digital signal processing blocks with embedded arithmetic circuits A specialized processing block on an integrated circuit includes a first and second arithmetic operator stage, an output coupled to another specialized processing block, and configurable interconnect circuitry which may be configured to route signals throughout the specialized processing block, including in and out of the first and second arithmetic operator stages. The configurable interconnect circuitry may further include multiplexer circuitry to route selected signals. The output of the specialized processing block that is coupled to another specialized processing block together with the configurable interconnect circuitry reduces the need to use resources outside the specialized processing block when implementing mathematical functions that require the use of more than one specialized processing block. An example for such mathematical functions include the implementation of vector (dot product) operations, FIR filters, or sum-of-product operations.
US09207899B2	Management apparatus, system, and method of controlling the same A management apparatus designates a first installer program for installing a printer driver for a printer in an information processing apparatus, designates at least one second installer program for installing a program related to the printer driver in the information processing apparatus, designates an activation order of the first installer program and the second installer program, creates a setup program that includes the first installer program and the second installer program and is for activating the programs in the designated order, and registers the created setup program in a storage region in the printer.
US09207894B2	Print preview with page numbering for multiple pages per sheet A sheet preview system generates a print preview of a sheet that has a layout specifying a position and orientation for each page. To generate the print preview of the sheet, the sheet preview system displays a representation of the sheet that includes an image of each page of the sheet. The sheet preview system positions and orients the images in accordance with the layout of the sheet. The sheet preview system then displays in association with each displayed image of a page the page number of that page. The sheet preview system may orient the page number of the page in accordance with the orientation of the page.
US09207888B2	Systems and methods for detecting customer cost/contract avoidance in operation of image forming devices A system and method are provided for methods for automatically detecting certain incidents in which customers attempt to circumvent costs associated with their managed service contracts for operations of image forming devices. Current monitoring capacities associated with fielded image forming devices are expanded to provide device manufacturers or suppliers with an opportunity to detect attempts at customer cost avoidance through printing on larger paper sizes. User actions that contravene certain requirements of the managed service agreement are detected. At a point of detection, the user is provided with certain alternatives for remediation or contract compliance. These alternatives include, but are not limited to, offering the user the opportunity to cancel the print job, print the print job on “right” sized paper, or otherwise to accept a calculation of the actual printing costs involved in, for example, printing two pages on a single larger sheet, when detected.
US09207880B2	Processor with architecturally-visible programmable on-die storage to store data that is accessible by instruction A processor of an aspect includes an on-die programmable architecturally-visible storage. The processor also includes a decode unit to receive a data access instruction of an instruction set of the processor. The data access instruction to indicate a data address that is to be associated with data to be stored in the on-die programmable architecturally-visible storage, to indicate a data size associated with the data to be stored in the on-die programmable architecturally-visible storage, and to indicate a destination storage location of the processor. An execution unit is coupled with the decode unit and the on-die programmable architecturally-visible storage. The execution unit is on-die with the on-die programmable storage. The execution unit is operable, in response to the data access instruction, to store the data, which is associated with the data address and the data size, in the destination storage location that is to be indicated by the instruction.
US09207879B2	Redundant array of independent disk (RAID) controlled semiconductor storage device (SSD)-based system having a high-speed non-volatile host interface Embodiments of the invention provide a RAID controlled SSD-based system having a high-speed, non-volatile host interface. Specifically, in a typical embodiment, a RAID-controlled device is provided that comprises a high-speed host interface that is coupled to a redundant array of independent disks (RAID) controller. The RAID controller itself is coupled to a set of controlled memory units that each comprises: a main controller coupled to cache memory; and a set of SSD memory units (each having a set of blocks of memory) coupled to the main controller.
US09207877B1	Detection and avoidance of stalled filesystems to prevent stalling of virtual tape drives during tape mounts A method for operating a virtual tape emulator that receives a request to access a directory in a disk array including a set of directories. The method includes determining whether the directory is stalled, and if so, preventing access to the directory. In another embodiment, a virtual tape emulator includes a request reception module configured to receive a request to access a directory in a disk array including a set of directories. The virtual tape emulator further includes a stall determination module configured to determine whether the directory is stalled, and an access prevention module configured to prevent access to the directory if the directory is stalled.
US09207876B2	Remove-on-delete technologies for solid state drive optimization Technologies for identifying data stored on a solid state drive (“SSD”) device that correspond to data associated with a delete event, and marking the deleted data stored on the SSD as invalid such that the SSD can avoid unnecessary operations on the invalid data. Included are interfaces operable to communicate invalid data information and providing a remove-on-delete command that provides invalid data information sufficient to identify the SSD data to be marked as invalid.
US09207871B2	Internal notebook microSD reader with read-only switch A computing device can include a connector to connect with a removable storage device. A switch can control the connector to prevent in a first state and allow in a second state at least one of the writing and erasing of a removable storage device connected to the connector. The switch can be prevented from changing states when a component is in a first configuration. The state of the switch can be changeable when the component is in a second configuration. The component is operationally connected to the computing device in the first configuration, and the component is operationally disconnected from the computing device in the second configuration.
US09207870B2	Allocating storage units in a dispersed storage network A method begins by a processing module detecting a new storage unit within a dispersed storage network DSN. The method continues with the processing module determining to affiliate the new storage unit with a virtual memory vault, where the virtual memory vault is mapped to a set of storage units of the DSN, where data objects are dispersed storage error encoded into pluralities of sets of encoded data slices that are stored in the set of storage units. The method continues with the processing module determining virtual DSN addresses of the virtual memory vault to allocate the new storage unit. The method continues with the processing module updating vault information regarding the virtual memory vault to include the allocation of the virtual DSN addresses to the new storage unit.
US09207869B2	Reuse of host hibernation storage space by memory controller A method for data storage includes, in a host system that operates alternately in a normal state and a hibernation state, reserving a hibernation storage space in a non-volatile storage device for storage of hibernation-related information in preparation for entering the hibernation state. While the host system is operating in the normal state, a storage task other than storage of the hibernation-related information is performed using at least a portion of the reserved hibernation storage space.
US09207868B2	Validation of storage arrays based on information stored in global metadata A director node of a plurality of nodes determines a plurality of data arrays, where the plurality of data arrays have been discovered at boot time. The director node determines global metadata information, based on reading boot sectors of at least one of the plurality of data arrays discovered at boot time. A determination is made from the global metadata information as to how many data arrays had been previously configured. In response to determining that the plurality of data arrays discovered at boot time is not equal in number to the previously configured data arrays, the director node determines that all configured data arrays have not been discovered.
US09207866B2	Chunk-level client side encryption in hierarchical content addressable storage systems Techniques for chunk-level client side encryption are provided. In a content addressable storage system, a plurality of chunks is used to implement a hierarchical file system. The hierarchical file system supports both encrypted and non-encrypted volumes. A folders and files layer makes calls directly to a chunk system layer for operations involving non-encrypted volumes. The folders and files layer makes calls to a volume encryption layer for operations involving encrypted volumes. The volume encryption layer receives calls from the folders and files layer through an API that matches the API through which the chunk system layer receives calls from the folders and files layer.
US09207849B2	Start and application navigation Described herein are techniques to facilitate efficient application navigation by a user. In one embodiment, two or more scrollable surfaces contain application icons. One surface may have a first type of application icon and may be a user-customized surface akin to a desktop. Usually, only one of the surfaces is active and displayed at a given time. The user can swap one surface into view and the other surface out of view. The active surface is independently scrollable; when a given surface is swapped out and then swapped back in, despite any scrolling of the intervening surface, when the given surface is swapped back into view it returns at the same position it had before being swapped out. Another embodiment may provide optimizations to enhance performance and responsiveness by pre-rendering imagery of an off-screen surface. Caching logic may be used to assure that the imagery is correct.
US09207847B2	Image display device, image display method and program In the image display device, The touch operation detection unit detects the touch operation of the user input through the touch panel; The image selection unit selects images in the category corresponding to the tag information specified through the touch operation from among the images stored in the image storage unit based on the tag information; and the display control unit extracts main subject areas of the images in the category selected by the image selection unit based on the frame information, and displays the extracted main subject areas on the screen of the touch panel in a predetermined order according to an image display procedure corresponding to the tag information specified through the touch operation.
US09207843B2	Method and apparatus for presenting content via social networking messages An example approach is provided for presenting content in a user interface associated with social networking messages based on gaze tracking information. A content presentation platform determines a rendering of a user interface presenting one or more social networking messages. The content presentation platform further determines a selection of at least one of the one or more social networking messages based, at least in part, on gaze tracking information. The content presentation platform also causes, at least in part, a presentation of content at the user interface based, at least in part, on the selection.
US09207834B2	Layered multimedia interactive assessment system Generally, a computer implemented layered multimedia assessment system which provides one or more server computers that allow one or more client devices and one or more administrator devices access to an layered multimedia assessment application which provides an administrator user interface and client user interface which serially provide one or more assignment events each having a first step in which the client user interacts with the client user interface to perform an assessment of assignment content and performs an interactive examination and a second step in which the client user participates to evaluate the performance of other client users.
US09207829B2	Smartly navigating hierarchical structure strings A method, device, and computer program product for smartly navigating hierarchical structure strings are provided. The method may include tokenizing a hierarchical structure string by a delimiter, reading a hierarchical path to a string pointed by a pointer device between two adjacent delimiters, and fetching and displaying all available sibling hierarchical paths at the level next to the current level.
US09207828B2	Touch input device and electronic apparatus A touch input device of a resistance film system having a structure in which a plastic supporting plate (10), made from a polycarbonate resin or an acrylic resin, is bonded to an entire lower surface of a lower electrode film (7). An adhesive material (10g) is interposed between the lower electrode film and the plastic supporting plate. Also, a water-vapor barrier film (11), which is superior in moisture dimensional stability, is bonded with an adhesive material (11g) to the entire surface of the plastic supporting plate on the side opposite to the surface that is bonded to the lower electrode film.
US09207826B2	Touch panel, and touch panel display device Provided is a touch panel configured to minimize electrode disconnection caused by swelling of the insulating layer during the production process. The touch panel is equipped with: an insulating substrate; first island-shaped electrodes (111) disposed along a first direction; second island-shaped electrodes (121) disposed along a second direction intersecting the first direction; a connecting member (112) for connecting together the first island-shaped electrodes (111); an insulating film (15) formed covering a portion of the connecting member (112); and a relay electrode (122) for connecting together the second island-shaped electrodes (121) over the insulating film (15). The relay electrode (122), in a section thereof that overlaps the connecting member (112) in a plan view, is narrower in width, in a direction perpendicular to the second direction, than the width of the insulating film (15). A pair of edges (15a) and (15b) of the insulating film (15) is covered by the first island-shaped electrode (111), the second island-shaped electrode (121), or the relay electrode (122).
US09207822B1	Contact identification and tracking on a capacitance sensing array The capacitance sensing array comprising a plurality of nodes corresponding to intersections of a first plurality of electrodes with a second plurality of electrodes may be scanned. Capacitance values associated with one or more of the nodes may be measured. The capacitance values may be representative of a touch object proximate to the one or more of the nodes. A peak capacitance value of the capacitance values of one or more of the nodes may be identified. A set of capacitance values comprising cells based on the peak capacitance value may be generated. A portion of the cells of the set are associated with the nodes corresponding to the intersections of the first plurality of electrodes with the second plurality of electrodes and at least one of the cells of the set is associated with a virtual node that does not correspond to the intersections.
US09207815B2	Input device and method of manufacturing the same A touch panel includes a transparent panel, a transparent electrode which is formed in a transparent input region on a first surface of the transparent panel, a decorative layer which is formed in a decorative region on the first surface, a wiring layer which is formed on a surface of the decorative layer, and a transparent conductive connection layer which electrically connects the wiring layer and the transparent electrode.
US09207810B1	Fiber-optic touch sensor A set of optical fibers can be used to enable touch input for a computing device. One or more light sources, such as infrared (IR) light emitting diodes (LEDs), can direct radiation into one or more fibers that propagates down the fibers and is detected by one or more sensors. If a user places a finger at a position where a portion of a fiber is exposed, a portion of the light propagating down the fiber will not undergo total internal reflection (TIR) and instead will be transmitted out of the fiber, causing a reduction in the amount of light received from that fiber to one of the sensors. By monitoring losses for the fibers and knowing the area at which each fiber is exposed, locations at which the losses occur can be determined. These locations can correspond to various types of user input.
US09207807B2	Vehicular optical touch apparatus A vehicular optical touch apparatus includes a screen, an elastic layer, a detection light source, and an image detector. The elastic layer is disposed on the screen and includes a first surface facing away from the screen and a second surface facing the screen. The second surface includes a plurality of inclined surfaces inclined with respect to the first surface. The inclined surfaces totally reflect at least one portion of ambient light entering the elastic layer through the first surface, so that the portion of ambient light leaves the elastic layer through the first surface. The detection light source emits detection light toward the elastic layer. When an object presses the first surface to deform the second surface, the detection light sequentially passes through the elastic layer, is reflected by the object, passes through the elastic layer again, and is transmitted to the image detector.
US09207804B2	System and method for altering interactive element placement based around damaged regions on a touchscreen device An apparatus for avoiding a damaged region on a touchscreen is disclosed. A method and a computer program product also perform the functions of the apparatus. The apparatus includes a damage location module that determines a location of an area of damage on a touchscreen of a computing device. The area of damage includes damage to the touchscreen. The apparatus, in one embodiment, includes a display location module that determines a location of one or more display items commanded to be displayed on the touchscreen. Each display item includes a location to be displayed on the touchscreen. The apparatus includes, in one embodiment, a rearrangement module that alters a location of a display item to be displayed in the area of damage where the display item is moved to a location on the touchscreen outside the area of damage on the touchscreen.
US09207795B2	User interface system Disclosed is a user interface system that includes a sheet that defines a surface and at least partially defines a fluid vessel arranged underneath the surface, a volume of fluid within the fluid vessel, a displacement device that influences the volume of the fluid within the fluid vessel to expand and contract at least a portion of the fluid vessel, thereby deforming a particular region of the surface, and a sensor system that is configured to receive a user input on the surface with a first sensitivity and configured to receive a user input substantially proximal to the particular region of the surface at with second sensitivity higher than the first sensitivity.
US09207793B2	Touch panel and touch detecting method therefor A touch panel, which includes a plurality of signal input ends and a plurality of signal output ends, where the touch panel further includes at least one signal detecting unit which includes: a signal inputting unit, a preamplifier, and a signal separating unit; where the signal inputting unit is configured to input driving signals respectively having n frequencies, where n is an integer not less than 2; the preamplifier is configured to acquire the output signals outputted from the touch panel, and amplify and output the signals to the signal separating unit; the signal separating unit, which includes n band-pass filters, is configured to separate the signals respectively having n frequencies. In the touch panels according to embodiments of the present invention, the blind zone of the touch panel can be decreased or even eliminated, thus enlarging the detectable region and greatly improving the detection sensitivity of the touch panel.
US09207785B2	Voltage generator and organic light emitting display device using the same A voltage generator includes a DC/DC converter configured to output a first voltage during a first period of a frame period, the DC/DC converter being connected to a first power voltage and to a second power voltage lower than the first power voltage, a first transistor coupled between the DC/DC converter and an output terminal, the first transistor being configured to be turned on during the first period, a second transistor coupled between the output terminal and a third voltage source, the third voltage source being configured to supply a third voltage lower than the first voltage, and the second transistor being configured to be turned on during a third period of the frame period, and a voltage controller coupled to the output terminal, the voltage controller being configured to limit a voltage of the output terminal.
US09207781B2	Input apparatus, control system, handheld apparatus, and calibration method An input apparatus includes a casing, an output section, a processing section, a judgment section, and a calibration section. The output section includes a reference potential and outputs, as a detection signal, a fluctuation of a potential with respect to the reference potential, that corresponds to a movement of the casing. The processing section executes processing for generating a control command for controlling a screen based on an output value of the output section. The judgment section judges an operational state of the input apparatus. The calibration section executes, when it is judged that the input apparatus is moving, a calibration mode as processing for correcting the reference potential by obtaining the output value over a data obtainment period that is a sampling period of the output value and calculating a correction value of the reference potential based on the obtained output value.
US09207779B2	Method of recognizing contactless user interface motion and system there-of A contactless user-interface (UI) motion recognizing device and method of controlling the same are provided. The method includes: obtaining a left-eye image and a right-eye image; determining an object position of an object in the obtained left-eye image and the obtained right-eye image; determining an object brightness of the object; determining depth information of the object using the determined object brightness; determining a three-dimensional (3D) object position of the object using the determined object position and the determined depth information; determining an object moving velocity based on the determined 3D object position and a previous 3D object position; and determining a UI pattern based on the determined 3D object position and the determined object moving velocity, and executing an operation according to the determined UI pattern.
US09207772B2	Motion-based identity authentication of an individual with a communications device Systems, methods and computer storage mediums securely authenticate an identity of an individual based on a pattern that is traced by the individual. Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to prompting an individual with a pattern to trace when attempting to authenticate the identity of the individual during an identity authentication session. Motion-based behavior data that is generated by motions executed by the individual as the individual traces the pattern is captured via a motion-capturing sensor. The motion-based behavior data is unique to the individual and has a low likelihood of being duplicated by an unauthorized individual attempting to fraudulently pose as the individual. The captured motion-based behavior data is compared to previously captured motion-based behavior data from previous traces of the pattern completed by the individual. The identity of the individual is authenticated when the motion-based behavior data is within a threshold of the previously captured motion-based behavior data.
US09207768B2	Method and apparatus for controlling mobile terminal using user interaction A method and apparatus for controlling a mobile terminal through use of user interaction are provided. The method includes operating in a vision recognition mode that generates a vision recognition image through use of a signal output from a second plurality of pixels designated as vision pixels from among a plurality of pixels of an image sensor included in the mobile terminal; determining whether a predetermined object in the vision recognition image corresponds to a person; determining a gesture of the predetermined object when the predetermined object corresponds to the person; and performing a control function of the mobile terminal corresponding to the gesture of the predetermined object.
US09207765B2	Recognizing interactive media input Techniques and systems for inputting data to interactive media devices are disclosed herein. In some aspects, a sensing device senses an object as it moves in a trajectory indicative of a desired input to an interactive media device. Recognition software may be used to translate the trajectory into various suggested characters or navigational commands. The suggested characters may be ranked based on a likelihood of being an intended input. The suggested characters may be displayed on a user interface at least in part based on the rank and made available for selection as the intended input.
US09207763B2	Systems and methods for providing a haptic manipulandum Systems and methods for providing a haptic manipulandum are described. In one described system, a lever arm is pivotably coupled to a housing, and configured to apply a processor-controlled force to a substantially-spherical manipulandum to provide a haptic effect. The described system may include a processor in communication with an actuator for providing the haptic effect.
US09207756B2	Apparatus and method for controlling 3D image An apparatus and method for controlling a 3-dimensional (3D) image using a virtual tool are provided. The apparatus may detect a user object that controls the 3D image, and determine a target virtual tool matching movement of the user object. In addition, the apparatus may display the determined target virtual tool along with the 3D image.
US09207754B2	Enabling immersive, interactive desktop image presentation Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for enabling immersive, interactive desktop image presentation are provided. Upon receiving a request for presentation of a background image of a search engine home page as a desktop image, the background image is transmitted for presentation on a desktop associated with a computing device. In embodiments, the background image, and likewise the desktop image, permits user interaction therewith. For instance, a user may zoom into the image, pan around the image or otherwise interact with enabled regions of the background and/or desktop image that offer additional content and/or navigate the user to another location where additional information may be found. In this way, the user is provided an immersive, interactive experience with the image whether at the search engine home page, the desktop, or both.
US09207744B2	Method and apparatus for adjusting device power consumption The present invention discloses a method for adjusting device power consumption including: grouping multiple devices into at least one device group, setting a group power consumption ceiling threshold (PCCT) for the device group, and setting a device PCCT for each device in the group; obtaining current total power consumption of the group, and when the current total power consumption of the group exceeds the group PCCT, determining whether current power consumption of each device in the group exceeds the device PCCT of the device; when the current power consumption of each device exceeds the device PCCT of the device, reducing power consumption of each device to the device PCCT of the device; and when current power consumption of a device exceeds a device PCCT of the device, setting a new PCCT for the device, and reducing power consumption of the device to/or less than the new PCCT.
US09207739B2	Dynamic power system adjustment to store energy for power excursions A power system is coupled to a powered system and a system capacitance. The power system includes a power system output sensor, a power conversion device, and a power system output controller. The power system output controller includes a powered system threshold that is related to a power excursion capability of the powered system. The power system output controller is operable, in response to receiving a power system output signal from the power system output sensor that exceeds the powered system threshold, to control the power conversion device to increase the power system output from the power conversion device in order to increase the energy stored in the system capacitance for use by the powered system during a power excursion. The powered system may include processors that draw power from the system capacitance during power excursions so as to not exceed the limits of the power system.
US09207733B2	Data buffer system and power control method A data buffer system includes a plurality of data buffer modules and a plurality of switching units. The data buffer module is configured for buffering a corresponding data signal. The data buffer module includes a plurality of buffers. The buffers are electrically coupled in series. The switching unit is configured for supplying power to the corresponding buffer in accordance with a regulated voltage. Each of the switching units is electrically coupled between the corresponding one of the buffers and the supply voltage. A power control method for a data buffer system is also provided.
US09207730B2	Multi-level thermal management in an electronic device An electronic device is configured to manage heat in the device using a multi level thermal management process. When the temperature of the device reaches a level that requires the device to take action to adjust its thermal behavior, a system level controller identifies a component in the device as being active and that can be controlled to adjust heat generation in the device. Once an active component is identified, a component level controller sets an activity limit for the identified active component that is at or above a minimum activity limit of the component and prevents the component from operating above this activity limit. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
US09207726B1	IT device An IT device includes a system board including at least one microprocessor. At least one 2.5″ disk drive is electrically coupled to the system board. At least one 3.5″ disk drive is electrically coupled to the system board. An enclosure is configured to house the system board and includes at least one native 2.5″ drive bay configured to house the at least one 2.5″ disk drive, and at least one native 3.5″ drive bay configured to house the at least one 3.5″ disk drive.
US09207723B2	Television receiving box docking station rack and system A cable box docking station rack includes a frame carrying a series of shelves, and each shelf including a series of docking stations for connection with cable boxes. Each docking station includes a fixed back plate and a slide plate in sliding relation. The back plate includes a series of connectors that correspond with communications ports on the rear portion of a cable box, and after the cable box is placed into the sliding plate, it slides inwardly until the connectors engage the communication and power ports on the cable box. The rack houses a computer system, video monitors, and data entry tools, together with the docking stations, which is used for inspection and diagnostic analysis of cable boxes.
US09207722B2	Tablet and monitor support systems Support systems and related methods for supporting tablets and monitors. A stand that includes a monitor support portion configured to support a monitor and a tablet support portion configured to support a tablet.
US09207720B2	Flexible touch screen panel and fabrication method thereof A flexible touch screen panel with sensing electrodes formed of different materials is disclosed. In one aspect, the panel includes a substrate, a plurality of first and second sensing electrodes, a plurality of first and second position detection lines, and a pad portion. The substrate is divided into an active area, and first and second non-active area formed at the outside of the active area. The plurality of first sensing electrodes are arranged along a first direction and the plurality of second sensing electrodes are arranged along a second direction in the active area. The plurality of first and second position detection lines are formed in the first non-active area, and respectively connected to the plurality of first and second sensing electrodes. The pad portion is formed in the second non-active area, and has a plurality of pads electrically connected to the plurality of first and second position detection lines. The first and second sensing electrodes are formed of different materials from each other.
US09207718B2	Portable electronic device A portable electronic device 100 includes a horizontally long casing, both ends of which are gripped by a user's both hands, respectively. The device further includes a LCD fit into the front face of the casing 10. Outwardly projecting bulges are respectively formed at both sides of the rear face of the casing where fingers of the user gripping the casing 10 placed. Since the fingers and palms are naturally flexed to fit to the dome-like bulges 42L, 42R, the portable electronic device 100 fits comfortably in the user's hands. The operability is hard to be degraded even if the device is vibrated strongly during a game play with the device.
US09207717B2	Dragging an application to a screen using the application manager A dual-screen user device and methods for revealing a combination of desktops on single and multiple screens are disclosed. Selected desktops and/or running applications are displayed on dual screen displays. Desktops and applications can be shifted between screens by user gestures, and/or moved off of the screens and therefore hidden. Hidden desktops and screens can be re-displayed by yet other gestures. The desktops and applications are arranged in a window stack that represents a logical order of the desktops and applications providing a user with an intuitive ability to manage multiple applications/desktops miming simultaneously. One user gesture launches an applications management window that provides visual indications of all applications and desktops running at the time. Other gestures rearrange the order of the applications and desktops in the window stack. One particular gesture drags a selected application or desktop appearing in the applications management window to a selected screen.
US09207700B2	Solar power system and control system In a case in which a local solution to current-voltage characteristics is generated by way of a partial shade, it has been difficult to perform control for causing a solar cell to operate at a maximum power point efficiently in terms of power and at a low cost. During steady state operation, an MPPT control unit 1 for performing the normal hill climbing method is selected, and if the change amount of the output current of the solar cell is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold, an MPPT control unit 2 for increasing the variation width of the output voltage of the solar cell to greater than the hill climbing method is selected. By way of such control, it is possible to achieve both efficient operation in a steady state and avoidance of a local solution to a partial shade at a low cost.
US09207693B1	Method and apparatus for compensating PVT variations A method and device for compensating PVT (process, voltage temperature) variations are disclosed. In some embodiments an integrated circuit includes a buffer circuit and a PVT (process, temperature, voltage) compensation circuit configured to compensate a PVT variation of the buffer circuit, wherein the PVT compensation circuit includes adders and subtractors.
US09207687B2	Low noise relief valve A relief valve includes a valve body having an inlet and an outlet; a passageway formed between the inlet and the outlet in the valve body; a valve tube positioned in the passageway having a generally cylindrical portion including a first outside diameter and a second generally cylindrical portion including a first inside diameter that is larger than the first outside diameter; a valve seat; and a spring positioned about at least a portion of the valve tube and biasing the valve tube away from the valve inlet to seal against the valve seat. The valve tube and valve seat prevent flow through the passageway when pressure at the inlet is below a predetermined pressure and wherein the valve tube moves axially away from the valve seat at the predetermined pressure allowing flow through the passageway from the inlet to the outlet.
US09207684B2	Microfluidic surface processing systems with self-regulated distance-to surface control A microfluidic surface processing system includes a microfluidic probe head having a processing fluid circuit configured to dispense a surface processing fluid from a processing fluid aperture thereof; a linkage mechanism, configured to apply a force to or modulate a force applied to the microfluidic probe head towards a surface to be processed; and a lifting fluid circuit integral with the microfluidic probe head and distinct from the processing fluid circuit, the lifting fluid circuit designed for dispensing a lifting fluid from a lifting fluid aperture thereof, with pressure such as to counter the force applied or modulated by the linkage mechanism, at the level of the surface.
US09207683B2	Flow meter device and method of operation A flow meter device is coupled to at least one sensor that measures a flow speed and provides status signals from which the flow speed can be determined. The flow meter receives and processes the flow measurement data provided by the at least one sensor. The at least one sensor is enabled at defined time instances for a defined interval time. The flow meter receives at least one status signal from the sensor each time the sensor is enabled and processes the status signals to generate a trigger event when certain conditions arise. A processing unit wakes up from a sleep mode when a trigger event is generated by the flow meter device.
US09207681B2	Automatic recovery method for an unmanned aerial vehicle A vision-based automatic recovery method including steps of: generating a reference trajectory connecting an align point and a recovery point that is provided through wireless communication; taking an image containing a target through a front vision camera, determining a position and a size of the target in the taken image, and calculating a distance between the target and the unmanned aerial vehicle; generating an attitude command for changing a direction of the unmanned aerial vehicle so as to center the target in an image taken by the front vision camera; and generating a virtual trajectory by combining the generated reference trajectory and the generated attitude command, a weight of the attitude command being increased as the unmanned aerial vehicle moving from the align point to the recovery point.
US09207680B1	Estimating multi-vehicle motion characteristics by finding stable reference points A computing device may identify an object in an environment of a vehicle and receive a first three-dimensional (3D) point cloud depicting a first view of the object. The computing device may determine a reference point on the object in the first 3D point cloud, and receive a second 3D point cloud depicting a second view of the object. The computing device may determine a transformation between the first view and the second view, and estimate a projection of the reference point from the first view relative to the second view based on the transformation so as to trace the reference point from the first view to the second view. The computing device may determine one or more motion characteristics of the object based on the projection of the reference point.
US09207678B2	Method and apparatus for constructing map for mobile robot A method and apparatus for constructing a map for a mobile robot to be able to reduce a data amount and increase an approach speed. The method includes: searching for a plurality of feature data occupying an arbitrary space by scanning a surrounding environment of the mobile robot; performing quadtree segmentation on first feature data of the plurality of feature data to generate a plurality of first node information as a result of the quadtree segmentation; determining a position of second feature data of the plurality of feature data with respect to the first feature data; and performing a neighborhood moving algorithm for generating a plurality of second node information of the second feature data according to the position of second feature data by using the plurality of first node information.
US09207677B2	Vehicle positioning method and its system A vehicle positioning method and its system are disclosed. The vehicle positioning method has a camera adapted to be mounted in front of a vehicle, multiple visible marks mounted in a photographing-available range of a camera, and a vehicle positioning system. Each visible mark contains a position information related to a location of the visible mark. The vehicle positioning system receives an image of the visible mark captured from the camera and image-processes the image to read the position information of the captured visible mark. The vehicle positioning system further calculates a distance between the captured visible mark and the vehicle and then further corrects the position information of the captured visible mark to have GPS coordinates of the vehicle.
US09207670B2	Degrading sensor detection implemented within a transmitter A process variable transmitter includes a memory that stores a filtered sensor value that is calculated based on a prior received sensor value and a filtered rate of change value that is calculated based on a prior rate of change value. The process variable transmitter also includes a controller that receives a sensor value and compares it to the filtered sensor value to obtain a rate of change value. The controller also compares the rate of change value to the filtered rate of change value to obtain a deviation value, and generates an output indication, such as a sensor failure warning output, based on the deviation value. This is done within the process variable transmitter.
US09207669B2	Power saving apparatus, power saving system and method of operating the same A power saving apparatus adapted for electronic equipment is disclosed. The power saving apparatus includes a detection module for detecting a motion of an object in a detection field around the electronic equipment and generating a detection signal, a wireless transceiver unit, and a processing unit for transmitting a control signal to the electronic equipment via the wireless transceiver unit according to the detection signal so as to control the electronic equipment to operate in a working mode or a standby mode.
US09207667B2	Automatic generation of robotic processes for symmetric products Methods for producing a robot program for a substantially-symmetric product and corresponding systems and computer-readable mediums. A method includes receiving a first-side robot program. The first-side robot program is a robot program for processing a first side of the substantially-symmetric product. The method includes identifying one or more resources of the first-side robot program by and producing corresponding mirrored resources in a second-side robot program. The method includes identifying one or more robots for the first-side robot program and producing corresponding mirrored robots in the second-side robot program. The method includes processing machine data files of the first-side robot program and updating logic block signal connections from the first-side robot program to the second-side robot program. The method includes replacing references to objects in the second-side robot program and assigning tool mounts to the second-side robot program. The method includes producing and storing the second-side robot program.
US09207664B2	User interface devices for control of machine systems What is disclosed is a system for controlling a process, where the process is implemented by a machine system. The system includes a user interface device and a first transceiver coupled to the user interface device. The first transceiver is configured to receive communications from the user interface device and transfer the communications. The system also includes a second transceiver in communication with the first transceiver and configured to transfer power to the first transceiver, receive the communications from the first transceiver, and transfer the communications to control the process implemented by the machine system.
US09207661B2	Dual core architecture of a control module of an engine A control system for a control module of a vehicle includes a first integrated circuit (IC) core of a primary processor that generates a first control signal using a central processing unit (CPU). A second IC core of the primary processor generates a second control signal using a second CPU and generates a remedial control signal based on the first control signal and the second control signal.
US09207658B2	Added features of HEM/HEG using GPS technology A GPS-based energy management system for a home network is provided that includes a plurality of enemy consuming devices. The system comprises a central controller operatively connected to each energy consuming device, and one or more GPS-enabled devices configured to communicate with the central controller. The central controller is programmed to modify the behavior of the energy consuming devices based on the location of at least one member of a home network.
US09207651B2	Connection aware power control of network displays Controlling the power state of an internet protocol (IP) network display device using the cumulative connection status of one or more client devices to presentation a gateway. The first client device to connect to the presentation gateway causes it to transmit an instruction over the IP Network to the display device to turn-on. When the last of the client connections to the presentation gateway has terminated, the presentation gateway transmits either a sleep or power-down instruction over the IP network to the display device, optionally, after a countdown timer expires.
US09207647B2	Personal alarm system A personal alarm system that only wakes up the intended user includes an appliance worn near the eye. The personal alarm system emits radiation of a particular wavelength onto the eye or eyelid of the intended user and a predetermined moment to wake up the intended user.
US09207641B2	Timepiece oscillator The invention relates to a rotating oscillator for a timepiece comprising a support element designed to allow the oscillator to be assembled on a timepiece, a balance, a plurality of flexible blades connecting the support element to the balance and able to exert a return torque on the balance, and a felloe mounted secured to the balance. The plurality of flexible blades comprises at least two flexible blades, including a first blade positioned in a first plane perpendicular to the plane of the oscillator, and a second blade positioned in a second plane perpendicular to the plane of the oscillator and intersecting the first plane. The geometric oscillation axis of the oscillator is defined by the intersection of the first plane and the second plane, said geometric oscillation axis crossing the first and second blades at ⅞th of their respective lengths.
US09207640B2	Flexible escape mechanism with no pallet lever An escape mechanism including a flexible single-piece mechanism for transmission of impulses between an impulse pin of a balance, and teeth of an escape wheel. Each tooth includes a lever with a pin that can be actuated by a lifting piece, a low level of the wheel carrying the pins on a same level as stop members of a plate, and a high level carrying the lifting pieces. The impulse pin pivots a lever opposite thereto, either to cause the pin to cooperate in abutment with the second stop member, or to move the lifting piece thereof opposite the first stop member and to cause the pin to bypass the second stop member, allowing the wheel to rotate to a next tooth.
US09207638B2	Off-axis interferometer An Interferometer for off-axis digital holographic microscopy includes a recording plane, and a grating located in a plane optically conjugated with the recording plane. The grating defining a first and a second optical path, the optical path corresponding to different diffraction order.
US09207637B2	Apparatus for recording and reproducing hologram A hologram recording and reproducing apparatus including: a coherent light source; a beam splitter which splits a beam emitted from the coherent light source into a signal beam and a reference beam; a signal beam forming unit which modulates the signal beam split and directs the modulated signal beam onto a hologram recording medium; and a reference beam forming unit which directs the reference beam to be irradiated onto a location on the hologram recording medium which overlaps with a location on the hologram recording medium on which the signal beam is incident, wherein the signal beam forming unit includes: a first light guide member which transmits the signal beam split by the beam splitter; a spatial light modulator (SLM) which modulates the signal beam transmitted through the first light guide member; and a holographic Fourier transformation optical device which focuses the modulated signal beam onto the hologram recording medium.
US09207634B2	Image formation apparatus that has temperature sensor for detecting temperature therein An image formation apparatus includes: a developer image carrier configured to carry a developer image; a transfer unit provided in contact with the developer image carrier, and configured to transfer the developer image onto a medium which is conveyed along a medium conveyance path and passes through a contact between the developer image carrier and the transfer unit; a blower provided on one of upstream and downstream sides, in a medium conveyance direction, of the contact, and configured to cool the surface temperature of the developer image carrier; and a temperature sensor provided on the other of upstream and downstream sides, in the medium conveyance direction, of the contact, and configured to sense an ambient temperature around the developer image carrier.
US09207627B2	Frame-enhancing structure for a frame to support an image forming unit in an image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus, including an image forming unit comprising a photosensitive drum configured to be rotatable about a rotation axis and a developer device configured to supply a developer agent to the photosensitive drum; a first frame made of a resin and formed in a shape of a plate, while the first frame is arranged on one end, along an axial direction of the rotation axis of the photosensitive drum, of the image forming unit; and a first beam made of a metal and formed in an elongated shape, while the first beam is arranged along and fixed to a planar face of the first frame, is provided. The first beam is arranged to overlap the image forming unit at a longitudinal central part thereof, when projected along the axial direction, while longitudinal ends of the first beam are arranged on outer sides of the image forming unit.
US09207625B2	Lubricant supply device, process unit, image forming apparatus, and process unit manufacturing method A lubricant supply device includes a solid lubricant, a lubricant holder to hold the solid lubricant, a lubricant supply member to supply lubricant to a lubrication target, a pressing member to press the solid lubricant toward the lubricant supply member, and a pressing force adjuster to change an amount of pressing force exerted by the pressing member.
US09207623B2	Image forming apparatus including a neutralizing unit for neutralizing electric charge on an image supporting body The neutralization units 12a and 12b are arranged between the primary transfer positions and the cleaning units 11a and 11b, and, irradiate a region on the image supporting body 2a with first neutralization light 131, the regions spanning from a position facing the primary transfer position to a position facing the cleaning unit 11a. The neutralization units 12a and 12b irradiate a region on the image supporting body 2b with second neutralization light 132, the region spanning from a position facing the developing unit 16b to a position facing the primary transfer position. The neutralization units 12a and 12b include a first reflective part and a second reflective part provided at different positions on a side face of the light guiding body. The first reflective part forms the light 131 and the second reflective part forms the light 132 by reflecting the light from the neutralization light source.
US09207614B2	Image forming apparatus equipped with developer replenishment mechanism An image forming apparatus capable of reducing an image defect even when an container is rotated for checking. A development unit forms an image by developing an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive member. A drive unit rotates the container mounted to a mounting portion for replenishing the toner to the development unit. An output unit outputs a specified signal when detecting a predetermined portion of the container. A determination unit determines whether the container is mounted to the mounting portion according to the specified signal. A decision unit decides a toner replenishing amount based on image data. A controller controls the drive unit to execute a detecting operation that rotates the container when the determination unit does not determine that the container is mounted. A correction unit corrects the toner replenishing amount based on the output of the output unit when the detecting operation is executed.
US09207608B2	Image forming apparatus and image forming system An image forming apparatus includes a communication part that performs communication with an external device; an image processing part that processes image data that is received by the communication part and that is for forming an image; an image forming part that forms an image of the image data processed in the image processing part; and a power supply controller that controls power supplied to the communication part, the image processing part, or the image forming part. The communication part includes a memory part that stores status information of the image forming apparatus, and a server part that performs communication with the external device, and the power supply controller supplies power to only the communication part in a power saving mode during a standby period, and the server part responds to a status information reference request and a status information update request from the external device.
US09207599B2	Fixing device A fixing device having: a first rotating member rotating in a first rotational direction; a second rotating member contacting the first rotating member and thereby forming a nip through which a printing medium passes, wherein the second rotating member rotates in a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction; a heating unit heating the first rotating member in a heating section not overlapping with the nip when viewed in a plan view in the predetermined direction; and a first reflective member facing at least a part of a portion of the first rotating member that is located on a downstream side in the first rotational direction relative to the heating section but on an upstream side in the first rotational direction relative to the nip, the first reflective member having a reflection surface on the side facing the first rotating member.
US09207597B2	Fixing device and image forming apparatus incorporating same A fixing device includes a rotator having a heat generation layer, an excitation coil to inductively heat the heat generation layer, ferromagnetic cores to direct magnetic flux arising from the excitation coil to the rotator, and a holder to hold the excitation coil and the ferromagnetic cores. In the fixing device, the ferromagnetic cores include multiple cores disposed astride the excitation coil at a turning part on each end of the excitation coil in a longitudinal direction of the excitation coil.
US09207593B2	Image heating apparatus and image forming apparatus An image heating apparatus includes an image heating member configured to heat an image on a recording medium, a heat source heating the image heating member from an inside thereof, an image heating temperature detecting member detecting the surface temperature of the image heating member, an external heating member heating the image heating member from an outside of the image heating member, a cooling fan cooling a surface of the image heating member, and a control portion. The control portion is configured to execute a first mode of controlling the temperature detected by the image heating temperature detecting member under a predetermined control condition to a target temperature while executing a preceding job and a second mode of switching the predetermined control condition while maintaining the setting of the target temperature while processing the preceding job.
US09207592B2	Fixing device capable of preventing temperature drop due to heat absorption and image forming apparatus including same A fixing device in accordance with the present invention comprises: a rotary member for transporting printing paper; a pressure member for press-contacting the rotary member to apply pressure onto the printing paper; and a cleaning member capable of freely moving into contact with, or away from, a peripheral surface of the rotary member and/or a peripheral surface of the pressure member. A toner image formed on the printing paper is fixed while the printing paper is being held between the rotary member and the pressure member. The fixing device further comprises a contact and separation unit for moving the pressure member into contact with, or away from, the rotary member. The cleaning member moves into contact with, or away from, the peripheral surface of the rotary member and/or the peripheral surface of the pressure member in conjunction with the contact and separation unit moving the pressure member into contact with, or away from, the rotary member.
US09207585B2	Endless belt, belt driving device and image forming apparatus An endless belt includes an endless belt body, and a plurality of first tapes each wound around an outer peripheral surface of the belt body. Each of the first tapes has a length shorter than a full circumference of the endless belt, and the first tapes are superposedly applied onto the belt body so that positions of first edges of the first tapes and positions of second edges of the first tapes are different from each other, respectively. A recessed portion is formed in a region between the first edges and the other edges second. In addition, a second tape having a length longer than the length of a full circumference of the endless belt is wound around the first tapes so as to extend along the recessed portion, wherein a winding end edge of the second tape overlaps a winding start edge of the second tape.
US09207584B2	Image forming apparatus for controlling a steering operation of an intermediate transfer belt An improved image forming apparatus is described which can inhibit the quality of printed images from being degraded. A control unit performs a steering operation to shift an intermediate transfer belt toward a target belt position by controlling the inclination angle of a steering roller. Also, a memory stores the inclination angle of the steering roller in association with the operational states of rotary members facing the intermediate transfer belt. The control unit updates the values stored in the memory with an update value. When the result of detecting the belt edges indicate that the intermediate transfer belt falls in a predetermined range around the target belt position during the steering operation, the control unit determines the update value on the basis of the steering duration time and the inclination angle of the steering roller.
US09207581B2	Developer accommodating unit, developing device, process cartridge and image forming apparatus A developer accommodating unit for accommodating a developer includes: an accommodating portion, provided with an opening, for accommodating the developer; a sealing member for sealing the opening; and an unsealing member rotatable for winding up the sealing member. The sealing member is peelable off from the accommodating portion to unseal the opening in a first unsealing direction and a second unsealing direction opposite to the first unsealing direction.
US09207575B2	Developer container, developing device, developing supply device, process cartridge and image forming apparatus A developer container includes: an accommodating frame, provided with an opening through which a developer is passable, for accommodating the developer; a first shutter and a second shutter which are movable between an open position where the opening opens and a closed position where the opening is closed; a first lever, provided on the first shutter, for moving the first shutter by being urged and moved; and a second lever, provided on the second shutter, for moving the second shutter by being urged and moved. Each of the first shutter and the second shutter is moved from the closed position to the open position by moving the first shutter and the second shutter in mutually spacing direction to open the opening.
US09207572B2	Developer container and image forming device A developer container includes a casing having a developer accommodating chamber and a waste-developer accommodating chamber, conveying member, a conveying-member accommodating unit, and a supporting member. The conveying member conveys waste developer in a longitudinal direction of the waste-developer accommodating chamber. The conveying-member accommodating unit accommodates the conveying member therein and has a first opening and a second opening. The first opening is provided in an upstream end portion and allows the waste developer to move from outside of the conveying-member accommodating unit to the inside of the conveying-member accommodating unit. The second opening allows the waste-developer to move from the inside of the conveying-member accommodating unit to the waste-developer accommodating chamber. The supporting member is provided on the casing. The supporting member supports the conveying-member accommodating unit such that the conveying-member accommodating unit is movable in directions perpendicular to the longitudinal direction relative to the casing.
US09207571B2	Image forming apparatus and toner case This image formation device is provided with a toner case (6), a developer body (83) and a developer (12). The toner case (6) includes a case body (22) having a discharge port (35), and a case-side shutter (28) for opening and closing the discharge port (35). A replenishing port (88) for accepting the toner is provided to the developer body (83). The developer (12) includes a developer-side shutter (98) for opening and closing the replenishing port (88). When the toner case (6) has been mounted on the developer (12) and the case-side shutter (28) is displaced from a position where the discharge port (35) is closed to a position where the discharge port (35) is open, the case-side shutter (28) pushes and displaces the developer-side shutter (98) from a position where the replenishing port (88) is closed to a position where the replenishing port (88) is open.
US09207569B2	Image forming apparatus, control method therefor, and storage medium storing control program therefor An image forming apparatus that is capable of reducing an effect of variation of specific inductive capacity of toner due to environmental variation with a small detection error when the remaining toner amount is detected. The image forming apparatus forms an image with an electrophotographic system. A container unit stores toner. A toner detection unit has sensor modules that are arranged at positions where the toner is stagnated in the container unit, and that show different electrostatic capacities with respect to the same toner thickness. An electrostatic capacity detection unit detects the electrostatic capacities of the sensor modules. A determination unit determines a remaining toner amount in the container unit based on the electrostatic capacities of the sensor modules that are detected by the electrostatic capacity detection unit.
US09207568B2	Developing unit adopting a two component agent and electrophotographic image forming apparatus employing the same A developing unit employing a two-component developing agent is shown. The developing unit includes a first regulating member, a second regulating member, and a third regulating member forming first, second, and third regulating gaps respectively with a developing roller. The third regulating member forms a recovery path for recovering excessive developing agent that may not pass through the first and second regulating gaps to an agitating region between the third and second regulating members. A distance between a vertical line passing through an upstream side end portion of the second regulating member based on a rotating direction of the developing roller and a center of the developing roller is greater than a radius of the developing roller, and a downstream end of the third regulating member is located between a regulating pole and a catch pole.
US09207566B2	Development device and image formation apparatus A development device includes: a developer carrier configured to develop an electrostatic latent image with a developer while rotating, the electrostatic latent image being carried on a surface of a rotating electrostatic latent image carrier; and first and second developer supply members configured to, while rotating, supply the developer carrier with the developer contained in a developer container. The first developer supply member and the second developer supply member are disposed at positions opposed to the developer carrier, and in contact with the developer carrier. The first developer supply member is disposed downstream of the second developer supply member in a rotational direction of the developer carrier. A first contact amount at which the first developer supply member is in contact with the developer carrier is set smaller than a second contact amount at which the second developer supply member is in contact with the developer carrier.
US09207564B2	Image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a holding roller which holds thereon developer attached on the image carrier, a transfer member which transfers a developer image on the image carrier to a transfer medium, a collection device which collects the developer on the holding roller via the image carrier, and a control device which executes a collection control of causing the developer held on the holding roller to move to the image carrier such that the collection device collects the developer via the image carrier. The control device applies to the holding roller a first discharge bias having a polarity same as the developer after the collection control starts until a first time elapses and thereafter applies to the holding roller a second discharge bias having a polarity same as the developer and having an absolute value larger than the first discharge bias.
US09207563B2	Image forming apparatus To provide an image forming apparatus that includes a plurality of image forming units and executes a mode for image formation by using a selected image forming unit, the image forming apparatus being able to restrict a decrease in productivity and restrict an image defect such as a lack of part of an image output during the execution of the mode.In a monochrome mode for forming an image only with a black toner, in the first image forming unit, a toner is caused to adhere to a region on a photosensitive body corresponding to a sheet interval and hence the toner is supplied to a cleaning blade by applying a development bias to a developing unit without applying a direct-current voltage to a charger of a color image forming unit not used for the image formation. Also, an alternating-current voltage is applied to the charger when the region on the photosensitive body from which the toner is removed by the cleaning blade passes through the charger.
US09207560B2	Laser light control device and image forming apparatus A laser light control device includes: a photodiode disposed, along with a semiconductor laser, at a location capable of receiving laser light reflected on a polygon mirror after emitted from the semiconductor laser can be received; a semiconductor laser drive control section; and a comparison circuit configured to compare an output voltage of the photodiode and a reference voltage corresponding to a reference amount of light of the semiconductor laser. The semiconductor laser drive control section uses a timing with which the semiconductor laser drive control section receives from the comparison circuit an output indicating that the voltage output from the photodiode is larger than the reference voltage to generate a light emission start timing with which the semiconductor laser starts to emit laser light based on an image signal.
US09207559B2	Image forming apparatus including a light scanning device, tranparent window for passing a laser beam and a mechanism for moving a shutter A structure in which a shutter is moved in a first direction by a motor, an opening is provided in the shutter, and the shutter is moved in a second direction using an elastic force of a spring connected to an upper cover of a light scanning device and an inside wall at the opening of the shutter increases the size of the structure of the shutter and the structure of the light scanning device due to the position of the spring. Therefore, a recess 218b is provided in an opposing surface 218g of a cover 218 opposing a shutter 300, and a spring 310 for sliding the shutter 300 is connected to a connection portion 218e provided at the recess 218b. The recess 218b is provided at a side opposite to the light source units with a polygon mirror 203 being interposed therebetween.
US09207558B2	Image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus includes photosensitive drums, charging devices, an exposure unit configured to expose surfaces of photosensitive drums to generate a non-image portion potential and expose the surfaces to generate an image portion potential, developing members configured to make a developer adhere to an area where the image portion potential is generated to form a developer image on the photosensitive drums, a control unit configured to control an intensity of the charging voltage, and an acquisition unit configured to acquire thicknesses of photosensitive layers of the respective plurality of photosensitive drums, wherein the control unit is configured to set the intensity of a charging voltage applied to the common charging devices according to a maximum thickness among the thicknesses acquired by the acquisition unit, and individually control the output of the first laser power for the photosensitive drum according to surface potentials of the charged photosensitive drums.
US09207557B2	Image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member (drum); a rotatable charging member for electrically charging the drum; a bias applying device for applying a charging bias to the charging member in the form of a DC voltage biased with an AC voltage; a current detector for detecting an AC current passing between the charging member and the drum; a temperature and humidity detector; a setting device for setting a condition of the charging bias on the basis of a plurality of detected AC currents passing between the charging member and the drum when a plurality of AC voltages depending on an output of the temperature and humidity detector are applied to the charging member; and a corrector for correcting the set condition of the charging bias on the basis of an output of the current detector when a predetermined AC voltage is applied to the charging member.
US09207556B2	Image formation apparatus having cleaning mode to clean charging device configured to charge image carrier An image formation apparatus includes an image carrier, a charge device configured to charge the surface of the image carrier, a development device configured to pass a developer to an electrostatic latent image on the image carrier formed by exposure, a transfer device configured to transfer a developer image formed on the image carrier onto a medium, a remover device configured to remove the developer on the image carrier, and a controller configured to control a cleaning mode for removing extraneous matter adhered to the surface of the charge device at a time other than the time for the process of exposing the image carrier, and to change the execution frequency of the cleaning mode in accordance with an environmental condition.
US09207548B2	Radiation source with a debris mitigation system, lithographic apparatus with a debris mitigation system, method for preventing debris from depositing on collector mirror, and device manufacturing method A lithographic apparatus includes a radiation source configured to produce extreme ultraviolet radiation, the radiation source including a chamber in which a plasma is generated; a collector mirror configured to reflect radiation emitted by the plasma; and a debris mitigation system including a gas supply system configured to supply a first gas flow toward the plasma, the first gas flow being selected to thermalize debris generated by the plasma, and a plurality of gas manifolds arranged at a location proximate the collector mirror, the gas manifolds configured to supply a second gas flow in the chamber, the second gas flow being directed toward the plasma to prevent thermalized debris from depositing on the collector mirror.
US09207534B2	Nitrogen-containing monomer, polymer, resist composition, and patterning process A chemically amplified positive resist composition of better performance can be formulated using a polymer having a quencher incorporated therein, specifically a polymer comprising recurring units having a carbamate structure which is decomposed with an acid to generate an amino group and optionally recurring units having an acid labile group capable of generating a carboxyl and/or hydroxyl group under the action of an acid. The polymer is highly effective for suppressing diffusion of acid and diffuses little itself, and the composition forms a pattern of rectangular profile at a high resolution.
US09207532B2	Photoinitiated olefin methathesis polymerization The present invention provides photosensitive compositions and methods of patterning a polymeric image on a substrate, said methods comprising; (a) depositing a layer of photosensitive composition of any one of claims 15 to 22 on the substrate; and (b) irradiating a portion of the layer of photosensitive composition with a light comprising a wavelength in a range of from about 220 to about 440 nm. The invention also relates to methods of metathesizing an unsaturated organic precursor comprising irradiating Fischer-type carbene ruthenium catalysts with at least one wavelength of light in the presence of at least one unsaturated organic precursor so as to metathesize at least one alkene or one alkyne bond.
US09207530B2	Analyses of measurement data A method includes generating, using a data processor, information showing variations of a parameter across a photo mask relative to an average value of the parameter measured at various locations on the photo mask. For example, the information can include data points, and each data point can be determined based on a ratio between a measurement value and an average of a plurality of measurement values.
US09207527B1	System and method for decorating a pumpkin A system and method for decorating a vegetable, such as a pumpkin, is provided. The system includes a base frame disposed within an aperture defined in the pumpkin, and a cover having a design or image associated therewith that is selectively coupled to the base frame. The base frame may be a flexible, frusto-conical ring that has an outer edge positioned adjacent to an outer surface of the pumpkin. The outer edge may be at least partially formed of a magnetic material, and the cover may be formed of a material that is attracted to the magnetic material of the base frame to selectively attach the cover to the base frame. The system may include a colored sheet positioned behind the cover, and a protective backing positioned behind the colored sheet to provide protection from the heat generated from the light source within the pumpkin.
US09207525B2	Phosphor wheel and white light illumination device utilizing the same Disclosed is a phosphor wheel including a substrate, a first phosphor region on the substrate, and a second phosphor region on the substrate. The first phosphor region and the second phosphor region are concentric patterns without any space between their interface. Moreover, the second phosphor region is set to surround the first phosphor region.
US09207523B2	Projector with fan and heat sinks A projector includes a case, an optical engine, a heat sink, a circuit board, and a fan. The case includes two sidewalls, and each sidewall defines an air hole. The optical engine is received in the case. The heat sink is positioned on the optical engine. The circuit board is positioned between the heat sink and one of the sidewalls. The fan is received in the case. The air holes of the two sidewalls and the fan form a dissipating passage. The heat sink and the circuit board are positioned in the dissipating passage.
US09207521B2	Image projection apparatus An image projection apparatus includes a light source, light from which is used to form an image to be projected, a first flow path, a control unit configured to control a light emission from the light source, an electrical power stabilizing unit configured to stabilize an electrical power to be supplied to the light source, and an electrical power source unit configured to supply the electrical power to at least one of the control unit and the electrical power stabilizing unit. One or both of the electrical power source unit and the electrical power stabilizing unit is/are divided into a plurality of boards. The light source is arranged on a normal line of a surface of any of the plurality of boards. The plurality of boards configure surfaces of the first flow path except a surface nearest to the light source.
US09207516B1	Hybrid tunable filter capable of outputting a single spectral peak A hybrid tunable filter includes an upper substrate comprising an upper lip and a lower substrate comprising a lower lip, a first conductive layer coated on a lower surface of the upper substrate, a second conductive layer coated on an upper surface of the lower substrate, a first high reflectivity layer formed on a portion of the first conductive layer, a first electrode layer formed on a portion of the first conductive layer under the upper lip, a second high reflectivity layer formed on a portion of the second conductive layer, a second electrode layer formed on a portion of the second conductive layer above the lower lip, and a band-pass filter layer that can pass the etalon cavity to produce an output light having a single spectral peak.
US09207512B1	Method of manufacturing transparent display device using pre-tilted liquid crystal molecules A manufacturing method of a transparent display device including: forming a pixel between a first substrate and a second substrate facing the first substrate, the pixel including a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first and second substrates, applying a first voltage having a frequency lower than a reference frequency to the liquid crystal layer to drive liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer as positive liquid crystal molecules, applying a second voltage having a frequency higher than the reference frequency to the liquid crystal layer to drive the liquid crystal molecules as negative liquid crystal molecules, and pre-tilting the liquid crystal molecules operated as the negative liquid crystal in a predetermined direction.
US09207509B2	Liquid crystal display device and method of fabricating the same Disclosed are a liquid crystal display device and a method for fabricating the same. The liquid crystal display device includes first and second substrates joined to and facing each other, a TFT formed in each pixel of an active area on the first substrate, a first discharge line formed in a non-active area on the first substrate, a protective layer formed over the entire surface of the first substrate, including the TFT and the first discharge line, a second discharge line surrounding an outer region of the first discharge line in the non-active area on the first substrate, a plurality of contact holes passing through the protective layer to expose a portion of the first discharge line, a connection pattern branching from the second discharge line, and covering the respective contact holes, and an electrostatic discharge layer formed on the outside surface of the second substrate.
US09207506B2	Liquid crystal display A liquid crystal display includes: a first insulation substrate; a gate line disposed on the first insulation substrate; a first data line and a second data line disposed on the first insulation substrate; a color filter disposed on the first insulation substrate and disposed between the first data line and the second data line; a first light blocking member disposed on the first data line and the second data line; and a second light blocking member disposed on the color filter and the first light blocking member, extending in the same direction as the gate line, and overlapping the first light blocking member on the first data line and the second data line.
US09207497B2	Method for preparing alignment film, method for implementing orientation, and liquid crystal display device A method for preparing an alignment film (6), a method for performing alignment of the alignment film (6), as well as a multi-dimensional liquid crystal display device manufacture using the alignment film (6). The alignment film (6) generated by the preparation method is a light sensitive alignment film (6), which can generate directions of orientation perpendicular or parallel to the polarization direction under different dosages of linearly polarized ultraviolet light (10). By adjusting the polarization direction or dosage of the linearly polarized ultraviolet light (10), multi-dimensional orientations of the alignment film (6) is achieved. Manufacture of a multi-dimensional liquid crystal display device using a substrate (1) having the alignment film (6) with multi-dimensional orientations avoids the manufacture of the multi-dimensional electrode, and reduces costs and difficulty of process.
US09207488B2	Liquid crystal display panel and liquid crystal display apparatus having the same A liquid crystal display panel includes a first substrate, a second substrate facing the first substrate, a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, a first polarizing element disposed under the first substrate, the first polarizing element including a first polarizing layer and a second polarizing layer having different refractive indexes, the first polarizing layer having been stretched in a direction substantially parallel to a transmitting axis of the first polarizing element, and a second polarizing element disposed on the second substrate, the second polarizing element having been stretched in a direction substantially perpendicular to a transmitting axis of the second polarizing element.
US09207487B2	Liquid crystal display device In a first substrate, a first organic insulating film is arranged in an active area, and includes a first surface and a first concave portion in a peripheral area outside the active area. The first concave portion is located more close to a substrate end side than the first surface. In a second substrate, a shield layer is arranged in the peripheral area facing the first substrate. A second organic insulating film includes a second surface facing the first surface and a second concave portion facing the first concave portion. The second organic insulating film overlaps the shield layer in the peripheral area. A pillar-shaped spacer is arranged between the first surface and the second surface in the peripheral area. A seal material contains the pillar-shaped spacer and is arranged between the first surface and the second surface, and between the first concave portion and the second concave portion.
US09207477B2	Display module and display device A display module 1 of the present invention includes a first board 3, a second board 4, a base film 5, and a circuit member 2. The first board 3 and the second board 4 are bonded together to face with each other. The base film 5 is provided between the first board 3 and the second board 4 and extends outwardly from an end of the first board 3. The base film 5 has an insulating property and the extended portion is bent to an outer surface side of one of the first board 3 and the second board 4. The circuit member 2 is formed on the base film 5.
US09207472B2	Display device and method of manufacturing the same A display device includes a substrate, a cover layer, a liquid crystal layer, at least one electrode, and a sealant layer. The cover layer is disposed on the substrate and includes a tunnel-shaped cavity. The liquid crystal layer is disposed in the tunnel-shaped cavity. The at least one electrode is configured to apply an electric field to the liquid crystal layer. The sealant layer is configured to seal the tunnel-shaped cavity. The liquid crystal layer includes a plurality of domains defined by liquid crystal molecules pre-aligned in different directions.
US09207459B2	2D/3D switchable image display device A two-dimensional (2D)/three-dimensional (3D) switchable image display device is provided. The 2D/3D switchable image display device forms gradation of an image in a light modulation panel, provides color to light beams that penetrate a plurality of electro-wetting prisms arranged in correspondence to the plurality of pixels of the image, and adjusts the direction of the light beam such that the light beams of the pixels of the image are directed towards at least two different view zones in a 3D mode and such that the light beams maintain their paths in a 2D mode.
US09207458B2	Backlight driving board and LCD device The present invention discloses a backlight driving board for driving a backlight source, comprising a microprocessor and a constant current driver chip. The microprocessor receives a display mode switching signal and a synchronization signal from a liquid crystal driving board, and generating a first pulse width modulation signal corresponding to the backlight source according to the display mode switching signal and the synchronization signal. The constant current driver chip controls an operation state of the backlight source according to the first pulse width modulation signal. The present invention can reduce the signal lines between the backlight driving board and the liquid crystal driving board in order to avoid the backlight driving board from external interference because of too many signal lines, and thus be able to enhance the stability of the LCD device when operating.
US09207456B2	Virtual image display device In a virtual image display device, since the frame section has the support section for detachably fixing the auxiliary mounting member, which is disposed adjacent to the optical members, on the observer side of the optical members, by providing a variety of functions such as an optical function to the auxiliary mounting member, the usefulness of the virtual image display device can be enhanced. Specifically, in the case of, for example, providing the auxiliary mounting member with a diopter correction function, it is possible for any observers with a variety of levels of vision to observe the image obtained by the video display element in a good condition without blur without using eyeglasses.
US09207455B2	Electronic correction based on eye tracking A head mountable display (HMD) system comprises an eye position detector comprising one or more cameras configured to detect the position of each of the HMD user's eyes; a dominant eye detector configured to detect a dominant eye of the HMD user; and an image generator configured to generate images for display by the HMD in dependence upon the HMD user's eye positions, the image generator being configured to apply a greater weight to the detected position of the dominant eye than to the detected position of the non-dominant eye.
US09207450B1	Insulated notch design for pixels in an electrowetting device Subject matter disclosed herein relates to arrangements and techniques that provide for controlling motion of an electrowetting oil within an electrowetting display device. An electrowetting display device comprises a substrate, an electrode on the substrate, a dielectric layer on a first portion of the electrode. The electrode extends along the substrate one of either entirely from a first end of a pixel area to a second end of the pixel area, or from the first end of the pixel area to the second end of the pixel area such that a portion of the substrate is an electrode free portion to thereby define a notch. A first fluid is disposed on a hydrophobic layer and a second fluid is disposed on the first fluid, the second fluid being immiscible with the first fluid. A dielectric constant of the dielectric layer is greater than a dielectric constant of the first fluid.
US09207445B2	Medical three-dimensional observation apparatus A medical three-dimensional observation apparatus includes at least a pair of imaging units, a three-dimensional image processing unit, a calculating unit, and an index superimposing unit. The imaging units image a .specimen from different viewpoints. The three-dimensional image processing unit displays a three-dimensional image of the specimen on a display in accordance with images of the specimen. The calculating unit calculates a region of a three-dimensional reproduction space of the display in which the three-dimensional image of the specimen is to be reproduced. The index superimposing unit superimposes an annotation image on a depth position corresponding to the region in which the three-dimensional image is reproduced.
US09207444B2	Focusing device, focusing method, focusing program and microscope In one example embodiment, a focusing device generates a first image associated with a sample having a first irregularity. The focusing device determines a second irregularity based on the generated first image. In this embodiment, the determined second irregularity corresponds to the first irregularity. For a lens, the focusing device determines a focusing position based on the determined second irregularity.
US09207443B2	Optical see-through free-form head-mounted display A see-through free-form head-mounted display including a wedge-shaped prism-lens having free-form surfaces and low F-number is provided.
US09207429B2	Camera lens A compact camera lens composed of the following five lenses in this sequence proceeding from the object side: a first positive meniscus lens, wherein the concave surface of the first positive meniscus lens faces away from the object side; a second negative lens, wherein the object-side surface of the second negative lens is concave; a third positive lens, wherein the image-side surface of the third positive lens is convex; a fourth biconvex lens; and a fifth negative lens. The fourth biconvex lens and the fifth negative lens are in each case cemented with one another. The object-side surface of the third positive lens and the image-side surface of the fifth negative lens are of aspherical form. The objective is particularly robust, compact, has a large aperture and very good imaging characteristics. It is suitable for example as an objective of an exterior mirror replacement camera in the automotive field.
US09207426B2	Imaging apparatus and imaging signal correcting method An imaging apparatus includes: a lens mount section; an imager having an imaging plane on which an image having an image height obtained through a lens device mounted to the lens mount section is formed; an imaging process section correcting transverse chromatic aberration of an imaging signal obtained by the imager; and a control section determining an imager size in accordance with the diameter of the lens device mounted to the lens mount section and correcting a correction coefficient for the correction of transverse chromatic aberration at the imaging process section according to the size thus determined.
US09207420B2	Enclosure for fiber optic splitter An enclosure cabinet for connecting optical fiber from a head end to each of the premises of multiple dwellings has a door on an opening in a front wall of the cabinet and a support member on top and bottom slides that supports both a compartment in a container for fiber optic splitter modules and a vertical support panel for premise drop components. The slide out support member moves from a position retracted within the hollow interior for closing of the door to an extended position where the vertical panel is presented at least partly forwardly of the front wall to allow unencumbered access to both sides of the panel where the premise drop components are installed across an opening in the panel for installation, testing and visual inspection.
US09207415B2	Cable connector assembly with two printed circuit boards A cable connector assembly includes a connector and a cable electrically connected with the connector. The connector includes a shell, a first and a second printed circuit boards received in the shell, and an opto-electronic conversion module, the second printed circuit board including a first end electrically connected with the first printed circuit board and a second end opposite to the first end, the second end comprising a first connecting portion electrically connected with the opto-electronic conversion module and a second connecting portion. The cable includes a number of electrical wires electrically connected with the second connecting portion for transmitting electrical signal and a number of optical fibers or wires coupling with the opto-electronic conversion module for transmitting optical signal.
US09207414B2	Optical engine An optical engine includes a fiber joint, a fiber pad, and a photoelectric module. The fiber joint, has a fiber installation part and an optical signal output part. The fiber installation part is for accommodating a plurality of fibers, the optical signal output part includes a plurality of fiber positioning through holes running through the optical signal part. Each fiber plugs into one terminal of each positioning through hole and outputs an optical signal via the other terminal of the positioning through hole. The fiber pad is disposed on the fiber installation part and has a plurality of fiber guiding grooves for guiding the fibers to the corresponding fiber positioning through holes. The photoelectric module has a plurality of photoelectric components. Each photoelectric component is aligned with one of the positioning through holes for converting the optical signals coming from the fiber positioning through holes into electric signals.
US09207411B2	Fiber connector A fiber connector includes a case, a light emitting element, and a fiber. The case includes a lower seat and a fiber receiving portion connected to one end of the lower seat. The lower seat defines a receiving recess with an end surface. An optical coupling portion protrudes downward from the end surface. The fiber receiving portion defines a blind hole. The light emitting element is received in the receiving recess and faces the optical coupling portion. The fiber is received in the blind hole. Light rays emitted from the light emitting element are converged to the fiber by the optical coupling portion.
US09207407B2	Fiber optic connector and bonded cover A fiber optic assembly includes a connector and a cover bonded to an end face of the connector. The connector includes a ferrule, where an optical fiber extends through the ferrule and to the end face of the connector. An end of the optical fiber is polished proximate to the end face. The cover is bonded directly to the end face of the connector, and overlays the polished end of the optical fiber such that the cover protects the optical fiber, limits access of dust to the end face of the connector, and draws loose particulates from the end face upon removal of the cover.
US09207401B2	Intra-link spatial-mode mixing in an under-addressed optical MIMO system The outage probability in an under-addressed optical MIMO system may be reduced by configuring an intra-link optical mode mixer to dynamically change the spatial-mode mixing characteristics of the link on a time scale that is faster than the channel coherence time. Provided that the MIMO system employs an FEC code that has a sufficient error-correcting capacity for correcting the amount of errors corresponding to an average state of the MIMO channel, this relatively fast dynamic change tends to reduce the frequency of events during which the number of errors per FEC-encoded block of data exceeds the error-correcting capacity of the FEC code.
US09207399B2	Athermal optical filter with active tuning and simplified control Embodiments of the invention describe systems, apparatuses and methods for providing athermicity and a tunable spectral response for optical filters. Finite impulse response (FIR) filters are commonly implemented in photonic integrated circuits (PICs) to make devices such as wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) devices, asymmetric Mach-Zehnder interferometers (AMZIs) and array waveguide gratings (AWGs). Athermicity of an FIR filter describes maintaining a consistent frequency transmission spectrum as the ambient temperature changes. A tunable spectral response for an FIR filter describes changing the spectrum of an FIR filter based on its application, as well as potentially correcting for fabrication deviations from the design. In addition, embodiments of the invention reduce energy dissipation requirements and control complexity compared to prior art solutions.
US09207375B2	Display panel and liquid crystal display comprising the same A display panel and a liquid crystal display device, in which one of a plurality of color filters is a net-shaped color filter and the other color filters are island-shaped color filters, are provided. According to this approach, a thickness uniformity of the display panel may be achieved.
US09207374B2	Color filtering array substrate and the manufacturing method thereof A color filtering array substrate and the manufacturing method thereof are disclosed. The color filtering array substrate includes a glass substrate (20) having a display area and a non-display area, a first metallic layer above the glass substrate, an insulation layer (22) above the first metallic layer, a second metallic layer above the insulation layer (22), a color filtering layer (23) formed between the insulation layer (22) and the second metallic layer, and a transparent conductive layer above the second metallic layer. The first metallic layer is for forming a first peripheral metallic layer (21) in the non-display area and to form a first internal metallic layer in the display area. The second metallic layer is for forming a second peripheral metallic layer (26) in the non-display area and to form a second internal metallic layer in the display area. The color filtering layer includes a color portion arranged in the display area and a blocking portion arranged in an interleaved portion of the first peripheral metallic layer and the second peripheral metallic layer.
US09207369B2	Optical modulator and method of manufacturing the optical modulator An optical modulator includes a dielectric layer and a metal layer arranged on the dielectric layer. In the optical modulator, a first light of a first frequency and a second light of a second frequency that are incident upon the metal layer exit from the metal layer at different refractive angles due to surface plasmon generation.
US09207368B2	Light shielding lens for protective eyeglasses A light-shielding lens which can cut ultraviolet or visible radiation having wavelengths of 430 nm and shorter or of 500 nm and shorter and which can sufficiently satisfy users' demand for its color. The lens contains 0.01 to 2 parts by mass of an indole-based ultraviolet absorbing dye having a melting point of 140 to 150° C., based on 100 parts by mass of a synthetic resin forming the lens, and preferably further contains an oil-soluble dye, whereby the lens can cut ultraviolet and visible radiation having wavelengths of 430 nm and shorter. Since the predetermined amount of the indole-based ultraviolet absorbing dye is sufficiently dissolved in the synthetic resin, it efficiently reveals its expected function. The lens can thus cut ultraviolet and visible radiation having wavelengths of 430 nm and shorter, or even 500 nm and shorter, while keeping highly transparent light color.
US09207367B2	Apparatus and method comprising deformable lens element An apparatus comprising a deformable lens element can be provided wherein a deformable lens element can be deformed to change an optical property thereof by the impartation of a force to the deformable lens element.
US09207358B2	Surface electromagnetic waves in photonic band gap multilayers A device and associated methods for using surface electromagnetic waves (SEWs) generated at the surface of photonic band gap multilayers (PBGMs) in place of surface plasmons (SPs) in metal films. One device is a photonic circuit comprising a multilayer apparatus to generate surface electromagnetic waves, wherein the surface electromagnetic waves comprise the signal medium within the circuit. The circuit may be formed or etched on the surface of the multilayer apparatus.
US09207354B2	Apparatus and method for estimating characteristics of a sensor containing interferometer In one aspect, an apparatus for estimating a characteristic of a sensor is disclosed that in one embodiment may include a chamber housing sensor, wherein the sensor includes a suspended movable force mass having an opening therethrough, a first partially reflective member that moves with the force mass and a second partially reflective member spaced from the first partially reflective member, a source of buoyant fluid configured to supply the buoyant fluid to the chamber at a plurality of pressures, a device for directing light to the first and second partially reflective members at a plurality of angles, a detector for providing signals corresponding to light passing through the second partially reflective member corresponding to each of the plurality of angles and each of the plurality of pressures, and a processor for determining the characteristic of the sensor from the signals provided by the detector.
US09207345B2	Hybrid deblending method and apparatus Methods and devices for seismic data processing deblend seismic data gathered using simultaneous source acquisition by applying two different deblending techniques. The second deblending technique is applied to residual data obtained after applying the first deblending technique. At least one of these first and second deblending techniques uses a signal-to-noise map.
US09207340B2	Marine seismic streamer cable with noise suppressing sensor support A seismic streamer includes at least one elongated strength member. The seismic streamer further includes a substantially rigid sensor holder coupled to the strength member and fixed in position relative to the strength member. The streamer includes at least one particle motion sensor coupled to the sensor holder and fixed in position relative to the sensor holder.
US09207333B2	Geometry for PET imaging A positron emission tomography (PET) scanner, including a first detector portion arranged circumferentially around a patient pallet, the first detector portion having a predetermined axial extent and transaxially subtending more than 180 degrees, but less than 360 degrees with respect to a central axis of the scanner defined by the first detector portion; and a second detector portion arranged separately from and opposing the first detector section, the second detector portion having a radius of curvature smaller than a radius of curvature of the first detector portion, wherein the second detector portion transaxially subtends less than 180 degrees with respect to the central axis of the scanner.
US09207331B2	Using statistical analysis to infer an accurate GPS location for use in tracking devices A system method for improving the accuracy of a tracking device is described where the tracking device cannot achieve an accurate GPS fix due to low observability. The system and method improves accuracy determining a current position for the tracking device using incomplete information from the GPS. The current position is added to a historical table of previous position determinations and a normalized center position is calculated from the current position and previous position determinations. The position of the tracking device is inferred from the normalized center position.
US09207328B2	System and method for determination of attitude for projectile Disclosed is a system for determination of attitude for a projectile in flight. The system includes at least one antenna mounted on the projectile. Each antenna is configured to receive Global Positioning System (GPS) signals. Further, the system includes a signal receiving unit communicably coupled to the each antenna to receive the GPS signals and to ascertain the earth referenced velocity vector. The system also includes a plurality of magnetometers for ascertaining a projectile referenced earth's magnetic field vector. Moreover, the system includes a processing unit. The processing unit is configured to utilize a known projectile referenced velocity vector and a stored prediction of the earth referenced earth's magnetic field vector along with the measured earth referenced velocity vector and the measured projectile referenced earth's magnetic field vector to determine the attitude of the projectile. Further disclosed is a method for determination of attitude for a projectile in flight.
US09207316B2	Radar for rejecting and looking past surface reflections A multi-modal ground penetrating radar includes a radar set configured to launch predistorted double-sideband (DSB) suppressed-carrier modulated continuous waves (CW) to illuminate and penetrate a ground surface. A variable frequency modulator is connected to modulate a continuous wave (CW) carrier frequency generator within the radar set to yield a double-sideband suppressed carrier output. A lateral single-file array of antennas is configured to be flown closely over the surface of the ground. A multiplexing switch is connected to the array of antennas and configured to selectively switch individual ones of the antennas to the radar set. Any early arriving signals returned from geologic clutter and surface reflections are suppressed in synchronous detection in relation to signals received by the array of antennas from less shallow depths. Interesting objects below the ground surface are detected and located by the late arriving signal reflections.
US09207310B2	Locating apparatuses by means of audio signals using a deterministic data channel A locating device for locating at least one apparatus which is arrangeable on board a transport unit, for example an aircraft, a locating system having such a locating device and at least one apparatus to be located, an aircraft having a locating system of this type, an associated method for locating at least one apparatus which is to be located and is arrangeable on board a transport unit, for example on board an aircraft, and a computer program for carrying out the method. The locating device includes a detecting unit for detecting a wireless audio signal transmitted by the apparatus to be located; and a computing unit for determining the distance of the apparatus to be located from the detecting unit based on the wireless audio signal and on a first information signal assigned to the audio signal and transmitted via a first deterministic data connection.
US09207305B2	Methods and devices for channel identification This invention relates to methods and devices for channel identification. The invention is particularly concerned with techniques for non-line of sight channel identification. In embodiments of the invention the methods and devices are used for channel identification in wireless geolocation systems. Embodiments of the invention make use of an entropy estimation of the channel to distinguish channel conditions and in particular to identify line-of-sight and non-line-of-sight channels and which can be used to solve the NLOS problem of determining relative distances between transmitter and receiver. In particular embodiments an entropy estimation of the channel impulse response (CIR) is used to construct a robust entropy-based channel identification technique. As a result, more accurate localization in indoor and other multipath environments may be possible.
US09207301B2	Apparatus and method for compensating artifact in higher order diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) An apparatus and method for compensating for an artifact of higher order diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) are provided. The apparatus includes a construction unit configured to construct a diffusion q-space matrix, a correction unit configured to correct an image shift in a phase encoding direction in the constructed diffusion q-space matrix, a reconstruction processing unit configured to reconstruct a q-space of a Diffusion Spectrum Imaging (DSI) based on the corrected image shift, and a tracking processing unit to process a DSI fiber tracking using the reconstructed q-space of the DSI.
US09207298B2	Techniques, systems and machine readable programs for magnetic resonance The present disclosure provides various methods and systems for performing magnetic resonance studies. In accordance with many embodiments, image or other information of interest is derived from super radiant pulses.
US09207297B2	System and method for a mode balanced parametric amplifier The exemplary embodiments are related to systems and methods for a mode balanced parametric amplifier. Exemplary embodiments relate to a balanced parametric circuit including a first resonant structure including a first plurality of varactor diodes and a second resonant structure including a second plurality of varactor diodes. The first and second resonant structures are coupled to form a coupled structure having at least two orthogonal resonant modes, where a first resonant mode is resonant at a first frequency of an input signal and a second resonant mode is resonant at a second frequency of a pump signal. Further, the pump signal is used to one of amplify the first signal at the first frequency or mix and amplify the first signal to a frequency higher than the first frequency.
US09207296B2	Methods and apparatus for pasadena hyperpolarization The present subject matter relates to methods and apparatus for using hyperpolarization to improve imaging. Am exemplary embodiment, a PASADENA polarizer, is capable of delivering 2.5-5 ml of highly hyperpolarized biological 13C and 15N imaging reagents in less than one minute, and capable of repeated delivery every 5-8 minutes. Exemplary quality control sequences are also provided to create versatile methods, systems, and apparatuses for a variety of biomolecules, capable of undergoing reaction with parahydrogen necessary for effective PASADENA. The subject matter simplifies the technology for routine liquid state generation of hyperpolarized molecules for 13C and 15N subsecond imaging and spectroscopy in vivo and further advance the clinical application of this technology. Methods and systems for providing magnetic shielding are also provided.
US09207295B2	Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and control method thereof An MRI apparatus provided with a support panel on which a subject is placed, the MRI apparatus including a noise cancelling unit movably installed at the support panel in a longitudinal direction of the support panel and configured to output a sound wave to cancel noise that reaches a target position, and a controller configured to control the noise cancelling unit to be moved to a target position and output the sound wave to cancel the noise.
US09207293B2	Method for manufacturing a magnetic sensor A magnetic sensor having no sensitivity differences between sensitivity axes, and an easy manufacturing method therefor are provided. The method includes a process of forming first stacked films for a magnetoresistive element on a substrate. This element has a sensitivity axis in a certain direction and includes a self-pinned ferromagnetic pinned layer in which first and second ferromagnetic films are antiferromagnetically coupled through an antiparallel coupling layer, a nonmagnetic intermediate layer, and a soft magnetic free layer. The method further includes a process of removing a region of the first stacked films from the substrate. The remaining region of the films includes at least a region to be left to form the element. The method furthermore includes a process of forming second stacked films for a magnetoresistive element, which has a sensitivity axis in a direction different from the certain direction and has the same structure, on the exposed substrate.
US09207289B2	Magnetic property analyzing method and apparatus A magnetic property analyzing apparatus calculates vector potentials of each of elements to which an analyzing target is segmented by meshing, using an average magnetization obtained for each of the elements, and performs a magnetic field analysis of sub-grids arranged along one direction within each of the elements. An average magnetization with respect to each of the elements is calculated by performing a time integral on a LLG (Landau Lifshitz Gilbert) equation using a magnetic field obtained from the magnetic field analysis in order to perform a magnetic property analysis.
US09207285B1	Automatic determination of multi-frequency baselines for battery testing Baseline values for battery testing are automatically determined for individual batteries, battery cells, or networks of batteries. Impedance information is obtained from individual batteries and adjusted for operating conditions at a site of use (e.g., temperature, age, connection topology and user-entered information). Population-referenced baselines are automatically calculated from the group of individual-referenced baselines. All baselines can be continually updated and improved. The state of charge and state of health characteristics of batteries in the network can be automatically determined by comparison of measured impedance, and other values, to the baselines.
US09207283B2	Universal battery charger and method of use thereof A system and method for charging batteries. Stops are adjusted for each of the batteries to secure the number of batteries in place. The batteries are placed to abut the stops. Adjustable contacts of the battery charger are positioned against terminals of the batteries. The batteries are secured within the receptacles of the battery charger. The batteries are charged.
US09207282B2	Smooth vi mode crossover method at compliance limit threshold Source measure units may operate as a voltage/current (V/I) source for a load, such as a device under test (DUT). Source measure units having a voltage controlled mode and a current controlled mode are described. The source measure units may have a suitable configuration to transition between the voltage controlled mode and current controlled mode in a smooth manner, and may be operated accordingly.
US09207275B2	Interconnect solder bumps for die testing A semiconductor chip may include a die having one or more circuits. The semiconductor chip may include a plurality of die bumps, each having a first geometry, a first vertical profile, and a first volume. The die bumps may be coupled to the die and in electrical communication with the one or more circuits. The semiconductor device may include a plurality of test bumps each having a second geometry, a second vertical profile, and the first volume. The test bumps may be coupled to the die and in electrical communication with the one or more circuits. The first geometry and the second geometry may be adapted for the plurality of test bumps to make connection with a wafer probe to the test bumps without making a connection to any of the die bumps during a die test.
US09207273B2	Apparatus for inspecting touch panel and method thereof Disclosed herein is an apparatus for inspecting a touch panel and a method thereof, the apparatus includes a capacitance measuring unit measuring capacitance value of a number of regions set on a touch panel, and a defect determining unit determining whether or not a specific region is defective, by comparing the capacitance value of the specific region with the capacitance value of an adjacent region. According to the present embodiments, a touch panel having an improved defect detection ability and a method thereof, by comparing with capacitance of regions adjacent to each other, are provided.
US09207272B2	Test handler that rapidly transforms temperature and method of testing semiconductor device using the same A test handler and a test method of a semiconductor device using the same includes a plurality of chambers to provide a sealed inner space accommodating a first tray on which semiconductor devices are mounted, a test module electrically connected to the semiconductor devices in the chambers to perform a test process of the semiconductor devices, and a sort part to load and unload the first tray in the chambers and to sort semiconductor devices determined to be failed in the test process. The plurality of chambers have a fluid path circulating a coolant or a heat medium in the walls so that a temperature of the plurality of chambers is rapidly changed at the test process of the semiconductor devices between a first temperature that is less than room temperature and a second temperature that is greater than room temperature.
US09207270B2	Method and apparatus for measuring negawatt usage of an appliance The present invention may include measuring energy usage of one or more appliances for a selected usage metric, receiving reference energy usage data indicative of energy usage of one or more reference appliances for the selected usage metric, comparing the measured energy usage of the one or more appliances for the selected usage metric to the one or more received sets of reference energy usage data for the selected usage metric, and reporting an amount of energy savings based on the comparison of measured energy usage of the one or more appliances and the one or more received sets of reference energy data.
US09207269B2	Automatically detecting in-band but out-of-span power in a frequency-domain test and measurement instrument A test and measurement instrument according to an embodiment of the present invention automatically detects excessive in-band but out-of-span energy and notifies the user of the condition.
US09207266B2	Power consumption management system A power consumption management system includes: a main part that is connected to a power line; a breaker that is electrically connected to the main part, and limits a current supplied to a load to a predetermined set value; a sensor unit including a current sensor and a signal processing part. The current sensor measures a current supplied from the main part to the breaker, and outputs a current detection signal based on the measured current. The signal processing part receives the current detection signal over a predetermined time, determines a range of a signal level from the received current detection signal, and adjusts an input range of the current detection signal in accordance with the determination result.
US09207261B2	High frequency probing structure A probe card for wafer level test includes a space transformer having a power line, a ground line, and signal lines embedded therein, wherein the space transformer includes a first surface having a first pitch and a second surface having a second pitch substantially less than the first pitch, a printed circuit board configured approximate the first surface of the space transformer, a first power plane disposed on the first surface of the space transformer and patterned to couple the power line and the ground line to the printed circuit board, and a second power plane disposed on a surface of the printed circuit board and patterned to couple the power line and the ground line of the space transformer to the printed circuit board, wherein the second power plane is in electrical connection with the first power plane.
US09207257B2	Inspection apparatus An inspection apparatus includes an insulating substrate, a socket in which a body portion having a through-hole in a wall thereof is integrally formed with a connection portion secured to the insulating substrate, and a contact probe detachably secured to the socket.
US09207251B2	User interaction with automated analytical apparatus A method of interaction between an automated analytical apparatus for performing an analytical process and a user is disclosed comprising displaying all features necessary for performing the analytical process on a display which is mounted on the apparatus.
US09207244B2	Systems and methods for detection and quantification of analytes Devices, systems, and methods for detecting molecules of interest within a collected sample are described herein. In certain embodiments, self-contained sample analysis systems are disclosed, which include a reusable reader component, a disposable cartridge component, and a disposable sample collection component. In some embodiments, the reader component communicates with a remote computing device for the digital transmission of test protocols and test results. In various disclosed embodiments, the systems, components, and methods are configured to identify the presence, absence, and/or quantity of particular nucleic acids, proteins, or other analytes of interest, for example, in order to test for the presence of one or more pathogens or contaminants in a sample.
US09207243B2	Use of GLUT4 inhibitors and DNA damaging agents for treating multiple myeloma Methods of treating cancer comprising administering inhibitors of glucose transporters (GLUTs) are provided. Methods of predicting whether a cancer will respond to treatment with a GLUT inhibitor also are provided.
US09207238B2	Anti-FOLR1 antibody The present invention provides an anti-human FOLR1 antibody against diseases associated with human FOLR1-expressing cells, which specifically recognizes and binds to an amino acid sequence of human FOLR1 or a conformational structure thereof and also has a high effector activity such as antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity activity (ADCC activity). The present invention can provide a monoclonal antibody which specifically recognizes and binds to the amino acid sequence of human FOLR1 or the conformational structure thereof and also has ADCC activity and CDC activity, or an antibody fragment thereof, a DNA encoding the antibody, a vector comprising the DNA, a transformant obtained by introducing the vector, a method for producing the antibody or the antibody fragment thereof using the transformant, and a therapeutic agent and a diagnostic agent comprising the antibody or the antibody fragment as an active ingredient.
US09207237B2	Systems, methods, and workflows for optogenetics analysis The invention provides methods for characterizing cellular physiology by incorporating into an electrically excitable cell an optical reporter of, and an optical actuator of, electrical activity. A signal is obtained from the optical reporter in response to a stimulation of the cell. Either or both of the optical reporter and actuator may be based on genetically-encoded rhodopsins incorporated into the cell. The invention provides all optical methods that may be used instead of, or as a complement to, traditional patch clamp technologies and that can provide rapid, accurate, and flexible assays of cellular physiology.
US09207236B2	Highly simplified lateral flow-based nucleic acid sample preparation and passive fluid flow control Highly simplified lateral flow chromatographic nucleic acid sample preparation methods, devices, and integrated systems are provided for the efficient concentration of trace samples and the removal of nucleic acid amplification inhibitors. Methods for capturing and reducing inhibitors of nucleic acid amplification reactions, such as humic acid, using polyvinylpyrrolidone treated elements of the lateral flow device are also provided. Further provided are passive fluid control methods and systems for use in lateral flow assays.
US09207233B2	ELISPOT method having two filter systems An ELISPOT method for in vitro diagnosis and/or in vitro therapy monitoring of infections and/or infectious diseases comprising incubating eukaryotic cells with an antigen, measuring the number of immunocompetent cells which secrete at least two different cytokines as a reaction to the antigen, and in measuring the immunocompetent cells, visualizing the cells with the aid of at least two different dyes and at least two different filter sets, the filter sets comprising narrowband filters.
US09207225B2	Method for detecting a concentration of chlorate-ions in an aqueous solution, apparatus for detecting a concentration of chlorate-ions and control unit An apparatus, a control unit and a method are provided for detecting a concentration of chlorate-ions in an aqueous solution containing different types of chlorine oxidants. By applying energy to a defined volume of the aqueous solution to trigger a transformation of substantially all chlorine oxidants and/or chlorine therein to chloride and/or chlorate, and detecting the concentration of chlorate-ions contained in the defined volume, a solution can be provided that enables a simple and cheap measurement for a concentration of chlorate ions in an aqueous solution and that is capable for online measurement of such chlorate concentrations.
US09207224B1	Method for expressing protein quality of flour A method for expressing protein quality of a grain powder includes mixing the grain powder with water using a mixing apparatus to form a mixture. The torque applied to the mixing apparatus by the mixture during mixing is measured as a function of time. Mechanical energy applied to the mixture is calculated from the measured torque. The protein quality is expressed as the measured torque as a function of mechanical energy.
US09207218B2	Capillary column There is provided a capillary column comprising a flat cross section and a desired theoretical plate number and having both high resolution and high sample load capacity. The capillary column 1 comprising a stationary phase on an inactivated inner surface, which is used in gas chromatography, comprises a narrow part 3 formed in a central part of a cross section of internal space and a bulge part 4 formed on each of both sides of the narrow part 3.
US09207211B2	Deposit measurement apparatus, deposit measurement method, and computer-readable storage medium storing deposit measurement program An object is to improve the precision of estimating a blockage ratio or a deposited-scale thickness. In a deposit measurement apparatus that estimates a blockage ratio of a gap between a wall surface of a through-hole and an outer surface of a heat-conducting pipe or the thickness of a deposit deposited at the gap, an eddy-current flaw detection probe (61) acquires an eddy-current flaw detection signal by scanning inside the heat-conducting pipe with a sensor; and a processing device (62) estimates the blockage ratio at the gap or the thickness of the deposit deposited at the gap by using the eddy-current flaw detection signal for the gap of the pipe-supporting-plate protrusion in the through-hole.
US09207207B2	Drift tube ion mobility spectrometer for aerosol measurement A drift tube ion mobility spectrometry sample introduction scheme allows introduction of a sample packet at ground voltages. The sample packet of ionized particles is captured by subjecting particles within a defined region to an electric field at an elevated voltage. The ionized particles in the captured packet then migrate through the drift tube down the voltage gradient according to their electrical mobility. The particles are directed to a high sensitivity detector, such as a condensation particle counter (CPC), for detection.
US09207203B2	Two-dimensional electron gas sensor and methods for making and using the sensor The disclosed technology generally relates to a sensor and methods for making and using the same, and more particularly relates to a sensor configured to sense the presence of at least one fluidum. In one aspect, a sensor for sensing a fluidum in a space adjoining the sensor comprises a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) layer stack. The sensor additionally comprises a gate lying adjacent to at least part of the 2DEG layer stack and configured to electrostatically control the electron density of a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) in the 2DEG layer stack. The sensor further comprises a source electrode contacting the 2DEG layer stack for electrically contacting the 2DEG. The 2DEG layer stack of the sensor comprises a contact surface contacting the space and provided to contact molecules of the fluidum which is desired to be detected, and the gate of the sensor comprises a doped semiconductor bottom layer of the 2DEG layer stack in electrical contact with at least one gate electrode, where the doped semiconductor bottom layer being located at a side of the 2DEG layer stack opposing the contact surface.
US09207195B2	High-energy X-ray-spectroscopy-based inspection system and methods to determine the atomic number of materials The application discloses systems and methods for X-ray scanning for identifying material composition of an object being scanned. The system includes at least one X-ray source for projecting an X-ray beam on the object, where at least a portion of the projected X-ray beam is transmitted through the object, and an array of detectors for measuring energy spectra of the transmitted X-rays. The measured energy spectra are used to determine atomic number of the object for identifying the material composition of the object. The X-ray scanning system may also have an array of collimated high energy backscattered X-ray detectors for measuring the energy spectrum of X-rays scattered by the object at an angle greater than 90 degrees, where the measured energy spectrum is used in conjunction with the transmission energy spectrum to determine atomic numbers of the object for identifying the material composition of the object.
US09207188B2	System and method for monitoring painting quality of components, in particular of motor-vehicle bodies A system and a method for monitoring painting quality of components, for example of motor-vehicle bodies, comprises a robot which moves a monitoring head to follow the components to be monitored while they move along a production line. The monitoring head moves with respect to the surface to be monitored and comprises both a source of light and a camera which receives the light emitted by the source of light which is reflected by the monitored surface. An electronic processing unit receives the signals coming from the camera and processes them according to different processing algorithms for detecting various categories of defects, specifically small defects, medium defects, and large defects.
US09207172B2	Velocity survey with powderizer and agent flow indicator Disclosed is a measurement system for a dry powder agent including a nozzle to direct the dry powder agent, and an indicator operable to recognize a dry powder agent discharge event. In an exemplary method, a velocity of the powder exiting the nozzle may be computed, and an agent concentration calibration curve may be selected.
US09207168B2	Monitoring for disturbance of optical fiber Problems of excessive fading in systems for monitoring single-mode optical fiber for disturbances are addressed by launching into the fiber polarized light having at least two different predetermined launch states of polarization whose respective Stokes vectors are linearly-independent of each other; downstream from the first location, receiving the light from the fiber; analyzing the received light using polarization state analyzer having at least two different analyzer states of polarization that are characterized by respective Stokes vectors that are linearly-independent and detecting the analyzed light to provide corresponding detection signals; deriving from the detection signals measures of changes in polarization transformation properties of the fiber between different times that are invariant under a non-reflective unitary transformation on either the launch states or the detection states; and, on the basis of predefined acceptable physical disturbance criteria determining whether or not the measures are indicative of a reportable physical disturbance.
US09207154B2	Method and system for creep measurement A method and system for monitoring creep in an object are provided. The creep monitoring system includes a creep sensor assembly that includes at least one image pattern pair disposed on a surface of the object. The creep monitoring method includes receiving information from the creep sensor assembly regarding an observed creep and an offset associated with the object, correcting the observed creep using the information regarding the offset and outputting the corrected information relative to the creep.
US09207144B2	Pinhole inspection apparatus for can bodies Provided is a pinhole inspection apparatus for can bodies capable of effectively preventing entrance of ambient light to a photodetector side through a gap between a movable plate and a rotating turret that may be formed due to a surface condition or the like. The pinhole inspection apparatus of the present invention includes: a rotating turret having a penetrating through hole; a movable plate provided on a stationary frame opposite the rotating turret; a can body holding member supporting a can body; a photodetector detecting light leaking inside the can body; and a light source irradiating the can body with light. The pinhole inspection apparatus is characterized in that a detour path formed by a pair of shield parts spaced apart a predetermined distance and opposite from each other is provided as a shield mechanism in an entire outer peripheral region of the rotating turret.
US09207139B2	Mass flow control monitoring A method of monitoring a Mass Flow Controller (MFC) connected to a pressure chamber for supplying gas to the chamber, which is an unpumped condition, includes cyclically switching the MFC to create successive fill cycles for a test period and measuring the chamber pressure at intervals during the test period. The method is characterised in that the total switch time of the MFC is at least 10% of the fill cycle and in that the method includes obtaining the average of the pressure measurements and comparing them with historical data to determine whether or not the MFC is functioning properly.
US09207136B2	Brake manufacturer identification system and method Systems and methods for identification of brake suppliers and vehicle models based on electrical resistance of the brake control unit are disclosed herein. Based on calculated values, both the brake supplier and model of vehicle can be determined.
US09207129B2	Process variable transmitter with EMF detection and correction A preexisting voltage across a sensor is latched to a storage capacitor prior to any excitation current being applied to the sensor. Once the excitation current is applied, the voltage on the storage capacitor is directly subtracted from a differential voltage across the sensor. The subtraction is done before a measurement is converted to a digital value and passed to a transmitter. The subtraction is performed in hardware, and a time required to sample and hold the preexisting voltage across the storage capacitor is within a settling time used for collecting any sensor measurements.
US09207122B2	Fourier-transform interferometer with staircase reflective element An apparatus for performing Raman spectral analysis of a sample is described, comprising a coherent light source, an first optical chain to direct the coherent light to impinge on the sample, a second optical chain to direct the scattered light onto a diffraction grating, and a third optical chain to direct the diffracted light onto detection array. The diffraction grating is a plurality of alternating-slope stairsteps, wherein the portion of the step disposed parallel to the base of the diffraction grating is disposed so as to be orthogonal to the path of the scattered light from the second optical chain. The zeroth-order fringe is selected by a slit and directed onto camera. The resultant interferogram is Fourier transformed to produce a representation of the Raman spectrum.
US09207119B2	Active spectral control during spectrum synthesis A spectral feature of a pulsed light beam produced by an optical source is estimated by modifying the wavelength of the pulsed light beam based on a predefined repeating pattern having a pattern period including a plurality of steps, the modification including shifting the wavelength of the pulsed light beam by a wavelength offset from a baseline wavelength for each step in the pattern period; measuring the wavelength of the light beam for each step in the pattern period as the wavelength is modified across the pattern; and estimating a spectral feature of the pulsed light beam over an evaluation window that includes all of the steps within the pattern period based at least in part on the measured wavelength of the light beam for each step in the pattern period.
US09207114B2	Photoelectric conversion device A photoelectric conversion device includes a circuit board, a first light emitting module, a first light receiving module, a second light emitting module, a second light receiving module, and an optical coupling member. The light emitting modules and the light receiving modules are mounted on the circuit board. The optical coupling member includes a first reflective surface obliquely connected to the light incident surface, four converging lenses, a second reflective surface, and a third reflective surface. The converging lenses are formed on the light incident surface. The first reflective surface defines a recess for receiving the second and third reflective surfaces. The third converging lens is fed by the second reflective surface and the fourth converging lens is fed by the third reflective surface.
US09207109B2	Flow sensor with improved linear output A flow sensor assembly includes a flow sensor for sensing a flow parameter. The flow sensor may provide a flow sensor output signal that is related to the sensed parameter. A control block operatively connected to the flow sensor may receive a measure related to the flow rate of the fluid stream and drive the heater of the flow sensor to a heater temperature, such that the heater temperature may be dependent on the flow rate of the fluid stream, which causes the analog output of the flow sensor to be relatively linear over an expected operating range of flow rates.
US09207099B2	Method and system for estimating offset in environments with limited memory space A computer implemented method, system and computer program product for estimating an offset of at least one sensor is disclosed. The computer implemented method, system and computer program product comprise calculating combinations of running sums to define for computing/or one or more slopes for the sensor. At least one of the one or more slopes provides an indication of the sensor offset changes with temperature.
US09207092B1	Displaying navigation information within a secondary user interface of a mobile device Computer-implemented methods and systems of displaying navigation information on a mobile device include determining navigation directions to a destination location and providing related navigation information for display on a primary user interface while the mobile device is operated in an active operating mode. Upon detecting a transition of the mobile device from the active operating mode to a passive operating mode, a subset of location information is configured for display on a secondary user interface. The passive location information can include one or more of a semantic place label associated with the mobile device's current location and a directions indicator in which a user of the mobile device should travel along the navigation directions in order to reach the destination location from the mobile device's current location and/or device orientation. The navigation information can be updated continuously, periodically and/or upon reaching turn points within the navigation directions.
US09207088B2	Method for operating a motor vehicle and motor vehicle A method for operating a motor vehicle is disclosed which includes determining of a current position of the motor vehicle and accessing a data of map data stored in at least one vehicle-external storage device. The accessed data set contains map data of surroundings of the determined current position of the motor vehicle. The method further include, classifying objects contained in the map data according to stationary objects and moveable objects, and transmitting data contained in the map data of the accessed data set regarding objects classified stationary to at least one interface of the motor vehicle.
US09207078B2	Device for measuring and marking space points along horizontally running contour lines A construction surveying device having a base, an upper part mounted on the base and can be rotated about an axis of rotation, a sighting unit having a laser source which is designed to emit a laser beam and a laser light detector, and an evaluation and control unit, a first rotary drive and a second rotary drive enable the upper part and the sighting unit to be driven and aligned, a spatial alignment of the sighting unit with respect to the base can be detected using two goniometers, and coordinates for space points can be determined using the evaluation and control unit, the construction surveying device has a horizontal line projection functionality which, at least sometimes, takes place automatically after triggering and is intended to measure and mark space points along a horizontal line, running in a horizontal plane, on an arbitrarily shaped surface.
US09207071B2	Accessory adapter for laser alignment tool A pulley alignment apparatus is disclosed that includes a target component or a sighting component having a first contact surface shaped to detachably interface with a first pulley having a first diameter. The apparatus further includes an adaptor with a second contact surface shaped to detachably interface with a second pulley having a second diameter and a receiving surface shaped to detachably interface with the first contact surface of the target component or the sighting component. The target component or the sighting component is seated on the adaptor with the first contact surface detachably interfaced with the receiving surface of the adaptor, and the first diameter and the second diameter are different.
US09207054B2	Solid state ignition safety device A solid state ignition safety device for rocket assisted projectiles having a piezoelectric generator that charges a capacitor during the initial acceleration of the projectile by the launching propellant charge. The capacitor is then discharged after a delay to ignite an initiator, which ignites the rocket motor of the projectile. A time delay circuit can be integrated into the ignition safety device to further delay the ignition of the initiator until the projectile has reached the ideal point in its trajectory to ignite the rocket motor.
US09207053B2	Harmonic shuttered seeker A dual-mode, semi-active, laser-based and passive image-based seeker for projectiles, missiles, and other ordnance that persecute targets by detecting and tracking energy scattered from targets. The disclosed embodiments use a single digital imager having a single focal plane array sensor to sense data in both the image-based and laser-based modes of operation. A shuttering technique allows the relatively low frame-rate of the digital imager to detect, decode and localize in the imager's field-of-view a known pulse repetition frequency (PRF) from a known designator in the presence of ambient light and other confusing target designators, each having a different PRF.
US09207048B1	Multi-ply heterogeneous armor with viscoelastic layers and hemispherical, conical, and angled laminate strikeface projections An armor system with a composite laminate having at least four alternating layers (two bi-layers) of a first material and a second material, the first material having a lower acoustic impedance than the second material. The first material is a viscoelastic polymer with a glass transition temperature less than the expected operational temperature range, and the second material can be a hard material such as steel, aluminum, or ceramic. The laminate can include many alternating layers of elastomer and hard material, and can be adhered or affixed to a thicker armor substrate. The second material layer can be a layer of hollow or solid spheres. Additional protective elements such as front surface hemispheres or conical projections, and corrugated panels can be added to improve resistance to armor piercing rounds, explosively formed penetrators, or other threats.
US09207047B2	Anti-ballistic protective assemblies Provided is an anti-ballistic protective assembly including a plurality of layers of anti-ballistic material including at least two types of anti-ballistic materials, and an enclosure which is at least partially injection molded over the plurality of layers of anti-ballistic material and retains the plurality of layers of anti-ballistic material in a mutually compressed operative orientation.
US09207042B1	Removable device for firearm with reciprocating finger hold Apparatus and methods relating to a device for increasing the firing rate of a firearm that may be retrofit to an existing firearm. The device includes an anchor mechanism affixed to a slidable butt stock of the firearm and also includes a finger hold connected to the anchor mechanism that translates forward to remove a user's finger from the trigger and translates backward to allow the user's finger to activate the trigger and fire the firearm.
US09207036B2	Crossbow A crossbow is provided which has a frame and a firing assembly. The frame has a forward end and a rearward end. The firing assembly has a finger-pull mechanism. The finger-pull mechanism is positioned at, or forward of, a midway point of the frame between the forward end and the rearward end.
US09207022B2	Cooling jacket A cooling jacket for cooling an electric motor is provided. The cooling jacket has one or more than one wave-shaped pipe, covering the electric motor, for conducting working fluid, wherein each wave-shaped pipe has a forwarding portion and a reversed portion, parallel to the axis of the electric motor, for conducting the working fluid to flow in opposite directions, wherein the forwarding portion includes at least two forwarding sub-pipes, and the reversed portion includes at least two reversed sub-pipes; and a turning portion, connected between the forwarding portion and the reversed portion.
US09207019B2	Heat recovery for bitumen froth treatment plant integration with sealed closed-loop cooling circuit A system and process for recovering heat from a bitumen froth treatment plant use a sealed closed-loop heat transfer circuit. The system has a heat removal exchanger associated with the plant and receiving hot froth treatment process stream; heat recovery exchanger; the circuit; and an oil sands process fluid line. The circuit includes piping circulating heat exchange media having uncontaminated and low fouling properties. The piping includes a supply line to the heat removal exchanger and a return line for providing heated media to the recovery exchanger. The circuit has a pump for pressurizing the heat exchange media; a pressure regulator for regulating pressure of the media. The pump and the pressure maintain the media under pressure in liquid phase. The oil sands process fluid is heated producing a cooled media for reuse in the heat removal exchanger. High and low temperature heat removal exchangers can be used.
US09207014B2	Dehumidifying apparatus for dryer A dehumidifying apparatus for a dryer is provided that includes a case, a drum disposed inside the case that receives objects to be dried therein, and a hot air supplier that supplies hot air into the drum and dries the objects to be dried. The dehumidifying apparatus includes a heat exchanger that heat exchanges with air flowing from the drum, and an injection nozzle portion disposed between the hot air supplier and the heat exchanger so as to inject a certain jet. When gas introduced into the dehumidifying apparatus from the drum passes through the jet, foreign substances such as lint, contained in the gas may be separated, thereby preventing accumulation of the foreign substances on the dehumidifying apparatus.
US09207012B2	Spill containing refrigerator shelf assembly The specification discloses a method for containing spills on shelving and the like, and the resulting support members made in accordance with the method, by providing the generally flat top surface of a support with a hydrophobic surface which is arranged in a spill containment pattern and which is generally in the plane of the top surface of the support. The majority of the top surface of the support consists of one or more spill containment areas which are of a non-hydrophobic nature and which are bounded by the hydrophobic surfaces, such that spills on the shelving collect in the non-hydrophobic spill containment area or areas and are prevented from spreading by the hydrophobic surfaces.
US09206997B2	Curved transpired solar air heater and conduit An air heating system is for use with a mechanism for flowing air. The system includes a plenum and a solar absorber. The solar absorber defines a first boundary of the plenum. The solar absorber is permeable to air. The mechanism for flowing air is for pulling air into the plenum through the permeable solar absorber. The plenum has an axial direction, wherein along a cross section of said plenum normal to the axial direction the permeable absorber has an average shape that is substantially convex when the permeable absorber is viewed from outside of the plenum.
US09206994B2	Heat source system Upon newly installing a system or installing an additional heat source apparatuses, manual adjustment of a number-of-units control device should be eliminated. Provided is a heat source system including a plurality of heat source apparatuses connected in parallel; and a number-of-units control device that controls on and off of the plurality of the heat source apparatuses and allocates a load to an active heat source apparatus according to a load demand, wherein the heat source apparatuses each possess COP map unique to the respective heat source apparatuses that indicates a relationship among operating status, coefficient of performance, and load factor, each of the heat source apparatuses sets the appropriate operating region in correspondence to the operating status from the COP map and sends it to the number-of-units control device, and the number-of-units control device performs number-of-units control of the heat source apparatus and load allocation on the basis of the appropriate operating region that is sent from each of the heat source apparatuses.
US09206990B2	Device and method for absorbing water from gas The present invention relates to a device, a method and the use of the same for production or purifying of water. Present invention is based on the use of hygroscopic materials and heating thereof.
US09206986B2	Burner A burner is provided. The burner may include a burner head having mixing pipes through which an air-gas mixture may flow, and a burner cap seated on the burner head and having an opening formed therein. The burner head may include a support wall along its periphery supporting the burner cap thereon and an inner wall formed within the periphery of the support wall, the inner wall having a plurality of flame holes. The center of the burner cap may be positioned within the opening.
US09206982B2	Gas valve unit comprising a lift deflection system A gas valve unit for setting a gas volume flow supplied to a gas burner of a gas appliance includes a valve housing, and an actuation pin having an operating segment which projects from the valve housing. Received in the valve housing is a shutoff valve which is configured for actuation by axially displacing the actuation pin, and at least two on-off valves which are configured for actuation by rotating the actuation pin. The shutoff valve has a movable shutoff element. A deflection device converts an axial movement of the actuation pin into an axial movement of the shutoff element of the shutoff valve essentially at a right angle thereto.
US09206981B2	Gas valve unit comprising an actuation mechanism for a solenoid valve A gas valve unit for setting a gas volume flow supplied to a gas burner of a gas appliance includes a valve housing, an actuation pin for setting an opening cross section of the gas valve unit, a shutoff valve, and a linearly displaceable connecting element for transferring a movement of the actuation pin to the shutoff valve. The connecting element has at least one spring which can be embodied as a compression spring or as a coil spring.
US09206979B2	Oxy-fuel burner arrangement An oxy-fuel burner arrangement having a first conduit having a nozzle aperture with an aspect ratio, D1/D2, of greater than or equal to about 2.0. The first conduit is arranged and disposed to provide a first fluid stream, where the first fluid stream is a combustible fuel. The burner arrangement further includes at least one second conduit arranged and disposed to provide a second gas stream circumferentially around the first fluid stream, where the second gas stream includes oxygen. A precombustor is arranged and disposed to receive the first fluid stream and second gas stream where an oxy-fuel flame is produced. The geometry of the nozzle aperture and the cross-sectional geometry of the first conduit are dissimilar.
US09206978B2	Pressurized water reactor compact steam generator A steam generator system for a pressurized water reactor which employs an external to containment steam drum and recirculation loop piping. The steam generator system changes the arrangement of a typical pressurized water reactor recirculation steam generator by relocating the functions of steam separation and feedwater preheating outside of the reactor coolant system. The steam generator system and thermal hydraulic conditions are selected in order to minimize the size of the steam generator heat exchanger component volume inside of the containment. The external steam drum component can be isolated in accident conditions when desired and is used as a source of secondary fluid inventory for improved decay heat removal capability and tolerance for loss of feedwater events. Thus, the steam generator component volume inside of the containment is reduced and the amount of maintenance required for the reactor coolant system components are similarly reduced.
US09206976B1	Light emitting diode (LED) lighting device with heat sink A light emitting diode (LED) lighting device including a circuit configured to energize a surface mount LED lamp having an integral LED heat sink with a source of power. The LED lighting device further includes a printed circuit board having a first side, a second side and a metallic thermal connector extending from the first side to the second side. The surface mount LED lamp is attached to the first side with the LED heat sink in contact with the metallic thermal connector. The LED lighting device further includes a fixture configured to hold the printed circuit board and position a metallic heat sink on the second side of the printed circuit board in contact with the metallic thermal connector.
US09206970B2	Linear LED lamp tube with internal driver and interconnect to line voltage and methods of installing the same In various embodiments, a light emitting diode (LED) lamp tube is provided along with a method of installing the LED tube lamp into a lighting fixture. In various embodiments, the LED tube lamp comprises: a tube; at least one LED positioned within the tube; a driver circuit positioned within the tube, the driver circuit comprising a set of electrical connecting wires; and a passage formed through at least a portion of the tube, the passage configured to receive there-through the set of electrical connecting wires. In various embodiments, the LED lamp tube comprises: a tube; at least one LED positioned within the tube; at least one end cap disposed on an end of the tube and at least one pin secured thereon wherein at least part of the pin is disposed outside of the tube and the at least one pin is electrically isolated from the at least one LED.
US09206969B2	Long life compact lighting system A compact lighting assembly includes a circuit board having a battery, a light, a switching circuit and a push button switch selectively powering the light with the battery via the switching circuit. The operating life of the compact lighting assembly is increased by using a rechargeable battery charged by a photovoltaic device such as a solar cell. Even greater operating life is achieved with the use of a light-actuated switch, such as a photocell or photodiode, which limits or cuts off battery draw and illumination of the light in daylight or lighted ambient conditions and enables illumination of the light in dark ambient conditions such as nighttime and low light environments.
US09206967B2	Display device using semiconductor light emitting device Discussed is a display device including a substrate having at least one of a first and a second electrode, a conductive adhesive layer configured to cover the wiring substrate, and a plurality of semiconductor light emitting devices coupled to the conductive adhesive layer, and electrically connected to the first and second electrode, wherein the conductive adhesive layer has a first conductive adhesive layer disposed in a first region and a second conductive adhesive layer disposed in a second region adjoining to the first region such that the conductive adhesive layer is partitioned into a plurality of regions on the wiring substrate.
US09206965B2	Semiconductor photonic package A method for assembling a semiconductor photonic package device includes bonding a portion of a first surface of a semiconductor die portion to a portion of a carrier portion, bonding a single mode optical ferrule portion to a portion of the first surface of the semiconductor die portion, and disposing a cover plate assembly in contact with the optical ferrule portion and the carrier portion.
US09206950B1	Light emitting diode (LED) sports lighting luminaire assembly An assembly of LED luminaires is distributed at a sports venue, includes key, back, and fill light sources in such a way as to provide modeling within a significant portion of the playing area of the sports venue, uses beam types narrower than previously used, and achieves efficiencies higher than previously attained, while also reducing glare and spill light.
US09206948B1	Troffer light fixture retrofit systems and methods A retrofitting kit for retrofitting an existing troffer light fixture having a troffer housing. The kit includes an adaptor bracket and a door assembly. The adaptor bracket includes a channel configured to rest on a T-bar of a ceiling system between the T-bar and the troffer housing, a slot configured to receive a portion of a troffer door assembly, and a latch surface configured to engage with a latch. The door assembly includes a latch configured to engage the latch surface of the adaptor bracket, a hinge configured to interface with the slot of the adaptor bracket, a housing including the latch and the hinge, and a light source within the housing.
US09206941B2	Apparatus and method for clamping The preferred embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus structured and arranged to securely clamp an object to a support structure. The most preferred embodiments of the present invention comprise a clamping apparatus configured to secure a long rifle or other firearm to a tripod, using a standard camera mounting bracket. In this embodiment, the clamping apparatus comprises a base with a pair of substantially L-shaped interlocking brackets and a pair of spring-loaded cam locking mechanisms used to fix the L-shaped brackets in position. Additional preferred embodiments of the present invention comprise rubber pads or other protective material affixed to the surface of the clamping apparatus to minimize damage to the object being clamped. A method of using the clamping apparatus is also disclosed.
US09206931B2	Substrate processing apparatus and method of manufacturing semiconductor device Substrate processing uniformity is improved in the surfaces of wafers and between the wafers. A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, including: loading a substrate holder into an inner tube, the substrate holder holding a plurality of substrates in a state where the plurality of substrates are horizontally oriented and stacked; forming thin films on the plurality of substrates by supplying a source gas to an inside of the inner tube; and unloading the substrate holder from the inner tube, wherein the forming the thin films is performed in a state where a conductance of a space between an inner wall of the inner tube and a gas penetration preventing cylinder is smaller than a conductance of a region where the plurality of substrates are stacked.
US09206924B2	Stinger for a pipeline laying vessel A stinger (1) for a pipeline laying vessel, the stinger includes at least one track (3) which in use at least partly surrounds a firing line along which the pipeline (5) is laid, and at least one pipeline support (6) for supporting the pipeline, which pipeline support is movable along said track.
US09206920B2	System and method for controlling an electro-pneumatic device An electro-pneumatic device includes a sensor portion and a valve portion. The sensor portion, which includes a sensor, receives and transmits electronic control signals of a plurality of frequencies. The sensor portion is powered by a first of the frequencies of the received control signals. The valve portion electrically communicates with the sensor. The valve portion includes a valve that is alternately set to an open state and a closed state based on a second of the plurality of frequencies of the received control signals. The sensor senses a delivery pressure of the valve and transmits electronic data signals representing the delivery pressure at a third of the plurality of frequencies.

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